Top 5 Trending Outdoor Dining Locations In Cincinnati

Everyone loves an outdoor dining option this time of year. There is something that just adds to a dining experience to be enjoying it in the evening Cincinnati sun. The birds singing, the sounds of the bustling populus, the soft light coming from the “golden hour” sun, and the smell of three day old chinese food and pizza crusts fill the air. It’s a raccoon’s food nirvana.

Just like my wife and I love to find a quaint patio to grab an early Sunday dinner on, these ring-tailed gastronomes love nothing better than outdoor dining on a tepid August evening. Here are the top 5 trending outdoor dining locations for raccoons In Cincinnati.

Bird feeders

As much as we all LOVE to enjoy the sights of a cardinal or goldfinch visiting our well stocked bird feeders, long after our winged friend’s songs have come to an end, in the darkest hour of the night, raccoons feast not just on the spillage from the day’s avian feeding frenzies, but often times they will climb poles, posts, and trellises to dismantle our bird feeders and gorge themselves on the contents. I recommend placing “Wildlife Proof” bird feeders no closer than 30 feet to any structure on your property. As avid amature ornithologists, some friends of the family recommend using wildlife resistant bird feeders such as these (https://amzn.to/2FgaOZg) that are designed to “close” when the weight of anything heavier than a bird approaches them.

Pet food bowls

I will first start by saying even the owner of a wildlife control company does not always follow his own advice, but leaving food out for pets such as outdoor neighborhood or barn cats is an easy meal for the masked midnight marauders. For the longest time, we would feed our barn cat every morning, assuming Ursula would eat during the day and the bowl would be empty by night. One night I happened to pass by her bowl after dark and noticed there was a significant amount of food left. Worried that I had a sick barn cat, I set up a trail camera to see if/when she was eating. Sure enough, that night I captured a video of a female raccoon with three young in tow helping themselves to Ursula’s Friskies. From that point forward, every night when we close up the chickens, I empty the remaining food in her bowl and leave it empty overnight until morning when I fill it again. And of course, I assume you have read the last blog post (5 Proven Tips On Keeping Nuisance Wildlife Away From Your Chickens ) that we wrote talking about not leaving the chicken feeders full and out at night so I do not need to revisit that. 

Trash bins

Unsecured trash bins are a smorgasbord of delectable treats for raccoons, hence the colloquial nickname “trash panda”. From leftover General Tso chicken with fried rice, to the nibbled clean of cheese crusts from LaRosa’s, your resident racoons can take a worldwide culinary adventure with the lift of a trash can lid. I recommend to all of our clients some sort of lid securing devices if trash and recycling containers are stored outside. We sell and install LidLoc brand trash security devices (https://amzn.to/3gRkpn7). They install in a matter of minutes, and most trash collection companies and municipalities do not mind them. Though check with your waste provider to ensure they will not be an issue before you install.

Gardens

This year’s rise in self sustaining home practices have led to many new gardeners learning the ropes, or shall we say vines, that come with food plots and nuisance wildlife. Though a percentage of crop loss is inevitable, much of it can be deterred with adequate exclusion, visual, pheromone, and physical deterrents. If you are interested in some of the methods we use on our farm, and can implement on your property, we would be happy to customise a garden exclusion program unique to your needs.

Compost Piles

Remember how I talked about the leftover chinese food in your trash bins, well, if you are eco conscious like our family, you might supplement your waste management plan with DIY composting of organic wastes created in your home. Left overs, kitchen scraps, trimmings, and spoiled food all go into the Ridgley family compost bins. Which means like clockwork, those piles get visited each night we add new “goodies” to the bin. If you are concerned about your compost pile attracting unwelcome wildlife to your property, we had a neighbor a few years back who had a ton of success with the barrel style enclosed compost bins. Added bonus is the ease of turning the compost pile as opposed to having to use a muck rake or pitch fork. You can find a similar bin to the one they used through this Amazon Affiliate link (https://amzn.to/3gS29Kn) 

When you make yourself aware of the circumstances and habits in your life that can lead to attracting nuisance wildlife to your property, then you can fix the “problem” before it even becomes one. If you have any questions, or want to take advantage of our Nuisance Wildlife Pressure Inspection please click on the “contact us” button above and let us know how we can help you ensure the safety of your family and security of your property.

Till Next Time… See Ya Folks.