Nature always seems to have a way of throwing us a curveball. We set up a nice garden outside our Forest Hill real estate thinking we can attract some nice colorful birds and end up with a whole host of unwanted garden critters tearing up our hard work. The following is a list of common nuisance animals that often show up in North American gardens as well as some tips for helping discourage them from repeat visits.

Rodents

Rodents are the most common garden pests. Mice, squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, and skunks can be a major pain in a gardener's neck by chewing up flower beds, digging through refuse, and spraying unsuspecting people. To keep rodents away from your Riverdale real estate, get rid of anything that looks like a nice place to nest, such as brush piles. Seal up all entrances to your sheds and clean up spilled bird seed so that they don't think you're feeding them. You'll also want to invest in a nice tight fence.

Pets

If you live in the city, skunks and moles won't present as much of a problem as your neighbors cats and dogs. Some pet owners leave their cats free to wander around their High Park real estate, where they'll inevitably get into your garden, use your flower beds like a litter box, and scare away the birds. Fences will easily keep out the dogs, but cats won't find them much of an impediment. Cats will, however, be turned off if you plant rue or lavender, conceal chicken wire under the soil, or spray them with a hose.

Birds

Bird feeders and bird baths can be tricky, because while you may want a visit from hummingbirds and finches, what you're more likely to end up with is a flock of crows or seagulls taking up residence outside your Halton real estate. To tailor your feed, do your research and buy the right kind of feed. Not all birds are attracted to the same food. Then hang it in small feeders rather than scattering it on the ground, which will make it impossible for crows and gulls to get at.

Wild Animals

If the Junction real estate you bought is more rural than suburban, you'll have a whole new dimension of animal pests to deal with: namely large ones like moose, bears, and deer, who are attracted to the ready availability of the delicious plants you've planted. Fences, chemical repellants, soap, motion sensors, and pet dogs will usually act as a deterrent for deer and moose. For bears, keeping your trash inaccessible will remove most of the attraction for them, and they can also be deterred by loud noises and spicy sprays that you can apply to your plants.