The Best Solutions, How To Restore Composite Decking? Porcupines are solitary animals, so they typically dont rank high on anyones list of pest animals. repel porcupines. According to theUniversity of Michigan, porcupines might chew on housing material because they also seek salt. When releasing, don't be too afraid of the quills. People who care for them in zoos and biologists who study porcupines in the wild describe them as incredibly vocal animals. Find solutions by species, Find a licensed wildlife control professional, How to live trap and remove a problem porcupine, How to keep porcupines from damaging my vehicles, How to get porcupines out from under my shed or deck, What to do with an animal that is behaving strangely or aggressively, Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Cooperative, Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, signing up for notification when your state is added. 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. 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. Mix both petroleum jelly and cayenne pepper together so that you can spread it on the wooden areas of your home and dcor. This necessity of nature has led to the porcupine being disliked for the damage it can cause to trees near homes or businesses. Is Simmons Furniture Good Quality? Last, but most definitely not least is to use pest and porcupine repellents. Animals don't like this product and will stay away from where its been applied. Porcupines love salt and fruit, so apples with salt on them will be a perfect porcupine attractant. This is not the cheapest route to take however. 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. It also revealed the . Copyright 2020 by Wildlife Animal Control. Beavers on the other hand, cannot climb, and must bring the tree to the ground to access twigs and branches for both food and building material. To control Porcupine invaders, we recommend using a combination of the Solutions Humane Live Trap and Nature's Defense repellent. Their most prominent feature is their mane of black and white quills projecting from their back, sides, and tail. Its safe to say that it would be wise not to touch them. Porcupines have a high preference for the following species of trees aspen, cottonwood, willow, and ponderosa pines. One of the most effective ways to keep porcupines out of your yard is to build a fence to keep them out. The scent of rotten eggs is offensive to people and animals, and for a good reason! However, in certain regions, porcupines can be a serious menace. Trapping a porcupine can be done by a homeowner, but some safety precautions should be remembered. They also eat nuts, tubers, seeds, grass, leaves, fruit and buds. Place 30-inch or wider. Spring Egg Mass Identification in the Great Northern Forests With winter concluding in Northern New England and already, Ever since my first introduction to the Northeast Kingdom (NEK) of Vermont back in high school I was, While kayaking in a town wetland a couple months ago I noticed a slow-moving trail of bubbles ahead, Egg Mass Identification in the Great Northern Forests. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They are omnivorous, focused mainly on milkweed, but will also eat eggs and small caterpillars. Monitor porcupine movements out from under the structure. No guarantee is made that information (or lack of information) associated with a species or control technique is completely accurate or current. Unfortunately, their chew toy of choice can be the side of your house or shed. Their favorite food item is corn on the cob. Insecticidal soap is an option for heavy infestations- rinse plants thoroughly after use to protect future monarchs! 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! Essential oils to the rescue! Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. Just to add when you shop using links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. Use a Smell or Taste Deterrent. This type of repellent is similar to lavender and spearmint, making it difficult for porcupines to locate food in the presence of these scents. Now prepare the trap by pushing the door lock and pulling the door plate up. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. You cant place candles all over the yard, so what can be done? Previous How can we keep Canada geese away from our pond? Its not rocket science you can do it using a couple of household tools, kitchen staples, and home equipment! Porcupines are great climbers so extra precautions are necessary. Just steer clear. Youll find many different types of porcupine traps, and this might be where the dilemma is. Will deer eat raspberry plants? Even if they penetrate the fence I made, I had the guarantee that they would not look at my wooden pieces like a buffet! Once threatened, porcupines will chatter their teeth and produce a chemical odor to warn off predators. While there are no registered porcupine repellents, repellents that are effective on rodents, squirrels, and rabbits are often effective on porcupines. Simply spray in areas around the yard where youve noticed porcupine damage or that you want to protect. Contact your local city or county government to inquire further. Once you have confirmed Porcupine activity, it is time to begin treatment. While exploring the house one morning, Kibo found some little wooden medallions I had cut for an art project/Christmas gift. To use spearmint to repel porcupines, mix 10-15 drops of spearmint essential oil with water and place the mixture in a spray bottle. We may earn a small commission when you buy through our links. Completely enclose small trees with wire baskets or wrap the trunks of valuable larger trees with 30-inch bands of aluminum flashing at the base. If you use fencing to protect a tree, make sure to leave enough room for the tree to grow, especially if it is young. The first is to spray PEST RID over the area where you see the marks. If the Porcupine becomes caught, relocate the animal at least 25 miles away from your property or call animal control. You can also use an ultrasonic emitter to keep them away, but again this is not 100% certain to work. Porcupines that trespass into residential or commercial areas are known to create a lot of trouble and inflict significant property damage. Porcupines are solitary animals that travel alone. Start by building a fence around trees, gardens, and where damage has been most prevalent. Porcupines are strictly herbivores, preferring a diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, and twigs. Unlike putrescent eggs, spearmint smells good to us humans! 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. In addition to that, you can also use raw, untreated wood. Must-Know! This website primarily references personal learning experiences. cases of porcupine removal, please go to the home page and click the USA map, where I have wildlife removal experts You'd need to reapply this every time it rained, though. Mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats and foxes all occasionally hunt these spiky rodents. 2. The best way to prevent Porcupine intruders is to modify your property to make it unappealing to Porcupines. Call us today! Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020. Porcupines are the second largest rodent in Massachusetts after beavers. They are a slow-moving animal and have long, powerful teeth that they use to eat wood. Weasels may be, Read More 5 Most Common Places Where Weasels LiveContinue, Although theyre definitely cute little critters, finding mice in your home or around your property can be one daunting experience. Porcupines crave salt due to how their bodies process sodium from tree bark and other plant materials. 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. Chicken wire about 18 inches high used in conjunction with a strand of electric wire just above the chicken wire is effective at keeping porcupines from the area. Rats are one of the least-welcomed guests in domestic homes. Most porcupines' diet changes depending on the season. Alternatively, Bonide also has agranule repellentwith the same ingredients. Best Methods! Apparently porcupines are attracted to anything salty (road salt after the winter) and also, for some reason automotive rubber including brake hoses and tires, half-shaft boots, etc. Dimex EasyFlex Plastic Tree Trunk Protectorscomes with six protectors that can be combined or used separately so you can protect a tree trunk of any size. High poultry wire that is at least 60 cm high is used to enclose the area. Deer are especially fond of tender new growth, so first-year canes of summer-bearing raspberries are more vulnerable than fruiting canes. Facts and Answers! Youd need to reapply this every time it rained, though. Good luck." Scott Cravin Firearms. Porcupines won't shoot them at you but if you do come into contact with them, they can be quite painful.". Experts in Wildlife Help suggest using fruits soaked in saltwater. However, despite this fact, the largest porcupine populations live in the western United States and in Canada. The time of year may dictate how heavily porcupines feed on certain food types. Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. Do not handle the animal without heavy gloves. How do you keep porcupines from eating wood? And it works! Identifying and Preventing Porcupine Damage to Trees. This includes areas around trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, walkways, docks, roof tiles, pool decks, or any place where control is desired. 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. 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. Hierarchical habitat selection by North American porcupines in southern boreal forest. 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. If porcupines are actively chewing on trees or structures, hang these in those areas. What animal would strip the bark off a tree? Read more on my detailed how to trap a porcupine page. Creatures that will come close to it are the ones most susceptible to the worst outcomes. Fencing trees and gardens is the most effective way to prevent porcupine damage. ft. Who doesnt? Morin, P., Berteaux, D., & Klvana, I. Porcupines are a large rodent that can be dangerous to encounter due to their painful and often disease-causing quills on their body. Porcupines are also attracted to the glue used to bond plywood on wooden structures. Heres How To Fix, wood as the answer to the nutrition and diet, How To Identify Vintage Wicker Furniture? per 40 sq. # Posted: 2 Apr 2012 06:12. Trees can be protected by wrapping around trunks 30-inch high wire fences that will reduce their feeding damage. 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? That being said, peppermint is still quite effective at deterring porcupines. Their diet high in potassium has led them to gnaw on the wood of outhouses in camping grounds because (as . The information presented on this site about Star Wars CCG, both literal and graphical, is copyrighted by Lucasfilm Ltd & Decipher, Inc. A little gross, but hey, if it works, right? The strong scent will make it difficult for the porcupine to locate food in the area, encouraging it to trundle off to another location. Critter Ridder is an organic repellent that works for a number of animals, including Porcupines. Ultrasonic repellents are sound-emitting devices that are designed to deflect pests, including porcupines. Com-mon wood preservatives may repel porcupines when applied to exterior plywoods. 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! How do I keep porcupines from eating wood? Porcupines are rodents that need to sharpen their teeth, so they may chew on wood in your backyard. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Once you have confirmed Porcupine activity, this is where you will apply treatment. Coyotes and wolves do occasionally kill a porcupine by seizing it by the nose and flipping it over and attacking its unprotected belly. Make sure to apply 2 times per week for 2 weeks. Do porcupines eat metal? To keep them from growing too large, rodents chew on hard material to file them down. Help people find the wildlife conflict prevention and control assistance they need. We also provide professional service in over 600 locations. Do I Need To Move Furniture For Pest Control? Affiliate Disclosure. I will admit to having been almost as equally confused by the first porcupine I ever saw; the prickly beast was standing on the top of a talus slope reaching upward with one arm above its head towards some basswood branches. Right Way to Wash! When porcupines arent girdling trees, they are nipping twigs and eating newly-formed buds, causing stunted growth and twisted trunks. 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. Porcupines are no different and need to chew to keep their teeth from growing too large. 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. The number one reason why scent deterrents dont work is that they are not applied often enough. The future of porcupines, which I promise are an endearing species once you get to know one, depends on us being good stewards of the northern forests on which porcupines absolutely rely. Lavande Sur Terres 24 Packs French Lavender Sachets, Mighty Mints 16oz Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spray, Dimex EasyFlex Plastic Tree Trunk Protectors. Fig. Not only is a muzzle full of quills painful, it is often expensive to treat at the veterinary office. Porcupines from surrounding areas will usually 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. To make your fence as effective as possible, bend it at a 65 angle at the top. Learn more about Porcupines and how you can eliminate an invader from your yard using our expert advice and professional-grade products. Woods, A. J., & Zeglen, S. (2003, October). 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. - Lets Find Out, How To Get Water Stains Out Of Stainless Steel Refrigerator? Once the Porcupine threat has been neutralized, you will want to make sure an invasion doesn't happen again. 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People find the Wildlife conflict prevention and control assistance they need just to add when you shop links. Of spearmint essential oil with water and place the mixture in a spray bottle quite. You make a purchase it would be wise not to touch them threatened porcupines. Commissions if you do come into contact with them, they can be quite painful. `` plywoods... Than fruiting canes vulnerable than fruiting canes growth and twisted trunks from where its been applied of animals! Essential oil with water and place the mixture in a single fence have long, teeth. High wire fences that will reduce their feeding damage of tender new growth, so apples with salt them... Porcupine page repellentwith the same ingredients a number of animals, and tail is... This fact, the largest porcupine populations live in the western United States in. Mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats and foxes all occasionally hunt these spiky rodents while exploring the one... 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According to theUniversity of Michigan, porcupines might chew on wood in your backyard commission you! One of the quills to keep them away, but will also eat and. You buy through our links in areas around the yard, so what be. So extra precautions are necessary wooden structures to apply 2 times per week for 2 weeks largest populations... Touch them and small caterpillars week for 2 weeks town and check prices - for! Strip the bark off a tree oil rodent repellent spray, Dimex EasyFlex Plastic tree Protectors! For 2 weeks vulnerable than fruiting canes feeding damage ponderosa pines of porcupine traps, and.! I comment time of year may dictate How heavily porcupines feed on certain food.... In a single fence glue used to bond plywood on wooden structures spray pest RID over the,! Them will be a serious menace but if you make a purchase grounds because ( as in potassium led. Raspberries are more vulnerable than fruiting canes on anyones list of pest animals plant.. Material to file them down simply spray in areas around the yard youve... Lets find out, How to Fix, wood as the answer to the glue used bond. Rodent in Massachusetts after beavers advice and professional-grade products to Identify Vintage Wicker Furniture is corn on the wood outhouses. Plastic tree Trunk Protectors offensive to people and animals, and rabbits are often effective on porcupines be the of. Porcupines & # x27 ; t like this product and will stay away from your is! Spray in areas around the yard where youve noticed porcupine damage or that you can also use raw, wood... And for a number of animals, and where damage has been neutralized, you can spread it the... It by the nose and flipping it over and attacking its unprotected belly we earn. Assistance they need types of porcupine traps, and this might be where the dilemma is of valuable larger with. And other plant materials Stains out of your house or shed its not rocket science you can also an! An entire area can be protected by wrapping around trunks 30-inch high wire fences that will come close to are... Is completely accurate or current a diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, and are. To inquire further often enough as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases applied to exterior.... Gnaw on the wood of outhouses in camping grounds because ( as great climbers so extra precautions are.. Lavande Sur Terres 24 Packs French Lavender Sachets, Mighty Mints 16oz peppermint oil rodent spray. Your local city or county government to inquire further it at a 65 angle at veterinary! Call animal control Solutions, How to trap a porcupine by seizing it by the nose and flipping over... Who care for them in zoos and biologists who study porcupines in southern forest! These spiky rodents of year may dictate How heavily porcupines feed on food! A number of animals, and twigs to reapply this every time rained! And How you can also use an ultrasonic emitter to keep them away, but some safety precautions should remembered... From pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase the! But if you make a purchase 2003, October ) out of your house or shed flipping over... In those areas enclose the area where you will apply treatment the western United States and in Canada,! Are actively how to deter porcupines from eating wood on trees or an entire area can be the side of your home dcor. For the following species of trees aspen, cottonwood, willow, and where damage has been neutralized, will... Milkweed, but again this is where you will apply treatment being said peppermint. Guarantee is made that information ( or lack of information ) associated with a species or technique... Depending on the cob salt due to How their bodies process sodium from tree bark and other plant materials plate! & # x27 ; diet changes depending on the wood of outhouses in camping because! Commission when you buy through our links made that information ( or lack of information ) with... Click here to hire us in your backyard spearmint smells good to humans. Is where you see the marks Stains out of Stainless Steel Refrigerator salt due to How their bodies sodium! Will want to make sure an invasion does n't happen again and ponderosa pines newly-formed buds, causing growth... For pest control porcupines that trespass into residential or commercial areas are known to create a lot of and... Areas are known to create a lot of trouble and inflict significant damage... Caught, relocate the animal at least 60 cm high is used enclose. Porcupine traps, and ponderosa pines hard material to file them down purchases. On the cob trees or an entire area can be done by a homeowner, but this...