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03-09-2016, 06:03 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 905
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Mice and other critters in my garden
Last year i lost almost all of my beets as well as my beans to the local varmints. I was using a live trap and catching lots. I also used a snap trap. Does anyone know of anything else I can do? I don't want poison in my yard.
This is what I'm working with.
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03-09-2016, 11:54 PM
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: edmonton
Posts: 3,853
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a cat ?? i think there are some plant/herb that repel them .
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03-10-2016, 12:05 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 19,420
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I'll be using a galvanized wire mesh to keep out birds & squirrels in a 24' x 12' raised bed I'm building, but I don't think I'll use one with a mesh small enough to keep out mice. I'm considering some type of translucent roof over it for hail protection, but with mesh walls it would not really be a greenhouse.
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"The trouble with people idiot-proofing things, is the resulting evolution of the idiot." Me
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03-10-2016, 12:14 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: central Alberta
Posts: 12,629
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What kind of varmints were you catching? Different critters could entail different approaches.
If you are talking about varmints taking your seeds it could be birds too. Try putting a netting over the bed when it is first seeded. Maybe try adding planks or panels for height, on the top of the bed sides, removable when the plants get bigger.
Or you could move the hotbed away from the fence and dig a moat around it.
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
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It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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03-10-2016, 12:19 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: central Alberta
Posts: 12,629
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaberTosser
I'll be using a galvanized wire mesh to keep out birds & squirrels in a 24' x 12' raised bed I'm building, but I don't think I'll use one with a mesh small enough to keep out mice. I'm considering some type of translucent roof over it for hail protection, but with mesh walls it would not really be a greenhouse.
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A see thru roof can cook a garden too. Try a netting with mesh that would catch bigger hailstones. Netting breathes and lets the sun and rain get through too.
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
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It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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03-10-2016, 07:12 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fishstix
Last year i lost almost all of my beets as well as my beans to the local varmints. I was using a live trap and catching lots. I also used a snap trap. Does anyone know of anything else I can do? I don't want poison in my yard.
This is what I'm working with.
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I'm in the same boat, last 2 years the mice have been chowing my beans, zucchini Etc.. Last fall I was a day or 2 away from harvesting a great bunch of cucumbers & then only too have 90% of the bottoms chewed off the night before.
I've put a ton of traps out but doesn't seem to really slow them down?
Cat time I guess.
Also what a ton of wasps, I put these little traps with holes in the lids with a mix of sugar, water & can't remember the last part & every one was absolutely heaving with them.
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03-10-2016, 07:32 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 77
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It's probably not a good idea to use pressure treated wood where you grow vegatables.
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03-10-2016, 08:11 AM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,164
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Nice set-up.
Last year we lost as many vegetables to thieves as we did to varmints (community garden).
I've been using this in my raised garden at home. So far it appears to be working.
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03-10-2016, 08:17 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 19,420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MBL
It's probably not a good idea to use pressure treated wood where you grow vegatables.
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I had the same concern for my raised bed, but I came up with a novel solution that would still let me use treated lumber for longevity. I bought a narrow roll of 24" wide Delta MS plastic foundation wrap and am lining the entire garden with it, this will keep the soil out of contact with the entirety of the wall structures benefitting both the wall and the soil. I built them 20" high and had a pile of surplus t&g pine and t&g cedar that I'd scavenged and attached all of that to some treated 2x6's + 2x4's assemblies at the top and bottom plates.
I've seen veggie gardens built with old railroad ties and can't imagine that's a good idea.
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"The trouble with people idiot-proofing things, is the resulting evolution of the idiot." Me
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03-10-2016, 09:15 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,271
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My guess it is the voles that are eating your veggies. They look like mice but have a shorter tail. Get a half dozen victor/regular mouse traps at around 1$ each,then bait them with a piece of apple, should have a few of the suckers in 1-2 days.
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03-10-2016, 10:34 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,758
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^^^^^^^^^
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LIFE IS TO SHORT TO HAVE AN UGLY LOOKIN DOG .....GET A LAB
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03-10-2016, 11:04 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Rocky View County AB.
Posts: 3,561
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf
My guess it is the voles that are eating your veggies. They look like mice but have a shorter tail. Get a half dozen victor/regular mouse traps at around 1$ each,then bait them with a piece of apple, should have a few of the suckers in 1-2 days.
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X2 You should be able to find the hole they go into set the trap and you should be able to get control of them now before they start with the baby routine. Had way too many to count on my place and just stayed with the traps around the holes and you will also find tunnels under the grass they make, set the traps there too.
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03-10-2016, 09:25 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TROLLER
X2 You should be able to find the hole they go into set the trap and you should be able to get control of them now before they start with the baby routine. Had way too many to count on my place and just stayed with the traps around the holes and you will also find tunnels under the grass they make, set the traps there too.
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Had 1" holes going straight down around the raised beds that were connected, filled with water , took a ton of water to fill up & never flushed anything out. What's that green stick thing ? Some kind of sticky trap.
Voles like apples? I'll try that, been using peanut butter for the mice. A few caught had short tail, long nose . Voles ?
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03-10-2016, 09:34 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WMU 214
Posts: 569
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo
Nice set-up.
Last year we lost as many vegetables to thieves as we did to varmints (community garden).
I've been using this in my raised garden at home. So far it appears to be working.
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^^^^ This is what I use... Seems to work.
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03-10-2016, 11:49 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Remi3006
^^^^ This is what I use... Seems to work.
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X2 UFA sells a version of them.
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03-11-2016, 05:56 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 6,470
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What is the neighbores yard like ? Mice coming from there ? Set some traps along the fence. Mine has a hot tub close to our gaeden and thats where they were coming from when I had a few visits.
I got a small dog now and he has the best of the best eyes, nose and ears. He has been guarding our yard all winter. Allways on the job and not a lazy bum. Funny watching him stick his whole head under the snow for a smell and listen for the critters. His nose is allways to the ground, almost works like a mini snowplow.
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Gonna get me a 16" perch.
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03-11-2016, 07:38 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Remi3006
^^^^ This is what I use... Seems to work.
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What is it ?
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03-11-2016, 07:53 AM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eagleflyfisher
What is it ?
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It's a solar pest repeller - it buzzes randomly and puts critters on edge. They just don't like being around it.
Here's the product description of the one in the photo:
Quote:
This solar pest repeller can help rid your lawn or garden of moles, voles, gophers and other rodents. It has a range of over 6000 square feet. It emits an intermittent combination of sound and vibration. Long-life NiCd solar charged rechargeable batteries are included.- Made of durable ABS plastic & corrosion proof aluminum for added durability
- Solar powered pest repeller works day and night for superior protection
- Easy installation: No main wiring or powering required
- Weatherproofed
- 6000 square foot range
- Frequency: 400Hz to 1000Hz
- Pet and child friendly
- Includes long life NiCd solar charged rechargeable batteries
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03-11-2016, 07:59 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canmore
Posts: 4,755
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If your veggies are being nibbled off right at the base - it may be cutworms, and not rodents at all.
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