Wildlife can be part of what makes living in the mountains so beautiful. When you see deer serenely grazing in a nearby field they look very peaceful. However, if those same deer are eating the plants around your house or garden they can seem like a menace. Let’s talk about wildlife and some steps that you can take to protect your property from wildlife.
To start off I want to say that to have success in managing wildlife can take a lot of hard work and perseverance. There is no magic bullet. These are living creatures with a mind of their own. You may end up having to redefine what success is for you. For example, having healthy soil means that you will have more earthworms and grubs in the soil. Those earthworms will attract moles. So sometimes we have to reevaluate what success is going to be realistically.
The best action model to use when trying to manage wildlife is HERL. HERL stands for Habitat modification, Exclusion, Removal or Repellant, and Lethal control. Habitat modification means making your space less attractive to wildlife. This can include things like mowing the grass and removing brush or debris piles. Tall grass and piles gives cover to mice and mice are a food source for snakes. Therefore, removing those habitats will make your space less welcoming to snakes. Cutting dead limbs and removing trees eliminates habitat for bats, flying squirrels, and woodpeckers.
The next step is exclusion. Exclusion is using fences or other barriers to keep wildlife out. When using a fence make sure that it works for the specific wildlife that you’re trying to exclude. A fence for deer will need to be eight to ten feet tall. A fence for wild hogs may only need to be three to four feet tall, but very sturdy. A fence to keep rabbits out may only need to be two feet high, but should also be buried at least six inches so that they can’t dig under it. If you are working with wildlife that burrow the fence will need to be buried to be effective. Around your house make sure that doors, window, pipes, wires, and cables are well sealed to keep wildlife from coming indoors.
Removal involves trapping the animal and moving to another location. The issue with removal is that it only treats the symptom and not the problem. Safety is a concern whenever you are moving a wild animal. Another concern is legality. There are laws regarding the transportation of wildlife. For example, it is illegal to transport wild hogs in Georgia. Repellants are products that you can use to scare or discourage wildlife. Snake repellants that work by smell or sound are ineffective because snakes can’t hear or smell. These products are only short term solutions so you will need to reapply them. How effective they are can also be impacted by how hungry the wildlife is. If you are using repellants on your garden check the label first because some are only intended to be used on plants that you don’t eat. Milorganite can be an effective repellant for deer. It’s an organic fertilizer.
Lethal control is the last step when managing wildlife. It’s best to work with a professional Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator. Make sure that you are aware of the laws regarding lethal control because some wildlife is protected, or lethal control is only allowed in season.
If you have questions about managing wildlife contact your local Extension Office or email me at Jacob.Williams@uga.edu.