The best method for dealing with critters ( raccoons, squirrels, mice, etc.) in the spring is prevention. Trim trees, over-hanging branches close to the home and close off any external openings, that will allow entry to a home or structures.
Repellents such as mothballs or ammonia soaked rags are an option to convince a critter to leave. Care should be taken to make sure that the family are not affected.
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Once the critter is out, one-way openings, such as an 18-inch section of 4-inch diameter PVC pipe placed at a 45-degree angle pointing toward the ground, can help keep critters from returning.
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Bucket traps may be lethal or non-lethal. Both types have a ramp which leads to the rim of a deep-walled container, such as a bucket. The bucket may contain a liquid to drown the trapped mouse. The mouse is baited to the top of the container where it falls into the bucket and drowns. In the non-lethal version, the bucket is empty, allowing the mouse to live, but keeping it trapped. The unharmed mouse can be released outdoors far away from the home or cottage.
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Here are 3 easy homemade mouse traps
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Another frustration, for homeowners close to wooded areas, is deer and their attraction for gardens. Whether city or country, any gardener will relate that a deer can turn summer plants to shreds in a short time.
Whether it’s deer-proof hay yard, or high plastic fences surrounding gardens, there are no easy cure, or end, as dealing with wildlife involves few guarantees.
In early spring as you plan your garden, take several factors into consideration. First, if the goal is to protect your garden, an 8-foot-high, completely enclosed, mesh or chicken wire fence is the best deterrent. A less costly alternative is dividing your garden into smaller plots with four-strand smooth-wire fence. Deer can easily jump over such a barrier, but they’re less likely to take the leap if they’ll wind up in a small enclosure.
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SHSKR OUTDOOR JOURNAL 