Some species of wildlife we consider pests because they seem to counter our efforts to grow things or make our property more attractive. Our yards provide perfect habitat for species that use clearings or the edges between meadow, or yard, and forest. Deer, raccoons, skunks, fox and woodchucks all thrive in these habitats. We make it more inviting when we plant herbs, grasses, vegetables, flowering plants, bulbs, tender shrubs and trees. Snakes are attracted to the moist soil under mulch in our gardens and the sunning places at the foundations of our houses.
Skunks look for the grubs in soil and often search in newly dug gardens.
Also, our yards tend to attract species that can tolerate human presence to a fair degree. There are two basic choices for dealing with these conflicts. You can accept it or you can fight it. If you accept it, there is no conflict. If you decide to fight it, you can either manage the wildlife or manage the habitat.