Who’s Been Digging in the Dirt?

Common critters you might find in your garden and the signs they leave behind.

Night Crawlers

🦝 Raccoons – Clever little bandits that dig up plants, raid compost bins, and love to wash their food in birdbaths.
🦨 Skunks – Known for digging up grubs (which can actually help your garden), but they might also munch on fruits and veggies.
🐀 Mice & Rats – Often attracted to compost piles and leftover birdseed, they can nibble on roots and fruits.
🦊 Foxes – May dig up flower beds looking for worms or small rodents but generally don’t do too much harm.

Daytime Wanderers (The Garden Regulars)

🐇 Rabbits – Love to snack on tender greens like lettuce, beans, and flowers.
🐿️ Squirrels & Chipmunks – Known for digging up bulbs, stealing birdseed, and burying (then forgetting about) nuts.
🦌 Deer – Will happily munch on hostas, roses, and vegetables if given the chance.

Helpful Critters (The Garden Allies)

🐞 Ladybugs – Devour aphids and other harmful pests.
🕷️ Spiders – Keep insect populations in check.
🦇 Bats – Help control night-flying insects like moths and mosquitoes.

Gentle Deterrents

🦝 Raccoons & 🦨 Skunks

✅ Secure trash & compost – Use tight-fitting lids and weigh them down with a rock or bungee cord.
✅ Motion-activated deterrents – Sprinklers or lights can startle them away at night.
✅ Remove easy snacks – Fallen fruit, pet food, and open compost bins are raccoon buffets.

🐀 Mice & Rats

✅ Plant mint or lavender – Rodents dislike the strong smell.
✅ Keep compost tidy – Avoid throwing food scraps directly on top; bury them instead.
✅ Use natural predators – Owls, snakes, and even a well-placed fake owl can help.

🐇 Rabbits

✅ Plant strong-smelling herbs – Basil, rosemary, and garlic may deter them.
✅ Create barriers – A short chicken wire fence (about 2 feet tall) can keep them out.
✅ Sprinkle blood meal – A natural fertilizer that rabbits dislike.

🐿️ Squirrels & Chipmunks

✅ Decoy predators – A plastic owl or rubber snake can trick them into staying away. You’ll need to keep moving them around your space.
✅ Hot pepper spray – Mix water with cayenne pepper and spray it on plants.
✅ Mulch with rough textures – Pinecones, gravel, etc make digging uncomfortable.

🦌 Deer

✅ Use strong scents – Deer dislike the smell of soap, garlic, etc. Make sure to change out monthly or so as they’ll get used to it!
✅ Deer-resistant plants – Daffodils, lavender, and marigolds are unappetizing to them.

🐌 Slugs & Snails

✅ Diatomaceous earth – Creates a sharp barrier they won’t cross.
✅ Copper tape – Gives them a slight electric shock when they touch it