One of the bigger problems I have with “pests” in my veggie plot is the local roe deer. As I’ve posted before they’ll wander in and start noshing on whatever appeals to them, which is often what might appeal to me in a few weeks’ time. They seem to have quite distinct preferences however; the leaves on the beetroot are the first to go, then the parsley, followed by strawberry leaves, brassicas and eventually my father-in-law’s alstromerias.
Recently I came across this little project. Foxes can be a problem and in fact I’ve come face-to-face with one or two recently when I’ve been working at the front of the workshop and heard a disturbance in the chicken runs only to come face-to-face with a fox when I strolled around the corner to see what the upset was all about. Badgers aren’t really an issue, though one did creep up on me one night a few years back when I was out in the field with a telescope indulging in some early-morning astronomy. I’m not sure who was most shocked when I turned around and we ended up facing each other only a couple of metres apart!
Anyhow, I’m thinking the above project could possible be reporpoised to scare off the deer. I have loads of cameras hanging about from working on astronomy imaging, so I feel it should be possible to set something up. The only question that remains is what would frighten deer off? The sound of a burger being cooked on a barbeque? Ketchup squirting from a bottle?