Animal Pests.

Posted by Ena on October 1st, 2007 filed in Garden Pests

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.’

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