When Wild Neighbors Move in Under Your Deck

Picture this: you’re walking your dog in the backyard when you notice something odd. Your normally fearless pup won’t go near the deck. That’s when you hear rustling, scratching, or worse, the distinctive rattle of a snake. Turns out, you’ve got houseguests you never invited. From black bears catching their winter sleep to families of raccoons setting up nurseries, homeowners across the country are finding out they’re sharing their property with some seriously wild roommates.

• Animals see the space under your deck as prime real estate, offering darkness, protection, and safety from predators
• Bears, raccoons, skunks, snakes, and opossums are the most common uninvited guests
• The good news is you can take steps to make your property less appealing without harming wildlife

The Bear Who Became an Instagram Star

Vincent Dashukewich from Plainville, Connecticut, got the shock of his life in December 2022. His dog started acting weird near the backyard deck, and when Vincent looked closer, he locked eyes with a massive black bear stretched out on a bed of leaves under his porch. The bear, whom the family named Marty, had picked their deck as his winter den and wasn’t planning to leave anytime soon.

Here’s what happened next. Connecticut wildlife officials told the family they could try to scare Marty away with loud noises and bright lights, or just let him sleep it off. The Dashukewich family chose the latter. Marty stayed put for months, becoming a local celebrity with his own Instagram account that racked up over 12,000 followers. Wildlife biologist Jason Hawley says his office gets 15 to 20 calls every year about bears denning under decks and porches.

Why Your Deck Looks Like a Five-Star Hotel to Wildlife

Animals aren’t randomly picking your backyard. That space under your deck checks every box on their wishlist. It’s dark and quiet, protected from rain and snow, and usually close to food sources. The temperature stays more stable than out in the open, which matters big time for bears trying to conserve energy during winter or snakes looking for a spot to hang out.

If you’ve got bird feeders nearby, compost bins, or even just garbage cans, you’re basically putting out a welcome mat. Raccoons and opossums don’t dig massive burrows. They just slip into any opening they can find. Rats and mice love the cover under decks too, and where you have rodents, you’ll eventually attract the predators that hunt them. That includes snakes, which honestly might be doing you a favor by keeping the mouse population in check.

One Georgia couple came home from vacation to find a four-foot python coiled up under their deck. Turns out it was likely an escaped pet that found the perfect hiding spot. Snakes don’t need much space to squeeze through. Even tiny gaps in your deck’s skirting can become an entrance.

When to Worry and When to Relax When There’s a Beast Under Your Deck

Not every animal under your deck needs an eviction notice. A single squirrel or chipmunk minding its own business? Probably not worth the hassle. But skunks are a different story. Nobody wants to risk getting sprayed every time they step outside. And if you’ve got a family of raccoons setting up shop, they can spread disease through their droppings and make a mess of your yard.

Snakes get a bad rap, but most of them aren’t dangerous. Dr. Chris Christensen, who’s been in pest control for 25 years, actually recommends leaving snakes alone if you’re dealing with rodents. They’ll eat the mice and move on when the food runs out. That said, if you’re spotting shed snake skins or seeing multiple snakes, you might have a bigger problem that needs professional help.

Making Your Deck Less Appealing

The best way to deal with wildlife is to stop attracting them in the first place. Start by removing anything edible. Secure your trash cans, bring pet food inside at night, and maybe skip the bird feeders during warmer months. Trim back any bushes or vegetation growing right up against your deck. Animals love dense cover, and overgrown plants give them a perfect highway straight to your property.

You can block off access points with hardware cloth or wire mesh. Dig down about 12 inches and bend the mesh outward in an L-shape so burrowing animals can’t dig underneath. Just make absolutely sure no animals are trapped inside first. Stuff newspaper in the openings and check for three days to see if it gets disturbed. The last thing you want is to seal in baby raccoons without their mother.

Some people swear by leaving a radio playing talk shows under their deck or setting up motion-activated lights. Animals prefer quiet, dark spaces, so making it loud and bright can convince them to pack up and leave on their own.

What Works (And What Doesn’t)

Mothballs don’t work, despite what your neighbor might tell you. Wildlife experts have tested them, and snakes will crawl right over them without a second thought. Same goes for most commercial repellents. They might work for a few days, but animals get used to the smell and come back.

If you’re dealing with a bear like Marty, your best bet is patience. Black bears don’t hibernate forever. They’ll wake up when spring arrives and food becomes available again. Just keep your distance, don’t try to feed them, and definitely keep dogs and kids away from the area.

When DIY Isn’t Enough to Clear Your Deck

Some situations call for professional help. If you’ve got a venomous snake, a large bear that’s not leaving, or you’re just plain overwhelmed, call a wildlife removal service. They know how to handle animals safely and legally. Some species are protected, and you could face fines for trying to remove them yourself.

Trapping and relocating might seem humane, but it rarely works out well for the animal. You could separate babies from their mother, or drop the animal somewhere it can’t survive. Better to make your property less appealing and let them move out on their own terms.

Living With Wildlife on Your Terms

The truth is, as more homes push into wildlife habitat, these encounters are going to keep happening. The key is making your property less attractive while respecting the animals that were here first. Seal up entry points, remove food sources, and keep your yard tidy. Most animals will take the hint and find somewhere else to live.

And who knows? You might end up with a story as good as the Dashukewich family, who turned their unexpected bear tenant into an internet sensation. Just maybe don’t count on every wildlife encounter ending with 12,000 Instagram followers.