I spotted a rat just chilling near my strawberry patch today! When I tried to scare it away, it didn't budge. Instead, it just lounged there, not aggressive at all. I ended up spraying it with the hose, and it ran off into the back field. However, I'm not sure how to effectively keep it out of my garden for good. I really want to avoid using poison since there are lots of other animals around, including owls and hawks. Any tips from fellow gardeners?
3 Answers
Rodents are really not fans of peppermint oil. Spray it around the base of your garden to create a barrier. Also, there's a gadget you can get that detects critters at night and scares them off with strobe lights and sounds just for them. If you want to be humane, consider a DIY trap using a bucket with some sunflower seeds and peanut oil. Just give them a ramp to climb and then they can’t get out. Once you catch one, relocate it away from your garden.
Using rat traps with cheese or some kind of smoky meat works wonders! I've caught around ten this year already. The nice thing is, chipmunks and bunnies don't seem to go for the traps, so they stay safe. Just make sure to check your traps regularly!
You could try snap traps baited with dog food and peanut butter. Make sure to set them against a wall since rats prefer cover and won't cross open ground much. Just remember to bring them in at dawn to keep other critters safe!
Thanks! Looks like I really need to get a trap since this is my first time dealing with this issue.
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely pick up a trap or two.