University of Vermont Extension
System
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Animal Pests of Flowers
OH 52
Dr. Leonard P. Perry, Extension Professor
I. General
Difficulties, esp. compared to insects, diseases, weeds
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animals have some intelligence, can overcome obstacles
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often can't kill eg domestic pets, "bambi" laws
Repellents
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variable success with location, year; often help if not real hungry or
population pressures not too great
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animals learn from experience (eg Pavlov)
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best control usually exclusion eg deer fence, bulb cage, electric fence
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live traps may be option
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problems: catch unwanted eg cats, skunks or regulations against relocating
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use caution trapping larger live animals to not be bitten as many carry
communicable diseases such as rabies
Killing
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snap traps (often leg hold banned, not good practice), most common for
mice/voles
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poison baits are common where other desirable animals will not get or will
not get the poisoned animals (eg cats eating poisoned voles or mice)
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shooting--usually regulations, safety concerns in populated areas
II. Pests
Mice/Voles--serious problem across country, look similar and
cause similar damage but are distantly related
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live in grassy areas, leaf mulch, travel in tunnels
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feed on any vegetation including bulbs and tubers, then on bark young trees
and shrubs
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exclude with barriers, trap at main runways with peanut butter bait or
vitamin D (several day death from calcium imbalance), other repellents
such as castor oil may help, poison baits, get a cat or dachsund
Moles--serious problem across country
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live in tunnels which help aerate soil, but provide tunnels for other animals
and may provide excessive soil disturbance heaving plants
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help by eating insects like grubs, hurt by also eating earthworms
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eliminate insects they feed on, trap similar to voles
Pocket Gophers--occasional problem in deep South and West
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live in tunnels in soil creating mound at entrance
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feed on roots and bulbs
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control with traps, cats
Chipmunks/Ground squirrels--former serious problem in East, latter
serious problem in West, similar
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live in tunnels or burrows, former run almost vertical, latter run horizontal;
uproot new plantings
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feed on seeds, nuts, fruits, roots, bulbs, other
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trap using peanut butter, oats, nut meats, sunflowers seeds; spray repellents
on bulbs, or plant with jagged shells or stones in holes; exclude with
plant cages; get a cat or two
Tree Squirrels--occasional problem across country
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live in nests in trees
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feed on fruit, nuts, insects, bark, seeds, other
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cage new plantings, trap using sunflower seeds, peanut butter, raisins
Rabbits--serious problem across the country
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live in grassy areas, thickets
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feed on vegetables, flowers, tree bark; active during day all year in most
areas
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fence out with chicken wire or hardware cloth cages higher than snow level,
repellents as for deer and inflatable snakes may help
Groundhogs/Woodchucks--occasional problem in northern states
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live in burrows with two or more openings with mounds at entrance
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feed in early morning and late afternoon on tender vegetables and flowers,
especially pencil-thick stems like phlox, and occasionally on bark
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trap live; fence out 3 feet high, 12" in front and slightly buried, with
top 18" unattached; repel with taste sprays on desirable flowers, predator
urines, oily substances at hole entrances; insert poison gas cartridges
in holes and cover to kill
Skunks--occasional problem across country
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live in rural, wooded areas
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feed on insects, small rodents, fruits, berries, other vegetables; more
nuisance from smell than problem eating flowers, also carry rabies
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fence out as for groundhogs; if trapping live bait with sardines or cat
food and wear protective clothing and eye goggles
Racoons--occasional problem across country
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live in wooded rural or lightly populated areas in natural shelters such
as logs, near water
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feed on insects, small animals, grains especially corn, vegetables, other;
not so much a problem in flower gardens
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exclude with fence as for groundhogs, only 4' high; electric fences; trapping
as for skunks
Deer--serious problem across country, even in populated areas with
few natural predators and strict control laws
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prefer wooded areas, tall grass, thickets
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eat on most plants and bark of woody plants, if hungry or high populations,
exclusion may be only control
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many controls available including various taste and smell repellents (deer
have a keen sense of smell); light or noise emitters (must be moved often
as deer are smart and learn quickly); electric fence baited with peanut
butter (one taste wont kill but will deter); best is exclusion with 3-wire
triangular or slanted fences, or high (8-10') deer fences (woven wire mesh
or heavy fishing line every 2 ft high, if the latter they lines must be
flagged as deer can't see well and will try jumping through); dogs (a pack
of deer may outsmart, and the dogs may themselves be a problem)
Dogs--serious problem across country
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devastate gardens running and romping; dig soil and plantings; leave droppings
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exclude with fences, repel with plant sprays specific for these; contain
dogs, talking to owners or using "wireless" fence collars
Cats--usually beneficial by catching rodents, but may be serious
problem across country
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may be a problem by digging up new plantings
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lay chicken wire on or over new and young beds, spray plants with repellents
Return to Perry's Perennial Consumer Page
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of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department
of Agriculture.University of Vermont Extension System and U.S. Department
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version 3.01