How to choose a deterrent

Often more than one strategy is needed, with the strategy changing over time, as animals can get used to the deterrent and ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. The aim is ‘behaviour modification’ so to be successful, a strategy must be repeated often enough to retrain every individual animal that is a threat to your garden. A ‘once only’ encounter may not change forever the patterns of behaviour of an individual animal. Starting early enough is critical; once a crop is already being enjoyed it is very difficult to change the behaviour.