Pirate ducklings with chicken mama!

[PirateGirl]

PS. I have a problem in my garden

 

[Kiki]

View attachment 1800116 PS. I have a problem in my garden

Oh boy.

 

[aart]

View attachment 1800116 PS. I have a problem in my garden

GASP!!!
Seriously, you took that pic!?
What are those things?

 

[Kiki]

GASP!!!
Seriously, you took that pic!?
What are those things?

A family of diggers.

Get the BB Gun!

 

[PirateGirl]

GASP!!!
Seriously, you took that pic!?
What are those things?

Yes! They are prairie dogs and they are everywhere! I looked out the window and a mama and 5 babies came out of a hole the dogs have been digging on the edge of my flower bed! I sent the cat out. He pulled one out of another hole, but they get up to 3lbs and the big ones are difficult for the cat, and it got away. They dig into the chicken run and steal feed and the chickens hate them. They try to eat eveything I plant too. @Texas Kiki I did grab the pellet gun but they heard me open the window and disappeared into their hole!

 

[aart]

I did grab the pellet gun but they heard me open the window and disappeared into their hole!

Have same problem with the ground hogs here, they are very leery.
Live traps do any good?

 

[PirateGirl]

I have not tried live traps yet. There are so many of them, I fear it’s a losing battle. I just try my best to make things as critter proof as I can, adopted a cat that I named Ruger whose job it is to kill things that kill my garden. My veggies get planted in cold frames and I’m learning which flowers they won’t eat. I get better each summer with the critters and with the gardening in general

 

[casportpony]

PS. I have a problem in my garden

They are cute!

 

[aart]

I have not tried live traps yet. There are so many of them, I fear it’s a losing battle. I just try my best to make things as critter proof as I can, adopted a cat that I named Ruger whose job it is to kill things that kill my garden. My veggies get planted in cold frames and I’m learning which flowers they won’t eat. I get better each summer with the critters and with the gardening in general

I guess it's a balance we all choose the ratio of.
Ground Hogs here dug huge holes(8" dia) under my patio, they had to go.
One thing that got the GH away from the house was shoving the garden hose down their holes and letting it run for a good 30 minutes then put HC over/into the hole entrance. They finally moved out into the field were I could get a shot(Ruger .22) at them.

 

[PirateGirl]

I guess it's a balance we all choose the ratio of.
Ground Hogs here dug huge holes(8" dia) under my patio, they had to go.
One thing that got the GH away from the house was shoving the garden hose down their holes and letting it run for a good 30 minutes then put HC over/into the hole entrance. They finally moved out into the field were I could get a shot(Ruger .22) at them.

Yes, I agree, especially the ones near the house and coop need to go. I tried researching if I am even allowed to trap them, but don't really want to ask some locally as it's a small town and I'd hate to draw attention, and haven't gotten a clear answer. Now that they are all coming out for summer it's got me thinking traps again. That's funny that you mentioned the hose, I definitely send a lot of water down the holes when i water the garden.