August 5 Column: Dealing with Small Critters

Gardening can sometimes be a challenge, can’t it? Maybe it’s the weather where you live, plants that occasionally don’t grow the way you expected, or perhaps it’s dealing with small critters that is really annoying.

Well, my garden column today is about that last item because I get a lot of questions about it and have learned a few tricks over the years. I’ve also done a bit of research on the problem animals that I don’t see in my own garden, with the idea of helping gardeners find some relief. Here’s a link to the column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Protecting your garden from critters. (or you can read my column lower in this post)

For it, I focused on five commonly-seen critters: voles, gophers, squirrels, raccoons and rabbits (the top photo shows rabbit damage on tulip leaves… grrr). And I did my best to clarify the difference between voles and gophers because I know how confusing that can be: I talk about their physical differences, where they tend to live most of the time and the damage they cause.

I hope you’ll find this column helpful. I’m a little nervous, though. I know there are plenty more critters out there that can try your patience and/or raid your garden, so I’m fearing a whole bunch of questions about those animals will soon be coming my way! Turkeys and porcupines immediately come to mind. But if you have a question about them, I’ll do my best to find you an answer, even for those that I don’t have in my garden.

By the way, if you’re wondering why I didn’t discuss deer — which are certainly huge pests for gardeners all over the country — that’s because I wrote a column about it on May 27. Here’s a link to it: Tricks to keep your garden from becoming a deer smorgasbord.

Next up is this week’s “Everyone Can Grow a Garden” video. The topic is the August video tour of my vegetable garden. As I mention in the video, I’ve already done ones for June and July, so I’m trying to stick with this routine at least through September. I think it’s interesting to watch the metamorphosis of a garden, don’t you? Oh, and let me apologize right now for the wobbly camera work! I ordinarily use a tripod but for the tours, I feel it’s more important for you to see the veggies close up. So I opted for holding our video camera… with mixed results, I might add.

Dealing with Small Critters garden column:

By Susan Mulvihill

In May, I wrote about how to keep deer out of your garden. While they can be trying, there are many other critters in this region that can make gardening a challenge.

Two small rodents that can cause a lot of damage are voles and gophers.

Voles have small, round bodies and long tails. They primarily operate aboveground or in the top couple of inches of the soil. They create trails in the lawn, especially underneath the snow during the winter. If you discover a plant that appears to have been chewed off at the surface of the soil, a vole is the likely culprit. They also will gnaw off the bark from the lower portion of tree trunks and other woody plants. Voles do not leave piles of soil on the ground.

Gophers have more elongated bodies with short tails and digging claws. They tunnel underground, feeding primarily on plant roots. Gophers push mounds of soil out of their 3-inch diameter tunnels while they’re excavating. They’ll eat the roots off of trees and have been known to chew through irrigation lines and utility cables.

I have had good luck repelling both voles and gophers from an area. The secret is a repellent that has been impregnated with castor oil. There are several types of traps that catch gophers. Ask your local garden center which ones that are legal to use in your state.

Please don’t use poison bait for gophers or voles. The poison is still deadly inside them and can result in poisoned pets, hawks and owls.

Squirrels are prevalent in wooded areas. They will eat seeds, nuts, tree buds, berries, leaves, bulbs, bird eggs and nestlings. They nest in hollows in tree trunks and construct dense nests on branches. Squirrels will also jump from trees or buildings to get to bird feeders.

To keep them away, avoid intentionally feeding them. Place a metal baffle below any bird feeders that are mounted on poles.

With their bandit masks, raccoons are easily recognized and are considered nuisance pests. They are nocturnal and omnivorous. That means they will eat just about anything. This includes pond fish, insects, vegetation, seeds, garbage and pet food. Raccoons are good climbers, too.

To control them, secure garbage and compost piles. Seal off the area under porches as well as openings into garages and attics.  Feed your pets indoors, or at least bring their food dishes inside before nightfall. If you raise chickens, enclose their pens. An electric fence surrounding a garden area can be effective. The lines should be placed at heights of 12 and 18 inches. Pick up any fallen fruits or nuts from your orchard. Never feed raccoons intentionally. Definitely remove any wood piles or other materials that they could create a den under.

Cottontail rabbits are another problem animal for some gardeners. They primarily eat leaves, grass, clover, vegetable crops and bulbs.

What’s the most effective way to keep them out of a garden? Surround the area with 2-feet-tall chicken wire or other type of wire fencing. Another option is to cover susceptible plants with netting or wire.

Having a dog in your yard is also an effective deterrent against squirrels, raccoons and rabbits.

Dealing with critters in the garden can be frustrating but there are many ways to scare, repel or exclude them. Consider contacting the Master Gardeners in Spokane County at (509) 477-2181). If you live in Kootenai County, their number is (208) 446-1680.