It’s enjoyable to see a fawn with its mother or a tiny bunny wandering around your yard. But it’s not so sweet when you realize they’re treating your garden like a buffet!
We share the planet with all sorts of wildlife that have just as much right to survive out there as we do. But it can be understandably frustrating when costly perennials you just planted are gnawed to the ground by woodchucks, shrubs are chewed off at the base by voles, or the blooms on your rose bushes are devoured by deer.
Unfortunately, wildlife may feed on your garden at any time of year. “Sometimes the damage decreases because there’s more food available,” says Sheldon Owen, Ph.D., wildlife extension specialist at West Virginia University. “But at other times, when food sources are dwindling, such as in fall when the greenery begins to die off, they’re going to target whatever is left in your garden.”
One approach many gardeners try is to use animal repellents, which are found in spray and granular forms. “There are two types of repellents that can be used for wildlife,” says Robert Pierce, Ph.D., associate professor and state extension fisheries and wildlife specialist at the University of Missouri. “Contact, or taste-based, repellents are applied directly to an area or a potential food item, often to modify the taste of a food item. Area repellents are odor-based and applied near the area you’re trying to protect.”
Taste-based repellents usually rely on something that’s bitter or hot, such as capsaicin. “The animal still has to take a bite to get the negative stimulus, but theoretically, they may not want to eat more of a plant that’s been treated,” says Owen. On the other hand, scent-based repellents, such as rotten eggs, rotten milk, or blood meal, and meant to deter them from feeding in the first place.
Will repellents keep wildlife away from your garden?
Many variables affect whether or not spraying something on your garden is going to keep hungry critters away from your favorite plants. “If you have 10 deer per square mile, you don’t have a deer problem, but if you have 40 deer per square mile, no repellant is going to stop them from feeding,” says Mike Mengak, Ph.D., wildlife specialist and professor emeritus at the University of Georgia.
Even worse, there’s no “season” for damage. Most other herbivores, such as rabbits, voles, and mice, are active year-round. Mammals such as raccoons and opossums also may come to dine in your garden. Woodchucks hibernate in winter, but in the fall, they’re putting on as much fat as possible so your tomatoes, peppers, and many other plants are fair game, says Owen.
Repellents are expensive and must also be reapplied frequently, particularly after a rain or snow event. Some products, such as coyote urine, may repel herbivores such as rabbits—but it can also attract carnivores, such as coyotes that come to investigate the intriguing smell, says Owen.
In addition, each animal is unique, even within the same species. Some animals may not be bothered by a bad taste or icky smell and will keep chowing down, no matter how diligent you are about using a product, says Mengak.
Overall, the research has shown mixed results. “Basically, repellants have questionable effectiveness, and none of the studies show that they work 100 percent. And if you have enough hungry deer or other wildlife and little food, they’re going to eat your plants. They won’t care how bad it smells or tastes. They need to survive,” says Owen.
How to use animal repellents more effectively
While no repellent will completely eliminate wildlife damage, “depending on the circumstances and wildlife species, various repellent formulations can offer temporary and limited effectiveness. Generally, using a combination of control methods is more effective than the use of just one method,” says Pierce.
So, if you have a ton of deer roaming your neighborhood and want to take a “something is better than nothing” approach to deterring them from destroying your yard, there are a few tricks to getting the most out of them.
✔️ Use repellents early and often. “If animals have already been feeding, it’s harder to make them stop once they’ve started,” says Owen. Keep in mind you’ll also need to reapply repellents frequently, especially in high temperatures and after rain or snow. But also think about the cost versus benefit. “If you’re using $50 worth of chemicals to protect $10 worth of plants, it may not be worthwhile,” says Owen.
✔️ Change up repellents. “Animals may become habituated if you always use the same product,” says Mengak. Look for products that have different ingredients down the list, then keep alternating them so the animals don’t get used to them.
✔️ Consider scare tactics. A scarecrow or plastic owl isn’t going to do anything, but motion-activated devices that spray the animal with water are fairly effective. The combination of the element of surprise, the noise, movement, and water can deter wildlife. You’ll want to routinely move these devices so animals don’t eventually catch on, says Mengak.
✔️ Use multiple deterrent methods. This is called integrative wildlife damage management. Remove habitat, such as piles of wood or brush near your house. Utilize fencing, which is effective for rabbits and deer (a few feet high for rabbits, 6 or more feet tall for deer). You can also employ motion-activated, scare devices that spray the animal with water, which are fairly effective, says Pierce. The combination of the element of surprise, the noise, movement, and water can deter wildlife. You’ll want to routinely move these devices so animals don’t eventually catch on, adds Mengak.
✔️ Pass on the DIY repellent hacks. There’s little to no evidence that bars of soap, urine, coffee grounds, human hair, or other concoctions will prevent damage to your garden by hungry wildlife. Sonic devices are also useless, says Mengak.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
