| Almost every gardener is aware of how much rabbits love lettuce, carrots, and other garden vegetables. Chipmunks have the same appetites as rabbits but, being smaller, are harder to discourage. Some years, we have large populations of both animals.
First, I followed the old axiom of planting enough to share with the animals. Unfortunately, the rabbits and chipmunks ate almost everything. Next, I placed aluminum foil around the raised beds that contained vegetables that the small animals particularly liked, holding the foil in place with small rocks. They did not like the feel of the foil under their feet and stayed out of the beds. This photograph shows a ring of aluminum foil around my 1991 lettuce bed. |
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However, I eventually placed a ring of aluminum foil around the entire vegetable garden which saved time, kept down the grass at the edge of the garden, and was just as effective. This worked for many years until 1996 when the rabbits and chipmunks learned
to jump over the aluminum foil.
Now, I attach a second fence to the fiberglass poles for the electric fence (which I discuss on the next page). This fence is about 3 feet high and composed of black plastic mesh with one inch holes. I carefully place rocks along the bottom of the fence so the animals can not sneak under it. This combination is working well. So far.... |
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