Managing wildlife in the landscape

When it comes to managing wildlife pests in the garden, the best and most efficient method is to exclude the wildlife. Fencing to prevent the rodent from getting to your plants is the first recommendation.

However, this is not always the easiest to do. You need a 10-foot fence to prevent deer from coming into your garden.

I have a friend up in the Cleveland area who actually invested in this type of fence in order to keep the deer out. It had gotten to the point that he couldn’t have anything in his landscape because of the deer pressure.

It’s a little easier to exclude some rodents from a smaller vegetable garden. I say “some,” because there are some little critters that are really good at digging under or jumping over fences.

Chicken wire works quite well to prevent rabbits from entering. Make sure it’s strung tight to hopefully prevent the critter from going under; place about 6 inches of the fence underground or bury with soil.

There are lots of types of repellents such as dusts and sprays that can be used. Keep in mind that these repellents are temporary and will need to be reapplied periodically, especially if it rains.

The idea is to use a smell that repels the animal or to use a predator smell (such as coyote urine) that will scare the critter. Always follow label instructions so that you get the best efficacy from the product.

There are also a variety of gadgets that frighten the animal, making them think a predator is present. Shadow figures that look like coyotes are used around lakes to scare the geese.

The problem with using these types of deterrents is that they have to be moved frequently (daily). If the animal gets used to the deterrent, it is no longer a threat.

Wildlife specialists always recommend that you first identify the critter causing the problem and then learn about the biology.

The next step to success it to use multiple tactics. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution to managing wildlife in the landscape.

I would love to hear from you. What tactics have worked for you in preventing critters from damaging your landscape and garden plants? Email me (bennett.27@osu.edu), and I might summarize your comments and let others know what has worked.