So I have squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and groundhogs/moles all over my yard. They eat the roots of my hostas and the deer eat the leaves! They destroy the whole garden really. What is the best thing to get rid of them? Is there a trap that works for squirrels? I have set those steel mesh ones and never caught one. I have spread the dried blood fertilizer and its been working it seems but I have to spread it after it rains. I had a cat and that was perfect but I don't have one anymore and I can't get one again (family allergies). So what can be done? What do you do for each of those rodents?
Repelling Squirrels, Chipmunks, Deer, and Ground Hogs/Moles
- Thread starter NoPaint
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A fence is probably the best option. It'll have to be strong for deer protection. They can be mighty motivated critters.
Matt
Matt
Try spreading used cat litter around. The smell of another animal should keep them away, especially woodchucks fi you can find their den. Good luck
With regard to deer I have had very good results using Milorganite. I use a hand held spreader and walk though the flower beds spreading it around over all the plants.
Regarding the other small ones I do not have a suggestion.
Regarding the other small ones I do not have a suggestion.
Every thing we've tried in the past 16 years has worked for about 1 year. This includes most all of the major brands. Hinder worked for exactly one season. Currently we're on Deer Out. http://www.deerout.com/?gclid=CLy1k6eRlJoCFRwDagodUgxCNA . A couple things I like about it is that is smells good and that it doesn't clog up a hand sprayer. So far it is working ok, but I don't trust any 30 day guarantee. I usually spray highly vulnerable plants weekly until the dry season.
Deer are browsers and seem to try a nibble of almost anything and can get used to almost any repellent if they are hungry or dumb enough. We have deer eating plants they've never touched for a decade and suddenly the new generation wipes out most of an entire large bush. They come right up to cleaning out flower boxes and plants right against the house. The best defense is a tall fence. Second is a good dog.
Deer are browsers and seem to try a nibble of almost anything and can get used to almost any repellent if they are hungry or dumb enough. We have deer eating plants they've never touched for a decade and suddenly the new generation wipes out most of an entire large bush. They come right up to cleaning out flower boxes and plants right against the house. The best defense is a tall fence. Second is a good dog.
cats for the rodents, Dog for the deer. Tiger, wolf, cougar, human urine all work on deer for a little while, but they are smart and get used to it.
For the burrowing rodents, my grandfather used to craft these elegant little whirlygigs...a windmill that would pivot atop a stake, and as the windmill spun, a couple of little wooden clappers rythmically tapped the sides of the stake. He swore that the sound the things generated, transmitted down the stake and into the ground, kept the moles, etc. at bay. In any case, they were pretty and I found the sounds they made to be pleasant. Rick
Edit to add: I've found a nice .30-06 to be quite effective on deer. :coolsmirk:
Edit to add: I've found a nice .30-06 to be quite effective on deer. :coolsmirk:
I have had good luck with Smith & Wesson Exterminating Company for several pests.
But the deer on my place are my pets. I hate vegetables so no problem with a garden. And they mow my back yard for me while I sit on the deck with a beer in the afternoon. I should have four more spotted fawn wobbling around here in a month or so.
But the deer on my place are my pets. I hate vegetables so no problem with a garden. And they mow my back yard for me while I sit on the deck with a beer in the afternoon. I should have four more spotted fawn wobbling around here in a month or so.
used a live trap for squirells, caught em all day log baited with peanut butter.About 7"x7"x24" wire cage. Spring loaded doors on both ends,bait trip in the middle. Took em about 5 miles to work across busy 4 lane , over levee containment for Mississippi, released into woods. Bet they found their way back to their tree!!
The first one caught, I managed,,Finally to get into a pillow case,,,from there into a ammo can for transport,,,theres a reason they call them, there ammo cans "air-tight".
For chipmunks, I'd have to recommend the "chipmunk swimming pool." Take a 5 gallon painter's bucket, half fill it with water. Pour blackoil sunflower seeds liberally into bucket until they completely cover the water. Place where they are most active and get a piece of 1x or something to use as a ramp. Place a few seeds on bottom of ramp, a few on top, overhanging the water, and wa-la, they will jump in there in bunches and quietly drown while you are at work. Do this for a couple of days and your chipmunk population will be decreased. I had tons of them, so I set up two buckes at a time. Caught 8 in the first 48 hours and 5 in the late summer also. They breed in the spring and late summer so you want to get them before they breed again.
I don't really know what they do that is harmful, but they were running into my garage and burrowing next to my foundation. After an incident with flying squirrels I didn't want more rodents taking up residence in my house.
I don't really know what they do that is harmful, but they were running into my garage and burrowing next to my foundation. After an incident with flying squirrels I didn't want more rodents taking up residence in my house.
A dog and invisible fencing containment to keep him in your yard. We've got a big veg. garden, small apple and plum trees, flowers and berry bushes and free range chickens, and with a full-time outdoor dog we haven't lost a thing to deer, rabbits raccoons or predators (as far as the chickens go). No bears or raccoons in the compost heap either.
BrotherBart said:
I wish the deer would mow our grass. They are not grass grazers out here unless they're desperate. I'd need a few sheep or goats to handle our yard.
I like that! Too bad I don't have a larger 'bucket' so I can do the same with squirrels...CTburns said:For chipmunks, I'd have to recommend the "chipmunk swimming pool." Take a 5 gallon painter's bucket, half fill it with water. Pour blackoil sunflower seeds liberally into bucket until they completely cover the water. Place where they are most active and get a piece of 1x or something to use as a ramp. Place a few seeds on bottom of ramp, a few on top, overhanging the water, and wa-la, they will jump in there in bunches and quietly drown while you are at work. Do this for a couple of days and your chipmunk population will be decreased. I had tons of them, so I set up two buckes at a time. Caught 8 in the first 48 hours and 5 in the late summer also. They breed in the spring and late summer so you want to get them before they breed again.
I don't really know what they do that is harmful, but they were running into my garage and burrowing next to my foundation. After an incident with flying squirrels I didn't want more rodents taking up residence in my house.
squirrles and chips wond eat roots as far as i know...
moles voles gophers however will.
castor been oil extract will repel them, works in my lawn!
(broken link removed to http://www.groworganic.com/pdf/pestsolutionschart.pdf)
this is a killer pdf of solutions for any yard pest and plant sickness...
gophers,
the best answer is to put plants rooballs down into wire mess before hand...
deer,
if you like venison, Mossberg em. but a fence is more practical
oh, that and just pump your plants so they overgrow the pests
moles voles gophers however will.
castor been oil extract will repel them, works in my lawn!
(broken link removed to http://www.groworganic.com/pdf/pestsolutionschart.pdf)
this is a killer pdf of solutions for any yard pest and plant sickness...
gophers,
the best answer is to put plants rooballs down into wire mess before hand...
deer,
if you like venison, Mossberg em. but a fence is more practical
oh, that and just pump your plants so they overgrow the pests
Why not use your wildlife attractive yard for what it really is worth? ... a productive source of healthy food! Ground squirrel on a spit, slow roasted on the grill, tastes really great. Woodchucks weren't meant to chuck wood, they were meant to provide a few chuckles around the dinner table as the sweet leg meat with gravy graced the dinner plate. And deer weren't given that name without reason -- they are very dear and will quickly fill the larder for a long cold winter, fueling the woodcutter bucking up wood for the next year.
I say, eat up nature's bounty which an attractive yard produces.
I say, eat up nature's bounty which an attractive yard produces.
I recommend a .17 HMR for the little critters and 30-06 for the deer. And the chipmunk bucket trap will put a hurt on those little rodents.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
good fertilizer too! BUT< can attract coyotes ansd scavengers, just different pests...
good fertilizer too! BUT< can attract coyotes ansd scavengers, just different pests...
dvellone said:
Yep, sounds like our place except, no bears , coyotes .
dogs and invisible fencing work well for us.
NoPaint said:
In order listed -
.177,.177,30-06, .223 for groundhogs, .177 or .22 for moles (.22, you can actually shoot through a little dirt if need be). 2 out of 4 of them make for good food. You get to pick which two.
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