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Controlling Pond Pests
More and more people are discovering the
beauty and tranquility of having a pond on
their property. Unfortunately, they are also
finding out that these garden features can
also attract unwanted wild life visitors,
who treat these ponds as sources for food
and water and destroy expensive plants and
fish. Depending on the geographical area,
ponds can act as magnets for mammals such
as raccoons, beaver, and muskrats; reptiles
such as snakes and alligators; and birds
such as ducks, geese, herons, and kingfishes.
Devices to control these critters and the
damage they do are now an important part
of animal control products and services.
- The first step toward eliminating a pond
pest is to determine what type of animal
you are dealing with. Then you can take the
appropriate steps necessary to solve the
problem.
- Netting or screening the pond is often the
most effective way of keeping out pests,
but this will usually take away some of the
beauty of the pond, and some ponds may be
too large to net.
- Small mammals can be trapped in cages and
removed from the property, but others may
take their place.
- A number of products can be sprayed around
the property to keep animals away. Those
made from coyote, fox, and bobcat urine must
be reapplied after every heavy rain. Other
concoctions can be applied to plants so that
small animals will be irritated when they
smell or taste them.
- Motion dictation boxes will emit a high pitched
noise to drive the animals out that is not
audible to the human ear, but these will
affect cats and dogs, too. Other motion dictation
products will spray intruders with water
to drive them out.
- Fake animals can also be used to discourage
the presence of real ones. Plastic koi will
attract birds and keep them away from real
fish. Solar powered plastic alligators will
swim around the pond, eyes glowing in the
dark.
- Electric fences, which will deliver a mild
shock to any animal that comes in contact
with it, can be installed. These fences are
very effective, but they will not keep away
birds.
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