Re: [aroid-l] Woodchuck problem

From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt at hort.net> on 2004.07.23 at 04:47:41(11789) > From: r2ot@charter.net > I have been having a problem with a woodchuck/woodchucks chewing up plenty of plants in the garden.If anyone knows a trick or something to scare them away or stop them from chewing up my plants I'd like to hear it +More ---------- An aggressive dog running loose will encourage them to move to another area; tethered or indoor dogs won't discourage them. Chickenwire fence buried at least a foot in the soil, turned out away from what you're trying to protect will stop them. Fence doesn't have to be more than 3' tall. You might also try hot pepper spray or one of the other nasty tasting sprays available for discouraging wildlife. They are strict herbivores and can wreak havoc on tasty plantings - I used to have a time with them when I grew veggies before I fenced off the veggie garden. Woodchucks (AKA groundhogs) have poor eyesight but excellent hearing. They are not rocket scientists in the brain department. They are excellent diggers but don't climb. If cornered, they can be aggressive and bite, otherwise they are fairly mild mannered. They dig extensive burrows with more than one entrance, generally marked by a large mound of soil outside the main entrance. If you find a den, you can try running a hose in it tho' that doesn't always work...but if you do it enough, they might decide to move elsewhere. Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland mtalt@hort.net Editor: Gardening in Shade ----------------------------------------------- Current Article: Corydalis http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/shade_gardening ------------------------------------------------ Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date http://mtalt.hort.net/article-index.html ------------------------------------------------ All Suite101.com garden topics : http://www.suite101.com/topics.cfm/635

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