Preventing animals in garbage - what can be done about these pests?

One person's trash is another's treasure. This proverb also applies to animals in the garbage. You're probably familiar with it. You get up in the morning, unsuspecting, and go to take out the trash, only to discover that several bins have been knocked over and the garbage is scattered all over the ground. At the latest, when you discover bite marks or footprints, it's clear: last night, animals were rummaging around in your garbage.

This article will tell you which animals you can expect to encounter as nighttime visitors and what they actually want in your trash. More importantly, we offer some useful tips on how to keep animals away from your garbage in the future.

Why are animals in the trash?

The growth of cities undoubtedly leads to more frequent encounters between humans and nature. This is also evident in the increasing number of people encountering animals in garbage. As settlements expand and natural habitats shrink over the past few decades, many animal species have adapted. Even in densely populated cities, there are still enough areas that can provide suitable habitats for animals. These include, for example, parks, sewer systems, bodies of water, and even cemeteries.

But these areas not only provide a habitat for animals, they also serve as foraging grounds. This makes it clear that animals don't have to travel very far to reach your bins. Organic waste, in particular, is a veritable feast for animals, as it is plentiful and extremely energy-rich. Furthermore, most bin storage areas are not adequately secured against animal visitors. In addition, the odor of food scraps creates a trail that leads animals directly to your waste.

Therefore, you should not let animals rummage through the garbage.

If animals are rummaging through your trash, you should take the right steps. This minor annoyance can quickly escalate into a real problem. To demonstrate why adequate protection for your bins is important, we'll show you the difficulties animals in your trash can cause.

Animals in the garbage cause unnecessary work.

The obvious reason why you should prevent animals from getting into your trash has already been described: it creates a lot of mess and unnecessary work. For example, during their nightly visits, animals knock over bins and scatter the garbage over a wide area. Even if it seems tolerable the first time, it becomes a real problem when it happens frequently. And it often doesn't stop at just one visit: once animals discover a valuable food source in your trash, they will become regular visitors. So it's best to take the right preventative measures right from the start!

Animals in garbage can pose a health risk.

Besides the unnecessary work involved, animals in the garbage pose another risk. Especially if your garbage cans are frequented by rats, there is a danger that you, your family, or your tenants will come into contact with pathogens. As you can see, animals in the garbage can therefore represent a real health risk.

Which animals rummage through garbage?

We've already mentioned that the animals in your trash could be rats. However, larger animals also find plenty to eat in your garbage. These, in particular, can create a real mess when they rummage through your trash. Below, we introduce you to the most common uninvited guests.

Raccoons - masked intruders

These nocturnal predators originally come from North America and arrived in Europe in the 1930s. Since then, their population has increased rapidly. The species' success is particularly evident in the fact that hunting associations emphasize that the population has doubled within the last seven years. When these animals rummage through your garbage, they are primarily looking for fruit and leftover pet food. Even garbage bags won't protect your waste from raccoons. Thanks to their nimble paws, they can tear open the thin plastic in no time.

Foxes - clever and agile

Like raccoons, foxes are resourceful and adaptable small predators. These animals find an excellent food source in garbage. They have long since adapted their diet to that of humans, supplementing their prey of small animals and rodents with human food scraps. Leftovers from pet food also whet the appetite of foxes and encourage them to rummage through garbage.

Here's how to prevent animals from wandering around in the garbage.

As you can see, it's important to prevent animals from getting into your trash. This not only saves unnecessary work but also prevents health risks. Therefore, it's crucial to take measures to prevent animals from feeling comfortable in your trash or even finding it in the first place. Fortunately, some measures can help against several of these unwelcome visitors at once. We'd like to present these to you below.

Covers for your garbage cans

Investing in bin enclosures to conceal your waste containers offers protection in several ways. First, the sturdy metal enclosures make it more difficult for larger animals like raccoons to access your waste. They can't squeeze through the narrow gaps. Furthermore, they reduce the development and spread of odors from your waste. Most animals that rummage through garbage are attracted to it by their excellent sense of smell. An enclosure significantly reduces the distance at which these animals can detect your waste.

Make it uncomfortable for nighttime visitors

Speaking of their sense of smell, most animals that rummage through garbage also possess other well-developed senses. However, these are also correspondingly sensitive. By taking advantage of this, you can make your bins as unattractive as possible to these little intruders. Since most of the animals that find food in the garbage are nocturnal, you can illuminate the area where your garbage containers are located at night with some lights.

Most of the animals in question also have a keen sense of smell. You can keep them away by creating unpleasant odors for them. For example, you can put out mothballs, whose pungent smell is extremely disturbing to wild animals.

Conclusion: Preventing animals in the trash with a few simple steps

As you can see, there are numerous different animals that can rummage through your garbage. To keep these uninvited guests away from your garbage containers in the future, different measures are recommended depending on the type of animal. Fortunately, however, there are also universal tricks that deter all animals.

We therefore recommend getting a bin enclosure , which makes it more difficult for animals to access your waste and also inhibits odor development. Additionally, you can use lights or mothballs to make the area as unpleasant as possible for animals.

Frequently asked questions about animals in the trash

If you still have questions about animals in the trash, you've come to the right place. We've compiled the most frequently asked questions on this topic and answered them clearly for you. This way, you can quickly find specific answers or get information at a glance.

Why do animals rummage through garbage?

Animals living in urban areas adapt their diets to human needs. Food scraps and leftover pet food provide many animals with a high-energy supplement to their diet.

How can animals be kept away from garbage?

You can make it more difficult for animals to access your garbage by using a bin enclosure . Illuminating the area where your bins are located and placing mothballs around will make it even more unpleasant for these nocturnal visitors.