Vertebrate pests — rodents, birds and deer — can be incredibly difficult pests for landscape managers. Not only are these pests a little more clever than others, their appeal to human sentiment can create something of a public relations predicament.

Dealing with vertebrate pests in urban environments poses special hazards. Pets are easily lured to poison baits and traps, and shooting is not permitted in cities. Plus, such animals are often classified as wildlife, which means they may have a “season” and may be regulated by state or federal wildlife agencies.

Non-lethal alternatives such as live traps, decoys and exclusion (fences) may be effective. Unfortunately, these tactics may be impractical or ineffective in many situations. Chemical repellents and anti-feedants are other tools that managers can employ.

• Geese

  Methyl anthranilate and anthraquinone are anti-feedants effective against Canada geese — by far, the most difficult bird pest. Other methods — herding dogs, dead goose decoys and sound cannons, to name a few — can be useful. However, bad-tasting antifeedants have been shown to be a reliably effective and non-intrusive strategy.

• Deer and rodents

  Several substances can deter deer and rodent feeding through unpleasant odors or tastes. Castor oil is a common rodent repellent. Pepper (or capsaicin, derived from peppers), egg solids, the fungicide thiram, bitrex and several other substances also can reduce feeding through the unpleasant tastes or smells they impart.

Poison baits may be more suitable for rural settings. Interior rodent controls may also be registered for outdoor use where rats and mice may be a problem (around dumpsters, for example).

Deer and rodents can be amazingly persistent. Some animals apparently are able to overcome their initial aversion to certain products, especially when particularly hungry. And scientific research on repellents and antifeedants has shown mixed results. Frustratingly, what works in one situation may not work in another, sometimes for reasons that aren't clear. So be persistent and ready to employ a variety of strategies.

Aside from commercial products, stories abound regarding other substances for repelling animals. Soap, human hair and many other materials are frequently mentioned. In research, these materials may show some effectiveness, but tend not to perform as well as commercial products.

Supplier contact information

Agrisel USA	678-441-0030; www.agrisel.com
Airepel	800-468-6324; www.airepel.com
Becker-Underwood	800-232-5907; www.beckerunderwood.com
Bird-B-Gone Inc.	800-392-6915; www.birdbgone.com/GRM
Bird-X Inc.	800-662-5021; www.bird-x.com
Bobbex Inc.	800-792-4449; www.bobbex.com
Cleary Chemical Corp.	800-524-1662; www.clearychemical.com
DeerBusters.Com	888-422-3337; www.deerbusters.com
Elston Mfg.	800-845-1385; www.elstonmfg.com
Mole Med Inc.	800-255-2527; www.mole-med-inc.com
Taminco, Inc.	800-426-3820; www.taminco.com
Tree World	800-252-6051; www.plantskydd.com
Woodstream Corp.	800-800-1819; www.havahart.com

CONTROLS FOR VERTEBRATE PESTS*

Geese
Flight Control	Airepel	Anthraquinone
Rejex-It Migrate, Fog Force	Becker-Underwood	Methyl anthranilate
Goose-B-Gone	Bird-B-Gone Inc.	Methyl anthranilate
Goose Chase	Bird-X Inc.	Methyl anthranilate
Bobbex-G	Bobbex Inc.	“Natural” materials
Defiant	UCB Chemical, Agrisel	Thiram
Deer
Tree Guard	Becker-Underwood	Bitrex
Scoot Deer	Bird-X Inc.	Capsaicin**
Bobbex	Bobbex Inc.	“Natural” materials
Spotrete F, WDG***	Cleary Chemical	Thiram
Professional Deer & Rabbit Repellent	DeerBusters.Com	Ammonium salts of fatty acids
Deer I	DeerBusters.Com	Garlic, pepper, eggs
Systemic Tablets	DeerBusters.Com	Bitrex
Hinder	Pace International	Ammonium soaps of fatty acids
Plantskydd Deer Repellent	Tree World	Dried blood
Defiant	UCB Chemical, Agrisel	Thiram
Deer-Off/Havahart	Woodstream Corp.	Garlic, pepper**, egg solids
Rodents (squirrels, rabbits, moles, gophers, chipmunks)
Scoot Mole	Bird-X Inc.	Castor oil
Scoot Squirrel	Bird-X Inc.	Capsaicin**
Bobbex-R	Bobbex Inc.	Pepper**, “natural derivatives”
Spotrete F, WDG*	Cleary Chemical	Thiram
Mole Repellent	DeerBusters.Com	Castor oil
Professional Deer & Rabbit Repellent	DeerBusters.Com	Ammonium salts of fatty acids
Predator urine	DeerBusters.Com	Urine
Gopher Getter	Elston Mfg.	Strychnine bait
Mole Med	Mole Med Inc.	Castor oil
Plantskydd Deer Repellent	Tree World	Dried blood
Defiant	UCB Chemical, Agrisel	Thiram
Poison baits	Four suppliers that market rat and mouse rodenticides to professionals are: Agrisel USA: 678-441-0030; www.agrisel.com Bell Laboratories: 800-558-1003; www.belllabs.com LiphaTech: 800-558-1003; www.liphatech.com Syngenta: www.syngenta.com
* Neither the author nor publisher endorses products listed here. Nor is criticism implied for products not included. Effectiveness is not rated here. Always read and follow label instructions. ** Capsaicin, the substance that gives peppers their hot taste, is essentially the same ingredient as “pepper” or “pepper extract.” ***May not be registered in all states.

Sometimes, it's burrowing or some other destructive activity (such as with moles and gophers) that needs to be stopped, and the only solution may be removal of the animals. Trapping or lethal controls, if permitted, will be necessary.

Most vertebrate chemical controls have an EPA-approved label, which you must follow. This listing is for preliminary planning only and is not a substitute for label information. Remember to check local ordinances and state and federal laws governing wildlife.

The following list includes products — mostly repellents and anti-feedants, but also some poison baits — that are currently available. We do not rate efficacy here. Contact the suppliers with the information shown on page 20 for more information.