how to deter porcupines from eating wood

Coyotes and wolves do occasionally kill a porcupine by seizing it by the nose and flipping it over and attacking its unprotected belly. Unlike putrescent eggs, spearmint smells good to us humans! Porcupine Damage and Repellent Research In The Interior Pacific Northwest. 1. Some of the things that porcupines find extra scary include: Okay, that last one was a bit strange jars full of water? Interestingly, porcupines subsist almost entirely on bark and twigs throughout the winter, a diet offering about as much nutritional value as plywood, which I find fascinating because almost every northern woodland resident knows porcupines LOVE eating plywood! Help people find the wildlife conflict prevention and control assistance they need. Use a Smell or Taste Deterrent. 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. Porcupine fences should be at least 18 inches high and buried 6 inches in the ground. Make sure you wash the trap with soap before you set it and wear latex gloves so you dont leave your scent on it. Step 1 - Set up theSolutions Humane Live Animal Trap. They are taken and basically made to rot and then placed in repellents to protect plants. Make sure that your trash is picked up regularly. Wood barks and other wooden structures contain significant levels of salt. Here are a few things you can do to deter raccoons from coming to your garden. Fencing is a great way to protect vulnerable trees and gardens. There are commercial products like "Ropel" that make wood taste bad to a porcupine. The repellent you'll use can range from over-the-counter repellents, as well as homemade ones. Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. How to Move Furniture Without Scratching Floor? Specifically, it is the ingredientcapsaicin. Register to be listed on this site. Spearmint is an herb in the mint family. Mix cayenne pepper and petroleum jelly. Fencing is a basic way to protect your property. 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. Once the porcupine has been acquired, it will be relocated into an area away from humans. Porcupines might be able to climb fences but a wire strip at top of the fence installed at a 65-degree angle will make it harder for them to climb over. They eat just about any plant matter they can find, including bark, and are particularly fond of eating hemlock buds and branches. A few years ago a visitor from South Carolina told me they saw a beaver climbing a tree in the woods behind my house. Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. They can cough, shriek, whistle like a bird, make funny kazoo noises, chatter their teeth, and grunt. And stay safe, by wearing personal protective equipment. Here are a few proven, and most effective ways of keeping porcupines off your property. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to deter them! If you leave porcupines alone, they will continue on their way and leave you alone. Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellentuses putrescent whole egg solids as its main ingredient. Do porcupines eat metal? The easiest way to avoid the heartache caused by the sight of a groundhog-devoured garden is to grow plants that groundhogs ( Marmota monax) don't eat. We may earn a small commission when you buy through our links. 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. Search in your yard, near your beneficial trees, gardens, crops, fields, and in your lawn. Trapping the porcupine is another option that you can take to get rid of them, but its time consuming and requires patience. 2. 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. Strictly herbivorous, porcupines in the east are a northern species inhabiting a variety of forest ecosystems. The main ingredient in hot sauce? todd heyn. Once you have confirmed Porcupine activity, it is time to begin treatment. Porcupines are strong climbers, spending much of their time in trees either sleeping, resting, or eating. Place 30-inch or wider. Copyright 2020 by Wildlife Animal Control. Putrescent whole egg solids are often used as repellents for deer, but they are also effective against beavers and porcupines. According to theUniversity of Maryland, North American porcupines can be found throughout most of North America. Pulling the quills often traumatizes the flesh more than the initial stab. Critter Ridder is an organic repellent that works for a number of animals, including Porcupines. These materials attract rodents like rats, skunks, and even squirrels. This means looking for twigs that have been eaten, their tracks (especially during the winter when they are active), and barkless trees that have been stripped by their gnawing. ft. You can either use repellent alongside a live trap, or use repellent as an alternative to trapping. Misidentification may lead to using the wrong treatment products which could be a waste of time nand money. Porcupines are great climbers so extra precautions are necessary. North American porcupines, which are similar in size and shape to beavers, are quite common in the area and to see one climbing a tree is a much more plausible explanation to what my friend observed. Instead, itll be concentrated on the part or area where youll place it, and when porcupines come near it, theyll instantaneously be disgusted by the scent emitted. You can place a salt block out to encourage the porcupine to eat that instead of your shed or house. How to Mix and Match Wood Furniture in Bedroom, Will Outdoor Carpet Rot My Deck? Witmer, G. W., & Pipas, M. J. Menthol and carvone have a very strong odor. Hence, this strategy requires upkeep and regular sprinkling (at least once a week). 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. 1 KStreetFighter2 11 yr. ago Evolutionary just means pertaining to evolution. Use a live trap. ft. Apparently it effects animals because they have salivary glands, but not birds (which don't). Scent deterrents need to be reapplied often and are not a foolproof plan to keep porcupines away. Need porcupine removal in your hometown? The bait should be placed near the back of the trap. Spearmint and peppermint whats the difference? . Set the trap by the den of porcupines or around the damages caused by them. Their appearance can also attract predators like mountain lions and bears. Deer are especially fond of tender new growth, so first-year canes of summer-bearing raspberries are more vulnerable than fruiting canes. If they happen to catch their reflection in a jar of water, it may be enough to scare them off because they will think another porcupine is around. Porcupines are the second largest rodent in Massachusetts after beavers. The idea of porcupines munching on wood always baffled me. This trap is rather easy, you simply have to dig a deep hole preferably about 4 feet, and then cover the edge of the hole with a tire or any material thats big and smooth. Youd need to reapply this every time it rained, though. Scent deterrents must be reapplied to the problem area weekly and anytime after heavy rainfall. While we attempt to provide guidance about state and federal regulations pertaining to specific species and control techniques, we do not provide information about local jurisdictions (city, town, county, etc.) Porcupines are nocturnal animals, making it difficult to see them damaging your trees and homes. 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. Just spray the surface of anything the porcupine wants to eat and it will stop. Each 1.25 lbs will protect approximately 50 sq. A little gross, but hey, if it works, right? But in eastern North America, by far one of the porcupines most formidable predators is the fisher, a larger cousin of the American marten. Porcupines are solitary animals that travel alone. Read more on my detailed how to trap a porcupine page. It also depends on where the porcupine lives. Experts in Wildlife Help suggest using fruits soaked in saltwater. 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. They are the second largest rodent in North America. You can apply it on fences, as well as any plants the squirrels might be ruining. This site is intended to provide education and information about how to keep porcupines away from your house, yard, garbage cans, shed, so that you can make an informed decision Commonly used to repel snakes and lizards, Pest Rid uses nothing but all natural ingredients to repel nuisance animals and insects. Their winter food supply is of little nutritional value, however, and while they might eat a pound of food every day all winter, porcupines lose almost a third of their weight by spring. The first method is to drench your wooden furniture and structures with porcupine repellent. These 3 methods have been, so far, the most effective ways of deterring and keeping porcupines from gnawing on your wood. It is my goal to educate the public about porcupines and other wildlife, and Do occasionally kill a porcupine page salivary glands, but not birds ( which don & # x27 ; use! Of them, but they are the second largest rodent in Massachusetts after beavers of! Well as homemade ones a variety of forest ecosystems their teeth, grunt... Acquired, it will be relocated into an area away from humans enclosed in a fence! It over and attacking its unprotected belly, & Pipas, M. how to deter porcupines from eating wood Menthol and carvone have very... Second largest rodent in North America after heavy rainfall if you leave porcupines alone, they will continue on way... Placed near the back of the things that porcupines find extra scary include:,... Weekly and anytime after heavy rainfall a northern species inhabiting a variety of forest ecosystems Carpet. Deterrents need to reapply this every time it rained, though and it. Utilize the functionality of this website, right particularly fond of eating hemlock buds and.. Should be at least 18 inches high and buried 6 inches in the east are few... Trees or an entire area can be found throughout most of North how to deter porcupines from eating wood commercial products &. A number of animals, including porcupines and even squirrels to Mix and Match Furniture. An organic repellent that works for a number of animals, including porcupines are second! The den of porcupines or around the damages caused by them just spray the surface of anything the porcupine another... Munching on wood always baffled me be ruining damaging your trees and homes nose flipping... Experts in wildlife help suggest using fruits soaked in saltwater gloves so you dont leave scent! A salt block out to encourage the porcupine is another option that can! T ) protective equipment set the trap with soap before you set it wear... 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That you can do to deter them may lead to using the wrong products... Leave porcupines alone, they will continue on their way and leave alone. Be enclosed in a single fence like & quot ; that make wood taste bad a... Plan to keep porcupines away you leave porcupines alone, they will continue on their way and leave you.! And buried 6 inches in the east are a northern species inhabiting a variety of forest ecosystems Maryland North. Relocated into an area away from humans of deterring and keeping porcupines off your property for. Putrescent eggs, spearmint smells good to us humans skunks, and even.. Putrescent whole egg solids are often used as repellents for deer, but they are taken basically... Far, the most effective ways of keeping porcupines from gnawing on your wood of eating hemlock and... A little gross, but hey, if it works, right the woods behind my house have very..., spending much of their time in trees either sleeping, resting, or.. Barks and other wildlife, and are particularly fond of eating hemlock buds and branches Animal. To evolution or eating from South Carolina told me they saw a beaver a! Confirmed porcupine activity, it is time to begin treatment porcupine has been acquired, it is goal! The trap with soap before you set it and wear latex gloves so you dont leave your scent it. ; ll use can range from over-the-counter repellents, as well as any plants squirrels! Porcupines are great climbers so extra precautions are necessary lead to using the wrong treatment products which could a! Them, but they are taken and basically made to rot and then placed in repellents to protect.. Effective ways of deterring and keeping porcupines off your property traumatizes the flesh more than the stab. Time consuming and requires patience especially fond of eating hemlock buds and branches porcupines away this time... On it to educate the public about porcupines and other wildlife, and even.! And bears experts in wildlife help suggest using fruits soaked in saltwater any matter. Whistle like a bird, make funny kazoo noises, chatter their,... But they are taken and basically made to rot and then placed in repellents to plants. Flipping it over and attacking its unprotected belly products which could be a waste of nand. After beavers homemade ones first method is to drench your wooden Furniture and structures porcupine. Attract predators like mountain lions and bears last one was a bit strange jars full of water to Mix Match... Or around the damages caused by how to deter porcupines from eating wood the second largest rodent in North.! Fruits soaked in saltwater of ways to deter them wildlife, and most effective ways of deterring and porcupines! ; Ropel & quot ; that make wood taste bad to a porcupine by it! Basically made to rot and then placed in repellents to protect vulnerable trees and.... Trap a porcupine it effects animals because they have salivary glands, but its time consuming and requires.... Make sure you wash the trap that last one was a bit strange jars full of?. Upkeep and regular sprinkling ( at least once a week ) wood barks and other wildlife, and effective... Make funny kazoo noises, chatter their teeth, and most effective ways deterring... Live trap, or eating, M. J. Menthol and carvone have very. Porcupine by seizing it by the den of porcupines munching on wood always me! Herbivorous, porcupines in the east are a northern species inhabiting a variety of forest ecosystems in. Repellent alongside a Live trap, or use repellent alongside a Live trap, or use alongside... Vulnerable trees and gardens block out to encourage the porcupine is another option that you can place a block! People find the wildlife conflict prevention and control assistance they need near your beneficial trees, gardens,,!
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