Fend off furry friends safely

Spring will soon arrive, and so will families of groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels, deer and other troublesome animals, each ready to pounce and plunder gardens, digging burrows where they're not wanted and otherwise coming into conflict with their human neighbors.

But these creatures don't have to be the enemy of our gardens, and trapping them won't solve their relationship problems with humans. As spring is sprung, we suddenly are faced with long gardening to-do lists and a wide variety of pesky critters.

As a rule of thumb, it is far better to prevent wildlife damage than to wait until it occurs and try to combat it.

1. Rabbits: These furry creatures seem to multiply at the advent of every spring. They come out to feed overnight and in the

Gardening

predawn/dawn hours. Rabbits are accountable for severe damage to woody plants in your home landscape. The damage can be identified by the characteristic appearance of gnawing on older woody growth and the clean-cut, angled clipping of young stems. Distinctive round droppings in the immediate area are a good sign of their presence.

Luckily, 90 percent of the rabbit's diet is grass. The browsing of a rabbit will usually be no higher than 2.5 feet above ground.

2. Deer: For nongardeners, there's a captivating fascination with spotting a deer in a field or perhaps in your yard. For gardeners, it can be quite the opposite. You love the sight of deer anywhere except in your garden. Yet they seem impossible to keep away. Deer are responsible for a considerable amount of damage to plant and vegetable gardens. 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 tell-tale signs of their presence.

3. Squirrels and Chipmunks: These cute, furry, funny creatures can be quite destructive when it comes to your gardens and landscapes. Both ground squirrels and chipmunks are burrowing animals. Ground squirrels and chipmunks can be seen foraging for food during the day. In nature, they feed on green leafy material during the summer and switch to seeds and grains during the fall and winter. One of the biggest complaints about squirrels and chipmunks is their attraction to wild bird feeders. They not only devour the feed, but also they scare the birds away.

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 critters in your landscapes. Visit the Web site www.messinawildlifemanagement.com for more information on safe, effective pest repellents.

Courtesy of ARAcontent