Often times we like to encourage birds to our yards. In this Tip from the Yard, let’s look at wildlife we would like to not have in our yards. How are the deer, rabbits, and groundhogs discouraged from visiting our yards?
Let’s agree that the above 4-legged creatures will never be gone completely from suburban yards. These animals have the ability to adapt to the environment and proliferate in our cities. Location is always an issue. Homes located in woodland areas, near parks, forest preserves, lakes, ponds and utility right of ways will have a larger animal population. Older neighborhoods with established vegetation may have established populations of wildlife. New developments may not have the old growth vegetation but they may have displaced animals looking for a home. Don’t give up, let’s look at three techniques to reduce the desirability of our yards.
Plants Less desirable: Lists of deer resistant plants are common. However, not all deer know what is on that list. Lack of usual food supplies my force deer to choose plants not normally desirable. Most of the time hairy, rough and/or spiny stems and leaf texture, and aromatic plants are not popular with deer. If deer in an area have begun feeding for whatever the reason on plants, they will develop a “taste” for the plant; list or no list. Rabbits and groundhogs eat most anything. They both prefer tender shoots, and most vegetables. Rabbits during the winter will nibble plants at the height of the snow. It could be said rabbits never met a plant they aren’t willing to nibble given the right conditions. So, this may or may not work.
Exclusion: This is keeping animals out with fencing. Deer need a tall fence at least 8 ft. tall and taller is better.
Rabbits and groundhogs need a fence buried up to a foot into the ground and tightly woven. Usually, a 3-foot-high chicken wire or welded wire will discourage their attempts to enter.
Repellents: there are perimeter repellents, and contact repellents
Perimeter repellents are made from animal products; predator urine, or dried blood. These products are intended to induce fear. These work best if other food is close to draw the animal’s interest.
Contact repellents are usually made from plant extracts, capsicum, garlic and mustard oils. They cause the plant to be undesirable or painful to eat.
A word of warning read the label for products safe to use on food products. Follow the label instructions on how to apply the product. More is not better. Repellents work best if applied before the deer or animal first taste the plant. Once they have tasted and like the plant it is harder to discourage. Repellents need to be applied often. In wet weather they are almost useless. In many cases a program of perimeter and individual plant repellents can be effective. Also be prepared to rotate repellent products. The animals can get accustomed to an off taste or smell of a predator but never see it.
Check with a local garden center to learn what products are working in a given area. Deer, rabbits and groundhogs can change their taste preferences quickly.
In the next tip let’s talk a little more about Bees. It may be out of season but they are a valuable partner in our gardens.
M. Massey, Lorain County MGV
Resources:
Controlling Wildlife Damage in Home Gardens, Penn State University
Excluding and Repelling Wildlife from the Garden, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Cottontail Rabbits, Penn State University
Woodchucks, Penn State University
Ornamentals and Deer Realities and Landscape Plant Options, Penn State University
Prevent Problems, Basic Wildlife Management, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources