How to Protect Strawberries From Animals

Install a scarecrow in the strawberry patch to deter bird invasions. Flying pests find the presence intimidating and avoid the area. Depending on personal preference, purchase a commercial scarecrow from a local garden supply center or make you own by sewing together a full-sleeved shirt to a pair of old pants and stuffing it with straw. Secure the scarecrow to a pole or stake with wire so it appears as if a real man stands in the fruit patch.

Install wooden stakes around the strawberry bed, 12 to 18 inches taller than the highest plant. Spread protective netting or mesh wire over the bed, anchored over the stakes. Ensure the sides of the netting reach the ground. Place bricks over the net to keep it in place and prevent entry to birds or deer.

Fence the strawberry patch to prevent entry to ground animals. Depending on personal preference, install a 6- to 8-foot-tall wood and mesh fence or an electric fence that keeps deer away. Inspect the fence frequently for any gaps or damaged sections, and repair immediately. Make sure the base of the fence rests directly on the ground.

Install motion-activated alarms, sprinklers, lights or sounds around the patch to deter the critters. Such alarms turn on immediately and send the scavenging critters scrambling for shelter. Alternatively, set the timers to turn on at different times of day, especially when human activity in the garden is limited and pests see it as an opportunity to snack on succulent berries.

Hang aluminum strips, pie plates and metallic bird tape from branches of nearby trees and plants to scare the critters as it sways in the wind and reflects light. You can also hang mesh bags filled with human hair, chopped garlic or chunks of sharp soap bars to deter deer.

Dig a 24-inch trench around the strawberry garden. Fill the excavation with wet cement to prevent moles, voles and gophers from burrowing and reaching the strawberry plants. Lay rocks or flagstones over the ditch to extend it to form a 2-foot-high wall that prevents access to rabbits.

Set a live trap in a corner of the strawberry patch along with nuts or lettuce that serves as bait for squirrels, chipmunks or rabbits. When trapped, release the pest far away from your garden to prevent re-entry.

Spray the strawberry plants or the ground surrounding the patch with a commercial repellent specifically formulated to deter a particular pest. Alternatively, grow plants naturally repellent to visiting critters, such as marigold, chives or onions to deter rabbits or zinnias and yarrow to deter deer.