geologic
Old Pharmer
Supporter
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The sonic gopher chasers have been successful for me--Some of my big 6x24 raised beds have gotten over run with gophers so I though I would try some of those 'sonic spikes' on the recommendation of a friend, despite being skeptical of them. Turns out my skepticism was not unfounded the have proven to be totally and utterly worthless, the gophers burrow right up next to them and pay them no mind at all.
Yeah it feels weird - I haven't missed that party in a decade, and haven't not cooked and helped NC with it for a few years now. It is often the only time all year I get to see some of those folks too.
We have done the low water things, with moderate success. The live traps catch the occasional squirrel as well. If you don't want to use poison it definitely takes a multi-pronged approach for the rodents. There is a winery south of us that has started employing professional falconers with great success. How cool would that be to have a falcon to protect your garden?
Honestly though, by far the most effective means for the squirrels and the other larger rodents has been to actively hunt them. I got a long barreled hunting shot gun and a skeet shooter to practice with over the winter. That has proven to be 10 times more effective than any trap or anything else we have ever tried - without the negative environmental effects of using poison.
I'm wondering about the whole deer thing. Do you all have the purple painted fence posts up there? Basically in Texas you paint your fence posts/tree trunks purple around the property line. This is the same as a no tresspassing sign. What this really does is basically say all the animals on this property are off limits. You come on my property and shoot anything well I'm not going to fire any warning shots. In Texas it's pretty much you see that you turn around so you don't get a wad of rock salt in your ass or worse.
Interesting, so the pipe was set up specifically as a pest deterrent? Does it generate noise, or how does it work?With the added bonus of the satisfaction of knowing there's one less thing target eating your roots!
I am pretty fortunate I think...my back neighbor runs a berry farm and his property backs to my place, and our hay fields share a border, anyway he has a huge old school windmill running a pipe in the ground that chases the underground critters away. it covers my garden and greenhouse area, but the range is obvious. In my front yard and hay field it doesn't cover, and its riddled with gopher, voles, and weasels.
Interesting, so the pipe was set up specifically as a pest deterrent? Does it generate noise, or how does it work?
No, we don't have that here in California. Great idea though! Here you are supposed to post 'no trespassing/hunting signs' every 1/3 of a mile, the purple paint sure would be faster and easier. California isn't exactly the most pro-hunter/pro gun state. I've got nothing against hunters, I just don't have a lot of tolerance for trespassers and poachers.
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