Typically two by three-inch fencing, galvanized or plastic-coated for resistance to the weather, will exclude woodchucks, raccoons and opossums, but not small rodents. Consultyourlocal and state guidelines to see if Porcupines are a protected species in your location before applying controland proceed with caution when applying control as Porcupines can be dangerous. Best Methods! The oil can be used to relieve headaches and help with colds. in your yard. Click here to You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. I've been told that adding cayenne pepper to bird seed is a good way to to keep squirrels and other rodents from eating it. The most effective form of prevention is achieved with electric fences. Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. Wagner, K. K., & Nolte, D. L. (2000, Spring). Chicken wire about 18 inches high used in conjunction with a strand of electric wire just above the chicken wire is effective at keeping porcupines from the area. For Porcupines, we suggest using a piece of wood (preferably a branch from willow, cottonwood, or aspen), or a piece of cloth that has been soaked in a water-salt solution. Its not easy. Once the animal is caught, if you want to relocate it, it must be at least 40km away from your home. Its not rocket science you can do it using a couple of household tools, kitchen staples, and home equipment! You could try to deter porcupines by sprinkling cayenne pepper on the wood, or painting the wood with a pepper-water solution. Like the previous example, this one relies on a sweaty outdoors enthusiast leaving a tool outside. Even with all their defenses, porcupines are preyed upon by a several predators. Scent deterrents need to be reapplied often and are not a foolproof plan to keep porcupines away. The percentage of menthol is higher in spearmint than in peppermint. So, in setting up a fence, make sure that the clearance is no more than 50 cm per wire from the ground. ft. Perhaps the best approach to porcupine control is to make the foods they are attracted to (anything wood or salt coated, vegetables and shrubs) become unappealing by touch or taste. Step 2 Encourage trees to grow leafy closed canopies by cutting back on tree trimming and by watering and fertilizing the trees in your yard. They also have soft, brown-black guard hairs throughout their . Pull the trigger arm forward to lift the door plate. Must-Know! If that wasnt enough, the quills have an oily substance on them that can cause burning and itching as well as disease. The damage from rodents chewing through water pipes can be substantial and can occur either over time, or as one big "flood." When damage is slow, a small amount of water will continuously seep in spaces within the walls, causing buildup of toxic mold and rotting of wooden beams. It also depends on where the porcupine lives. 3. Bio Explorer explores the insight into the different porcupine species' diets, how porcupines hunt if they do, when they eat, how often they eat, what they eat porcupines and their role in the . I can't shoot him because he's only there at night. 2. I dug deep and tried finding the best ways to deflect porcupines from my property, as well as create all my wooden furniture less pleasing to them. Search in your yard, near your beneficial trees, gardens, crops, fields, and in your lawn. . Instead of going to the extreme, one way to deter porcupines long term is to change up your yard to make it unattractive to porcupines: These simple steps will make your yard less attractive to porcupines and, combined with other tactics, can keep them away long term. Is there a substitute for septic systems? Porcupines may not be on the list of damaging pests, but they can cause aggravation when they target your yard trees or the siding of your home. This includes areas around trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, walkways, docks, roof tiles, pool decks, or any place where control is desired. Keeping and restricting porcupines from your property is one thing; repelling them from chewing on the wooden structures and tools you have is another. Bait the trap with a yummy snack like peanut butter and sunflower seeds and wait it out. So, I usually go with the comprehensive method of keeping them away. Porcupines are excellent climbers, but an overhang will discourage them. In addition to that, you can also use raw, untreated wood. Commonly used to repel snakes and lizards, Pest Rid uses nothing but all natural ingredients to repel nuisance animals and insects. Since I learned these, I never had problems with porcupines again. Porcupines crave salt due to how their bodies process sodium from tree bark and other plant materials. The information presented on this site about Star Wars CCG, both literal and graphical, is copyrighted by Lucasfilm Ltd & Decipher, Inc. While many predators are capable of eating them, porcupines are a fairly risky food item and most predators leave them alone except in times of desperation. Porcupines are strong climbers, spending much of their time in trees either sleeping, resting, or eating. Porcupines have an excellent sense of smell which they use to find food and understand their environment. Nests of porcupines eat tree bark and are drawn to wood structures in general. Despite being solitary and docile, there are a few reasons why you need to repel porcupines. The foods that attract porcupines include apples, salt, evergreen needles, tree bark, nuts, berries, flowering herbs, grasses, and roots. The peppery, soapy taste will deter some rose-eating animals, including deer. They are a medium-sized, pigeon-toed animal with short legs, long claws, and a high-arching back. When releasing, don't be too afraid of the quills. Letti & Co is user supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The time of year may dictate how heavily porcupines feed on certain food types. Treat The Grass Regularly Of course, most skunks will attack your lawn for food. Be careful when mixing up a spray like this and when you are applying it. Avoid using wood preser-vatives that are metal-salt solutions. Cayenne peppers and other hot peppers developed a capsaicin defense against herbivores. Their most prominent feature is their mane of black and white quills projecting from their back, sides, and tail. If you have encountered a porcupine on your property, this DIY guide can help. if you need to deal with a porcupine problem. But citronellas repellent effect isnt limited to annoying buzzing insects. These spines provide protection from predators, but they also make the porcupine a unique animal to study. As excellent climbers, porcupines can access branches and twigs without taking the tree down. You can get traps at most hardware or garden stores and some animal control officers will either let you rent one or will come out and set the traps themselves. The rumor that porcupines can shoot or throw their quills at aggressors is only a legend, but theres no need to test that out for yourself. Find solutions by species, Find a licensed wildlife control professional, How to live trap and remove a problem porcupine, How to keep porcupines from damaging my vehicles, How to get porcupines out from under my shed or deck, What to do with an animal that is behaving strangely or aggressively, Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Cooperative, Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, signing up for notification when your state is added. To deter porcupines from entering your property, use different scents that will confuse them. Their appearance can also attract predators like mountain lions and bears. If you leave porcupines alone, they will continue on their way and leave you alone. Each 1.25 lbs will protect approximately 50 sq. To use spearmint to repel porcupines, mix 10-15 drops of spearmint essential oil with water and place the mixture in a spray bottle. Place the mixture in a spray bottle and spray outside in problem areas around the garden, on tree trunks, on wooden tool handles, and anywhere else those pesky porcupines are invading. Probably the easiest and simplest way to deter porcupines from visiting your estate is to establish a fence around it. In terms of their diet, porcupines are exclusivelyherbivores. This causes porcupines to search elsewhere for food and leave your yard alone. Porcupines are solitary animals that travel alone. 2 Wear gloves when handling the trap, to keep your scent off it. Remember to read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels. If all else fails, or you do not want to deal with the hassle of getting rid of the porcupines yourself, CALL A PROFESSIONAL. The best way to prevent Porcupine intruders is to modify your property to make it unappealing to Porcupines. They scuttle about in the night, making noises in the basement or attic, and when, Read More 15 Scents That Rats Hate (and How to Use Them)Continue, There are almost 50,000 species of spiders on the planet. Deer are especially fond of tender new growth, so first-year canes of summer-bearing raspberries are more vulnerable than fruiting canes. Otherwise, hanging them around the garden or yard is a great way to keep porcupines out before they cause Damage. Canadian Journal of Zoology,83(10), 1333-1342. One other thing that spearmint oil can do is repel pesky porcupines and deter them from damaging your trees and structures. - Find Out The Best Way, Should I Cover My Patio Furniture In Summer? Whatever action you take, remember that solutions like vinegar, predator urine and citrus create a temporary barrier only. Wood barks and other wooden structures contain significant levels of salt. Use a porcupine repellent spray. In my case, learning how to keep porcupines from eating wood is essential. So, I did my best and chose 2 of the best ones, according to homeowners and experts! The first is to spray PEST RID over the area where you see the marks. You will need to survey the area to see where they are active and what may be attracting them to the area. Porcupines remain common throughout most of their range, but conservationists know by now that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020. 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