Animal Pests

Posted by Ena Clewes
October 1st, 2007
Filed in Garden Pests and Diseases
Tags: animals, pests, repellents

Four- footed creatures and birds can cause more damage in many gardens in rural areas, than insects. They can ruin your garden or landscape overnight, eating anything from apples to zinnias. Most animal pests feed at night, so you may have to search for signs such as destroyed plants,tracks, tunnels, or any other signs that would tell you who the culprits might be.

Try and identify the pest. Tracks are often a good clue to their identity. If you read books on wildlife they should give you an insight into the animal’s habits.

Assess the damage. If it is not serious, then maybe your plants can withstand it, but if the damage threatens your harvest or plant health, control will be necessary. If the damage was only to one type of plant, then you may want to consider leaving it out of your garden plans.

Fences and barriers are two of the best control methods. If fencing is impratical, you can use humane traps to
catch the culprits and then release them into their natural habitat, at least one mile from your property.

Homemade organic repellents can often give good results, and many people try scarecrows etc with some good results.

If you decide to flood tunnels, trap an animal or try to shoot them, then please think twice.

You will be responsible for perhaps killing them, and only if the damage to your garden is such that you feel you have no choice, then you must be guided by your conscience.

Unfortunately, our planet is being overcrowded and therefore many animals who would not normally come to your garden looking for food have no choice.

‘meet you on the garden path.’