Can Gardeners and Critters Coexist ?

[@joeyhardin1288]

And you can NOT plant enough for them all. They will call up their friends for the midnight picnic.

[@tropicalco2339]

Yep! I thought I would plant enough for all of us. They just made more babies with all the nutrients.

[@MichaelMiller-bi7by]

Cucumbers might be more enticing - at least woodchucks can't resist! "Coexist" is a bumper sticker, not a garden strategy!

[@adventurious1234]

ive got me a pellet gun soda pop n lots a patience … sooner or later im get that smart ol groundhog under my shed...LOL

[@darla3021]

Ongoing battle, for sure. Trouble is, it's not just a nibble here and there.....usually, the garden is lost. Who would think you need an impenetrable compound to grow your food?

[@ohhowhappygardener]

Lol- yeah, we’ll coexist when I see those critters weeding the garden lol.

[@deadfred821]

Dear god no... the whole farm would be lost for sure... Farmer: they even ate the weeds...😰

[@tropicalco2339]

Over here they don't eat the weeds. Imagine that!

[@ichorousmedia]

looks like you've been having a tough year here and there. I have myself, rats crawling up my tomato branches and taking bites out of at least half of my tomatoes, and for the first time in 3 years, japanese beetles are attacking my moscato grape bunches... and I agree with you, we don't put hours and days of work into all of this to feed the local animals, we deserve the fruit of our labor

[@VladTheImpalerTepesIII]

HOLY SHEET! I just realized this is a new vid. HEEEEE"S BAAAAAaaaaack!

[@tropicalco2339]

My MAIN man!

[@jasonoconnor505]

You are my hero! Do what you have to do to get ride of pest and don't worry about the naysayers. I'm behind you 100%. I run a market garden here in Virginia as well, so I have the same problems with night robbers also. keep up the good work.

[@quiglag]

Maybe an electric fence wire or cages for your watermelons?

[@Ms.Byrd68]

I'm with you. When they start 'encroaching' into your garden, you gotta do what you gotta do; especially when your depending on that garden for your family's livelihood.

[@sherry1867]

All that hard work and in a matter of minutes its destroyed.

[@eddiespencer1]

Critters will find a way in, no doubt.

[@daniwhit52]

open can of sardines in the trap will be unresistable

[@pickerick1]

Exactly Bobby, you gotta eat to

[@livingwithwolves5055]

Our Newfoundland did his best to chase all the varmints out of our garden. Unfortunately, at 160 lbs, his turning radius and girth are too large and he destroyed everything in the process. He did catch the rabbits and squirrels, but the garden was a total loss. Back to the drawing board.

[@tropicalco2339]

Electric fence is my best friend after the dog.

[@johnwquick3616]

Add a smaller more agile dog

[@jamesndarlene]

I know what you mean Bobby! Rats is after my matters, I had to set traps in the garden! Get em Bobby!

[@teenapittman4241]

I feel for you. At first I thought birds were eating my tomatoes and put some netting over them. It didn't work. Then I realized that birds would not be eating them from the bottom and almost the whole tomato. I don't even know what kind of rats. Not mice, not wood rats, but kinda midsize rats. Somebody said field rats, somebody else said pack rats. And they didn't even stop with the tomatoes. They snipped all my cantaloupe and watermelon vines just when they had softball size fruit and they shriveled up. The only thing they have left alone is the okra and hot peppers. I have never had or even heard of this before. It's new to me. .

[@tropicalco2339]

Tree rats get mine.

[@lindaestell6613]

As the saying goes "Plant 3 of everything 2 for them and one for you". The problem is "they" take it all.

[@lorettaoverholt4049]

As Charles Ingall's said as he planted 4 seeds in a hill, "One for a gopher, two for a gopher, three for a gopher, four don't go fur."

[@onlybev1]

Heck yes. Anyone who tells you different, just say, oh well gotta keep the species "under control". Love you guys. Bev

[@stevedaniel8703]

I agree with you. Good to see you, I still miss your friend The Cajon Gardner.

[@johnlord8337]

Can gardeners, gardens, and critters co-exist ? Yes, you eat my garden - I eat you !!! Otherwise, I eat my garden, and you come by - and I eat you too !!! Otherwise, I'll bait/lure/trap you, then you can co-exist in a rabbit hutch, get fed - and I eat you !!! And if there are any 2-legged critters (wandering around) with beards and long hair - then I won't eat you - butt-guaranteed (!) those scorpion peppers I grow will be a pasty Klingon around Uranus - and you won't ever come around again !

[@mhpgardener]

LOL..... what goes in HOT, comes out HOT !

[@tarawalker7193]

Circle of life! :)

[@CamppattonFamilyCompound]

I Agree, until they help plant and care for the garden it is off limits to them.

[@AaricHale]

Man that sucks ! I been there several times . Your own animals can do number on things as well .

[@bobbyplatt7654]

Compost them critters the best way they can help I've found..

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

Once the critters start eating my crops, my heart hardens against them! Klaus

[@johnnylamuelo2102]

Hey so glad to see you back, I agree there is a time and place for everything, and critters in the garden is not the right time or place.

[@BrandonLeeDani5]

Deer ate all of my corn and rabbits ate my cabbage. Boy that would’ve been a nice stew if I could’ve caught them

[@mgreen6548]

I agree friend. We can coexist as long as they aint taking all the food off my table. I. Have this issue with sweet corn. I set electric fence and a live trap. Contrary to tree huger belief, animals will often multiply and over populate when man is in the neighborhood. Thinning out is a humane excersise.

[@TheHighpotinuse]

It's almost as if the garden is a microcosm and the raccoons are a metaphor. That's why I love this channel.

[@adventurious1234]

Nice...found ur channel while surfing u tube..decided ta give the hydro a try...theyre just now popping...thanks for ur time n effort...God bless

[@oldwelder798]

Lost 1700 squash transplants to deer just the other night. I went from coexist to all out war !

[@ryanwillett728]

You need friends that hunt ;)

[@MrTonyharrell]

Your logic is why I watch! 😎

[@ProthoPectore]

the squirrels already ate half the apples off the tree this year already. the return of the caddyshacker.

[@wolco003]

Gophers are my problem...but the dam dog steals an apple a day...

[@tropicalco2339]

My dog would have to earn his apple. Just saying.

[@wolco003]

@@tropicalco2339 He used to ...He is an old working dog turned thief.

[@glynmozzie2143]

Your comments cracked me up an excellent reply.

[@BrandoToe]

A day in the life of a Grower. 🌱 Thanks for sharing.

[@NEWSNOWTV2]

young man we have not seen you in years, where have you been

[@mhpgardener]

Been posting videos for almost a month now....but indeed, I did have quite an absence.

[@davemoreno4323]

Amen! They are building four new subdivisions around me and the field mice and rats have taken to my tomatoes. They struggle is real my friend. Ain’t no critter helped me amend the soil or weed the garden!

[@tropicalco2339]

They are good for the soil. Compost your enemies.

[@zednott]

critters can make good meals too.

[@HOMESTEADHEART]

WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!! Are You Back??????? I Sure Hope So!

[@KeithSilva2]

Forget that live trap and use a kill trap.

[@jeffsullivan3362]

Got a skunk in my live trap last week.

[@KeithSilva2]

@@jeffsullivan3362 Uh oh. Now what? In my area, drowning is not considered humane.

[@itsjustdeb579]

22. My favorite number for those varmits

[@oneyaker]

How about giving them some mineral like copper with lead.

[@ryanwillett728]

@SeriousName Copper coated Lead shot from a shotgun shell ... he didn't mean literal poison.

[@tropicalco2339]

Bang! Now that's Holistic K9 food.

[@jayty1997]

I totally feel your pain. Up North here, it's a constant battle with woodchucks, squirrels and chipmunks. I'm sick of catching the stupid things. Thought woodchuck number 3 was going to be it, until I surprised one munching away at the beans this morning. The thing that gets me is why cant they just fill up and finish what they start. Why the hell do they insist on taking a bite out of every fruit they see and ruin the whole lot. I quickly went from coexisting to efficient at taking them out! Thankfully the 3 hawks that moved into the area are helping! I'm glad to see you posting again. You were a huge asset when setting up the hydroponic greenhouse. I know you have helped many others along the way as well. Much appreciated!

[@redfox5911]

Know a man had the same problem, set up a game camera and it was coyotes biting hole in his melons.

[@songbirdforjesus2381]

Coyotes have invaded North Carolina killing cats little dogs and eating Gardens

[@gingergargoyle]

I know this feeling - I had planted 300 ft of one of our fields with four rows each of peas & green beans. They were growing beautifully - went out with my husband after a weekend trip and found the damned deer had themselves a smorgasbord! Their hoof prints went right up the rows on one side and back down the other, they chomped off the tops of my crops! I bought tulle/mosquito netting and covered all my lower crops that year

[@susiew412]

Those people who talk about coexisting with animals have probably never raised a garden. They don’t know the hard work it takes to raise those fruits and vegetables . 🥵 We quit planting corn due to the raccoons. They have been a real problem the last couple of years. My husband had to put an electric fence around our chicken coop. Good luck with your trap.

[@donhill8929]

Glad you’re back. I consider you one the most honest and realistic gardeners around. The loss of Donald is great.

[@jamesr2622]

I live in the middle of a city. I had a opossum who really enjoyed Dahlias, the whole plant. He would eat flowers and, when there were no flowers, he would go for the tubers. I gave him a light spanking with a bamboo stake and scolded him a little bit. He hasn't been back since.

[@darylehayward5155]

Amen to that!!!!

[@sjfarish]

I have seen racoons get caught in those traps and another racoon will help them get out of the trap. No lie I have seen it on a game camera not every time but it does happen...

[@mhpgardener]

That explains it.....they ate the tuna, reset the trap, and left.

[@LadyAzama]

😂😂😂😂 this is so funny because I wholeheartedly believe it! 😂😂😂

[@sjfarish]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2LPqICHoqhmetU check out this racoon getting out of a trap...

[@OleGuy55]

It's not PC now-days' to begrudge freeloaders. But, I can't argue with your logic. Blessings!

[@lorettaoverholt4049]

Ain't it the truth?

[@leschab]

Troll much do ya? Comrade.

[@OleGuy55]

@@leschab What's a troll? Like a Garden Gnome..

[@moonraker814]

My dog likes our tomatoes as much as me!

[@wolco003]

Mine steals tomatoes...and apples.

[@planbhomestead8276]

Sure am glad you are back! I face the same problems.. Caught two raccoons already... Looking forward to seeing some hydronic videos.

[@JebGardener]

good luck with your critter problem

[@wendelldeloach3048]

Jeb Gardener congrats on your Channel

[@hughkavanagh]

Always good to hear from you, depending on your area a little 22 cal pressure should be enough to put them back in the woods and out of the garden.

[@BrewCityGardener]

It's great to see you back! Thanks!

[@bigaesswangmane7804]

Welcome back, love your videos man!

[@SgtSnausages]

Around here, The Trap Plan is every bit as real and important as The Fertility Plan and The Seeding Plan and the Harvest Schedule and The Watering Schedule. Forget the live traps. Conibear 110 and 220 are WONDERFUL inventions. Snap traps and poison bait for the Mice, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles and other tiny vermin.

[@PSPSMITH2022]

The battle IS real! For a gardener or farmer, having an animal destroy or consume crops is the same as a shop owner having people steal from their store: those goods were intentionally put there (at a cost to the owner) to produce a benefit for the worker, and that benefit can't be recognized if someone without authority or permission comes in and takes it without the worker getting their benefit. Farmers plant crops either for food or to be exchanged for other goods, services, or money for the other goods and services that farmer needs or wants. While some may want to argue that the animals were there first, I have a counterargument that our family manages this plot of land far, far better than the ground squirrels, raccoons, birds, deer, wolves, and bears ever did prior to our working and improving the land. When we arrived, there weren't many animals roaming the grounds because it was filled with unproductive/non-fruiting weed trees, topsoil-less dead spots, useless weeds/grasses as the majority of groundcover, rock piles, anaerobic swamp patch dead zones, sand pits, and a variety of other not-very-productive sources of food for those animals. We improved the soil tremendously, installed production-multipliers like raised beds and trellises, built infrastructure to capture and store enough rainwater to water the entire garden year-round, and installed ground barriers, fencing, and netting to keep control of the crops we plant and consume, trade, or sell. If the deer, raccoons, or ground squirrels had helped with any of these improvements, I would say they have a claim on some of the food we produce. As they didn't help at all, I have absolutely no moral qualms about preventing them from freely eating what we work so hard to grow. None of these animals are endangered species, and none of them need to eat our crops to survive. They're free to roam, eat, and live in the thousands of acres of nearby, protected forests and mountain ranges that are significantly more productive than our plot of land used to be. That's their home; this is our home.

[@larrybaroldy8587]

I have all kind of varmints also! ..trying to protect as much as I can ! I put bird netting draped over and around melons and winter squash. Doesn't stop them , but they don't like getting tangled up in it either !

[@towerjokey]

I'm with you on that one. If they are not helping with the work they are not eating the goods.

[@welchfarmnc]

Squerals took out most of corn trapped the possums were moved about 2 miles The square did not make all 29

[@williamnoble86]

I have a small yard so I don’t have room to share. If you have acres it’s ok to grow more for them. I only had an area of 10x20 for my corn. One morning I came out and the raccoons ate two bites out of half of my ears of corn. The next night they did the same thing. Critters can’t be reasoned with so they much go.

[@chelinfusco6403]

Electric fence set at 4 inches hot wire and if you are on very dry soil/sand place a grounded wire one inch beside it ( or above it). Worked for me............as far as catching raccoons and possum the best bait is dry fish scented cat food. cover the cage with a burlap sack except the front 6 inches. For the deer I use the automatic movement sensing water sprayers, SOLVED that problem nicely. Cats keep the rats squirrels and voles under control. No cure for the crows yet however.

[@chrisbgarrett]

Friend had melons like that before,but it was coyotes. They would open one up and drink what they could, then go to another. Alot of damage. Glad your back bro,sorry for the loss.

[@C3Voyage]

Yep, they'll take all your melons, sweet corn, and fruit RIGHT before you were going to get them. They literally ate only part of every cob of corn...every cob...a couple years ago. Whole crop ruined. Melons too. Every time right before harvest. Oh, and if you relocate them in less than 10 miles, they will find their way back! It's devastating and I feel for you. I've had to make some adjustments myself. :O)

[@davesterchele2679]

Ground Squirrels coexist with my rat traps. Nearly 2 dozen so far this summer.

[@tropicalco2339]

In Charlotte the ground squirrels are unlimited. Could feed an army with them.

[@OleGuy55]

I herd that pioneers used to use the critters they were feeding to season potatoes, carrots, and onions: that way they could contribute to the indever.

[@LadyAzama]

Listen you have to do what you jave to do. Actually your doing more than the average American family to provide and lessen your environmental impact on the world. Keep up the good fight sir.

[@lindaestell6613]

Our field corn is just beginning to silk. It's' surrounded by electric fence this time, so there pesky raccoons.

[@davewmck]

Mice are eating my tomatoes. Grr

[@wolco003]

Fuckers were a problem for me too...then they learned to eat peppers...they like red.

[@queenimari602]

Canned cat food works great because it is very aromatic. Get a little can of it, and leave a tiny bit in the can. They can’t resist the smell and putting the can in the trap assures they can’t dig under to get it. Fifty four cents (38 cents if u get the cheap stuff) and it will bait the live trap for five days. Then you can happily relocate the little critters. But not near me, pls.

[@AntiProtonBoy]

Idea: instead of trying to put the critters into the cage, put the melons in the cage. Pin the basket cage down with tent hooks and hopefully that’ll do the trick.

[@cindybonem494]

I agree 100%

[@straubdavid9]

I hear you .... I work too hard on the garden to share with critters. My biggest problem are feral cats using my containers and raised bed as a litter box ..... half of my melon plants were either dug up or busted off where the main stem meets the soil ..... to say the least, I'm not a happy camper. What even makes me more furious is that these vermin have some kind of ridiculous protected status in the state of Pennsylvania ... you basically have to put up with them because you can't kill them and no shelter will take them if you do trap them .... total BS in my opinion.

[@propheteyebert7063]

I would "relocate" the vandals into a compost pile.

[@cmsag7428]

Well said! Kind of goes with the political debate now. Tell you what, when we lived in up north, the Boss had a garden. We tended it, babied it, was doing well. We both had to travel for work, Monday - Thursday. Come home, and every tomato had a bite out of it - what to see a woman go into orbit? She was so jacked that she said, "I am closing the salad bar."

[@kansasgardener5844]

Trapped and relocated 13 squirrel's last year. I guess you could say I've learned to coexist!

[@TRprepper]

Relocating is illegal in a lot of States. Or least I know it is in SC.

[@darla3021]

Can't help wondering if....while you're relocating your 13, other people are relocating 20 to your area (garden)! Sure feels like it sometimes.

[@kansasgardener5844]

@@paulreid7370 You live down the road? Lol

[@666Necropsy]

great to see your back. love the new ending. i see you caught the fig bug :)

[@windyloom2267]

Racoon stew?

[@Ms.Byrd68]

Also raccoons and possums can be VICIOUS and dangerous to you and your house pets.

[@JeffSmith-yc2ly]

I agree 100%! If they help with the work then they can eat.

[@dustinkile7705]

Amen brother. Chip in or get out!

[@midgamarine]

Brother you said a mouthful. I have almost half an acre of watermelon, cantaloupe, peas turnips, cucumber and even okra destroyed by critters.

[@SB-ic2kl]

I'd be out there at night with a red spot light mounted on my .22 Works for me. They get wise to the live traps fairly quickly

[@guillermoperea2702]

Great to see new videos from you

[@TRprepper]

Unfortunately you are correct. I had to take a pause on raising chickens because the wildlife had slaughtered over 20 chickens and guineas.I fought back with vengeance but they still won.

[@ryanwillett728]

Learn to trap, you'll win the battle.

[@meyoucajun1]

You right we all face some setbacks, my has been few in the past 12 years just crop production has slowed in volume each year planting the same amount of feet in rows, well this year the deer found me I had 1,200' of peas that we ready to pick and some just putting on fresh blooms well Mr. Deer took care of all of that day after day he don't miss peas or blooms so I fixed him up I can't seat so he can't eat I plowed them all under will try a fall garden and maybe if he comes back I will become a deer hunter, sad to see all that gone, Joe

[@tersta1]

Exactly! When the critters start pulling weeds and watering, they will be earning their share. Until then, I'll be guarding my GUARDEN with caging, fencing and even scraps of chickenwire piled up around produce like so much razor wire! If they ate the whole fruit, and came back to the same one when they couldn't finish it in one go, that wouldn't be so bad, but they just test - and destroy - as many as they can get to. That destruction benefits no one. With a little work, the critters have blackberries, red current, white current, gooseberries, elderberries, which I tend all around the periphery of my yard. There's no reason to even come into my garden. But it seems the big old raccoon likes a challenge! He dug out a hole in an unprotected squash. It's a new garden bed, so the fencing isn't up yet and the squash, planted up in a pot, is just setting on top. I think he's the same raccoon that tore up and ate a rabbit on my backdoor porch last year! That's right, a raccoon killed and ate a RABBIT, a full grown buck rabbit. Now, this big old raccoon doesn't wait for nightfall. He's out during the day, eating up my garden, raiding my compost bin and climbing up the trees while he waits for me to go back in the house. That's the sort of animal that will eat your small children, if you don't guard them outdoors! Yep, some raccoons are Komodo Dragons with fur. The cuteness is just a tactic to make you feel safe around them! :)))

[@MrBiloxifireman]

It's good to see you back. Get them Critters don't worry about any snowflakes

[@deadfred821]

Felt like they were plenty ripe? Guess we know who has the best melons in town....🤷🏾‍♂️ IDK, trying to find a silver lining here. Best wishes for the rest of the season brother....

[@minwifeof4boys]

some years we just eat our veggies on the hoof... the struggle IS real

[@jerseygirlvet]

I agree with you 100%. If they can’t help then stay out of my garden. I have chipmunks and they eat all my strawberries every year. I gave up on growing them. Get an electric fence those that you would use for chickens, they are easy to move around.

[@wolco003]

Imagine Rolypolies doing the same!

[@TargaWheels]

Cheap metal cages over each watermelon? Too late now for these, but the next batch cage them early and put some weight on the cage to keep critters from moving it.

[@chantalgardner3157]

Amen to when the deer start planting and tiling. Maybe the groundhog starts watering then we will try coexisting. Until then I will treat them like the thieves that they are!

[@LocoBeeFPV]

I have chipmunk problems by the hundreds. They walk the plank into a bucket of floating sunflower seeds. About 4 a day.

[@LocoBeeFPV]

Also, so far it seems only 0.88% of people disagree with your "coexist" strategy

[@sallywasagoodolgal]

If they'd eat one, and go on, that's forgivable. (More or less.) But to ruin melon after melon after melon is a relocation sentence. Far, far away.....

[@katsmama813]

your comments from about 1:15 on couldn't be truer!

[@mhpgardener]

I like animals just as much as most people do. I don't mind them eating the cat food off the back porch so much, just part of having pets. But...stay out of my garden. Or else.

[@72blueflash]

Squirrels are my biggest problems. I've tried to coexist, no longer. Got to try and get them under control.

[@bigfootbyrd9119]

Yeah! I am with you on that one.

[@mrs8792]

I’ve though about putting the dogs in the garden at night. I had rabbits and squirrels destroy my crops. It’s heart breaking. What if it was all we had to depend on for food?

[@gearhead4526]

I've watched a few of the videos you've made on dealing with critters, but I havent seen one on skunks, you know of any way to get rid of skunks? I cant shoot them cause I live inside the city limits, I dont think a live trap would be the way to go because you would probably get sprayed when you approached a trap with one in it. Is there anything I can do to make my yard an undesirable place for them so they would just leave?