Hi Del:
Sorry to hear about your mole problem.
Once they have eaten the bark, mice and moles
usually loose interest. They don't seem to like wood. The bark and the soft
tissues underneath is what they are after. If the wood is completely stripped
then there is only so much that can be done with paint. Bridges (which were
discussed recently on this forum works).
The best solution I have ever found is
cats.
I have tried different solutions, and always they
climb over or under obstacles, plastic tubing, white plastic swirl,
paints and what not. When desperate enough they even eat through substances
which they are not suppose to like. This is the worst time of the year in cold
regions. They are starving after the long winter.
Since I have cats, I don't have to worry about any
kind of protection whatesover.
The cats don't eat moles, but they kill them. They
eat the mice of course.
I prefer to give a bit of food and a shelter
outdoors to a few cats than to get out the paraphernalia of screens (old window
screen) and paints every Fall only to have to remove them in the Spring.
Good luck!
Hélène
Zone 3
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2001 11:35
PM
Subject: [nafex] feijoas, mice, and
cayenne
Just now returned from New Zealand, it certainly is all
it's cracked up to be. Got hooked on lamb, feijoas, passion fruit, and
meat pies.
Upon returning, the snow is from 2' deep to bare spots-- got
a first look at the new orchard-- could spot the manchurian apricots 50
yards away the voles took such a liking to them. Stripped every little
branch down to 1/16" that was under snow. Barely touched the prunus
americana. The apple most on their delicatessen list was Lodi, didn't miss
an inch........These plants are the ones with low branches i didn't get
screen around, or alum foil.
Somewhere in the 250 nafex posts
that have happened since we left I remember reading about coating chewed
areas 'yesterday if not before', (just in case it can heal).....So I found
our can of wood sealer, added a big spoon of cayenne powder, dug through
the foot of snow and painted away. The wood sealer isn't something
most folk know about, but it may have worthwhile uses to the orchard
world. It's trade name is 'Mobilesur M' from Mobile Oil Co. Its commercial
use is in sawmills for coating ends of valuable logs.
It has found a
common use among woodworkers to seal green wood end grain - so is
available in woodwork shops and catalogs, sold by the gallon as 'Green
Wood Sealer' It is a heavy stretchable emulsion that is clear and
waterproof upon drying.
I added the cayenne to hopefully disuade
further dining. Anyone know of a substance tested to be distasteful to all
commers? I'm kicking myself for not thinking of this last fall to use on
the plants too difficult to get foil or screen around. Or is it possible
it could replace such altogether? Sure would be
easier. Mn.
Del _________________________________________________________________ Get
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