Of all the garden pests, mammals are usually the ones that can cause the most damage in the shortest amount of time. One strategy to protect yourself from these animals is to use predator urine as a pest deterrent. Predator urine falls into the category of olfactory repellents, meaning they target the pest animal’s sense of smell. Coyote and fox urine are most commonly used for smaller mammals, and urine from deer, bobcats, wolves, bears, and mountain lions are also available.
Does urine deter pests?
Gardeners report mixed results with predator urine. Fox urine works best to repel small mammals such as rabbits , squirrels , and cats . Coyote urine and urine from larger predators is a better choice for deer and other larger animals, and is also reported to work against groundhogs , raccoons , skunks , and smaller mammals.
Predator urine in gardens is not a foolproof solution to pest problems. A common complaint is that herbivores can become habituated to smelling repellents and return to the area. Changing the repellent every three to four weeks can help. Another problem is that if an animal is hungry enough it will be determined to reach for your edible plants and olfactory repellents, including urine, are unlikely to make a difference.
Like other olfactory repellents, predator urine is a safer alternative compared to poisons. It is less expensive than installing a fence or netting system, but it is also less reliable than a strong physical barrier.
Using urine for pest control
Knowing which animal is causing the damage will help you choose an effective control method. For example, deer are likely to be repelled by coyote urine but not fox urine. You can often tell which mammal is responsible based on the type of damage, what time of day or night it occurs, and which plants are the target.
Be aware that coyote urine may attract coyotes or curious dogs to the area.
Reapply predator urine products after rains and every week or so, depending on the product. To increase their effectiveness, consider using several types of animal repellents simultaneously or combining a repellent with an exclusion method such as fencing or netting.