As the weather warms up, the pests will come out.
What type of pests?
Moles, rabbits, raccoons and deer.
And even though we should consider them nice and pleasant additions to
nature, they can also do damage to our yards, gardens and bird feeders.

So, with that said, resist using traps and poisons that may do considerable
damage to these animals, and to household pets and the people living
inside these homes.

The better solution:
Common household items found in the pantry, cupboards and refrigerator,
so look below for something natural to fend off the pesky pests.

1) Rabbits-
Stop Bad Bunnies!
Yes, they’re cute to look at, but let them get hungry (rabbits can eat a
head of lettuce a day) and they’ll do major harm to your outdoor garden.
To keep them at bay: Cut up some hot peppers or buy a jar of cayenne
or black pepper and spread it around the edges of your garden.
Another tip: Make a form of pepper spray, which is just as effective.
To make:
Mix 4 cups of water and 1 Tbs. of cayenne pepper in a pot; bring to a boil.
Once cool, pour into a spray bottle and spritz plants once a week or after
a rainstorm.

2) Cats-
We know, they’re considered members of the family, but not cats who may
come from another household or neighborhood and to keep unfamiliar
cats out of your yard or garden, save all of your citrus peels and spread them
on the edges of your yard and throughout your garden.
Another tip: You can also save citrus peels and make a type of repellent,
similar to the cayenne pepper spray. Just place a handful or two of citrus peels
with a few cups of water. Boil the mixture, then let it simmer for 5 to 7 minutes,
remove from the heat, let cool and pour into a spray bottle. Spritz the yard and
garden a few times a week, and especially after a rainstorm.

3) Raccoons-
Raccoons may not want to eat carrots, green beans or pea pods, but they
do want to get inside of your garbage cans and the safest way to keep
them out is with the cleaning staple ammonia.
They (raccoons) hate the smell and to successfully keep them out your trashcans-
soak some paper towels in cleaning ammonia and place them on top of and
around the base of the trash cans. Repeat this tip each time the garbage is
emptied or the bag is removed. Another tip: If you’re now seeing bears,
ammonia will also work on them as well.

4) Squirrels-
They may look cute playing and frolicking in the yard, but they can destroy your
bird feeders and if this is the case in your yard, head to the pantry and grab the apple
cider vinegar. To make: Combine one part of vinegar with one part water in a spray
bottle, then spritz the base of the bird feeder. Repeat this tip frequently, especially
after rainstorms. Apple cider vinegar won’t cause any damage to the playful
critters, but it will encourage them to head to someone else’s bird feeder.

5) Deer-
Another critter that may look appealing and cute from a distance, but let them
into your yard and they’ll feast on shrubs, plants and vegetables. The quick Rx:
Dryer sheets. They give clothes a pleasant and refreshing scent, but deer
hate the smell of them. Tear a few sheets into strips and tie them around
planters, sticks that may be supporting vegetables (tomatoes) and shrubs.
Another tip: Buy a few bars of soap at the dollar and place a whole bar
(or cut off some pieces) and place the soap around your yard or garden.
Like dryer sheets, the scent of soap also sends them (deer) running.
6) Moles-
Luckily, moles only seem to show up in certain states and if your state is
the one they’re most likely to visit, go to the medicine cabinet and get out
the castor oil. Grandmothers (and mothers) would often give their
kids a tsp. of it to help keep them cold and flu-free, but today,
it can serve double duty and keep pesky moles at bay.
To make:
Combine 3 parts castor oil, 3 parts water and 1 part dish detergent and
spritz this on the visible molehills in your yard. Moles hate the smell
of castor oil and dish detergent and as soon as they smell it, they’re off
to another yard. Repeat the spritzing often and especially after a rainstorm.
7) One Last Tip-
If you’re undecided as to what to get your Father on his special day (Father’s day),
you may want to make up a few bottles of the above-mentioned natural repellents
and give them to him. If he has a yard or garden and he’s into all-natural and
“non-toxic” repellents to keep vermin and critters out, then these are the perfect
low-cost gifts you should consider making for him.

Sources:
* Gardener-Ryan Farley (LawnStarter.com)
* Landscaper Tom Monson (MonsonLawnAndLandscape.com)
* Brandon Thorsell of Critter Control
* Country Living Magazine- June 2022 Edition

Please pass this article on to all family and friends who are dealing with
pesky critters, but want to get rid of them using harmless and non-toxic
methods.
Share the article over at Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram (stories), Pinterest,
Reddit, Tik-Tok and Twitter.

Thank-You!