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Plant Answers > Archives: Search for the Answer

Question:
Something is digging in my potted plants every night. I suspect a raccoon, because we surprised one in the backyard one night. Whatever it is, it does not eat any plants, but digs all around them. It has dug a little in my flower garden, but mostly seems to like the pots. Most are empty right now except for dirt, but soon I want to put out tomatoes and peppers, and I usually plant herbs in pots outside. We also have a bonsai in a pot in the backyard. I do have two small raised gardens planted now, but they are covered with chicken wire temporarily and that seems to keep critters out. I called the Animal Control Shelter, and they seem to think it's probably raccoons but have no traps to rent for two months. We tried every other recommended place in town, but there are not traps available to rent. We can buy one for about $55! , but I hate to spend that if it's not guaranteed to work. Some people say that raccoons are too smart to get trapped in one. We tried mouse traps in the plants to discourage the digging, and they just dug around them, without setting them off! I am very frustrated, gardening is my favorite hobby and one of the reasons I moved to Texas (longer, milder season). I will consider buying a trap if it's a pretty sure bet. We live in town, but our property backs up to undeveloped city park land. I do not leave any pet food or water out at night. We have a dog and a cat, but I can't leave the dog out at night because her barking would keep us and our close neighbors awake.

Answer:
Animals that dig in flower pots and in beds are usually digging for grubs or earthworms (and this can be raccoons, skunks, opossums, armadillos and probably others) or in the case of squirrels they are digging for morsels that they have previously buried. If it is grubs that they are after, the solution is to get rid of the grubs. This should be quite simple in the pots. Just mix up a solution of diazinon (2 tsp. per gallon of water) and drench the soil in the pots. Have you tried the fire department to see if they have hav-a-heart traps to lend for trying to catch the culprit. You have heard right about the raccoons and the difficulty of catching (and keeping) one in one of the traps. They can be very destructive and can literally tear their way out of a trap.


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