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When days grow shorter and outdoor temperatures begin to fall, many homeowners begin getting more visitors. Although some two-legged visitors can bother us, those with four legs can be real pests. Critters, large and small, have taken up residency near suburban housing developments. There are possums, raccoons and skunks living in neighborhoods fearless of humans, enjoying backyards with dangling fruit trees, playful vines and ponds.

Urban wildlife can pose serious health risks by harboring and spreading diseases such as rabies, plague or hantavirus. Many of them can harbor fleas, mites and ticks which may bite humans as well. They can often cause a lot of damage to structures by chewing or tearing holes in walls, doors or screens; and damaging or contaminating our food and clothing. A few of these pests are even a threat to bite us or our pets.

Preventive Measures

If you have accidental tourists visiting your home, try these simple preventative cures:

Install one-half inch fireproof hardware cloth over all vents and the chimney.Inspect the perimeter of my house for cracks or holes where animals can enter and seal them after there's no evidence of animals inside.Call a professional if there's any evidence of animal activity -- footprints, discolored areas near openings, skunk smell outside, movement or sound above or below the rooms inside.

Keep Them Wild

As people move to the suburbs and beyond, and animals become more familiar with their human counterparts in the cities, a peaceful coexistence can be achieved. To keep your animal neighbors self-sufficient, and deter them from moving in with you and your family there are a few simple things you can do:

Store pet food in containers with secure lids.Attach the handles of trash receptacles to the ground using stakes, to prevent animals from tipping over them over.Keep pets indoors at night.Install motion detection lighting.Clean up fallen fruit and other debris from yard.Cover hot tubs, pools and ponds if you don't want animals to drink from them.

Knowing the animal's behavior can help you decide a course of action. David, who runs a private animal management firm in Cathedral City, California is also an animal trainer who uses hand signals and praise to remove animals burrowing in attics, cellars and closets.When the topic turns to rodents - rats and mice - it's better to nail the trap to a wall vertically instead of setting it on a floor, so that the bait can't be stolen from the side without the trap being released.

From taking out the trash and positioning the lid to ensure it can't be pried open, to cleaning up after an autumn picnic, respect for animals has to become part of a family's daily routine.