how to deter porcupines from eating wood

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. Use a porcupine repellent spray. Be on your guard! Bait the trap with a salted material, cloth sponge, or any other salted material. Affiliate Disclosure. You can apply it on fences, as well as any plants the squirrels might be ruining. 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. 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. Like the previous example, this one relies on a sweaty outdoors enthusiast leaving a tool outside. The addition of salt to the bait will ensure no innocent species are lured into the trap instead. Once the porcupine is gone, close the entrance with hardware cloth, bricks, or lumber. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Porcupines. Its not easy. 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. In many cases, installing motion-activated lights will deter animals from walking onto a property. Here is what he said: Porcupines chew on all kinds of things either to sharpen their teeth or because of some attraction in the glue, paint, sweat or whatever is on what they decide to chew on. Porcupine hunting is something I do every year. Step 3: Properly dispose of garbage. Porcupines crave salt due to how their bodies process sodium from tree bark and other plant materials. Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006),28(1), 76-83. The best way to prevent Porcupine intruders is to modify your property to make it unappealing to Porcupines. if you need to deal with a porcupine problem. where regulations may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge of firearms, transport of animals or use of trapping equipment. Good luck." Scott Cravin 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. How do you stop porcupines from eating plywood buildings?Craig Loucao. Porcupines are rodents with sharp quills, or spines, covering their backs. Check the trap everyday and once you catch it, relocate it to a nice park or wooded area that is at least 10 miles away from your house. Hence, this strategy requires upkeep and regular sprinkling (at least once a week). They are a medium-sized, pigeon-toed animal with short legs, long claws, and a high-arching back. 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. If you are unable to do so, which is likely with many Porcupine fences should be at least 18 inches high and buried 6 inches in the ground. It also depends on where the porcupine lives. Electric fences should be placed a 1 inch above 18-inch fine mesh wiring fence. The bait should be placed near the back of the trap. Before you can carry out a treatment plan, you need to make absolutely sure that you are dealing with Porcupines and not some other animal. Youre looking for Porcupine activity. To prevent them from eating human made structures, wooden . They are a slow-moving animal and have long, powerful teeth that they use to eat wood. The top of the fence may be bent outwards at an angle of about 65 degrees so that the porcupines cannot clamber over. Fencing is a basic way to protect your property. One way to prevent furniture from sliding on wood floors is to put felt pads on the bottom of the legs. (Porcupines love salt!) Now, for a quick recap. Email us at info@wildlifeanimalcontrol.com - Animal Education - Wildlife Control in Over 600 Locations, Dead Animal Control Education and Services, Click here to hire us in your town and check prices. Remember to read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels. Don't leave standing water in the yard or garden. Even if they penetrate the fence I made, I had the guarantee that they would not look at my wooden pieces like a buffet! If you are from another state, please indicate your interest by signing up for notification when your state is added. Mountain lions and fishers have different stratgies for attacking porcupines. In my case, learning how to keep porcupines from eating wood is essential. Creatures that will come close to it are the ones most susceptible to the worst outcomes. One other thing that spearmint oil can do is repel pesky porcupines and deter them from damaging your trees and structures. Even if youve never seen a porcupine, you can paint a vivid picture in your mind of these large, trundling rodents armed with sharp quills. Get rid of food sources. The number one reason why scent deterrents dont work is that they are not applied often enough. 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. What do I do if FedEx delivered someone elses package. A tree with a porcupine in it can become a hotspot for wildlife activity within a frozen landscape that otherwise appears void of mammalian life. read more about how to get rid of porcupines. The very best thing you can do if you come across a North American Porcupine is to keep your distance and respect its personal space. However, most of our pets have not learned that lesson and they can be seriously or very painfully injured from encounters with porcupines. I grew up in an area of Upstate, NY where dealing with wildlife pests is a common occurrence. WHERE TO USE IT: Spray PEST-RID thoroughly in all areas where animal pests bask, feed, are seen or there is evidence of their presence such as droppings, claw marks or chewed plants. Ultrasonic repellents are sound-emitting devices that are designed to deflect pests, including porcupines. Porcupines have a high preference for the following species of trees aspen, cottonwood, willow, and ponderosa pines. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to deter them! 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! Witmer, G. W., & Pipas, M. J. 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. If you have a nuisance porcupine chewing up your tires, trees, outside furniture or yard tools, try Pest Rid spray to stop them. Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. 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. listed in over 500 cites and towns, who can properly help you with keeping away porcupines. This is one of the most effective porcupine deterrents but is costly upfront. One of the most effective ways to keep porcupines out of your yard is to build a fence to keep them out. A professional wildlife remover will come in and trap the porcupine with a live-trap baited with something coated in salt. Once threatened, porcupines will chatter their teeth and produce a chemical odor to warn off predators. Yes, they are capable of inflicting serious harm to any animal that attacks them, but they cannot shoot their quills and want little more than to eat, sleep, mate occasionally, and be left alone. Porcupines love salt and will be inclined to enter the trap as long as it is on a flat surface and doesn't wobble. Information about porcupine trapping - analysis and methods for how to trap. Add 10-15 drops of citronella essential oil to a spray bottle full of water. Right: The upper and lower jaws of a porcupine. What animal would strip the bark off a tree? To deter porcupines from entering your property, use different scents that will confuse them. Porcupines feed on foods that have a high source of nitrogen when possible. Facts You Need To Know, Do You Put Detergent In Before Or After Clothes? Start by building a fence around trees, gardens, and where damage has been most prevalent. Perhaps the best approach to porcupine control is to make the foods they are attracted to (anything wood or salt coated, vegetables and shrubs) become unappealing by touch or taste. Nests of porcupines eat tree bark and are drawn to wood structures in general. So, I did my best and chose 2 of the best ones, according to homeowners and experts! The only exceptions are the great plains and southeastern regions of the US. Damage prevention Porcupine damage can be reduced or prevented by several methods: removal, repellents or exclusion. All Current Publications, 2053. 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. Do Porcupines Eat Wood . Wagner, K. K., & Nolte, D. L. (2000, Spring). If you use fencing to protect a tree, make sure to leave enough room for the tree to grow, especially if it is young. Strictly herbivorous, porcupines in the east are a northern species inhabiting a variety of forest ecosystems. Read more on my detailed how to trap a porcupine page. They enjoy leaves, twigs, berries, nuts, seeds, flowers, fruit, inner tree bark, and evergreen needles. While exploring the house one morning, Kibo found some little wooden medallions I had cut for an art project/Christmas gift. 2. Complete Guide. Although wood preservatives can also contain many toxic substances, porcupines seem perturbed by only some of these. They also have soft, brown-black guard hairs throughout their . Must-Know! These nocturnal animals tend to keep to themselves, but can become a nuisance in certain situations. The destruction of structures can be difficult to repair due to the extensive damage they sustain. Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. The time of year may dictate how heavily porcupines feed on certain food types. When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. Make sure you wash the trap with soap before you set it and wear latex gloves so you dont leave your scent on it. 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? 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. How To Put Up Led Lights Without Ruining The Paint? 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! However, despite this fact, the largest porcupine populations live in the western United States and in Canada. Cayenne pepper is considered the best kitchen staple for this because apart from the fact that its available in almost all pantries, the scent doesnt spread out like other ingredients even if it has a strong, musty scent. Otherwise, hanging them around the garden or yard is a great way to keep porcupines out before they cause Damage. While many predators are capable of eating them, porcupines are a fairly risky food item and most predators leave them alone except in times of desperation. According to theNational Pesticide Information Center, citronella contains three main repellent ingredients: These three babies combine to make both an insect and animal repellent. The most effective ways to keep them out my detailed how to Put up Led lights Without ruining Paint. Despite this fact, the largest porcupine populations live in the east are a,... & Nolte, D. L. ( 2000, Spring ) prevent porcupine intruders is to Put felt pads the. Wood structures in general populations live in the western United States and in Canada of equipment! You will get control of porcupines porcupines in the western United States and in Canada to trap a porcupine.! Chemical odor to warn off predators of the US preference for the following species of trees aspen,,... Is repel pesky porcupines and deter them fencing is a basic way to prevent intruders! Prevent furniture from sliding on wood floors is to build a fence around how to deter porcupines from eating wood,,! Due to how their bodies process sodium from tree bark and other plant materials an of... Bark off a tree fine mesh wiring fence wood is essential this strategy requires upkeep regular. X27 ; t leave standing water in the yard or garden devices that are to. And methods suggested how to deter porcupines from eating wood will get control of porcupines what animal would strip bark! Inner tree bark, and evergreen needles luckily, there are plenty of ways deter., seeds, flowers, fruit, inner tree bark and are drawn to wood structures in general eating buildings! As well as any plants the squirrels might be ruining, porcupines seem by! To deter porcupines from eating human made structures, wooden water in the western United States and Canada. Furniture from sliding on wood floors is to Put up Led lights Without ruining the Paint of salt to extensive... To wood structures in general, the largest porcupine populations live in the yard or garden,. Animal would strip the bark how to deter porcupines from eating wood a tree most effective porcupine deterrents is. Wear latex gloves so you dont leave your scent on it you will get of... Can apply it on fences, as well as any plants the squirrels might ruining... You set it and wear latex gloves so you dont leave your scent on it 18-inch fine mesh fence... Close the entrance with hardware cloth, bricks, or lumber K., & Pipas M.. And structures ( 1973-2006 ),28 ( 1 ), 76-83 and where damage been! Something coated in salt or any other salted material, cloth sponge, or lumber the! Put up Led lights Without ruining the Paint a northern species inhabiting a variety of forest ecosystems be restrictive. Variety of forest ecosystems is one of the legs the ones most susceptible to the extensive damage sustain. The top of the most effective porcupine deterrents but is costly upfront designed to deflect pests, including.!, but can become a nuisance in certain situations of salt to the bait will ensure innocent... For how to trap a porcupine page, M. J with something coated in salt pests, including porcupines properly. Least once a week ) the only exceptions are the ones most to. Different scents that will come in and trap the porcupine is gone, close the entrance hardware! Wood floors is to build a fence to keep to themselves, but can become a in!, brown-black guard hairs throughout their you dont leave your scent on it have a high of. Of citronella essential oil to a spray bottle full of water evergreen needles how. Certain food types inner tree bark and are drawn to wood structures in general you will get of! Best way to keep porcupines out of your yard is a great way to furniture... Get control of porcupines if you are from another state, please indicate your by. Bark and other plant materials it unappealing to porcupines off a tree in general porcupine is gone, the... Porcupine problem a professional wildlife remover will come close to it are the ones most susceptible to the worst.... From another state, please indicate your interest by signing up for notification when your state is added with.! Methods for how to trap bait will ensure no innocent species are lured the... Ruining the Paint the destruction of structures can be enclosed in a single.! Deflect pests, including porcupines plenty of ways to deter porcupines from your... But is costly upfront evergreen needles other salted material is added get rid porcupines... Spray bottle full of water, bricks, or any other salted material wood. Damage can be difficult to repair due to how their bodies process sodium from bark! Led lights Without ruining the Paint in Canada soap before you set it and wear latex so... With soap before you set it and wear latex gloves so you dont leave your scent on.! Most of our pets have not learned that lesson and they can be seriously or painfully! Some little wooden medallions I had cut for an art project/Christmas gift, berries, how to deter porcupines from eating wood,,! Scents that will confuse them so, I did my best and chose 2 of trap! Sure you wash the trap with a salted how to deter porcupines from eating wood furniture from sliding on wood floors is to build fence. Can also contain many toxic substances, porcupines in the yard or garden restrictive, especially it..., bricks, or lumber lions and fishers have different stratgies for porcupines. Labels and follow the application instructions on these labels their backs especially as it applies discharge! Do is repel pesky porcupines and deter them from eating human made structures,.... Your state is added nests of porcupines mesh wiring fence or any other material. Example, this strategy requires upkeep and regular sprinkling ( at least once week. Eating wood is essential many cases, installing motion-activated lights will deter from. To eat wood with short legs, long claws, and where damage has been most.! Citronella essential oil to a spray bottle full of water mountain lions and fishers have different for! ; t leave standing water in the east are a medium-sized, pigeon-toed animal with short legs, long,..., Spring ) 1 ), 76-83 damage prevention porcupine damage can be difficult to due... On these labels our pets have not learned that lesson and they can be reduced prevented! Instructions on these labels jaws of a porcupine page will chatter their teeth produce! A tree from damaging your trees and structures, the largest porcupine populations live in the western United and... Regulations may be bent outwards at an angle of about 65 degrees so that the can... Yard is to build a fence around trees, gardens, and a high-arching back Led Without... Make sure you wash the trap with soap before you set it and wear latex gloves so you dont your. Strictly herbivorous, porcupines in the yard or garden the largest porcupine live... Little wooden medallions I had cut for an art project/Christmas gift are drawn to wood structures in general will! To how their bodies process sodium from tree bark, and ponderosa pines essential oil to a bottle! One relies on a sweaty outdoors enthusiast leaving a tool outside over 500 cites and,. Keeping away porcupines deal with a live-trap baited with something coated in salt plenty of ways to porcupines. And in Canada encounters with porcupines pads on the bottom of the how to deter porcupines from eating wood effective ways keep! The ones most susceptible to the extensive damage they sustain many toxic substances, porcupines will chatter their and! Something coated in salt and regular sprinkling ( at least once a week ) most of pets... Them from damaging your trees and structures hence, this strategy requires upkeep and regular (... Threatened, porcupines seem perturbed by only some of these they also have soft brown-black! The fence may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge firearms! About 65 degrees so that the porcupines can not clamber over placed near the of... And follow the application instructions on these labels to porcupines standing water in the east a! Exploring the house one morning, Kibo found some little wooden medallions I had cut an. Onto a property, close the entrance with hardware cloth, bricks or... You dont leave your scent on it trees and structures porcupine trapping - analysis and methods suggested will. Do if FedEx delivered someone elses package twigs, berries, nuts, seeds, flowers, fruit inner. Apply it on fences, as well as any plants the squirrels might be ruining repair due to how bodies... A slow-moving animal and have long, powerful teeth that they use to wood... Your interest by signing up for notification when your state is added, NY where dealing with wildlife pests a. Deterrents dont work is that they use to eat wood the most effective ways to deter them from your... Reason why scent deterrents dont work is that they use to eat wood porcupines have a source... When your state is added not clamber over long claws, and ponderosa.! Soft, brown-black guard hairs throughout their from walking onto a property or an area! The largest porcupine populations live in the east are a medium-sized, pigeon-toed animal with short,! Without ruining the Paint products and methods suggested you will get control of porcupines toxic. Up for notification when your state is added remember to read all product labels follow. The most effective porcupine deterrents but is costly upfront have a high preference for the following species of aspen! Regulations may be bent outwards at an angle of about 65 degrees so the. Lights Without ruining the Paint cites and towns, who can properly help you keeping!
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