 |
Animal pest control Custom Search Pest control for certain garden animals, such as deer, raccoons, rabbits and possums is aggravating, but like anything else in the garden, if you stay ahead of them, it eases the problem. After all, we are smarter than they are... aren't we??? These pages are dedicated to pest control for birds, mammals and reptiles, which are all classed as vertebras. There are many varieties of these animal pests and some are more prevalent in certain areas of the country and rarer in other sections. Pest control for insects is discussed in a separate section.
Deer
If you garden in the suburbs or in a rural area, deer can be a big problem, literally. Due to our encroachment upon their natural habitat, these graceful creatures have begun to raid our gardens in search for food especially, in the harsh winter months. It is extremely difficult to keep deer out of the garden. Various pest control methods such as using scents from predatory animals, frightening devices such as flashing lights / loud noises, and wrapping the trunks of trees with wire mesh have all had very limited success. Shooting deer is an option, but you must be absolutely positive that you can legally hunt in your locality, even on your own property. Poison is definitely illegal in most jurisdictions, so don't even go there. The two best solutions that seem to work are fences, a dog or both. Fences must be quite sturdy and need to be least 6 to 8 ft. tall to keep the deer from leaping over the fence and getting onto your property. The fence should also be secured at the bottom because deer will crawl underneath a fence to get food when they are really hungry. Also provide an exit for the deer so that if they do get into your garden, and are in a panicky state, you can safely herd them out. A dog does not have to chase deer, as long as the dog is not too “laid back”, his presence alone should be enough to deter your visitors. Even a yapping Yorkie will discourage most deer who would rather find easier pickings.
Woodchucks/Groundhogs
These animals are the terrorists of the garden world, wantonly wrecking and strewing your plants all over the garden. They are hibernating creatures, so if something is tearing up your garden during the winter you know it isn’t a woodchuck or a groundhog. Everyone has a pest control theory about getting rid of these pests. Trapping and releasing works for one animal, but with their large families and extensive underground dens, another one will move in as soon as you evict the first one. If your garden plot is rather small you can erect a fence. Even though groundhogs do not jump they dig very well so extend the fence deeply into the ground so they can not go under it. Bending the fence outward at the bottom where it is buried is a further deterrent.
Rabbits
Another cute and cuddly creature which may get blacklisted from your garden is the rabbit. Rabbits have become urbanized and will be found in many city gardens. They are very serious consumers of plant growth and without some form of pest control, they can do heavy damage to evergreens and shrubs during the winter. Springtime however, is when they do their greatest damage to your veggies because of all those sweet and tender new shoots that have just sprouted. Small temporary fences around your plot will help keep them away, but once again a dog or even a cat will probably be your best deterrent. Scents from feral animal urine such as bobcat or coyote can be very effective, but they have to be applied often and will possibly give food crops an off taste if applied directly to the plants.
RaccoonsRaccoons are probably the smartest and most cunning of all the animal pests. Most people agree that an electric fence with two active wires; one, 2 in. above the ground and one, 8 in. above the ground is probably the most effective pest control solution. It is good practice to keep your garbage in a metal garbage can with a secure lid. Place the cans in a rack, if necessary, to prevent the raccoons from tipping them over. Never leave pet food outside overnight and pick up any fallen fruit and nuts frequently. Also try to encourage your neighbors not to feed raccoons. Even though a lot is made of their habit of washing their food; feral raccoons are very dirty and may carry rabies and other diseases.
If you grow corn in your garden and raccoons are present, remember the old adage “Harvest your corn the day before the raccoons harvest your corn”. If you can accept the fact that in spite of your pest control efforts you will lose a certain amount of your crop to these critters you will possibly sleep better at night.
Burrowing Pests (moles, gophers, voles or meadow mice)This group of pest is easiest controlled by the use of pest control methods such as traps, smoke or toxic baiting. They will usually do minimal damage to a vegetable garden, so unless you have a large infestation of these pests, it may be best to “live and let live “.If you utilize the raised bed system of gardening, use heavy nail-in staples to securely attach one half inch galvanized builder’s hardware cloth to the bottom of your frame when they are being constructed. This method should keep the most dedicated burrowing animals such as moles and mice away from your tender vegetables. Squirrels and Chipmunks
These animals are more of a nuisance than a pest and can usually be ignored as far as they relate to your vegetable patch. They will eat some tender young shoots and dig up loose soil to hide their cache of nuts and acorns, but they usually do minimal damage. Placing cage-like freestanding covers made of chicken wire over the rows may discourage them. Once again a pet dog or cat may also solve the problem.
Possums
Possums have become fairly common throughout the United States. Possums eat almost anything; especially garbage, pet food and your vegetable garden. They are disease ridden and have a tendency to get into fights with dogs and cats. They can inflict damage to your pets, so it is best not to have them on your property. Utilizing habitat control such as keeping your garbage in a metal can and keeping food indoors or inaccessible will make your property less appealing. An electric fence is the best pest control option in discouraging these animals. They are rather easily trapped, but since a permit is usually required to relocate possums, it is advisable to hire a professional exterminator.
SnakesI find it hard to imagine common garden snakes as a nuisance although they can scare the heck out of some people. The good they do outweighs any negatives you may have about snakes unless of course they are venomous. Keeping the grass mowed and removing extra mulch will discourage them from visiting by eliminating places to hide. There are also granular snake repellents that can be sprinkled around the borders of your garden, but this requires freshening up fairly often. Birds
There are people who consider birds as pests. Then again, most people welcome birds into their garden because of the positive assets that they bring to your vegetable garden. The good that our feathered friends do far outweighs the occasional fruit and nuts they steal. By utilizing bird netting and nonlethal pest control methods such as noise-makers, dummy owls and red Christmas tree balls in the tomato patch, many of these problems can be controlled. If you absolutely need to rid your garden of all animal pests, consider hiring a professional exterminator if you are unsure of all the ramifications involved. Better safe than sorry!! Lastly, there is always the option of just ignoring these animal incursions. It can be extremely infuriating, but quite often the damage is not as great as it looks. As mentioned above “live and let live” is a good motto.
Return to home from pest control
|
