WHO LET THE CAT OUT!

By LADYBUG

My gardening buddy Linda and I have been exchanging plants for so many years now that each of us has most of the plants the other does.

We also exchange gardening tips. On how to fight bug infestations, how to get rid of ants or fungus. A recent exchange was about coyote urine. Before you do a whaaat?, let me share a portion of a recent email exchange.

“We also have a furry little friend digging in one of the flower beds,” wrote Linda.

Trust her to refer to the garden wrecker as a furry little friend!

“A woodchuck (groundhog) has dug up huge holes in several areas around the foundation of our house. Jeff’s put heavy cement bricks, wood, etc., to try to deter it but he/she is determined to dig tunnels and has made a real mess of one bed. I just keep putting back the soil and put coyote urine down to deter it. That’s what they suggest on the internet.”   

“The creatures that visit our gardens are multiplying,” I wrote back. “We had a possum over the winter. I’ve now come to terms with the squirrels, rabbits and even the skunks and raccoons that show up, but the possum really startled me. It was just sitting there early one winter morning, in the half light. Showed up a couple of times since and I was bracing myself for unexpected encounters when spring gardening began, but thankfully, it’s been a no-show since. Fingers crossed!”

Then realizing that I had forgotten to ask the all-important question, I sent her another email.

“I was fascinated to read that coyote urine deters critters. But how on earth does one get hold of some? They couldn’t possibly be selling the stuff! Asking because maybe I should try it to keep some of the furry friends, as you call them, away!”

That email was quickly followed by this one:

“Okay, so just checked. They do sell it! The things I don’t know!”

Linda said her daughter and son-in-law had had trouble with raccoons pooping around their maple tree and they learned about coyote urine being a possible remedy on the internet. They tried it and it worked for them.

“She told me to go to the urban nature store not too far from us. It’s in granular form, not  liquid. Our friend didn’t do any digging the last day or so. Time will tell if it’s going to deter him. Will keep you posted!”

I was relieved to learn that coyote urine was also available in granular form as I didn’t fancy spraying the stuff around the yard. Though – and brace yourself for another whaaat? moment – garden columns online also recommend human urine as a critter deterrent.

“Maybe that’s why they don’t have squirrels, rabbits, skunks and raccoons visiting gardens in India!” my husband quips, tongue-in-cheek.

I read up more about coyote urine. Some sites claim miraculous results, others caution about it actually attracting coyotes as they are extremely territorial and will come back to places where coyotes have been.

Which, when I think about it, doesn’t make sense, because if like dogs, coyotes mark their territory, then the urine of any coyote should keep all coyotes other than that particular coyote away.

But without expertise on the subject, I decide on a wait-and-watch approach. I inform Linda of the results of my search and then tell her that I will wait while she watches!

I think of the neighbour whose tomatoes, peppers and cucumber plants are climbing their fence, and will offer a rich harvest in a few weeks. Mine, on the other hand, are restricted to growing in pots bristling with forks in an attempt to keep squirrels away.

I asked them how they protected their plants and the husband rested his foot on his spade, smiled and gave me a one-word response.

“Cat!”