Learn how to manage and control garden critters affecting your vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, and lawn with Jason Searight, Extension Master Gardener Intern. This is an informative and entertaining look at some of the science-based advice offered in the 2022 Pest Management Guide: Home Grounds and Animals published by the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Zoom session, recorded August 12, 2022
Video of Presentation
Chapter Breaks
- 00:00 Introduction
- 1:57 What’s eating your garden
- 2:41 Know the 5 Steps of Wildlife Management
- 9:27 Know the laws
- 17:33 Questions
- 20:11 Rabbit and Deer Control
- 29:40 Groundhog Control
- 31:16 Raccoon, Skunk and Opossum Control
- 32:28 Mole and Vole control
- 36:42 Squirrel Control 38:46
- Birds: Crow, European Starling, Canada Goose Control
- 42:48 Snake Control
- 44:20 Emerging Wild Animal Pests – Nutria, Feral Hogs
- 45:46 What’s and Informed Concerned person to do?
- 48:50 Questions
Additional Resources
Virginia Cooperative Extension Publications
- 2022 Pest Management Guide: Other Animals
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/456/456-018/ENTO-462.pdf - Bears:
Managing Wildlife Damage: Black Bears (Ursus americanus)
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-200/420-200.html - Beavers:
Managing Wildlife Damage: Beavers (Castor canadensis)
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-202/420-202.html - Canada Goose:
Managing Wildlife Damage: Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-203/420-203.html - Coyotes:
Learning to Live with Coyotes in Metropolitan Areas
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-050/420-050.html - Deer:
Deer: A Garden Pest
https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HORT‐62‐-PDF.pdf - Moles:
Managing Wildlife Damage: Moles
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-201/420-201.html - Moles vs. Voles
Moles and Voles
https://ext.vt.edu/lawn-garden/turfandgardentips/tips/mole-vole.html - Snakes:
Managing Wildlife Damage: Snakes
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-021/420-021.html - Wildlife Control Methods and General Information – Resource Page https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/tags.resource.html/pubs_ext_vt_edu:wildlife
Arlington County Resources
- Animal Welfare League of Arlington
Offers information on how to contact help for animal control.
703-931-9241- Wildlife Control
https://www.awla.org/animal-control/wildlife-control/ - Arlington Wildlife
https://www.awla.org/animal-control/arlington-wildlife/
- Wildlife Control
- Arlington County – Dead Animal Removal
Offers information on how to report a dead animal as well as how to request removal.
https://health.arlingtonva.us/dead-animal-removal-roadkill/ - Wildlife of Arlington: A Natural Heritage Resource Inventory Technical Report
Inventory report on all wildlife found in Arlington County
https://projects.arlingtonva.us//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2014/04/Wildlife-of-Arlington-A-Natural-Resource-Heritage-Technical-Report.pdf - Long Branch Nature Center
703-228-6535
Nature center at Glencarlyn Park that has general wildlife info.
https://parks.arlingtonva.us/locations/long-branch-nature-center-park/
City of Alexandria Resources
- Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
Has general information on how to contact professional help for wildlife management as well as a list of management practices.- Living with Wildlife
https://alexandriaanimals.org/living-with-wildlife/
- Living with Wildlife
- Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center
703-746-5559
Nature center that has information about Alexandria’s wildlife.
https://www.alexandriava.gov/NatureCenter - Natural Resource Management Plan in the City of Alexandria
https://www.alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=106918 - City of Alexandria Natural Resources
https://www.alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=48838
Commonwealth of Virginia Resources
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (formerly VDGIF)
Virginia state agency responsible for management of inland fisheries, wildlife and recreational boating.
1-855-571-9003
https://dwr.virginia.gov/ - National Pesticide Information Center Organization
Problem Wildlife in the Garden and Yard
Collects information on which pesticide you should use for each pest.
http://npic.orst.edu/pest/wildyard.html - Center for Human Wildlife Conflict Resolution Site
Resource site designed to help Virginia residents and municipal leaders identify potential sources of assistance when confronted with problematic wild animal concerns.
https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/nuisance/ - Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Injured and Orphaned Wildlife
Offers information on how to manage injured and orphaned wildlife
https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/nuisance/ - Virginia Department of Forestry
Information about cost share, woodlot management, wildlife habitat, brush piles and more
http://www.dof.virginia.gov/manage/wildlife/
Additional Resources
- The Great BackYard Bird Count
Organization that uses citizen science to collect information on wild bird species
http://gbbc.birdcount.org/