Critter Repellent Blog

Why do I Have Woodchucks in My Yard and How Do I Get Rid of Them?

Posted on May 11, 2012 by mysticmedia

Groundhog, A.K.A. Woodchuck in Yard

If you have discovered a big hole and a pile of earth by your shed, your plants are being eaten, and your sapling trunks are being chewed when you are not looking, it is more than likely a woodchuck has taken up residence in your yard. Also called groundhogs, woodchucks are a type of ground squirrel that lives all over the United States. They are most common in the northeastern and central states.

What attracts woodchucks?

Woodchucks like an easy supply of food, especially in spring when they emerge from hibernation. Woodchucks also like a safe environment. Mating season is in early spring, with young being born and living in the burrow from May to August. Yards with vegetable gardens and no pets are ideal woodchuck environments. Woodchucks also like large yards with long grass, again due to easy access to food. Woodchucks are vegetarian and particularly like peas, beans, apples, herbs, strawberries, clover and dandelions.

How to get rid of woodchucks?

There are several methods for getting rid of woodchucks:

Natural repellents
Humane traps
Motion devices
Toxic gas
Fencing

Perhaps Woodchucks Really Do Chuck Wood?

Natural repellents are the most humane way of solving your woodchuck problem. Woodchucks are timid rodents, and deliberately choose safe environments to live, raise their young, and hibernate. Their predators include wolves, dogs, coyotes and foxes. A natural woodchuck repellent made with the urine of these predators is easy to use and very effective. Woodchucks will smell the urine, assume the area is unsafe, and move elsewhere.

Humane traps should be used in late winter or early spring, before the woodchuck has had its young. It is also easier to attract a woodchuck with bait at this time, when natural resources are still scarce. Using traps can be time-consuming and unreliable – it is possible you will catch something else. It is also illegal in some states to move wildlife, so check you are not breaking the law.

Motion devices can be as simple as a children’s pin-wheel, wind chimes, or a blown-up beach ball blowing around the area. They may scare away or deter young woodchucks, but are not very effective against older ones.
Using gas to get rid of woodchucks is not recommended. Not only is it inhumane, it can also affect other animals, including domestic pets. It involves forcing a gas into the woodchuck’s tunnel and den. It can secondary poisoning if another animal is exposed to it.

Fencing is not effective at getting rid of woodchucks and rarely keeps them out. Woodchucks can easily tunnel under fencing and, despite their tubby appearance, are adept at climbing over it. Fencing can also ruin the look of your garden, devaluing any landscaping you have done.

For many gardeners natural woodchuck repellents are a popular choice for controlling woodchucks due to their wide availability and ease of use. They have the added benefit of being non-toxic. They are all-natural, inexpensive, fast to use (just spread around the liquid or granules), and will not harm animals or people. A natural woodchuck repellent will not poison your soil, which is particularly important to people who grow fruit and vegetables, or who prefer to garden organically.

Posted in Groundhog, Woodchuck & Gophers | Tagged Natural woodchuck repellent | Leave a comment

Wild Animals In Your Yard, What To Do and When to Call Animal Control

Posted on May 4, 2012 by mysticmedia

Wild animals rightfully belong in the wild or when in an urban setting, in a zoo and not in your yard. These critters will wreck havoc on your lawn by ruining your plants, flowers and vegetables by feeding and trampling on them as well making your yard look something like a minefield riddled with small tunnels and hoof prints.

These critters are also potential carriers of infectious diseases ( most commonly rabies ) . At worst, wild animals may possibly even endanger the safety and well-being of you and your family.

What to do about wild animals in your yard

Squirrel on Porch

When it comes to unwanted four legged trespassers in your yard, consider the solution regarding these pests as you would any problem or disease. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. If one critter starts visiting your yard, it is likely many more will soon follow so nip the trouble on the bud and do the following:

Prevent wild animals from entering your yard - Set up fences high enough so deer cannot jump over them ( 6 feet in height ought to be good enough ) and bury 1 foot of chicken wire running along your fence to prevent armadillo, raccoons and other critters which love to dig tunnels from entering your property.
If building a fence is not feasible, consider using motion sensing oscillating sprinklers. If there are 2 things critters dislike, it is being startled and getting doused with a jet of water. Oscillating water sprinklers do both at the same time, so this makes for an effective combination in keeping critters off your lawn.
Discourage critters from entering your lawn – Use animal repellent packs and shake container animal repellents, like Shake-Away Deer Repellent Pack and Shake-Away Animal Repellent. These repellent packs and shake containers are sold in different kinds depending upon the pests which invade your lawn so there are squirrel repellent packs, as well as shake containers for rabbits and and gophers. The repellent packs and shake containers have granules which are infused with coyote or fox urine, and their scent will trigger an instinctive fear response in critters and thereby discourage them from entering your property.
Protect your plants and cover trash bins – One of the reasons wild animals enter your lawn is that they are hungry and want to eat anything that is readily available there. So, place small cages around your plants and cover trash bins placed in the yard. Also, do not keep a bird feeder and immediately wash and keep animal feeding trays and feeders after your pets are done eating.

When to call animal control

Local laws as well as city ordinances vary from one state to another when it comes to calling animal control when there are wild animals present in your yard. However, as a general rule here are a few instances wherein you may immediately seek the help of local animal control:

Injured animals – You may call animal control is when the animal is injured. Among the wild animals which are often injured and will come limping into your yard are deer. Deer are so skittish, that they are prone to smashing themselves against glass doors, cars, low fences and anything else that will get in their way when they are fleeing from something and are on panic mode. Injured deer need all the help they can get , so the best thing you can do for it is call animal control.
When the critter is apparently rabid- Wild animals are carriers of rabies, especially foxes and feral cats. If you notice that these critters are in your lawn and are behaving rather aggressively and have that tell-tale drool and wild-eyed look in their eyes, then it is time to call the animal control people to help remove the animal from your property. Under no circumstance should anyone attempt to personally remove or trap rabid animals.
Fierce critters which attack -If wild animals potentially pose a threat to any person within the vicinity, simply letting them go away or hiding behind closed doors will not do. Although it is not often that someone will have to deal with foxes, coyotes and even grizzlies and mountain lions in their yards, these things do happen sometimes. Immediately call for help if this situation arises.
Trapped critters- If you have set up traps to catch some small critters ( like raccoons, squirrels and feral cats ), it is advisable that you do not personally handle the removal and disposal of these animals. A trapped critter is a dangerous one, since it will instinctively try to escape and defend itself when it feels cornered or threatened. Call up animal control or a local animal shelter and let them take care of the trapped critter.

Raccoon In Trash

Calling animal control should only be exercised as a final option when all else fails to get rid of the raccoon, woodchuck of other critter and when the situation requires immediate intervention for the safety not only of people but also for the benefit of the wild animal. If setting up simple measures such as building fences or using deer repellents will do the job of getting wild animals away from your yard, then calling on animal services would no longer be needed.

Posted in Animal Repellents | Leave a comment

How to Avoid Inviting Feral Cats to Your Yard

Posted on March 20, 2012 by mysticmedia

According to a recent study, there are approximately 60 million feral cats in the US. To put those numbers into perspective, that is roughly 1/3 of the total human population in the United States. So, it would not be unusual if you do see a couple of feral cats invading your yard.

What Are Feral Cats?

Feral cats are simply cats which have reverted to their “primal”, undomesticated state. They may be cats formerly kept as pets that have been abandoned or the offspring of abandoned cats and were raised without any direct human intervention. Because they will reproduce near areas populated by humans, feral cats can be seen roaming about in rural, suburban and urban areas.

So, what is the difference between your domesticated kitty and a feral cat? Feral cats tend to be more vicious, will prey on small critters (especially birds) .Most are not neutered hence they can reproduce at an alarming rate. And since feral cats were raised without any care and support from humans, they have not been vaccinated and could carriers of the rabies virus.

Why Are Feral Cats Considered A Menace?

Feral cats feed mostly on birds, and considering their sheer

Feral Cat in Yard

number, you can imagine just how many birds these cats can eat. In fact, the declines in the population of birds (which even include several endangered species) are attributed to feral cats.

Also, feral cats can wreck havoc on your lawn. They will scatter excrement, turn over garbage bins when they scavenge for food, and will prey on your small household pets, such as parakeets and hamsters .

Feral cats will not only claw and scratch when they feel threatened, they may also bite. As previously stated, some feral cats may be rabid so try your best to avoid directly confronting them.

So, How Do I Keep Cats Off My Lawn?

There are a few things you can do to get rid of cats from you lawn. They will frequently visit your yard for the simple reason that they need food and shelter. If you make it difficult for them to obtain those two things, chances are they will go somewhere else.

Secure your garbage: Start off by keeping your garbage bins tightly closed. That will prevent them from rummaging through it to scavenge for leftover food. Do not keep a bird feeder, since birds will definitely attract them. Also, keep feeding trays for your pets indoors.
Secure your outbuilings: If you have a shed, always keep the door tightly closed. Seal off any open gaps beneath your porch or any other opening underneath your house. This will prevent feral cats from making a den out of your home.
Remove Scat and Spray: Feral cats can leave a nasty trail of scat and urine spray as they mark their territory. To the extent possible, remove scat left behind and rinse areas where they have sprayed to reduce their scent. In some areas, ammonia may be used where urine smell is strongest, rinsing thoroughly with water from a hose.
Use Organic Repellents: Use organic animal repellents, like Shake-Away Cat Repellent. Although feral cats are predators, they do fear predators that are larger than themselves which can hunt them down them down. Feral cats are instinctively afraid of coyotes and foxes, so the odor of coyote and fox urine that is infused in Shake-Away’s organic granules will keep them at bay.

What Do I Do With Really Persistent Feral Cats?

Feral Cat

Feral cats can sometimes be very stubborn, so if all else fails the next option is to trap them. There are several types of cat traps available made especially for this purpose. After trapping the cat, call an animal shelter and request them to pick it up. The cats are then either neutered and released, or are put up for adoption.

However, if you are fond of cats and you need an excellent hunter to keep rabbits, ground hogs and other small critters off your lawn, then you may wish to consider allowing the uninvited feral cat to remain on your property. To assure your family’s safety, make certain that any cat around your home is properly vaccinated.

Posted in Animal Repellents, Domestic Cats | Tagged Cat repellent, get rid of cats | Leave a comment

What Are Skunks Doing In My Yard And How Do I Get Rid Of Them?

Posted on March 12, 2012 by mysticmedia

Skunk in Your Yard

Of all the unwanted creatures which may potentially inhabit your yard, skunks are probably somewhere on top of the list. Not only do skunks emit a very musky and unpleasant odor for which they are well known, but they also will ruin your yard by randomly digging narrow skunk holes all over the place – and perhaps even do a little digging beneath your shed and your house. How to get rid of skunks may be one of the most important things for a homeowner to know.

What are skunks doing in my yard?
Skunks feed on grubs, small insects, and even on left-over food in the garbage bin. In fact, these nocturnal scavengers will feed on almost anything. Unlike some other critters, skunks are not picky about what they eat. So, if you have fruit-bearing plants , a composting pit or even a couple of loosely-covered garbage bins behind your house, then your yard is likely target for skunks.

So, what do I do get rid of them and prevent them from entering my lawn?

Start by cutting off their food source. If they can’t eat anything in your yard, they will look elsewhere. The easiest and most convenient food source is the dumpster. Always keep your garbage bins tightly closed and the same goes for outdoor pet food containers.
If you have a compost pit in your yard, always keep it clean and dry. This will prevent maggots, grubs and larvae from thriving in the pit and thus make it less likely skunks will be attracted to it. If you have a raised wooden compost pile, keep it covered. Even if you do not have a composting pit, keep your yard free of debris which skunks may use to make their den.
Bury chicken wire 6 to12 inches deep beneath your fence. Skunks may not be very good at climbing fences, but they are efficient in digging under fencing. The chicken wire makes it tough for a skunk to burrow a tunnel under your fence, forcing it to find another spot to make its den .
Set up oscillating sprinklers with motion detectors combined with bright lights. This will deter not only skunks but also other nocturnal critters from invading your lawn at night.
Fix gaps and broken boards on your deck and around your shed. A skunk can squeeze through tight spots as narrow as 4 inches so board up gaps beneath your deck, patio or shed. Fill up any hollow areas beneath floor boards and narrow openings in your picket fences to 2-3 inches. This will prevent them from gaining access to your property, as well as prevent them from digging up holes for their dens.
Sprinkle some small animal repellent, like Shake-Away Skunk Repellent, in and around the areas skunks are entering your yard or finding food sources. The scent of coyote urine from these repellents will trigger the skunk’s instinctive fear response, causing them to avoid your yard at all costs.

If All Else Fails, Set Up Animal Traps

This is important if the stubborn little critter refuses all attempts in evicting him from your property. You can easily purchase small animal traps from

Hooded Skunk

some hardware stores, and add some sardines or any tasty bait to lure skunks in to the trap. Strategically set the trap near a skunk hole and wait for a day or two. Patience is the key here because, as any good hunter will tell you, no wild animal will willingly waltz into a trap.

Once caught, cover the trap with a blanket. This will prevent you from being sprayed by the horrible skunk scent liquid that skunks use as self-defense when cornered. Do not attempt to set the trapped skunk free outside your property or even try to hold the skunk. Rabies is endemic to skunks and getting bitten by one is not something you would want to have happen. Call a local animal control and let them handle the disposal of the animal.

Preventing skunks from entering your lawn and keeping them away may require, depending on the location and size of your property, a combination of any of the methods provided above. Always keep in mind that for every problem there is a solution, and this holds true even when dealing with pesky and smelly little critters like skunks.

Posted in Possums, Rabbits & Skunks | Tagged How to Get Rid of Skunks, Skunk Repellent | Leave a comment

Rabbits. What In Your Yard And Garden Are They After?

Posted on February 26, 2012 by mysticmedia

Rabbits, rabbits and more rabbits. Cute and cuddly as they may seem, rabbits are the bane of many a vegetable gardener’s existence. Even if you do not grow veggies, rabbits can be unwelcome settlers in your lawn and backyard.

The population of rabbits in the wild is kept in check by natural predators such as hawks, foxes, coyotes and even feral cats. The absence of these natural predators in the suburbs and the cities will normally result in a larger rabbit population that often inhabit lawns, gardens and backyards.

What Are Rabbits Doing In My Yard?

If rabbits only munched on carrots as they do in cartoons, then these critters wouldn’t be much of a problem. But when rabbits happen to come across your property, they will also eat other things which are often found in your garden. Food is the primary reason these critters invade your yard and if you have a lot of what they eat, they will make themselves right at home on your property.

What Rabbits Like To Eat

Rabbit In Yard

If you have a vegetable garden, rabbits will no doubt go after the beets, peas and beans which you may be growing. They will eat the leaves, dig for the roots and leave your vegetable garden looking like a mess. And yes, they will also munch on the bark of trees while they are at it.Even if you don’t grow vegetables, your yard will not be spared if there are clovers and plantain weeds growing around your lawn. In fact, rabbits prefer clovers and plantain weeds as they are soft and succulent.

What Rabbits Are Not Likely To Eat

Now, a starving rabbit will almost anything that is green and leafy.

Rabbit in Yard

However, a rabbit that is not famished will tend to avoid certain veggies, which are peppers, potatoes, corn, cucumbers and squash. If you have planted any of those you will notice that rabbits tend to stay away from them, most specially from peppers. Rabbits possess a very sensitive sense of smell, and perhaps that is the reason why they are not too fond of things that have a strong scent. Keep that important tid bit of information in mind as it may help you in devising ways of making rabbits stay away from your lawn and garden.

So, How Do I Keep Rabbits Off My Backyard Or Lawn?

There are several ways of getting rid or rabbits from your property. Let’s start with physical barriers such as fences. A fence more than 2 feet in height is good enough to keep rabbits out, and a much higher one is even better for keeping other critters out too. Rabbits can dig under a fence so bury at least 6 inches of chicken wire underneath the fence. You may line your entire yard with a fence or, if that is not feasible, build or purchase individual fences for your plants or vegetable patches.

Keeping dogs in your backyard is also very effective. Rabbits are extremely skittish and barking dogs will make them scamper away.

The use of commercial organic animal repellents, like Shake-Away Rabbit Repellent, is another very effective method of dealing with rabbits. As stated earlier, rabbits have a very keen sense of smell, and the concentrated scent of animal urine (specifically that of predators like coyote’s urine) will be the scent equivalent of a “stay away, danger!” sign. You may opt for more common ingredients found in the kitchen like pepper and spices wrapped in cloth bags and tied around trees and plants, but you will need to replace those much more often.

Unlike other critters, rabbits are not that hard to deal with and can be easily discouraged from making a home out of your backyard. However, rabbits can multiply very quickly and, if left unchecked, they can cause much damage to the plants and vegetables in your lawn. Therefore, deal with any rabbit problems as early as possible.

Posted in Possums, Rabbits & Skunks | Tagged All Natural Rabbit Repellent | Leave a comment

How to Protect Your Home and Surroundings From Bold Raccoons

Posted on February 26, 2012 by mysticmedia

Raccoons are extremely smart creatures. Unfortunately, they often use their smarts for creeping into our homes and yards. You may think that your property is well-protected, but then you see a raccoon or two, digging your vegetable garden and crawling up into your attic. You will then realize that raccoons are a threat that may be underrated. They are quick and smart, and if you don’t take steps to keep them out now, then it is probable that they will eventually create a big mess out of your garden.

Getting Rid of Raccoons

Raccoons are often attracted to vegetable plots and food waste that is disposed of outside your home. It can be really frustrating waking up one morning finding your trash bin a mess and your carrots dug up. To prevent that from happening, here are a few tips that might help get rid of raccoons.

Organizing Food Wastes

Properly planned disposal of food waste-Raccoons often rummage in garbage bins, especially if they contain food waste, such as vegetable and fruit peelings, leftovers, and other edible stuff. To prevent that from happening, using covered bins with lids that lock securely can be a great help. Alternatively, you may build a compost tumbler. It provides an efficient way to make natural fertilizer for your plants, and at the same time keeps raccoons from ransacking your food waste bins.

Hot sauce in garbage bins

Garbage bins are the number 1 destination for raccoons. An alternative to the first suggestion is to pour some hot sauce into your garbage bin. Raccoons are less likely to come back when they have experienced the burning sensation brought by your hot sauce-laced garbage.

Use Fencing

Perimeter fence around your property- Building perimeter fence around your property could be a tedious work. Moreover, it is not a foolproof way to keep raccoons out. Nevertheless, if you want to try this method, make sure to use sturdy, heavy-gauge wire mesh and keep your eyes peeled for holes and obvious pathways.

Motion Sensitive Alarms

Motion detectors are a convenient way to deter not only raccoons, but other uninvited pests, as well. However, since raccoons are such smart creatures, they will realize sooner or later that the alarm or lights will not cause them any harm.

Capsaicin/Pepper

Some organic repellents can also be effective in keeping raccoons

Raccoon on Roof

out of your yard and home. There are products that use capsaicin, the main ingredient of pepper spray, to deter raccoons and other pests. Most capsacain-based repellents come in granular form, which is sprinkled on areas around your home where raccoons tend to visit. Just take great care when applying capsaicin-based repellent because it can cause severe skin and eye irritation.

Natural Predator Repellents

Shake-Away is a fear-based raccoon repellent that utilizes coyote and fox urine to scare animals, such as raccoons. It is sold in granule form, which you can sprinkle around your yard, garage and home. Alternatively, you may use the Shake-Away stocking ball kit for precision application in tight spaces like the attic and under your deck.

There are lots of ways to keep raccoons out and you don’t have to endure living with them. Yes, raccoons are smart; but, with the right choice of repelling methods, you will be able to outsmart them.

Posted in Deer, Armadillo, Raccoons | Tagged Get Rid of Raccoons Naturally | Leave a comment

Armadillos Are In Your Yard for These 3 Reasons and How Shake-Away Can Help

Posted on January 30, 2012 by mysticmedia

Armadillos Can Cause Damage to Your Yard

Unlike most marmots and pest in your backyard, armadillos are rather tame and harmless. Still, they can cause you a lot of problems because these critters will dig tunnels which weaken the soil foundation beneath your yard, flowerbeds and even your house. There may be times that may accidentally eventually trip over those tunnel entrances on the ground which can result in an ankle sprain or far worse.

Knowing why there are armadillos in your yard involves learning a few basic facts about these little armoured critters.

First, armadillos are nocturnal creatures. They are more active at night because that is the time they feed and hunt or scavenge for food. Yes, you read that last part right. In the absence of what they would normally eat, armadillos will scavenge for food. More information about that is included later in this article.

Secondly, armadillos love to feed on grubs and small insects. In fact,

You Can Keep Armadillos From Your Yard

armadillos can consume almost as many ants as an anteater. However, in the absence of ants, grubs and other tiny insects, armadillos will also eat small dead animals (carrion) and even maggots thriving on leftover meat.

Why Do Armadillos Invade My Yard?

There are 3 common reasons why there are armadillos in your yard, and why they stay there.

Grubs – Armadillo primarily feed on grub larvae. Now, if you have a small vegetable/flower garden in your yard and you also produce your own compost, chances that an armadillo will make itself at home in your yard increases greatly. Why? Along with gardens and backyard composting come insects and grubs. Unless you have been keeping these pests under check, you may likely be attracting armadillo to feast on your yard. If you have been growing vegetables organically and/or do not use pesticides, it may further aggravate your problem with armadillos.

Carrion and left-over meat- Ever notice while driving along a country road that armadillos are often road kill? Curiously, the reason for that is armadillo will sometimes also feed on the maggots thriving on road kill, and also the dead animal itself. And when these nocturnal creatures are startled by an oncoming headlight, they will jump 3 feet in the air, right smack into the bumper or front grill of the approaching car.

Now, you may not have a garden or cabbage patch in your yard but there may be a few small dead critters lying around. Once an armadillo finds one of these, he will feast on the decaying flesh as well as any thriving colony of maggots, and may eventually decide to make your yard part of his domain. Just thinking about that may be reason enough to want to know how to get rid of armadillos!

Other insects- Small invertebrates (the typical insects in your yard) also make a tasty treat for armadillos. Aside from termites and ants which form part of their staple diet, other small bugs and spiders form a portion of their menu. Unless you have a completely cemented yard totally devoid of any plants, there will be insects living in there – and more likely a tunnel or two which is inhabited by an armadillo and her litter.

How Do I Keep Armadillos Away From My Garden?

There are several solutions to dealing with armadillos, but some may not be very effective. Building a fence which critters cannot jump over is not very effective with armadillo because they can literally dig a tunnel under a fence. Motion sensors are not very effective either, since armadillo can easily hide undetected inside their pesky tunnel.

So, what do you use in your in your campaign against these leathery-armoured critters? Try Shake-Away armadillo repellent. Scatter a few granules around your yard, or better yet, into their tunnels. The scent produced by the predator urine infused organic Shake-Away granules will trigger a fear response, which is perhaps one of the best methods in keeping critters away from your yard.

Posted in Deer, Armadillo, Raccoons | Leave a comment

How to Detect and Repel Squirrels in Your Attic

Posted on January 30, 2012 by mysticmedia

Squirrels just love living in the attic because the place is very similar to their natural habitat, which is a tree. But how will you know if there’s a family of squirrels living in your attic? Here are some tips on how to determine if you have squirrels in your attic:

Listen for “squirrel sounds”. While a mother squirrel is making a nest in your attic, you might hear chewing and scratching noise. Additionally, if there are newborn baby squirrels, there will be a lot of scratching and chewing sound as well.

Squirrel in Attic

Check the beams and electrical wiring. It is hard to catch a squirrel during daytime, but you can still check if there is evidence that squirrels are around. Squirrels cannot stop themselves from gnawing or chewing. Chewing is in their nature and they utilize chewing to keep their teeth in shape. If there are squirrels in your attic, you may notice that the beams are chewed and the electrical wiring has bite marks.

Look for footprints, droppings and urine marks. You will find

Illustration of Squirrel Droppings

droppings and urine marks in your attic if squirrels are around. Squirrel droppings are very similar to mouse or rat droppings, which are small, black bits.

Search for “hidden” things. Squirrels hide their food for future consumption. If you find acorns and nuts hidden beneath a stack of boxes or inside a lidless container, then there’s a great chance that a squirrel found its way into your attic.

If you determine that squirrels live in your attic, then it is likely you will want to do your get rid of the squirrel and keep them out. Luckily, there are several ways to remove the squirrels from your attic and prevent them from coming back. Here are some ways to ward off squirrels:

Install traps. Trapping is one of the alternatives to catch squirrels. You can use ready-made traps or make a steel cage out of steel mesh wire. Make sure to use mesh wire with small gaps to keep the squirrels from escaping.

Use ultrasonic rodent repellents. Ultrasonic repellents emit a high-pitched noise that is not heard by humans, but is an irritant to squirrels.

Fear-based squirrel repellents. Using fear-based repellents is another effective way to keep away squirrels. Fear based repellents use the scents of predators, such as coyote and fox, to frighten squirrels and keep them from coming back to your attic. Shake-Away is an example of a fear-based repellent. It uses the concentrated scent of predator’s urine infused into all-natural, organic granules that you can easily scatter around your attic. Alternatively, you can use the Stocking Ball Kit to make Shake-Away “balls”, which you can place in hard-to-reach areas of your attic.

Some things you may wish to consider when choosing your squirrel repellent solution are its effectiveness, its ease of use, and its potential harm to your family. A fear-based, chemical free solution like shake-away may be your answer.

Posted in Animal Repellents, Squirrels & Chipmunks | Leave a comment

Organic, Natural and Chemical Free: What Those Terms Mean For Animal Repellents

Posted on January 14, 2012 by cradmin

It is likely painful for gardeners to imagine their plant beds being destroyed by animals. They do their best to shield their gardens from hungry birds and crude wild animals. They install fences, traps, and just about any device that they can think of, just to keep their trees and plants protected.

However, fences and traps are not always a great and effective solution. They are unsightly and time consuming, as well. Much of the time, small animals like squirrels, rabbits and raccoons are able to dig around the fences’ posts. When that is the case, a more effective alternative is needed.

Animal repellents, such as raccoon, rabbit and squirrel repellents can be a gardener’s best friend. They are very useful in keeping away rodents, birds, as well as small and large animals. Animal repellents are made to fend off animals without causing them harm. Usually, repellents utilize tastes and odors that are repulsive to the animal pest.

Types of Repellents

Animal repellents vary according to how they are used and the way they work. Some use foul-tasting ingredients, such as hot peppers, while some products make use of ultrasonic waves to keep off pests.

The following are some of the most popular products used to get rid of deer and other animals:

Hot Pepper Repellent – formulated using hot peppers, this product may be effective in keeping away small animals and insects.

Ultrasonic Repellent – a modern product that uses ultrasonic sensor to detect stray animals like skunks, wild dogs, cats, deer, bats, and other animals. It is a lightweight, weather-resistant instrument, which can be easily installed anywhere in the yard.

Shake-Away All Natural Animal Repellent

Shake-Away Animal Repellent – this is a highly-effective product that uses an all natural, organic ingredient: predator urine. Shake-Away comes in granule form, which you simply scatter around your garden area. The granules emit a scent derived from urine of predators, such as fox and coyote. Using the strongest force in nature, the animal’s inborn natural fear of predators, the smaller, weaker animals believe that the area is already “marked” by a predator. Thus, the invading animals are kept at bay. It may be the perfect solution for getting rid of skunks and other nuisance animals.

Organic, Natural Repellents

Not all animal repelling products are ideal for gardens, especially if you have edible crops. Chemical sprays are not recommended for use in vegetable beds. Not only are some chemical sprays harmful to the plants, they may also leave toxic residue that can be ingested by humans.

Lettuce in the Garden

An effective alternative is to go natural, organic, and chemical-free. Organic, natural and chemical-free are virtually the same things. They are safe to use in the garden since they do not contain a trace of chemical that can be harmful to your health. Organic, natural animal repellents only use ingredients that are derived from nature. Examples of this are the hot pepper repellent and Shake-Away Animal Repellent granules.

So, the next time you need to ward off those pesky animals, you may wish to consider using a product that will not only keep away animal pests, but is safe for your plants as well.

Posted in Animal Repellents | Tagged All Natural Repellents | Leave a comment

What’s The Difference Between Gophers, Woodchucks and Groundhogs

Posted on January 14, 2012 by cradmin

What is the difference between Gophers, Woodchucks, and Groundhogs?

It’s now near the planting season and one of the common garden problems you may soon be facing are highly aggressive members of the Marmot family. Yes, marmots that not only creep and eat vegetation, but also burrow holes and nests that destroy the entire garden. Common culprits of destroying your lovely garden are gophers, woodchucks and groundhogs. These animals may look alike at a glance, but they do have distinct characteristics. You may think that you’re dealing with gophers, when all the while you are battling with a groundhog. It is necessary to identify their differences so that you know exactly what must be done to keep these pests at bay.

Gophers:

Gopher

Gophers are small creatures nearly the size of a squirrel. They are about 6 inches in length, have a 7-inch tail, and weigh about 0.5lbs depending on the type of gopher species you’re looking at. They have brown to tan colored fur, and usually live within grass prairies or woodlands.

Gophers are small, burrowing holes and tunnels beneath the soil. In general, there are three types of gophers: the pocket gopher or true gophers, the ground squirrel, and some species of prairie dog. Adorable as they may be, they are considered as pests because they can destroy gardens, farms, and even gnaw at underground cable wires.

You know you are harboring a gopher if you see a mound of dirt within or near your garden. If you find one gopher, there’s a great possibility that you already have a colony beneath your garden as gophers burrow their own little subterranean town full of tunnels and holes.

Gophers usually eat grass, berries, nuts, seeds, grains and insects, but they can also eat plant roots if no other food is available. Once they are done eating all of the succulent vegetation on your land, you may be left with a stretch of land that’s barren and totally in need of serious rehabilitation. Further below are some strategies for how to get rid of gophers.

Groundhogs= Woodchucks

Gopher or Woodchuck

Groundhogs are also known as a woodchucks or land beavers by some. They belong to a class of large ground squirrels commonly known as marmots, and they only live in low-lying areas.

Groundhogs are larger than gophers, reaching to a size of 15-26 inches and weighs 4.4-8.8 lbs. They have two sets of fur to help keep them warm; the first layer is a dense, grayish undercoat, and the second layer is longer coat made up of band hairs that give them that distinct frosted look. Their limbs are shorter but are very efficient and powerful diggers because of their curved and thick claws.

And just like gophers, groundhogs or woodchucks can dig a network of tunnels running to about 46 feet in length. Aside from grubs, insects, and grasshoppers, groundhogs also eat berries, wild grass, and several agricultural crops. Below are some effective woodchuck repellents that are easy to use.

Keeping Gophers and Groundhogs Away from Your Garden

Keeping gophers and groundhogs away from your garden and farm can be done in several ways. One is to stand on guard and visit your garden regularly throughout the day. Burrowers that they are, woodchucks are scared of lights, so installing light fixtures with motion sensors as well as sprinklers and alarms can make your garden a really scary place for them.

Another effective and less tedious method is to use organic critter repellents such as all-natural Shake Away Small Critter Repellent. Because these small creatures have their own share of natural predators, “marking” your garden with these predators’ scent will make gophers and groundhogs think twice before burrowing their colony underneath. Just sprinkle the Shake-Away and the bothersome animals will stay away from your prized vegetation.

Recovering and rehabilitating your garden because of gophers and groundhogs is very costly compared to utilizing measures that will prevent them from harming and destroying your plants. Knowing their features and their landmark will help you to know when and where you should exact measures to keep these pests away from your garden.

Posted in Groundhog, Woodchuck & Gophers | Tagged Animal Repellents, how to get rid of gophers, Woodchuck Repellent | Leave a comment