Hey all!
Third year gardener, experiencing a pest issue, specifically mice 🐁
Tomato pic is from 24/01 and capsicums are the last 3 days (12/03-15/03)
After the first initial incident, I used scat spray around the entire garden area and on every bed, set out bicarb&sugar mix, and the stolen produce had ceased until the 12th. After the first capsicum was eaten through, I repeated the above steps, added peppermint oil soaked cotton balls throughout the entire garden, and attached organza bags to the produce which works for my strawberries vs pests. This however had no effect and the produce was just eaten off the stem and pulled out of the bag.
My housemate is allergic to cats (growing up on a hobby farm, these were our main form of pest control), and the other housemate has a dog so NO bait whatsoever can be used. We’ve tidied the yard (we’re on 5 acres) to the best of our ability also.
This year weather wise, has already stunted all of my harvests and so the minimal produce I did have, was bordering on sacred to me 🥲 Please, what else can I do to protect my garden from mice and rats?
TLDR: mice/rats stealing produce. Scat spray, bicarb&sugar combo, peppermint oil, organza bags all no longer working. Cats are no go, NO bait can be used. Begging for suggestions
by ethereal_nightmare14
9 Comments
They’re ravaging my passionfruit this year but I’ve pretty much given up trying to stop them. I put a mechanical trap out and a bird got its head stuck in it.. I tried bait and one of the rats died in a pool of blood inside my garage. I decided that was too inhumane so no more bait. Cats are no good because they’re not allowed outside at night when the rats are active anyway.
Mesh bags over individual fruit?
Are you sure that it’s rats and not rabbits? If it is rats you buy bait stations to prevent dogs or other animals from gaining access.
Organza bags for the fruits to avoid white butterfly and deter rats and bait.
It looks like you have an infestation. Once the population is under control, you will see less dramatic cases.
Don’t forget rats carry lots of diseases.
I reckon you’re going to be struggling.
IMHO your best option is to physically separate your veggie garden – via fencing/netting – from rest of the property. Then use baits.
Or go to the even greater expense of wire netting over your beds/enclosure.
damn, I feel for you, I’ve got 28’s trying my capsicums, not the whole thing, just taste testing a few bites from each, it’s very frustrating. I’ve draped shade cloth over the plants hoping this helps.
If you don’t want to use poison or traps. I heard on an ABC gardening program recently that you can use powdered mashed potato. Once they eat it, it expands and kills them.
I use any rat bait and put some sardine juice on them works great
Could it be possums?
What about netting over the top?