Protect Your Garden from Nuisance Wildlife
After spending a few months tending to and caring for your garden, it is frustrating to find an animal enjoying the fruits of your labor.
The most effective means to protect your garden from wild animals is to keep them out of it. Repellents and deterrents have limited effectiveness. Scented repellents dissipate outside. Animals grow accustomed to deterrents that rely on sound or sight.
Larger mammals can be difficult to keep out of your yard. It is more cost-effective to protect certain areas of your yard from wild hogs, bears, and deer. To keep burrowing animals like gophers and moles out of your garden, you will need to bury the barrier.
Keep Wildlife Out of Your Garden
As you are preparing your spring garden, keep these dimensions in mind. The nuisance wildlife will determine how tall, what material, and how deep to bury. Trutech wildlife technicians use the following guideline to keep animals out of your garden.
Non-Electric Fences by Species
| Species | Fence Type | Material | Height | Depth |
| Rabbit | non-electric | 1-inch hardware cloth | 2 feet | Buried 4 inches |
| Pocket Gophers | non-electric | 1/4 or 1/2 in hardware cloth | 1 foot | 24 inches At least six inches bent away from plants at 90 degrees. |
| Chipmunk | non-electric | 1/4 inch hardware cloth | 2.5 to 3 feet high | 6-12 inches deep |
| Woodchuck | non-electric | 1-inch hardware cloth | 4 feet 1-foot overhang to prevent climbing | Buried 2 inches Extending 1-foot underground |
| Moles | non-electric | Sheet metal or 24 in hardware cloth | Not Applicable | Buried 1-foot Bent at 90-degree angle |
| Deer | non-electric | Metal, Polypropylene, Brick | 8-10 feet | N/A |
Electrical Fences by Species
Electric fences act as behavioral deterrents. After touching the electric fence, animals will start to avoid the barrier. A properly installed electric fence will not injure, permanently damage, or kill an individual, pet, or animal.
| Species | Fence Type | Material | Height | Electrical | Depth |
| Deer | electric | 12 1/2 gauge high-tensile wire | 8 feet | Two strands 1 ft and 4 ft from the surface | N/A |
| Bear | electric | 12 to 16 gauge wire | 4 feet | 4 strands at 36 in, 26in, 16 in, and 6 in | N/A |
| Wild Hogs | electric | Heavy Wire Holes no larger than 6 inches at posts | 3 feet | 2 Strands at 8- and 18-inches | N/A |
| Woodchucks | electric | 1-inch hardware cloth | 4 feet | 6 to 8 inches below the top | Buried 2 inches Extending 1 foot underground |
| Raccoon | electric | 1-inch hardware cloth | 4 feet | 1 strand 6 to 8 inches below the top | Buried 2 in. Extending underground 1 ft or more. |
| Raccoon | electric | 1-inch hardware cloth | 4 feet | 1 strand 10 inches from ground | Buried 2 in. Extending underground 1 ft or more. |
Electrical fences have a lower initial construction cost but require maintenance. Electrical fences fail when they are improperly installed or maintenance is inadequate.
Keep Your Garden Free from Wildlife
Before your garden starts growing, make sure you are not inadvertently attracting animals.
- Keep a tidy yard clear of debris to limit possible nesting sites.
- Bring pet food inside overnight.
- Secure all garbage cans.
- Use a compost pile to discard any plant material.
After your vegetable garden starts producing, don’t attract animals.
- Harvest all ripe fruits and vegetables.
- Discard any vegetables and fruits off the ground.
