   Wildlife Repellents - April 7, 2010 Jeff Schalau, Associate Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Wildlife damage is a common occurrence within gardens and landscapes of north central Arizona. Deer, elk, pronghorn, javelina, raccoon, beaver, rabbit, rock squirrel, woodrat, and porcupine damage top this list. While exclusion (fencing, bird netting, cages, etc.) is most effective, it may not be feasible and/or affordable. In some cases, removal or better management of attractants (bird feeders, pet food, water, shelter) can also help. Also keep in mind that wildlife diets change with food availability in the environment – during droughty periods, your garden and landscape may look like an ice cream parlor to hungry wildlife. Many repellents discourage wildlife feeding by having either an offensive taste or odor. No repellent is continuously effective, and what works in one location may be ineffective at another location. Factors which contribute to this variability are wildlife feeding habits and environmental conditions. Generally it has been found that repellents are most effective where wildlife: are present in relatively low numbers; cause light to moderate damage; and affect small areas. If any of the above conditions are not typical of your property, then you should evaluate the potential for using fence or other exclusion methods. In addition, when using repellents only, some wildlife damage must be tolerated. Wildlife repellents vary widely. Repellent formulations range from home remedies such as human hair and soap to animal products such as feather meal, blood meal, and predator urine to commercial chemical repellents. Animals can habituate (become accustomed to) a single repellent. When repellents are used, the greatest effect is obtained by using several different repellents and rotating their use. Birds and mammals also differ in their tolerances to various repellents. Herbivores, such as deer, elk and rabbits, often feed on young forest plantations. Repellent products commonly use active ingredients such as putrescent egg solids, dried blood, capsaicin (the compound that produces hot flavors in chile peppers), or plant essential oils such as peppermint or citronella. These products have the advantage of being relatively safe when label directions are followed. Some also include adjuvants that make the active ingredient more resistant to rain and exposure. Another group of repellents are urines from various predator species. Aside from the obvious question (who collects the urine?), these products do not appear to have the same level of reliability as the above mentioned products. I have seen coyote, fox, wolf, bobcat, and mountain lion urine for sale. My knowledge of their effectiveness when used in our area is limited. Furthermore, I hope the workers collecting these products have up-to-date rabies shots and health insurance. Visual and auditory repellents are also available. Visual repellents range from owl decoys and large eyes, to scarecrows, to mylar streamers. Some auditory repellents rely on large explosions (similar to shotgun blasts) while others use alarms or distress calls. Here, animals typically habituate to these sights and sounds fairly readily. Auditory calls are often used to repel birds such as woodpeckers and crows. Ultrasonic devices are often touted, however, these devices have been shown to be ineffective for most of their intended uses. Mothballs are often used as a home remedy to repel packrats, skunks, snakes, and mice. While mothballs are labeled as a pesticide, they are not labeled for this use and are highly toxic. The label specifies moth balls are only allowed to be used in sealed containers that allow the fumes to build up to a level that kills clothes moths while preventing the fumes from entering living spaces inhabited by humans or pets. Inhaling the mothball fumes can cause health problems. Spreading them on the ground is not an allowable use and could harm people, animals, and the environment. When in doubt, read the label. If the label does not provide information like the active ingredients and precautionary statements (e.g. Keep Out of Reach of Children), then I would suggest looking elsewhere. For landscape ornamentals, you may select resistant varieties and minimize excessive irrigation and fertilization – succulent plants are often more attractive to wildlife and insects. Below, I have included links to two publications that list wildlife resistant plants. Finally, most gardeners that start with repellents eventually implement exclusion strategies. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest control. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 ext. 14 or E-mail us at cottonwoodmg@yahoo.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plants (pdf format, 430 KB) ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1237.pdf Javelina Resistant Plants (pdf format, 387 KB) ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1238.pdf  |