Rabbits, raccoons, deer, skunks and even bears often do their
shopping in your produce
department. These bushy burglars eat an estimated 20 percent of
home garden vegetables.

Over the years, people have used soap, dog hair, Winchester
rifles and chain-link
fences to stop these criminal critters.

Fencing them out works best. But it takes the right kind of
fence. A deer, for
instance, can jump as high as 10 feet. A raccoon may shinny up a
nearby tree and sky dive
into produce paradise.

Look for tracks or fecal droppings. Find out how and when the
animals get into the
garden, too. These "fingerprints" may help you
identify the suspect.

Build barriers early in the season before the animals taste-
test your garden. Then
they’ll be less likely to attempt a break-in.

Here’s a "most wanted" list of major pests, clues
to look for, favorite menu
items and ways to protect your vegetables from particular
plunderers.

Taking these steps won’t protect against all pests, but it
might keep these from
stealing you blind.

Burglar Bunny. Generally grayish brown with large,
pointed ears. Prowls in early
morning and late afternoon. Devours plants right to the ground
and may leave small round
pellets as calling cards.

A fence of one-inch-mesh chicken wire is the best protection.
Make it at least two feet
high with another four to six inches turned outward at the top.
Bury at least another six
inches belowground.

Gardeners have used ground black pepper, chili powder, blood
meal, rotten eggs, bone
oil and hot pepper sauce around plants to keep rabbits away.

Train Rover to patrol the garden and Mr. Rabbit won’t likely
show his ears.

Two-Fingers Fawn. Swift runner with Bambi eyes and a
white tail. Will eat anything
edible within reach. Forages at night, dawn and dusk. Sometimes
leaves two-toed tracks and
medium-size dark pellets.

An electric fence is the best way to keep deer out. The
"Minnesota Peanut Butter
Fence" is good. It’s a single strand of electrically
charged wire 2.5 feet above the
ground.

Power the fence with a six- or 12-volt car battery to prevent
fatal injuries regular
current could cause.

Place strips of masking tape and/or aluminum-foil flaps
smeared with peanut butter at
three-foot intervals.

Other deterrents soon wear off. Hanging up bars of soap or
nylon stockings filled with
hair can help. Spraying plants with a water-and-Tabasco-sauce
mixture can, too.

Robber Raccoon. Suspect has dark eyes, a black nose and
white markings on face. Has
definite "sweet corn tooth" but will eat melons. Works
night shift, bending corn
stalks to the ground and stripping ears clean or stealing them.
Often leaves melons with
small holes in them, which he scooped clean with his paws. Will
also leave characteristic
footprints around the scene.

Electric fences are the best way to curtail a ‘coon. It takes
two strands. Place one
six inches and the other 12 inches high.

Use fiberglass posts, since ‘coons can climb wooden ones.
Turn off the power in the
daytime, since they feed only at night.

Nothing else works. ‘Coons are hardened criminals with a
thirst for sweet corn. Their
well-honed criminal skills will likely overcome any obstacle but
a charged fence.

Paw Barker (a.k.a. Mr. Bear). Last seen wearing a brown
or black fur coat. Has
large teeth and is heavyset. Gave up Jenny Craig diet for corn
and melons. May be
dangerous. Don’t approach. Usually leaves Sasquatch-like
footprints and large dung piles
behind.

A four-strand electric fence baited with bacon is the best
bear barrier. Place the top
strand about three feet high. Flashing lights, loud music and
dirty laundry may also keep
Big Ben out of your patch.