by Pamela Kay

Created on: May 17, 2009   Last Updated: August 11, 2009

Most wildlife views a garden as a free banquet and don't need an invitation or a dinner bell to dig in. If you plant it, they will come and because nature doesn't recognize man-made boundaries or property lines, you must be prepared for when they come to dinner. Here's how to deal with wildlife in a vegetable garden in humane ways that won't harm them.

*Repellents

All animals have a highly developed sense of smell and can detect odors that humans cannot. There are several products on the market such as predator urine, which triggers a primal instinct to flee in most prey animals that feed in your garden. Bobcat, fox, wolf and coyote are the most common ones and will scare away deer, raccoons, possums, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, muskrats, mice and gophers.

These repellents vary in cost but usually run about $20 to $30 for an 8-ounce bottle of liquid. You simply fill dispensers and hang them every 10-feet around your garden. One dispenser will usually last about a month, and while this may seem expensive, if you have a big problem, it's the answer.

Another, less expensive, but less effective way is to make a mixture of 6 eggs, 4 hot peppers, 8 garlic cloves and enough water to make a gallon. Process in a blender and set outside to work for a few days, strain and spray the plants that are being eaten.

Be advised that tobacco tea is not a good choice because it is harmful to humans and beneficial insects as well as tomatoes. Peppermint oil and cayenne pepper are better choices for wildlife repellents.

*Scarecrows

Scarecrows really do scare crows, but only for a brief time. Consider a change of clothing and positioning for the scarecrow from time to time. Also, be sure to have loose fitting clothing that will move in a breeze and hang strips of foil from it's outstretched arms.

*Plants That Repel Wildlife

Marigolds, mint, chrysanthemums, chives, onions, garlic, basil, savory, horseradish, mint, mole plant and thyme all have a taste and scent secretions that most wildlife will avoid. Planting this around the perimeter of your garden will not only repel wildlife, it's a lovely herb garden as well. To learn more about wildlife resistant plants to use in or around your garden, view this site, which has the plants listed by animal and state.

*Fences

A good sturdy fence of either chain-link, chicken or rabbit wire will keep out the larger wildlife. Those that tunnel and burrow will find no entrance if you dig a trench and bury about six-inches of the fence.

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