Wildlife Control in the Garden
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Many gardeners enjoy watching backyard wildlife like birds, squirrels and deer. However, when these animals eat vegetable plants, dig up flower bulbs, or damage young saplings, gardeners might start looking for humane solutions to manage these issues. First, it’s important to remember that wildlife in the Mountain State is managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and may be covered by laws that regulate the killing, trapping, or harassment of native wildlife.
Additionally, most bird species are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Under this law, no one may “pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, possess, sell, purchase, barter, import, export, or transport, any migratory bird or any part, nest, or any such bird unless authorized under a permit authorized by the secretary of the Interior,” with a few exceptions.
Contact your local WVDNR office to learn about any regulations or provisions which allow landowners to shoot or trap wildlife outside of the regulated hunting season. Keep in mind that wildlife cannot be relocated in West Virginia, so any trapped wildlife must be released or euthanized onsite.
Identifying a Prevention Option
The first step to effective damage control is to identify the cause. The type of plant consumed, the part of the plant that is damaged, or the presence of any animal tracks or droppings are all clues that can help identify the culprit. Once the species is determined, you should evaluate the extent of the damage. Research possible control options and consider the economic and environmental costs and benefits of each one, then choose the best solution. Impacts on non-target wildlife must also be considered.
Often, prevention strategies are the best option. Integrated Pest Management is a sustainable, science-based decision-making process that combines biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools that can reduce damage from pests.
You can also look at managing wildlife damage with an Integrated Wildlife Damage Management approach. By identifying the species causing the damage, you can implement practices that change the habitat, repel the animal, exclude the animal, or lethally remove the animal. This may include using exclusion fencing, removing cover or shelter areas, modifying food or water sources, or adding an irritant such as noise, vibration or lights. Several common wildlife pests are further discussed below.
Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers damage trees by drilling holes while searching for insects. While this isn’t typically harmful to healthy trees, it can be a concern for homeowners. Woodpeckers prefer dead trees or those with rotten areas for their nesting sites. If suitable trees are not present, they may drill holes in wood siding. Woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and should not be harmed.
Affected areas can be loosely wrapped with burlap to discourage the woodpecker’s presence. Scare devices such as eyespot balloons or mylar tape can also be used to scare the bird away. Do not use tree wound dressing or tar, as these products will not help the tree heal and can be toxic to the woodpecker. Woodpecker damage to siding may be an indicator of insect infestation within the siding. Consult a professional to determine if additional steps should be taken to address any insect issues.
Moles, Voles and Shrews
Moles, voles and shrews are small mammals that can cause damage to your lawn and plants. Moles tunnel through lawns and are insectivores, feeding on grubs, insects and earthworms. With the exception of the star-nosed mole, they are approximately 4 to 5 inches long with a pointed, hairless snout, small eyes and paddle-like clawed forefeet.
While insect and earthworm control is often recommended as a solution, this may cause more damage than it is meant to prevent. Lethal control with a mole trap will be more effective and less detrimental to overall soil health. There are also several toxicants available for mole control. If used, remember to follow the instructions on the label and minimize harm to non-target species by limiting the consumption of baits or dead moles.
Shrews are significantly smaller than moles and do not make tunnels, but they may use the tunnels of other animals. Shrews primarily eat insects but also feed on seeds, nuts, flowers, fruits and plant bulbs.
Voles have a long snout like moles and shrews, but are classified as rodents and appear similar to mice. Different species of voles vary in size, but common meadow voles are around 4 inches long and feed on a variety of grasses, seeds and roots. They do not create deep tunnels, but may burrow through layers of thatch, grass, mulch, or loose soil.
Voles can cause damage in a variety of ways: girdling trees and shrubs, climbing vegetation, clipping branches and buds, or feeding on produce. Habitat modification is most effective for vole control, such as removing loose thatch, mulch and debris, or applying a protective barrier to exclude them from tender saplings and shrubs.
To an extent, mouse traps and toxicants can be helpful when dealing with moles, voles and shrews, but caution should be used to ensure non-target animals are not affected.
Rabbits
Rabbits can quickly wipe out entire sections of a garden and damage shrubs by chewing on bark, resulting in girdling or the snapping of small twigs. Rabbit damage can often be identified by height; while deer damage occurs all over shrubs, rabbit damage is closer to the ground and cleanly cut. Because deer do not have upper incisors, they normally tear vegetation rather than clipping. Rabbits also leave small round droppings while feeding.
Rabbits are game animals in West Virginia and killing them out of season is prohibited. Exclusion options include a small wire mesh to protect plants, or a wire mesh, hardware cloth, or tree guard to protect trees and shrubs.
Repellents such as Deer Off may be effective but must be applied consistently for continual protection. Habitat modifications like removing brush piles and cover areas can also be effective but may affect non-target wildlife that use those areas for cover.
Squirrels and Chipmunks
Squirrels typically feed on acorns, hickory nuts, and walnuts, but they will also eat fruits, nuts, berries and other plant matter. Squirrels and chipmunks can be fun to watch as they gather acorns and run from tree to tree, but are less entertaining when they chew electrical wires, flower bulbs, or plants.
The first line of defense against squirrels is to seal up cracks to any building or area that a squirrel can enter from. Bird feeders can be fitted with squirrel prevention devices, or you can provide an alternative food source such as a squirrel feeder.
Using an electrified wire fence around garden areas can prevent squirrel entry, so long as there isn’t a tree nearby that they can use to hop over it. Repellents can provide limited effectiveness provided they are used constantly. Traps can be baited with desired foods such as nuts, corn or sunflower seeds. Squirrels are game animals covered by WVDNR regulations and can be hunted during the regulated hunting season where it is safe and legal to discharge a firearm.
Deer
Deer are probably the most damaging animal to West Virginia gardens. Since they are taller than many other culprits, the damage they cause can be higher up on the plant. They can also leave behind hoof prints or droppings.
While they prefer tender growth such as leaves, shoots and flower buds, they will eat nearly all parts of a plant. Because deer must pull off stems, they leave rugged, torn edges on plants instead of a clean cut. As browsers, they will skip certain plants in a garden while completely consuming others. Deer can also cause extensive rubbing damage to tree trunks in fall and winter.
Fencing is a good first option to prevent deer damage. A true exclusion fence needs to be at least 8 feet tall and made from plastic or wire mesh that can be electrified. A fence with an offset design will use 2 fences with a gap between them that prevents deer from being able to jump across both. A fence can also be slanted at the top, affecting the deer’s depth perception and making it harder to clear. A single strand electric fence fitted with aluminum flags smeared with peanut butter can also be an effective and inexpensive fencing option.
Individual trees can be protected with tree guards or wire cages if necessary. Methods like noise and startling devices have very limited effectiveness, as deer adapt to them quickly. Repellents can be effective but must be applied consistently and are not practical for large-scale planting or large gardens. Choosing deer-resistant plants when planning landscapes is also recommended.
For more information, you can contact your local WV Extension Office.
Jodi Richmond – WVU Extension Agent, Mercer County
Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status. Political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin and marital or family status. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, West Virginia University AG12-137.