Urban Critters: Dealing with Raccoons, Birds, Cats, and Squirrels
When we notice insects large and small attacking plants in our garden, we usually have an easy solution to combat any infestation we discover. With effective organic products such as Neem oil, insecticidal sprays, and ant traps, there is always a way of eliminating them and keeping our plants healthy and happy. Unfortunately, living in an urban environment comes with a lot more pests that are much larger than tiny bugs. We urban gardeners not only need defenses ready for insects, but we also have to be prepared for the animals that love to eat our crops and dig in our soil. Raccoons, birds, cats, and squirrels can be quite tricky to handle when it comes to protecting our garden. There are a few tricks I have tried and tested that have proven to help deter these large-scale pests.
A baby raccoon walking amidst flowers in a garden.
Being the largest of the lot, raccoons will probably create the most intense damage in plants, often eating delicate crops such as tomatoes, beans, peas, and berries. Although raccoons are not prone to go right for the garden when there is plenty of accessible trash around, they still need to be watched for when harvesting time comes about. The best defense against raccoons are automatic motion detector lights. Raccoons tend to freeze when caught in the beam of bright light, so if they are getting hit with sensor lights whenever they are in your garden, they are less likely to do any damage. Another hack is keeping your home compost (if you make your own) secure and tightly locked so they cannot get in and ruin it. Make sure to keep your trash bins as far from the garden as you can, and they will hopefully steer clear from your plants altogether.
A chiffchaff bird eating into a prickly pear fruit.
A young blackbird picking ripe blueberries.
Of all these animals, birds are the most ruthless. They are usually responsible for decimating your lettuces, picking at your tomato fruits, and eating your medium tough-skinned crops, like cucumbers and zucchini. Birds are relentless in their desire to eat all your plants, so setting up as many preventative measures as possible is essential. The first defense I highly recommend is setting up hoop houses with bird netting attached. Bird netting is tough latticed wiring that they have a hard time getting around to get to plants. Bird netting is good to use for raised beds with lettuces, leafy greens, and small-scale crops. The next line of defense is reflective bird deterrents, which reflect against the sun to shine bright light into birds’ eyes. I usually use reflective bird tape, but there are a variety of products, like discs and CDs, that work wonders in deterring birds away from the garden. I usually attach reflective tape to the tops of hoop houses, tie it into bird netting, or string it above beds using stakes and twine. Another semi-useful trick is installing a scarecrow-like statue that resembles a larger bird, such as an owl or hawk. Lastly, I want you to remember that birds will likely be your greatest challenge in pest control, so don’t fret when a bird bests you by eating your plants.
A kitten hiding beneath flowers in a garden.
As for our feline friends, the biggest challenge with cats, domestic or feral, will be them digging, walking, and defecating in your soil. Despite cats being notoriously light on their feet, their paw prints will be very obvious to spot when pressed into garden soil. If you do not have a cat yourself and notice that a neighborhood cat might have gotten into your beds, you will need to take immediate action so it does not return. First, cats have a strong sense of smell, so planting things they dislike such as lavender, lemon thyme, or pennyroyal is a great option, or you can toss some citrus peels directly in the soil. Cats like to walk in garden beds due to the soft and springy nature of garden soil, so placing prickly sticks, mulch, or pine needles on top of the exposed soil might help deter them. Gardener’s Supply actually makes a cat scat mat as a solution for this exact problem. The main concern with cats is them thinking the garden is their litter box, so keep an eye out and act accordingly.
A squirrel eating a nut sitting in a flower pot.
Finally, we have come to the squirrel. These little animals may not seem like much of a threat at face value, but they pack a punch when it comes to damaging our crops. Squirrels often pick at or eat a lot of what we have growing in the garden, but more concerning is their love of digging, climbing, and burying their nuts in fresh, loose soil. When you notice squirrels hiding their nuts in your soil, promptly remove any nuts and get rid of their food stash. Squirrels, like cats, hate the feeling of rough ground under their feet, so layering mulch atop your garden soil works well. Squirrels also dislike nasturtium, marigolds, mint, and mustard greens so plant them in masses.
Bird netting and hoop houses are a solid preventative measure to protect these strawberries.
An owl statue rests above a small garden to scare birds away.
All of these preventative measures have worked well in deterring these animals, which is essential to maintaining your garden. There are also a few tried and true practices of pest control that will work against all of the animals discussed. Creating walls or barriers around your raised beds or garden is generally helpful in deterring animals from walking upon the soil. Installing some automatic ultrasonic repellents are helpful since animals are sensitive to high pitched sounds. Automatic lights, as discussed in regards to raccoons, can also be useful in deterring other small animals. Likewise, motion-detecting automatic sprinklers can be effective against these pests, but you want to ensure the sprinklers don’t contribute to overwatering your plants. You could also use a general animal repellent product as well. Lastly, one of the best defenses you have is the element of surprise. If you notice a pest in your garden, immediately scare it away if possible. If you are consistently shooing off the animals you find in the garden, they are less likely to return.
A woman tends to her zinnias while her pet cat observes.
So, urban critters. What a doozy, right? They may be challenging and persistent, but the combined impact of utilizing preventative measures and taking immediate action will prove effective long-term. Ultimately, these critters can be quite the headache, but they will teach you a lot about your garden and how to manage it well.