bunny/deer in garden and yard

[cookiedough]

short of putting a LARGE fence around the backyard garden and apple trees,  done about what I could to deter the critters from eating my beets/carrots/green beans/apple trees.    Spent another 40 bucks or so on 9 perennial plants meant to deter them around the garden,  used deer/rabbit spray and powder repellent, and even watched a youtube video of a guy using lavender extract oil bottles on a garden stake that supposedly both do not like.   I doubt owls or shiny objects hung work.  I even bought a motion detector light this weekend and planted plants/lavender oil bottles, and installed the lighted motion sensor to pick up about 80% of our backyard.   Will see if it works since over 1/2 my green beans are now eaten off completely.  Oh yah,  I also bought this weekend and up in backyard 2 LIVE traps for the bunnies hopefully to relocate them behind the garden, sure hope NO skunks caught.  They are coming from the farmers cornfield and very skiddish this year but 1st year they have eaten this many leaves/branches off carrots,beets, and especially green beans.  If none of these work,  I have a few BB guns as a last resort.

sucks spending so much time tending to the garden, replanting 3x's the green beans, etc. and when they are blossoming and looking good, to get up next morning and see rows of green beans, etc. gone.  The deer ate branches and leaves off 1/4th of a few apple trees I planted in our city backyard.

[Robert]

How about an electric fence?

 Could be put low, does not cost much and could be a perimeter barrier. Only picked this as a quick example but I have seen other fences complete for 100.00 and could be configured for any height and length.

https://www.amazon.com/LMRSTOO-Electric-Portable-Backyards-Homesteads/dp/B0CRKMCPMQ/ref=sr_1_18?adgrpid=1241348975338207&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kArMqAy7qpyrGmkdFYC9_du17l-sJB2Dp95gQR7o8YaSS5Jon-QfUDD4IVFdpNjxeK0tYoa51BPGHrJQ6ybsU0HJKXj9fVIBSxF-mQmDSWHKcnsbAvg7D_tgXwW19ACRQcPokbeXdanMfyv10VlveYYdndm0NOrhs-zsNsxOjUTI-DE8R9_0gNXMUS0nznSdXkRVC6cOx0GFLqZNPqG31LPL3N9bSN9DrN23ldNTDavUijFg9y17TCP3EDYycqZAPChTGw3LGXFwv-SaPNaM9ulpt-Xce64_LK2VmKgvxRc.ogARwS20RdtcwVwY8bnm4VZhyfQqReMCncNXqxy0neE&dib_tag=se&hvadid=77584478981752&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=71560&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-77584584395801%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=9058_13641240&keywords=electric+fence+kits&qid=1721048171&sr=8-18

[LadyDraco]

I'm dealing with the  same  issue  right now..
NEVER  had  issues  over  the  45 yrs  of  gardens.
But this  year has  been the  worst !
Beans  and   fancy lettuce  have  been mowed  down . Even  with fencing .
I can't  see how  they are  getting in it ..YOU need  thumbs ! Or  a  chipmunk !
   I  have   maybe  one  more  chance  to replant my beans , till the  end  of  this  month. Then after  that it's  too late  for  my location.

The  one  thing I  can say, is  where  I  put my beans  this  year was a  first time  area  for  them..
Maybe  pull my onions  that are  suffering from our drought and  plant the  beans  there.. At least  they might stand  a  chance.



As  for  the elec.  net  it helps  ,but deer  will jump it and  any other  elec fence  ,DAMHIKT..

[carolinarider09]

Not that it is the same thing but we have deer and rabbits around our house.  First year I have seen deer this close to the house. 

Deer did eat some flowers the wife had planted around a tree in the front yard. 

Some videos from the some "cameras".

https://rumble.com/v571n1p-deer-in-fron-yard.html

https://rumble.com/v571n7u-deer-near-house.html

[Challenger]

Maybe have to start trapping.

[signart]

This year I am using the invisible fence by rounding the garden with T posts & three strands of 20# test fishing line. Has worked so far. The deer can still get to the old apple trees, which I don't mind, but so far have lost no veggies to them. Got a ground hog problem in my romain lettuce & cabbage.
I also have tin pie pans banging in the breeze. Moved them closer to my cabbage recently.
Supposedly the deer are "cornfused" when they bump into the fishing line at night. Cheap fix, been up since I first plowed. So far, so good.

[Serk]

You could just put up No Bunnies and No Deer signs, I'm told signs will protect things quite well...

[old2soon]

     When I went to Alaska the 1st time I noticed how even the tree line was by the lakes and rivers. Asked My F I L bout that and he said-That's about as high as a moose can reach! Here in SoMo when we had the garden cats thought it was theri litter box!  Found out some remesh like you'd use in concrete worked well as the cats seemed to not like walking on the steel. In Texas had decent gardens once or twice BUT 1st XYL didn't like fightin off armadillos on her own. Dillos destroy a big garden in no time at all!  RIDE SAFE.

[RP#62]

You could just put up No Bunnies and No Deer signs, I'm told signs will protect things quite well...

Or just declare it a deer free zone.

-RP

[Oss]

Tracy I used that 1/2 inch metal mesh   as I have 100' of fence around the 12 raised bed garden
On top of that I have bird netting going up to 8' height  tied to the fence every couple of feet
stone and brick buried down about 8 inches below ground so no burrowing observed yet this year

So far no varmints  or deer altho we have chipmunks groundhogs voles and field mice

Make a spray with peppermint essential oil and a few drops of dawn liquid in water that I spray around the perimeter after rains

The squash and cuke beetles are fierce  Bonnie has a little vacuum she takes em off the plants lol

like you   Ready to plant the 3rd sowing of lettuce when I return from Yooper alongwith the rest of beans
transplanted the pak choi yesterday where the arugula was
Rat traps for the chipmunks and mice get hits every few days  Bait with peanut butter and strawberry greens

[LadyDraco]

I just can't be  every where  at once..
I  can't sit in the  shop with the  .22  all bloody day.
That was  Don's  job ... Ground Hog detail

[Moonshot_1]

Pee in a spray bottle and spray the perimeter of your garden/yard. It seems such an odor alerts and scares them out in the field. Maybe a strong human scent may be the ticket.

Motion sensor headlights might work too. They'll just stare at the lights till morning.

But serious on the urine approach. Just around the perimeter and heavy around known access points.

Have no idea if it'll work but there is an entire deer hunting industry based on it.

[Serk]

Heh, based on Moonshot's idea, this might be worth a shot? No idea how effective it might be but...

https://www.predatorpeestore.com/

[h13man]

A spool of electric fence wire and 25 mi. power pack, you can setup a very elaborate defense system and throw in the urine remedy. BTW don't pee on the live wire. 

[F6Dave]

Same problem here in Colorado. We found liquid repellent at Walmart that you spray on or near the plants. It has lots of smelly ingredients. At first it's so bad that you can't go near the plants, but the odor wears off after a day or so. Appears to be effective.

[LadyDraco]

Trapped my first GroundHog this afternoon..

I said to it ; I  bring you in warm  or I can bring you  in cold..

But I think I'll just take  you for a  ride!

Took it 6 miles down the  road... Maybe   the  next one  I should take  farther.

As  that is  the  males distance  of travel..

No body died  .  Well at least on my watch .. 

[Jess from VA]

All I get is hole digging rodent squirrels.

They all get relocated to the garbage can.  

[Moonshot_1]

Trapped my first GroundHog this afternoon..

I said to it ; I  bring you in warm  or I can bring you  in cold..

But I think I'll just take  you for a  ride!

Took it 6 miles down the  road... Maybe   the  next one  I should take  farther.

As  that is  the  males distance  of travel..

No body died  .  Well at least on my watch .. 

Now you're gonna have groundhogs line up for your afternoon rides.

[LadyDraco]

Trapped my first GroundHog this afternoon..

I said to it ; I  bring you in warm  or I can bring you  in cold..

But I think I'll just take  you for a  ride!

Took it 6 miles down the  road... Maybe   the  next one  I should take  farther.

As  that is  the  males distance  of travel..

No body died  .  Well at least on my watch .. 

Now you're gonna have groundhogs line up for your afternoon rides.

I hope so !!!

A  'coon was in it this  morning , I  just let  it go..
It made  a  huge  mess in the  trap.
Had  to clean it, as I didn't think the  trigger  would  work  with ease.
I was in my jammies.. So I  didn't reset it..
The  next 'coon goes  for  a  ride.

[cookiedough]

nothing is working so far, saw another baby bunny right in the green bean patch nibbling away last night  liquid repellents of all kinds (except my pee, lol), motion sensor lights, repel plants planted,  nothing caught in my 2 live traps gotta find a better bait for rabbits in the live trap over what they like is green beans.

I guess I have a either a 25ft or 50ft 2ft tall fence or so and put just around the green bean area which is 80% of the time they are seen there nibbling in morning and at night. 

my brother says unsalted peanuts in live traps catch a lot of critters, but would prefer to just catch rabbits.  lettuce, carrot tops (even few carrots), beet leaves not been working.

[Oss]

Peanut butter on a carrot

[LadyDraco]

Peanut butter on a carrot

Nope  the  green 'maters he   was eating, some Yellow  transparent apples  from  my tree  and  a  few  baby carrots

[LadyDraco]

2 GH  caught 
This  one  is  a  big  fella

[cookiedough]

Same problem here in Colorado. We found liquid repellent at Walmart that you spray on or near the plants. It has lots of smelly ingredients. At first it's so bad that you can't go near the plants, but the odor wears off after a day or so. Appears to be effective.

not for us,  bought the liquid stuff and home remedy liquid and sprayed all over and rabbits do not care.

[cookiedough]

Peanut butter on a carrot

going to try that next for sure,  set peanuts out with carrot tops last night if not caught that will be next.  Read up they like apples and bananas as well, maybe, with peanut butter? 

yesterday 730a.m was a HUGE bunny no joke size of raccoon,  no wonder now 3/4 of all my green beans are destroyed NOT just half of them. 

I have a 2 to 3 foot tall wire fence but only 25 ft. might work if the bunnies do NOT jump over it?  Not sure bunnies can go over a 2 ft tall fence, probably? 

[LadyDraco]

it amazes  me  how  much GH  love green 'maters ..
Apples  ,carrots...

[RP#62]

You know, it they just took a 'mater or two, it wouldn't be so bad but I've seen them walk down a row of tomato plants taking a bite out of each 'mater.  The more of those sob's you take out the better.

-RP

[LadyDraco]

one of my boys were in the trap this morning

2 GH 3 'coons

[Oss]

added banana and tomato and spinach  and also sliced apple

these critters are very pick eaters

[LadyDraco]

Well I believe I got the ones that did  all the  damage,.
Now  hopefully the garden can recover

[cookiedough]

Well I believe I got the ones that did  all the  damage,.
Now  hopefully the garden can recover

that is good news.  hope no more critters.  Now that 90% of my green beans (and a lot of carrot tops) are toast,  we got back from our kids this weekends a raised bed we gave them 2 years ago they never used to go around most of the green beans.  Is only a foot tall so bunnies can still hope over, but we have mesh screen can clip to the sides of the raised bed to keep all out.  Just ran out of time last night and eaten up by bugs to get the mesh screen over the raised bed.  I think almost too late to get the biten off green beans to recover.  amazes me how 2-3 bunnies can eat so much say a 16x7 ft patch of green beans in a few weeks.

I took my brothers advice put peanuts in live trap and 1st night got a raccoon, big one,  It did not fair well for that critter.    Our small 7x7 ft sweet corn patch is near ripe only 1 more week and although not a huge amount to freeze,  get maybe 15-20 ears tops,  picked 3 last night was pretty good just a tad bit early though.   

[f6john]

Y’all just need to import some coyotes! At one time the rabbit population in Kentucky was immense when you took in all the dead ones that used to litter the roads. But that’s a rare sight anymore, so they either really wised up or the coyotes have made their normal trips even more dangerous. Of course small pets are susceptible to becoming dinner if left to roam too much. I don’t see as many ground hogs or coons as I used to either but they were never as prolific as rabbits.

In our part of Kentucky it seems black bears are making a comeback of sorts. They are even showing up in some residential communities. I don’t suppose they are much of a threat to gardens but trash cans are an irresistible target.

[lakehunter]

You might want to try ultrasonic frequencies, check this site :
https://myskunkworks.net/index.php?route=product/category&path=61 , I have their high power dog bark prevention unit and long range horn ... works at 150+ yards across a pond. Be careful how you tune it, some frequencies will make humans feel nausea and become disoriented.

Have fun !

Mike

[cookiedough]

Y’all just need to import some coyotes! At one time the rabbit population in Kentucky was immense when you took in all the dead ones that used to litter the roads. But that’s a rare sight anymore, so they either really wised up or the coyotes have made their normal trips even more dangerous. Of course small pets are susceptible to becoming dinner if left to roam too much. I don’t see as many ground hogs or coons as I used to either but they were never as prolific as rabbits.

In our part of Kentucky it seems black bears are making a comeback of sorts. They are even showing up in some residential communities. I don’t suppose they are much of a threat to gardens but trash cans are an irresistible target.

we got coyotes around us hear the pack howling/yipping VERY loudly seems like they are VERY close late at night sometimes, not often enough though.  sorta eerie yipping sounds like evilness/haunting sounds.

the 1 ft raised beds I think are working around 'most' of the green beans, but still see bunnies all around saw 2 last night opening the back garage door only 10 ft in front of me in the middle of the darn grass backyard just eyeing me.  bring back the coyotes closer to the yard I guess? 

[cookiedough]

well the good news,  green beans are developing leaves again and budding/blossoms for beans are coming on finally very late.  The bad,  bending down and picking all of them in a week or two.  LOL

As we both age, bending down is an issue so more and more we are trellising our green beans the vines seem to grow well on make shift trellisses.

[LadyDraco]

The  2  Ground hogs  I  trapped and  took for  a ride. It was  them !
Things  are  recovering. I replanted  beans today as  well as  Zucc,Lettuce,cucumbers.

Now  I'm dealing with the  Bears  they stripped  2 apple trees in 2  days !
These  are  not tiny trees.   There is  about  30+ old  apple  trees all over  the farm

[cookiedough]

The  2  Ground hogs  I  trapped and  took for  a ride. It was  them !
Things  are  recovering. I replanted  beans today as  well as  Zucc,Lettuce,cucumbers.

Now  I'm dealing with the  Bears  they stripped  2 apple trees in 2  days !
These  are  not tiny trees.   There is  about  30+ old  apple  trees all over  the farm

good luck trapping the bears..

do not have that problem at least in southern WI, although a few black bears do wander down this way from up north from time to time.   we may be picking green beans again in a few weeks those 2 one foot tall 4x8 ft raised beds seem to be working for rabbits, they not hop over 1 foot I guess too fat from eating past few months.

[LadyDraco]

Glad   they haven't  figured the  2' high bed.. Just add some  wire to the  lower  beds  for  next year.

Yeah I'm not trapping 9 bears And  Cubbies .
That's how  many are on my mountain   this  year..
My next-door  neighbor is  way more open that I am.. He  said  he  counted 9 different bears.
 Last year we  had  8 and they were  a real hand full...In the  yard being  a real issue, They destroyed  the  tater  patch last year, 40lbs  of  seed tater  ,after  they were done  I got  5 taters !
..  At least food  is  plenty for  them this  year . Lots of  cherries, berries, apples
And only the  cubs  played in the  tater  patch this  year . They do less damage  then the  adults..

Hell last year Don and  I  were on the  porch and  mum and  cubs  almost came over  to us!
Don said  Bear . I only saw  the  cub but when I stood I saw  mum turn tail, thank goodness  cub followed.. After  that we  also packed sitting on the  porch .. Had  bears  just sit between the  shop and  kitchen. and  hang out in the  yard  last year..
This  year not so much.



I  have  been a  tad  more  lax, in that, this  year..  Other  than when I  go on the  Mountain.
And Not all bears are  small
That crease  on the forehead only happens when they hit 350 lbs..  
A  bear hunter  saw that pic   he said  he  believed  that bear  goes  at least 425lbs  if  not a  tad  more.
We  had one  a  years  back that was known around  as  a dog killer  he  was a  big boar they sad  at least 500+ lbs..

 

Here's  a  small one

[Oss]

That is a lot of steak and stew

[DIGGER]

Deer meat tastes pretty good....especially when tenderized and fried in small pieces and served with mashed potatoes