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Arizona Gardening

Animal chewing up my new bougainvilleas

Gerald Consedine

7 years ago

An unwelcome overnight guest has been eating the leaves and flowers of recently planted bougainvilleas. Up north, there was a product that consisted of I believe it was fox pee. It gave off an odor that repelled other animals (mostly deer up there). Would that be safe and effective here in the Phoenix area? Is there something better? Anyone want to venture a guess what animal is eating these plants? They are even gnawing off the small branches. I love my little plants and want them to have a long, healthy life!

Featured Answer

Marco

7 years ago

If it is a very precise clean slice, it could well be pack rats. You may find all their trimmings piled somewhere else nearby. If you are afraid of the old wire rat traps (I am), ask the hardware store for the black plastic kind that are constructed completely differently, are easy to bait, easy to set, and easy to re-use. Just keep the pets and children away from set traps.

Don't use rat poison. It makes them desperately thirsty before it kills them, and they will chew on everything in sight and do a lot of damage.

Good luck with it.

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Comments (7)

MaryMcP Zone 8b - Phx AZ
7 years ago
Are you located in the middle of town or more rural? Hard to answer without a bit more info. Can you post a picture of the damage? Can you surround the plants with chicken wire until they are larger?
Gerald Consedine
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Mary... Chicken wire could be an option, but not sure how high I would have to go without knowing what kind of animal is gnawing on them.... I found a product at HD yesterday that is supposed to repel all animals. I sprayed them and today, I did not notice any new damage, so maybe it is working. Here is a pic of the worst one...
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MaryMcP Zone 8b - Phx AZ
7 years ago
Rats maybe. Roof rats in your 'hood?
Gerald Consedine
Original Author
7 years ago
Wow! Rats? I hadn't considered that. Would they crawl up the bush to get at the top branches? Some of the damage is a foot or so above the ground. I did find a rat carcass in my garage about a year ago, so maybe? I am close to rural... live in Sun City West.
Marco
7 years ago
Pack rats are everywhere in rural and suburban areas. They like to build their nests under a slight shelter (under an overhanging rock, under the broad stiff leaves of a big agave, even under the slight shelter of a shrubby plant. And they do climb anything and everything, and can jump quite high (for their small size). They run up trees onto roofs, up shrubs onto windowsills, up vines onto walls. The best defense is just keeping after them. Oh, and if you find a nest, tear it apart (wearing a facemask and gloves) and discard it. If you kill the rat and leave the nest, other rates will promptly move in. One sign to watch for is nibbling on the edges of succulents during the driest season when they are seeking moisture. If it is rats, good luck with them.
Deborah McMaster
3 years ago
Yikes! I didn’t even consider that could be the culprit eating my newly planted bougainvillea! It’s completely gone & chewed to pieces, branches and all. Thank you for your insights into these unwanted critters!

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