Wildlife Control

**fixer** · 01-05-2009, 10:38 PM

I just got back from a conference where I listened to a wildlife expert. He is an extension professor at our local university. I guess that qualifies him as an expert although DW is also one and sometimes I wonder about her. He said that only two methods are worthwhile, fencing and netting. He dismissed pie pans, fake owls, bars of soap and so on. Do you have any secrets to keep from feeding the critters?

**Momto2Boyz** · 01-06-2009, 08:32 AM

My best defense has always been fencing too. I've never tried anything else. My current garden (which I'll be changing this year) had a picket fence around it (to keep the dogs out) and chicken wire stapled to the fence and buried a few inches into the ground. Our main problem here is bunnies, and since putting up the chicken wire, I haven't lost anything to the wabbits!

**madhen** · 01-06-2009, 10:36 AM

I have ground squirrels, and so far, NOTHING has worked. I have even lined the fenced in garden area with buried chicken wire, and they just climb over the top of the fence. They are like regular squirrels, but with super-squirrel powers.

The only thing that seems to keep them at bay is my dogs. Unfortunately, my dogs have a history of chasing my chickens (although both have been behaved the last couple times I let them out).

**The Muse** · 01-06-2009, 10:46 AM

My main issue is squirrels. This year I'm putting an electric fence around my garden. I hate to do it, but the little buggers leave me no choice.

**nvmommyx6** · 01-06-2009, 12:30 PM

juicy fruit gum kills the ground squirrels, they eat it, it binds them and they go in their holes and die!!!
A good daisy pellet gun with pointed pellets takes care of the bunnies and squirrels when your out there!
Chicken wire works good unless you have jack rabbits like I do that are as big as my freakin pit bull LMAO then that is where the pellets come in handy!
feeding them scraps on the other side of the yard in the evening, like I save some scraps for them, dump them on the other side of the property around dusk and they go for those instead of the garden!
I put up electric fence around my garden for part of last year, they just dug under it, or jumped over it!!
so, the juicy fruit I use regularly!!! And the pellet gun!

**LastDragonfly** · 01-06-2009, 01:09 PM

I've used juicy fruit too for moles, voles etc. When I lived in Seattle the pest control guy told me that is what HE used. He also said that only juicy fruit works (I have no idea why)

We have praire dogs I've been fortunate and didn't have any last year, but if I did , I'd be buying juicy fruit gum.

**nvmommyx6** · 01-06-2009, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by Penascodragonfly

He also said that only juicy fruit works (I have no idea why.

My Nana told me it is because it is the only gum they actually like the flavor of!!

**Debbie-cat** · 01-06-2009, 11:07 PM

Juicy fruit gum! Crap, I would have never guessed. Thanks for the tip as we have rabbits, moles, mice, weasels, ground squirrels, deer, bears, minx and badgers!

It will be a challenge next year putting in a garden!

**fixer** · 01-06-2009, 11:08 PM

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. My neighbor bought a trap for ground squirrels that allows him to catch them alive and relocate them. I find it interesting all of you call them ground squirrels. Here, it is fifty-fifty between that and chipmunk. I call them chipmunks while my father prefers ground squirrel. We have lively debates over that. At the risk of being perceived stupid, I have a question. Is the gum pre-chewed or right out of the pack when used for moles?

**madhen** · 01-06-2009, 11:18 PM

Well, a ground squirrel and a chipmunk are two different critters in my book. We don't really have chipmunks out here. My ground squirrels are exactly that - squirrels. They dig huge tunnels and the can climb just as well as their brethren.

Here is a pic of a Calif ground squirrel...

**madhen** · 01-06-2009, 11:19 PM

Here is a chipmunk...

So when I mention ground squirrel, I am not using it interchangeably with chipmunk. Don't know about others, though....

**fixer** · 01-07-2009, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by madhen

Here is a chipmunk...

So when I mention ground squirrel, I am not using it interchangeably with chipmunk. Don't know about others, though....

Thanks for the clarification MH. We have chipmunks here and I have photographic evidence to support my claim.

**madhen** · 01-07-2009, 12:16 AM

At least YOUR vermin is cute! Ours are like mutant tree squirrels - no bushy tails, no cute grey coats, just dark brown and sleek. Like rats with furry tails.

**LastDragonfly** · 01-07-2009, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by fixer

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. My neighbor bought a trap for ground squirrels that allows him to catch them alive and relocate them. I find it interesting all of you call them ground squirrels. Here, it is fifty-fifty between that and chipmunk. I call them chipmunks while my father prefers ground squirrel. We have lively debates over that. At the risk of being perceived stupid, I have a question. Is the gum pre-chewed or right out of the pack when used for moles?

right outta the pack-they just nibble away....just drop it down in their holes.