 |
| My critter proof fence. |
There is nothing worse than spending a lot of time and
energy into preparing your garden soil, planting seeds and seedlings, and
nurturing everything so you will have a good harvest only to have ground
squirrels wreck havoc.
Birds are easier to deal with, since bird netting will keep
most of them at bay. Fencing keeps out most animals like skunks and rabbits,
especially if you bury the fence 8 to 12 inches so they can’t dig under. But
ground squirrels, as cute as they are, are far more industrious and determined
that most other problem critters.
Poisoning wildlife serves no real purpose other than
upsetting the balance of nature. If you rely on poison you risk poisoning
predators such as hawks, owls, coyotes and bobcats as well as the squirrels,
and will spend a fortune. Squirrels are very prolific because they are darned
low on the food chain.
There are also many repellents on the market touted to keep
animals away from your plants. Some gardeners swear by pepper spray, Lifebuoy
soap, certain aromatic plants, and mothballs, to name a few. However, my
experience has been that nothing works other than a physical barrier. I’ve seen
rabbits eat plants coated with cayenne pepper, so the fact is, you can’t rely
on these products.
If you are just starting a garden and know ground squirrels
live in your area, build a defense system early since once they figure out you
have goodies planted, they try harder to get in. It does not matter how tiny
the openings are in your fence, ground squirrels are not only adept at digging
under fences, they also climb over fences. A 4 foot tall fence is nothing to
these acrobats.
A non-climbable fence is a more expensive option than any
wire fence, including chain link. What is considered non-climbable? Think
something slick, such as corrugated metal or sheet metal. Yes, it will look
ugly. But yes, it will work. You will need sturdy posts set in concrete,
however, so it does not blow over in high winds.
Another option is to cut metal and attach to your existing
fence, provided the openings on your metal fencing are no larger than ½ inch
squares. The non-climbable portion should be placed at the top of the fence
since they most likely will not be able to leap over the entire 4 feet.
Your fencing not only needs burying, but it should be in a L
shape so they cannot dig under. An alternative is to lay 2 foot tall hardware
cloth on the ground all the way around your fence, securing with U-pins or
rocks.
Check your fencing regularly, since they are looking for
weak spots every single day.
Sound like a lot of work? Yes it is. But having home-grown
produce is worth every minute of it.
