Rabbits wreaking havoc on your prized plants? Natural products use taste and smell aversions to keep critters away.

(ARA) – You love the great outdoors, especially gardening. But sometimes wildlife can be just a bit too wild, with rabbits munching prized plants to the ground, deer devouring petals of roses and azaleas, and cats rolling over seedlings and leaving their “calling cards” throughout your landscaping.

Unfortunately, these critters are a common, perpetual annoyance to home gardeners. Learning a little more about their habits and identifying the culprits is your first step to critter control. First, you’ll need to recognize your four-legged foraging foe. Here are some tips to help you determine the critters you’ll need to thwart: 

Rabbits: Bunnies don’t just dine on clover and grass, they’ll also wreak havoc on your vegetable plants and can even damage woody plants in your landscape. Tell-tale signs that bunnies are bountiful include damage that is usually no higher than 2 1/2 feet above the ground, and sharp cuts at 45-degree angles on plants. 

Deer: A lovely sight almost anywhere other than in your backyard. Deer can, and do, cause major damage to plants, landscapes and vegetable gardens, consuming about 12 pounds of foliage in a single day. To determine if your flowers and vegetables are disappearing due to deer damage, look closely at the half-eaten plants. If you see a jagged, rough edge, you can be sure the damage was done by deer as they have no incisor teeth and tear at the food source, leaving proof of their presence. 

Squirrels: These furry, funny, cute creatures can be quite destructive when it comes to your gardens and landscapes. Squirrels are burrowing animals; they usually feed on bulbs and green leafy material during the spring and summer, switching to seeds and grains during the fall and winter. They love wild bird feeders and have a reputation for driving away the very birds you put the feeder out to attract. You have squirrel damage if you see gnawing marks on tree bark and outside wiring, and signs of digging and burrowing. You’ll also see them in the light of day sitting atop your birdfeeder. 

Cats frolicking in your flowerbeds? All-natural products can control critters in your garden and are safe for children and pets.

Cats: Cats love to dig in soft already-tilled soil, making gardens just perfect for their digging desires. Most cats think the outdoors is their litter box, and a patch of dirt is an invitation to come do their business. It also makes a great place to play or roll. They’ll roll over your plants, breaking new shoots and foliage. A sure sign you have a cantankerous cat frolicking in your flowerbeds is cat droppings. 

These critters don’t have to be the enemy of your gardens, and trapping them won’t solve the problem. The arrival of warm weather means the arrival of new foliage, green grass and pesky critters in our backyards and gardens. As spring is sprung, we’re suddenly faced with long gardening to-do lists and a wide variety of unwanted animals in our garden beds. As a rule of thumb, it’s far better to prevent animal damage than to wait until it occurs and try to combat it. 

There are a number of less-than-ideal approaches for dealing with these frustrating problems. Messy, dangerous chemicals pose unacceptable risks for most homeowners, considering pets and children. Sealing off entire areas of your landscape would be impractical, inconvenient and potentially very costly. Trapping is a lot of effort, and again, it would be a perpetual labor as trapping does nothing to prevent new pests. 

All-natural alternatives can help keep critters out of your gardens and landscape. Look for 100 percent certified organic products like those made by Messina Wildlife Management. Easily applied in ready-to-use spray bottles, these organic products dry clear, smell good and work for 30 days before reapplication is needed, no matter the weather. They’re safe to use on vegetables and none will harm the animals they’re intended to repel. Natural products use taste and smell aversions to keep critters like rabbits, deer, squirrel, cats, groundhogs, moles and even armadillos out of your backyard. 

For most animals scent and taste are the primary senses that attract them to food sources. If you disrupt the animal’s sense of smell and taste, you have won the battle against the constant parade of pesky critters in your landscapes. Visit Messinawildlife.com for more information on natural, safe, effective pest repellents. 

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Squirrel pest control is more about control than elimination. Squirrels make themselves pests by getting into places they shouldn’t, such as eating precious plants and flowers or making themselves at home in the attic. These actions are probably not going to stop when a squirrel is caught because there will be another squirrel to take his place. In cases where squirrels are eating things they shouldn’t, one option (though not a pretty one) is to cover the flowers and plants with a wire cage.

If squirrels are into bird feeders, it may be necessary to move them further from the house. If they are constantly getting into the garbage cans, then new cans with tight lids may be the solution. Many people rely on sprays that deter squirrels. These sprays are often scented with the smell of predators. If they can’t get what they want, then they will go elsewhere.

When to Use Traps for Squirrel Pest Control

Sometimes it becomes necessary to trap squirrels rather than try and deter them. This is especially true when a squirrel decides to make itself a nice little home in your house. Squirrel pest control reaches a new level at this point and a trap may be the only answer. It is important to find out the local laws before attempting this personally. Some towns require a permit while others do not allow it at all.

If the thought of trapping a squirrel doesn’t sound enjoyable, then it may be time to consider hiring a professional to handle the job. Squirrel pest control is about trapping the squirrel and then releasing it somewhere else. These professionals are going to be able to handle the job of squirrel pest control better than anyone else.

Squirrel pest control can become a necessity when a squirrel has made himself comfortable by building a nest in the attic and sampling fresh plants and flowers. Regardless of how the squirrel has made himself a pest, the homeowner or a professional can handle it humanely.

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