We garden in the heavily wooded north central area of Northern Vermont. and for many years we have had tremendous animal damage in our garden and orchard. This year we had none. It was too good to be true. We had built a 9 foot high fence around our plantings but even deer seemed to get through it, and woodchucks buried underneath. We shot rabbits, woodchucks, racoons endlessly, and bombed the theaving woodchucks, but with only fair results. An electric fence around the corn saved that fortunately.

But this year the problem was saved by nature, bless her.

We have a large pack of resident coyotes and wolf-coyotes that have taken care of the other wildlife, and seranade us beautifully on moonlit nights and often in the daytime. They have kept the small critters at bay, and along with the hunters have greatly shrunk the deer herd. If we were raising sheep or poultry, they wouldn't likely have our blessing, but it has been wonderful to have an animal free orchard, berry, flower, and vegetable patch.

If you have a problem, you may want to discourage coyote hunting for a few years in your area. But keep your cats close to home, especially at night.