Keeping Large Pests at Bay
 
It may seem unfair to some people to classify the list of animals below as pests. Although the same could be said when it comes to classifying weeds! Indeed many would consider it a treat to have a few of them as visitors to the garden. However for others they can cause great anguish either through destruction or by leaving unhygienic mess behind.

Follow our guide to ‘Keeping large pests at bay’ where we look at some of the options and products on today’s market.

The majority of our recommendations are to promote ways of prevention and the use of deterrents as opposed to methods for eradication.

Living in Harmony

As the title of this article suggests, ‘Keeping large pests at bay’ without the intention of inflicting harm, is really the key to living in harmony with nature.

Whether you live in an urban or rural setting you are likely to experience unwanted visitors at some time. Due to the territorial nature of many animals mentioned permanent removal will only create a vacuum for another to take its place. Once you have found an effective method for discouraging your pest it is likely that regular re-applications will be required.

Tips and Tricks

Before applying any type of animal repellent always remove any evidence of previous fouling preferably with a hose.

Deer

Out of all the large pests deer are probably one of the most beautiful but never the less very destructive in many a rural garden.

Their feeding becomes more desperate as their natural food source becomes scarce during Winter and early Spring. This can be accelerated with prolonged periods of cold weather making them less selective in their diet. At this point a well-stocked garden will offer this normally timid creature an alternative feeding station even if some plants are thought to be ‘deer resistant’.

Deer are generally nocturnal animals and therefore much of the damage occurs at night. This can be from trampling and uprooting plants to eating flower buds and stripping bark.

The most reliable method for keeping deer out is fencing. For this you will need a fence of at least 1.8 metres in height (up to 2.4 metres for Red deer). Heavy duty welded mesh is ideal although nylon netting will offer a temporary solution. However fencing large areas is very expensive and not to mention unsightly.

‘Scarecrow’ is a device, which deters a range of animals including deer. A passive infrared sensor detects the pest followed by a combination of movement, noise and a spray of water lasting 3 seconds. The manufacturer claims that an area of up to 90m square can be covered making this a relatively inexpensive alternative to fencing. However it should not be operated in freezing conditions for the sake of the deer and your hose!

Warning!

When using a device like the scarecrow you should always make sure the animal can retreat safely without causing it harm.

Tips and Tricks

If you find only selected plants are being eaten then you can use chicken wire to protect them.

Foxes

Once only to be seen in the country, foxes are now well adapted to living in an urban environment. Rurally the fox remains a pest to the farmer but in the towns has become a pest of the gardener and home dweller. Hunting for rabbits has been substituted for scavenging in bin bags and distributing the contents around the garden! The unpleasant scent and droppings of a fox is unmistakable and evidence which is left behind only to the disgust of the gardener.

Foxes tend to work on a system of ‘runs’. These are routes they take as a matter of habit. You can easily identify these runs, which will be worn walkways especially at entry points into your garden under a fence or gate etc. Once identified it will be easier to position deterring substances.

The ‘Scarecrow’ is also suitable for deterring foxes (see deer).

Tips and Tricks

Check under sheds for fox activity there could be a family living beneath!

Cats

Despite the cat being one of the most popular household pets it can cause big problems in the garden. Habits range from raiding bins to preying on small animals, birds and fish. However the worst habit of all is fouling. Like moths to a lamp, cats will be drawn to newly cultivated soil to ‘do their business’. Not only will your plantings and sowings be ruined there will be the unpleasant task of unearthing the mess buried in the soil.

There are plenty of products on the market to repel cats from your garden and pond areas. Other than cultural methods of control (using wire mesh and netting) we are please to report that there are products that only contain natural ingredients (see Cat Repellent and Pepper Dust).

Silent Roar is made of lion dung and as cats are territorial They are scared of larger cats and the scent Silent Roar leaves generally is enough to frighten them off. Our customers vote with there feet on this one its the most popular repeat purchase See http://www.silentroar.co.uk for more info

‘Cat Repellent’ is a product made from natural aromatic essential oils on an inert clay base. The granules can be applied to areas of edible and non-edible crops. Re-application is required after rainfall like many of the other repellents.

‘Pepper Dust’ contains pepper and can also be used to repel cats from edible crops.

‘Cat-a-pult’ liquid is ‘Ready to Use’ and works by confusing the animals senses of taste and smell. Contains aluminium ammonium sulphur.

‘Get Off My Garden’ is in the form of jelly scatter crystals, which are slow releasing and will remain effective in all weather. It can also be used indoors. Contains Methyl nonylketone.

‘Scent Off’ are pellets. Contains naphthalene.

‘Cat Watch’ emits ultra sound at a frequency which only affects cats. Triggered by infared beams, broken by the animals movement and heat, the manufacturer claims that an area of up to 40 feet (approx. 12m) within an arc of 100 degrees can be protected. The device can be operated either form battery or mains power via an adapter (supplied). You can use ‘Cat Watch’ to protect ponds and bird feeding stations.

Warning! When using a device like ‘Cat Watch’ you should always make sure the animal can retreat safely without causing it harm.

Tips and Tricks

Solid objects will block infrared beams so careful positioning is required.

Dogs

As part of dog’s territorial nature it would seem that urinating at every available opportunity is absolutely necessary. This coupled with bin attacks and enthusiastic digging soon becomes too much for any discerning gardener.

Note: Toxocariasis disease is caused by Toxocara canis a round worm that lives in the intestines of an estimated 12% of dogs and puppies in Britain. The eggs are released into the faeces, which can spread the disease to children who are particularly at risk, leading to blindness in certain cases.

Many of the repellents recommended for cats can be used for dogs.

Such as: ‘Pepper Dust’, ‘Cat-a-pult’, ‘Get Off My Garden’, ‘ and ‘Scent Off’.

‘Scarecrow’ can be used to deter dogs.

Tips and Tricks

Wash areas that have been heavily urinated upon with a household disinfectant before applying repellents.

Rabbits

These animals can cause considerable damage in a garden eating plants and vegetables, stripping bark from trees and digging. Burrows and tunnels can run under fences making it difficult to create a permanent barrier. It is easier to set up individual methods of control for each area within the garden where damage is taking place.

Fences

If you do contemplate putting up a fence it will need to be made from wire mesh such as chicken wire 0.9 metres in height. It is a good idea to bury the bottom section of the wire to discourage digging.

Tree Guards

These are made from tough plastic and can be coiled around the trunks of young trees to protect them from rabbits and hares gnawing away the bark. Some shorter tree guards will not offer sufficient protection from hares, which are much larger than rabbits. Both Hares and rabbits will go up on hind legs to reach foliage and bark etc.

All of the below can be used to deter rabbits:

‘Cat-a-pult’ (see cats).

‘Scarecrow’(see deer).

Tips and Tricks

Once trees are no longer at risk from rabbit damage remember to remove the tree guards.

Squirrels

Many people associate the damage caused by squirrels as being relatively insignificant. Stealing a few nuts from the bird table and nibble at bark. Of course they do do this but things can get a little more serious. Their taste extends to vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, bulbs, flower buds, and more. Another well-known habit of the squirrel is to bury food for consumption at a later date. Unfortunately each meal is stored in a separate larder which can cover a fair amount of your garden!

Repellents for squirrels are limited and as they can go almost anywhere, fences are useless although you can try using wire netting to protect individual plants. However don’t use plastic netting squirrels will chew through it! 

‘Scarecrow’ can be used for squirrels (see deer)

Some bird feeders have been designed to keep squirrels out but squirrels are highly intelligent and will seek out ways to extract the food.

Tips and Tricks

Plant bulbs in small baskets made from chicken wire.

Moles

Nothing can be more annoying than to look out onto your lawn to see fresh molehills. If a mole’s burrow runs into the flower borders this can cause wilting and death to plants that have had their roots disturbed. The moles favourite food is the earthworm, which it finds through digging a network of tunnels beneath the ground.

Up till now we have not suggested any means of killing large pests that make a nuisance of themselves in your garden. Indeed we hope it’s not necessary to resort to such measures. However we believe that all the options should be made known and then for you to choose an appropriate method.

The Mole Trap

One of the most effective mole traps is the ‘scissors’ trap. Before using traps you need to remove all scent from your hands. The best way is to rub them in soil or organic matter. Traps of this type need to be set in runs (tunnels) and not the molehills. Care must be taken to exclude all light so replace soil or turf around the set trap. When sprung the trap arms are forced apart.

Sonic Mole Deterents

If you don’t want to kill or harm moles and just want to move them away from your garden you can try a sonic mole deterrent. These emit bursts of vibrating sounds, which (manufacturers claim) are off putting to moles. However if you do choose to use this method, you will need to appreciate that results are not instant. Manufactures advise to keep devices working for a period of 4 to 6 months.

Tips and Tricks

Flatten molehills or remove soil daily to monitor mole movements. More than one mole may be operating in an area. Keep control in place until all activity stops.

Please only use pesticides according to the manufacturers instructions
This Article was correct at time of writing 2002