Keep Hooved Rats out

[RalphVa]

Follow-up On Keeping Hooved Rats Out

In an article about a year ago, I described some fencing methods that I had used to keep hooved rats out (not dear to a gardener). I mentioned that the BEST is 2 fences about 18 inches apart, with one being only a single strand of wire. However, I read on Nextdoor of only 2 ribbons being used about 18 inches to 24 inches horizontally apart. These work because hooved rats have a bad sense of depth perception.

Since we got some new battery-powered mowers, I wanted to relocate my electric fencing to allow these devices easier access to more garden areas. This required a fence between the carriage house and the little garden plot behind the garage. It is too far to easily get electric fencing to it. So, I remembered those 2 ribbons and decided to try a non-electric fence.

Here is the result. Note the day lily blossoms, which are hooved rat candy, that have not been touched.



You can see some of the Teflon posts for the relocated electric fence in the shadows behind the carriage house. In those shadows, I planted two more pieces of hooved rat candy--camellia.

 

[kenmbz]

My 7 foot chicken wire keeps out the deer and rabbits, but groundhogs laughed at it until I staked the wire down.
You're fence is an interesting idea for the deer though.

 

[oosik]

My orchard was over 35 years old and I pulled the last root ball about five years ago. I would like to start a couple apple trees again. I've found the answer to pocket gophers - a gopher cage. Maybe a double tape fence would keep the deer off the young trees. The 'coons won't be a problem until the trees start producing apples.

Store bought apples just don't quite cut it.

 

[cqaigy2]

I use 7' black plastic fencing and let the top flop over a bit. So far, so good.