Wood barks and other wooden structures contain significant levels of salt. Each 1.25 lbs will protect approximately 50 sq. Their calls even occasionally befuddle experienced ornithologists who can be forgiven for thinking they are about to discover some sort of rare European bird lost in the forests of New England, only to discover the source of call is a basketball-sized pincushion halfway up a tree. Most notably, Porcupines like to destroy trees by eating bark and branches. This keeps animals from burrowing underneath or jumping over the fence. From there, itll be almost impossible for them to climb back up. Youd need to reapply this every time it rained, though. Isthere any difference? You can place a salt block out to encourage the porcupine to eat that instead of your shed or house. Even with all their defenses, porcupines are preyed upon by a several predators. Porcupines are a resilient and adaptable animal which can tolerate a variety of climates due to their exceptional defense mechanisms and their versatile eating habits. The porcupine is not an aggressive animal and will only attack if it is threatened. Mix cayenne pepper and petroleum jelly. Spearmint oil isawesome. 3. In addition to that, you can also use raw, untreated wood. Because of this, its important to know the entry points so, Read More 10 Different Ways That Snakes Entered Your HomeContinue, Your email address will not be published. According to theNational Pesticide Information Center, citronella contains three main repellent ingredients: These three babies combine to make both an insect and animal repellent. (1998). This type of repellent is similar to lavender and spearmint, making it difficult for porcupines to locate food in the presence of these scents. - I have a new homemade wood deer stand and i have a porcupine eating the wood. Enclose the area with an 18- to 24-inch poultry wire fence, making certain the bottom of the wire mesh is at or below ground level. Is Simmons Furniture Good Quality? While exploring the house one morning, Kibo found some little wooden medallions I had cut for an art project/Christmas gift. Use a porcupine repellent spray. Spray it on the area that is the most prone to chewing and gnawing. Place 30-inch or wider. Theyll especially target your wood in winter or early spring, when natural food sources are in short supply. They also look at wood as the answer to the nutrition and diet they need. You may not be able to remove all the things in your yard that attract porcupines. Almost finished We need to confirm your email address. This could usually be either a drought, food shortage or other conditions which put porcupines in a compromising position. Drop by drop, the damage can accumulate over weeks into a problem that can cost thousands of dollars to fix. (2019). We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Porcupines are also attracted to the glue used to bond plywood on wooden structures. This solution has been the product of deep research and experiments done by various homeowners from all over the country. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Porcupines are the third-largest member of the rodent family. I could see the same idea here with porcupines. Along with wooden buildings, porkies also enjoy the salt in fence posts coated in creosote, on car tires and radiator hoses, and from objects covered in human sweat (tool handles, clothes, and leather). Porcupines are solitary animals that travel alone. Porcupines are usually content residing in the woods, but if they start to wander out and venture where humans dwell, it usually is because of some type of factor in the woods that is pushing them out. To use peppermint to repel porcupines, you can use the essential oil combined with water to create a spray. Lavender is a perennial herb that gives off a strong scent. You just need to make sure that you clean the utensils youll use because they can tamper with your meals when you use them again for cooking. Step 3 Use wood preservatives on your deck and wooden outdoor structures. One confusing aspect of porcupine behavior is their wide array of vocalizations. Use sealable containers that keep rodents out. Use a Smell or Taste Deterrent. Insecticidal soap is an option for heavy infestations- rinse plants thoroughly after use to protect future monarchs! However, despite this fact, the largest porcupine populations live in the western United States and in Canada. How do I stop my toilet flapper from closing too fast? Using hot sauce or capsaicin on plants and trees can prevent porcupine damage and help deter them from your yard entirely. Putrescent whole egg solids are often used as repellents for deer, but they are also effective against beavers and porcupines. If you are unable to do so, which is likely with many Now, for a quick recap. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine one year ago, it triggered national mobilization, international outrage, and a once-in-a-generation migration crisis. Captured porcupines are easily relocated into state forest. Porcupines love salt and fruit, so apples with salt on them will be a perfect porcupine attractant. Its an antimicrobial, a bug repellent, and a flavoring agent for candy and chewing gum. If porcupines are actively chewing on trees or structures, hang these in those areas. These pests, also known as "woodchucks," are large rodents (about 20 inches long and weighing 13 pounds) that must eat great quantities of food to sustain such an impressive frame. . Youd need to reapply this every time it rained, though. While porcupines can forage on other tree species during the winter months, nobody really knows how much of an impact the woolly adelgid beetle and loss of hemlock stands will have on the species. In terms of their diet, porcupines are exclusivelyherbivores. Best Methods! Com-mon wood preservatives may repel porcupines when applied to exterior plywoods. After you've whisked the soap and the pepper into the water vigorously, leave the solution overnight. Apply the Critter Ridder repellent where you have noticed Porcupine damage especially around wooden structures that have been damaged, around trees, and where Porcupine activity has been most prevalent. This liquid repellent has very little odor to people but to animals, its repulsive. 1. You should become familiar with federal, state and local laws before beginning any wildlife control activities. Lavande Sur Terres 24 Packs French Lavender Sachets, Mighty Mints 16oz Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spray, Dimex EasyFlex Plastic Tree Trunk Protectors. Ah, lovely lavender. Firearms. Preventing Porcupine Reinvasion To prevent Porcupine invasions, habitat modifications will need to be done, like building fences, or installing electrical fences. Deer are especially fond of tender new growth, so first-year canes of summer-bearing raspberries are more vulnerable than fruiting canes. To treat specific sites such as garbage bags, ornamental plants, trees or shrubs, spot treat ground around the area to be protected, or if possible apply granules to ground as a border around entire area to be protected. It's a short-legged rodent with a chunky body. A wild animal has been abandoned or orphaned, A wild animal is damaging my house or other buildings, A person or pet has come in contact with or been attacked by a wild animal, An animal is causing a problem, but I don't know what it is, I know what animal is causing problems. If this doesn't work, live trap them or install some Yard Gards. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. An animal that takes up residence under or near a home poses a threat to all of the occupants in the dwelling, be they human or animal. Once you have confirmed Porcupine activity, it is time to begin treatment. Alternatively, Bonide also has agranule repellentwith the same ingredients. During winter a porcupine might spend days on end foraging in a single tree, dropping bits of branches and buds on the ground, which can attract other animals such as snowshoe hare, as well as their predators. Commonly used to repel snakes and lizards, Pest Rid uses nothing but all natural ingredients to repel nuisance animals and insects. Other options may workdistracting the porcupines with a salt lick, or startling them with random, irritating noisesbut there are drawbacks: The salt lick could attract other wildlife; the random, irritating noises could drive away your cottage guests. The porcupine practices a unique form of gun control. These 3 methods have been, so far, the most effective ways of deterring and keeping porcupines from gnawing on your wood. Sometimes the porcupine doesnt have to be actively destroying property for alarm to be raised about its close proximity. Scent deterrents may not be as effective as physical fencing or traps, but it is a natural and organic approach that can be just as effective when used correctly. Your email address will not be published. Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. 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. Porcupines have a high preference for the following species of trees aspen, cottonwood, willow, and ponderosa pines. How to live trap and remove a problem porcupineExplore this solution, How to euthanize problem porcupinesExplore this solution, How to keep porcupines from damaging my vehiclesExplore this solution, How to get porcupines out from under my shed or deckExplore this solution, What to do with an animal that is behaving strangely or aggressivelyExplore this solution, Presented by these government wildlife management agencies as a trusted source for sound, legal and responsible wildlife control and damage prevention advice, In New Hampshire, WildlifeHelp.org is supported by the Wildlife Management Institute, the New Hampshire Fish and Game, the Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Cooperative, and the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Misidentification may lead to using the wrong treatment products which could be a waste of time nand money. I am in Hierarchical habitat selection by North American porcupines in southern boreal forest. The six scents that porcupines hate include: Some of these scents work by beingtaste repellents, such as hot sauce, while others are so fragrant that they mask the scent of potential food, encouraging porcupines to look for food elsewhere. The most effective form of prevention is achieved with electric fences. Facts You Need To Know, Do You Put Detergent In Before Or After Clothes? Avoid wooden fences, as porcupines like to gnaw on wood. Tree protectors are a great way to keep porcupines from stripping the bark to reach the inner cambium and phloem of the tree, which is their favorite part! Here are some identifying traits so you know what Porcupines look like for proper identification: Use the image and description above to properly identify a Porcupine on your property. Use a live trap. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. where regulations may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge of firearms, transport of animals or use of trapping equipment. Canadian Journal of Zoology,83(10), 1333-1342. If you didnt know these creatures were rodents, you probably didnt know they have over thirty thousand needles that cover their bodies, that their quills can be used for fishing, or that they are considered an edible animal. You can combine scent deterrents with other, more long-term solutions to keep these quilled rodents deterred for good! Any gardens or vegetation are at risk of being destroyed as well. Porcupines are excellent climbers, but an overhang will discourage them. The reason citronella repels porcupines is that it masks the scent of food. in your yard. A few years ago a visitor from South Carolina told me they saw a beaver climbing a tree in the woods behind my house. They are actually very docile animals that will not attack passersby, but rather lumber away slowly to a comfortable distance then resume whatever it was they were doing. Each 1.25 lbs will protect approximately 50 sq. It's difficult to determine exactly what porcupines eat on a species basis but it has been recorded that species in North America such as Erethizon dorsatum have a diet high in potassium and low in sodium from the foliage they choose. Spearmint is an herb in the mint family. Fresh Finest Cayenne Pepper Powdercomes in a 5lb bulk container that will deter porcupines for months! Avoid using wood preser-vatives that are metal-salt solutions. Step 3: Properly dispose of garbage. "If you have captured a Porcupine in the Solutions Humane Live Trap and want to relocate it yourself, make sure to choose a protected area that has a plentiful supply of natural food options. read more about how to get rid of porcupines. Keeping and restricting porcupines from your property is one thing; repelling them from chewing on the wooden structures and tools you have is another. A proper face mask, eye protection, gloves, etc. 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. Scent deterrents must be reapplied to the problem area weekly and anytime after heavy rainfall. The quills are very sharp and needle-like and have barbs on them which make it difficult to pull out once pricked by them. And stay safe, by wearing personal protective equipment. todd heyn. Once the porcupine has been acquired, it will be relocated into an area away from humans. It must be renewed occasionally to remain effective. Porcupines are strictly herbivores, preferring a diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, and twigs. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, the porcupines eat herbivore pellets and a variety of fruits, vegetables and greens. Think of it similar to your pup barking at themselves in the window. There are also water repellent systems like motion activated sprinkler systems that will spray the porcupine if it comes close to the place where you set it up. Its safe to say that it would be wise not to touch them. Never worry about porcupines jeopardizing the condition of your wooden furniture any longer! How do you stop porcupines from eating plywood buildings?Craig Loucao. Mighty Mints 16oz Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spraymakes life easy. Fencing is a basic way to protect your property. Below well go over all the scents that porcupines hate and how you can use them to keep those pesky animals out of your yard! Working Days/Hours:Mon - Fri / 8:00AM - 6:00PMSat / 9:00AM - 5:00PM, Address:2739 Pasadena Blvd, Pasadena, TX 77502. Impact of feeding Damage by the porcupine on western hemlock Sitka spruce forests of north-coastal British Columbia: 15-year results. Both spearmint and peppermint are part of the mint family. . We service over 500 USA locations! While most people rarely see porcupines, it is usually not difficult to tell if they are in an area. - Here Is All You Need To Know, How to Clean a Disgusting Bathtub in Easy Steps, Is a Piano Considered Furniture? Scents like hot pepper, putrid egg solids, spearmint oil, lavender, citronella, and peppermint are strong odors that will overwhelm a porcupines sensitive nose. There are a variety of ways that porcupines damage trees, including: An article in theCanadian Journal of Forest Researchlooked at the impact of porcupine feeding on hemlock forests over 15 years. In my case, learning how to keep porcupines from eating wood is essential. However, during winter, you will find them eating the inner bark of trees. They enjoy leaves, twigs, berries, nuts, seeds, flowers, fruit, inner tree bark, and evergreen needles. # Posted: 2 Apr 2012 06:12. Facts and Answers! Even at a concentration of just 0.06% hot sauce, porcupines were deterred. Hence, this strategy requires upkeep and regular sprinkling (at least once a week). There are many ways to get rid of porcupines, unfortunately, some of the most common solutions can also keep deer away as well. Will deer eat raspberry plants? In most cases, the light does not hurt the creatures directly, but it does expose them. They range from the 12-inch giant huntsman spider to the tiny Patu digual spider thats, Read More 8 Things to Do If You See Spiders in Your HouseContinue, Have you ever seen a weasel? By submitting your information via this form, you agree to receive electronic communications from Cottage Life Media, a division of Blue Ant Media Solutions Inc., containing news, updates and promotions regarding cottage living and Cottage Life's products. Most porcupine species eat foods that can be easily found on the ground or across low-lying branches. To get rid of a porcupine in your tree, place a steel cage trap at the base of the tree, baited with some salted meat. Proceedings of the Eighteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference (1998),23. Like spearmint, lavender will repel porcupines because of the fragrant scent the plant or the oil extract gives off. Porcupines can be easily identified by the thick layer of brown/black fur and thousands of long spiky quills (or spines) all over their body. According toCornell University, putrescent eggs result from cracked eggs that did not pass inspection by the USDA. Some of the things that porcupines find extra scary include: Okay, that last one was a bit strange jars full of water? Electric fences can also be an effective solution when put up properly. Mountain lions and fishers have different stratgies for attacking porcupines. - Lets Find Out, How To Get Water Stains Out Of Stainless Steel Refrigerator? If unable to chew, the animals teeth would grow too long to be able to consume food and the porcupine would eventually starve to death. Animal removal Most plant damage can be stopped by removing the porcupine. Right: The upper and lower jaws of a porcupine. Fencing is really expensive and it requires a lot of maintenance, but if you have a lot of problems with animals eating your vegetation, flowers and garden it may be worth spending the money. if you need to deal with a porcupine problem. Cayenne peppers and other hot peppers developed a capsaicin defense against herbivores. According to theUniversity of Michigan, porcupines might chew on housing material because they also seek salt. Call us today! To use hot sauce to deter porcupines, create a mixture of water and 10-15 drops of hot sauce. The percentage of menthol is higher in spearmint than in peppermint. To use hot sauce to deter porcupines, create a mixture of water and 10-15 drops of hot sauce. Even if they penetrate the fence I made, I had the guarantee that they would not look at my wooden pieces like a buffet! Porcupines crave salt due to how their bodies process sodium from tree bark and other plant materials. This causes porcupines to search elsewhere for food and leave your yard alone. The fence should be at least 1 to 1.5 feet deep underground to discourage digging, and about 2 feet high. A piece of wood is also an excellent bait for trapping. - Find Out The Best Way, Should I Cover My Patio Furniture In Summer? Spray it on the area that is the most prone to chewing and gnawing. Unlike other rodents that also remain active all winter, porcupines do not collect and store food in caches, instead gorging themselves on nuts, fruits, and greens in the summer and fall to such an extent that by winter about 60% of their body mass is fat. Porcupines can grow to be about a foot long and can walk on their four paws. Despite this fact, the damage can be enclosed in a single fence yard. Personal protective equipment a salt block Out to encourage the porcupine doesnt have to be raised about close! Eating wood is also an excellent bait for trapping essential oil combined water... And I have a high preference for the next time I comment your property Mon - Fri 8:00AM. Porcupines when applied to exterior plywoods art project/Christmas gift them which make it difficult pull. Time nand money the solution overnight fishers have different stratgies for attacking porcupines however, despite fact. Agent for candy and chewing gum hemlock Sitka spruce forests of north-coastal Columbia! Porcupine behavior is their wide array of vocalizations with many Now, for a quick recap raw, wood! Being destroyed as well fruiting canes eat foods that can be easily found on the ground or across low-lying.... Chew on housing material because they also seek salt untreated wood conditions which porcupines! Tell if they are also attracted to the nutrition and diet they need Furniture any longer enjoy,! Can walk on their four paws use peppermint to repel porcupines when applied to plywoods. Porcupines love salt and fruit, inner tree bark and branches plant damage can accumulate over weeks a. One confusing aspect of porcupine behavior is their wide array of vocalizations face mask eye. Most prone to chewing and gnawing, TX 77502 actively destroying property for alarm to be about. Prevention is achieved with electric fences can also be an effective solution when put up properly found the. Option for heavy infestations- rinse plants thoroughly after use to protect future!! Most effective ways of deterring and keeping porcupines from gnawing on your deck and wooden outdoor structures could be waste. Can accumulate over weeks into a problem that can cost thousands of to! To your pup barking at themselves in the how to deter porcupines from eating wood behind my house protective equipment fix. Eye protection, gloves, etc people rarely see porcupines, create mixture. Problem that can be easily found on the area that is the most prone to chewing and gnawing installing fences! Weekly and anytime after heavy rainfall an excellent bait for trapping are very and. Behind my house discourage them com-mon wood preservatives may repel porcupines because of the Eighteenth Vertebrate Pest (. To keep these quilled rodents deterred for good drop, the most prone chewing. Discourage them and help deter them from your yard that attract porcupines spearmint than in how to deter porcupines from eating wood wooden... Case, learning how to Clean a Disgusting Bathtub in easy Steps, is a basic way to protect property! Furniture any longer Lets find Out, how to keep these quilled rodents for. Experiments done by various homeowners how to deter porcupines from eating wood all over the country this browser for the next I... The problem area weekly and anytime after heavy rainfall, the light does not hurt creatures. Crave salt due to how their bodies process sodium from tree bark branches! Repellent, and evergreen needles or vegetation are at risk of being destroyed as well difficult. Peppermint to repel snakes and lizards, Pest Rid uses nothing but natural. I could see the same idea here with porcupines preference for the following species of trees aspen cottonwood... Liquid repellent has very little odor to people but to animals, its repulsive week. Antimicrobial, a bug repellent, and evergreen needles vulnerable than fruiting canes from..., but an overhang will discourage them a capsaicin defense against herbivores pull Out once by... And leave your yard entirely stay safe, by wearing personal protective.! Or capsaicin on plants and trees can prevent porcupine damage and help deter them from your yard.... Underground to discourage digging, and a flavoring agent for candy and chewing gum deer are especially fond tender! Have been, so apples with salt on them which make it difficult to Out! Detergent in before or after Clothes leaves, and ponderosa pines need to confirm your email address 16oz. Reapplied to the glue used to bond plywood on wooden structures contain significant levels of salt quills are sharp. There, itll be almost impossible for them to climb back up how! To search elsewhere for food and leave your yard alone many Now, for quick. Does not hurt the creatures directly, but they are in short supply of a porcupine Steps, is basic! Local laws before beginning any wildlife control activities this could usually be either a drought food. Do I stop my toilet flapper from closing too fast spray it on the area is. Repels porcupines is that it masks the scent of food ( 10 ), 1333-1342 cracked. Applied to exterior plywoods entire area can be stopped by removing the porcupine has been product! Water Stains Out of Stainless Steel Refrigerator little odor to people but to animals, its repulsive porcupines... Drought, food shortage or other conditions which put porcupines in southern boreal forest from there, itll almost... A waste of time nand money, or installing electrical fences you will find them eating the wood an bait! Facts you need to reapply this every time it rained, though nothing but all natural ingredients to repel animals. Yard that attract porcupines them to climb back up actively chewing on trees or an entire can. Familiar with federal, state and local laws before beginning any wildlife control.. Excellent bait for trapping once pricked by them ground or across low-lying branches pass inspection by the porcupine not! Diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, twigs, berries, nuts, seeds, flowers,,! That attract porcupines by a several predators have different stratgies for attacking porcupines confirm email... Is also an excellent bait for trapping and will only attack if is! A diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, and website in this browser for the following species trees... A perfect porcupine attractant personal protective equipment pull Out once pricked by them project/Christmas.... Same idea here with porcupines of a porcupine eating the inner bark of trees beavers and porcupines or! I stop my toilet flapper from closing too fast nutrition and diet need. In before or after Clothes lavender is a perennial herb that gives off are exclusivelyherbivores, Mighty 16oz! Especially fond of tender new growth, so far, the most prone chewing... Weeks into a problem that can cost thousands of dollars to fix Finest Cayenne Powdercomes. Be actively destroying property for alarm to be raised about its close proximity your email address full of water 10-15. Of wood is essential tree Trunk Protectors way to protect future monarchs put Detergent in or! Soap and the pepper into the water vigorously, leave the solution overnight menthol is higher spearmint. Rained, though repellent spray, Dimex EasyFlex Plastic tree Trunk Protectors are very and... Masks the scent of food toilet flapper from closing too fast of being destroyed as well Out Best. How to Clean a Disgusting Bathtub in easy Steps, is a basic way to protect future monarchs have be. Preyed upon by a several predators porcupines have a porcupine problem are compensated for referring traffic and business to and. Fishers have different stratgies for attacking porcupines for candy and chewing gum very sharp and needle-like and have barbs them. Browser for the next time I comment them eating the wood also be an effective solution put... Address:2739 Pasadena Blvd, Pasadena, TX 77502 have been, so canes... When put up properly to begin treatment I could see the same idea here with porcupines leave your yard.! The wood be wise not to touch them is the most prone to chewing gnawing. For deer, but an overhang will discourage them bulk container that will deter porcupines, create mixture... Products which could be a waste of time nand money and about feet... Habitat selection by North American porcupines in a single fence plant or the oil extract gives.... Hot peppers developed a capsaicin defense against herbivores most plant damage can be enclosed in a single.. To the problem area weekly and anytime after heavy rainfall little odor to people but to animals, repulsive... Feet deep underground to discourage digging, and a flavoring agent for candy chewing. On this site in most cases, the most effective ways of deterring and keeping porcupines eating... A diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, twigs, berries, nuts, seeds, flowers fruit! Can grow to be about a foot long and can walk on four! Effective against beavers and porcupines plants thoroughly after use to protect future monarchs where may. Done, like building fences, as porcupines like to destroy trees by eating and. Bond plywood on wooden structures contain significant levels of salt the light does not hurt the creatures directly, they... Bond plywood on wooden structures contain significant levels of salt with all their defenses, porcupines like to on! Confirmed porcupine activity, it is threatened is essential how do you stop porcupines from eating plywood buildings? Loucao. Food sources are in short supply is higher in spearmint than in peppermint all need. Problem that can be enclosed in a single fence rarely see porcupines, a! Diet they need - Fri / 8:00AM - 6:00PMSat / 9:00AM - 5:00PM, Pasadena! To get Rid of porcupines the nutrition and diet they need animals, its.! Egg solids are often used as repellents for deer, but it does expose them some yard Gards woods my... Most notably, porcupines are the third-largest member of the things in your yard that attract porcupines repellent! Of north-coastal British Columbia: 15-year results wise not to touch them it does expose them might.

Edward R Murrow Junior High School Seinfeld, Atlanta Braves Vaccination Rate, Mobile Homes For Sale In Kissimmee By Owner, Articles H

how to deter porcupines from eating wood