Keeping Animal Pests Out of Your Garden

Chewing rodents can do a lot of damage during the winter -- under cover of snow.

But I have to admit that peaceful is not what I felt this spring when the snow finally melted and I saw what the voles had done to my creeping phlox (chewed it into bits to make nests) and to my 12-year old flowering crab tree (completely girdled it) or what the chipmunks had done to my lily bulbs (shredded them into piles of what looked like waxy white potato chips).

Nor was there anything but murderous revenge on my mind a couple of summers ago when woodchucks took over the garden. In broad daylight, those woodchucks systematically ate everything that I loved best: broccoli, lettuce, carrot tops, peas, echinacea, phlox, lilies. I managed to convince my husband to borrow a .22, and while he took aim from the bedroom window, I kept the kids downstairs with the stereo blaring. He managed to kill one of them, but we both felt terrible about it for the rest of the summer. My garden had become a war zone and that precious sense of peace was gone. I won't say never, but I seriously doubt we'll resort to that solution any time soon.

So what is a nature-loving, generally peaceful soul to do when voles, woodchucks, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, moles, and other furry little mammals wreak havoc on our gardens?

1. Start by identifying the creature that is causing the damage and then learn a little bit about the habits of that animal. This knowledge is essential if you want to come up with an effective solution. If you need help determining who is causing the problem, take a look at the animal pests featured in our Pest and Disease Finder. Another great resource is the University of Nebraska Extension Service. Just click on the pest you think might be the problem for a description of typical damage.

2. Make the area less attractive to wildlife. Eliminate hiding or nesting areas, such as brush piles and tall grass. Cordon off crawl spaces beneath your porch or deck. Minimize food sources (covering your compost pile will discourage raccoons, cleaning up birdseed will discourage squirrels, and using Milky Spore and beneficial nematodes on your lawn will reduce grub populations, the primary food source for moles and skunks).

3. Consider some of the following control methods and choose the one(s) most appropriate to the pest and to your location.

Eradication
Shooting the perpetrator is probably not an option, whether by choice or because of zoning restrictions. Poison baits are cruel and pose a danger to pets. Smoke bombs can be effective, but are usually a temporary solution at best. Scissor traps are effective for moles and gophers, but are as gruesome as they sound.

Repellents
Scent repellents like Garlic Clips, castor oil (Mole Control) or fox urine can be effective temporary solutions but they need to be monitored and reapplied to remain effective. Hot pepper spray can be effective against nibbling rabbits. Some types of plants, such as castor bean and fritillaria, are also said to discourage rodents. And mothballs are another traditional scent deterrent (though you need to keep in mind that they are poisonous to pets and children).

Ultrasonic repellers, water sprayers, noise makers and visual stimulators can also be useful, though their effectiveness may diminish once pests may become familiar with them. Experiment with scare devices such as reflective tape and fake predators.

Pets
Dogs and cats can be a nuisance in the garden, but they can also be useful for keeping furry pests under control. Cats are especially good at catching voles and gophers. Dogs (my dog, anyway) patrols my gardens for woodchucks from April through September.

Live Traps
Woodchucks, rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks can be difficult to lure into a trap (though I caught 23 chipmunks one summer with Triscuits). But even more problematic is figuring out what to do if you do catch one. Some states prohibit the relocation of wildlife. If it is permitted, it can still be cruel to the animal and probably to the gardeners who live in the new area. For more information, read Animal Trapping Techniques.

Fences
Exclusion is certainly the most effective, long-term solution. If bulb-eating rodents are the primary problem, you might try putting a wire bulb cage around your flower bulbs to protect them from burrowing chipmunks. A fence can either be permanent or temporary. Our Easy Up Lightweight Fence can be cut to size and can be put up and taken down quickly. Electric fences are the ultimate solution -- especially for woodchucks and rabbits. There are several different electric fence kits designed to block rabbits and woodchucks. Our favorite is Mr. McGregor's Fence. This battery-powered, easy-to-install fence produces a shock that is startling but harmless.

For more information, read Animal Fencing Techniques.

Here's hoping that your garden is a peaceful place this summer.

If you have any tips and techniques to share, we'd love to hear from you. Write to us at: innovativegardener@gardeners.com