Critters!
They may be cute to watch as they scurry around
your trees, but squirrels are no fun when it comes to an iris garden! Those
lovely irises may be just what they seek when foraging for food, as evidenced
by the missing or partially eaten rhizomes and the remains of tender young
plants they leave behind. Squirrels are naturally drawn to any area with a
predictable source of food, such as oak trees, nut trees, fruit trees, vegetables
or rhizomatic gardens. As a result, many a gardener has been tempted to turn
into Elmer Fudd and grab a BB gun! However, as squirrels are managed and
protected as game animals, there are limits on the methods of control,
especially in a city environment.
In addition to squirrels, your garden may be
attractive to other small animals. Cats may find it their favorite new litter
box. Opossums, rabbits, raccoons and even rats may seek it out for food. The
laws will vary, as will the means of eradication, depending on the type of
animal you suspect is causing the damage. If it's from a stray dog or cat,
the local Animal Shelter may be of assistance in identifying and trapping the
culprit due to leash laws. If a raccoon or opossum is suspected, many cities
lend traps free of charge to remove these animals from a populated area.
Check with your local extension service or game warden regarding regulations
and assistance before embarking on any aggressive eradication effort.
A less aggressive and legal means of lowering your
damage by small animals is use of a repellant. Most of the formulations
currently available contain some type of capsaicin (the chemical that gives
peppers their punch). With the largest oak tree in the neighborhood squarely
in our yard, I am fan of using cayenne sprinkled straight from the bottle as
a relatively inexpensive deterrent. However, many deterrents (including
cayenne) must be reapplied after each rain, which in the South can be very
labor intensive. During times of particularly frequent rains, I have also
used fox urine, which can be found at local sporting stores. Designed to be
used by hunters to mask their human scent, this product signals danger to
small animals and can help keep them out of your garden. The scent remains
behind for longer than the cayenne does during rainy periods, so it does not
have to be applied as often.
If these methods prove ineffective in your garden,
or if you prefer a commercially prepared deterrent, there are quite a few currently
on the market. Most of these products use environmentally friendly
ingredients to deter small animals through odor and taste. For instance, many
utilize some combination garlic, capsaicin and putrescent egg (smell of an
animal protein). Available forms include sprays, aerosols, granules and
liquid concentrates, depending on your preference and pocketbook. Here's a brief summary of
the small animal repellents I've found currently available:
·
Bobbex - Bobbex for deer, Bobbex-R
for numerous types of small animals (rabbit, squirrel, vole, chipmunk etc.),
and Bobbex-G for geese and other small fowl. Bobbex is a spray-on repellent
that comes in numerous packaging choices: pump sprayer, concentrate, or RTU. A
plus of the Bobbex products is that they do not wash off in rain. A minus in
these products is that their coating interferes with the natural perspiration
of the plant, which might lead to rot.
·
Bonide - Deer & Rabbit Repellent,
Dog & Cat Repellent, Hot Pepper Wax Animal Repellent, MoleMax Granules,
MoleMax RTS, Rabbit & Dog Repellent, Repels All RTU, Repels All
Concentrate, Repels All Granules, Snake Stopper.
·
Dr. T’s
Nature Products - Mole Out, Deer Blocker, Whole Control, De-Fence, Rid-A-Critter, Bye-Bye
Birdie, Rat Scat, SnakeGuard.
·
Ferti-lome - Mole-Go and This 1
Works Deer Repellent.
·
Hi-Yield
- Mole & Gopher Bait.
Effectiveness varies from product to product, and some of them are
toxic to humans if ingested. Additionally, some may cause skin or eye
irritation. Be sure to read the label carefully
on any product you choose for toxicity, precautions and proper directions for
use.
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