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Canada

Ok this has been a problem for me for YEARS specially
when all the plants are small they get taken rigth out of garden

Ive tried the "live release traps" and have been catching

quite a few Possums
lots of Rabbits
squirrls ( think its the bait )
and ive even gotten birds.

But what would you suggest to keep the other animals out

I was thinking for early part of growing season say first 2 months till plants really start to take off i was thinking
of bulding an 3 foot high chicken wire fence around it

but then thought heck the possums can still climb in

any suggestions?

thanks Dave

12/23/2003 4:03:02 AM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

dave if ya have one put small feist yapping dog around patch seems to keep possums,rabbits etc away,also ive heard habanaro pepper spray put around patch will keep dogs and other rodents away,also electronic rodent spikes in ground will get rid of moles etc.hope it helps yours in punkins burrhead

12/23/2003 4:18:36 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

I use an electric fence. Just make sure you have no large gaps at the botom, I used extra lines to keep the spaces narrow, and you *shouldn't* have animal troubles...unless they bore underground.

12/23/2003 7:07:51 AM

KENTUCKY

Dave,
I agree with southern. I used an electric fence with with no large gaps. I live out (not in city) and it kept all the critters out of my patch. Another thing to consider, I'm doing this next year, put silt fence around your patch and then the electric on top of that to keep the climbing critters out. The silt fence will also be a low level wind break, so "2 birds with 1 stone" on that. Silt fence is very cheap, too.

Good luck,
Mike

12/23/2003 8:26:43 AM

Norton, MA

Simple bee-bee gun'll do the job if you have the guts. Get some human hair and make a circle around the patch if you're like me and can't stand to kill them.

12/23/2003 10:48:13 AM

Indiana

Last I checked a leg trap and a little pistol worked the best.

Tom

12/23/2003 11:25:21 AM

Montoursville, PA

I like venison, rabbit, squirrel, possum, coon and groundhog in that order. So does my neighbors two hunting dogs. We do what we have to do to live in harmony with what nature provides. We find food where we find it and when the food is eating our crops we make them a crop.

12/23/2003 1:43:56 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

Just shot another magpie this morning I think they come from our friends in Australia they are big black and white birds that just love to destroy anything they see.
But for every thing else mains unit electric fence the unit I have is power full enough to do about 300 mile of wire I have about about about 200 meters of wire at the moment

12/23/2003 3:14:21 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

If you elect to use the chicken wire fence route, be sure to get the smallest weave or opening size avail ! Had baby
woodchucks waltzing right through the larger mesh size openings for about a week before I discovered who was doing all the patch damage !

12/23/2003 3:30:09 PM

Montoursville, PA

Actually a three foot tight weave or welded wire fence will for all intent and purpose work pretty good in surburban gardening. The key phrase is "work pretty good". I don't know anything short of a minimum eight foot fence that will keep out deer...........but most animals are lazy and creative. They will go to the neighbors garden by walking by your resistance if all the gardens are not fenced.

There is no fence, liquid deterrent, or hung product that will work long term. Reducing the population by any means is
the only correction when animal damage is a threat to satisfactory completion of your growing projects.

Some relief in the Northeast is present in the form of mixed and real preditation dogs and increased presnce of the halwks.

A good pellet gun and the knowlege how to use it and a good 22 cal with the nerve to use it at risk are not foolish practices. They can be expensive practices if one gets turned in and arrested. I shoot 'em. You may read about me someday. :)

12/23/2003 6:03:46 PM

Stouffville

hire brigitte

12/23/2003 6:58:36 PM

Johnston, R.I.

a live trap and a 55 gal drum of water work wonders

12/23/2003 8:03:21 PM

thanks for the plug jammerama! LOL...

Dave...I had a 3-4 ft chicken wire fence for the dog this past year...simple, metal stakes for corners, used cable ties to attach it (thought it wasn't too aesthetically pleasing)...

do you have a dog? the dog scent might keep some of the pests at bay. little traps work for mice and shrews as well. live traps work for the bigger stuff, but coons etc. have to be transported more than a few miles away (at least 5 i would think) or they'll just come right back.

and like above mentioned....a shotgun or .22 will aleviate the problem as well.

12/23/2003 10:39:19 PM