See an in-depth guide from Master Gardeners about controlling pests here.

A “vertebrate” is an animal with a backbone and a skeleton. Whether it is a “garden pest” depends on your experiences with that vertebrate.

Deer, elk, rabbits, birds, mice, moles, dogs and cats are just a few of the vertebrates that you are likely to see in your yard or garden. If they are infrequent visitors and/or cause minimal damage, you might consider them a welcome part of the Pacific Northwest environment.

When damage to plants becomes excessive, vertebrate visitors may be redefined as pests and it is time to employ Integrated Pest Management (IPM). What is IPM? IPM is an approach to pest control that addresses pest problems while minimizing risks to other animals and the environment.

To better understand IPM, let’s use an example: You have found that something has been munching on the tender young branches of your blueberries. In applying IPM, you will ask yourself: (1) Is the damage excessive enough to require control? (2) What vertebrate is the likely cause of the problem? (3) What control approaches (known to be effective based on scientific research) are consistent with your pest control philosophy? (4) Which of those approaches is least toxic?

General methods of vertebrate pest control include removal of shelter and food sources, “resistant plantings,” exclusion, scare tactics, chemical repellents, trapping and use of poisons and baits.

Removing shelter and food: Make the setting less attractive by mowing surrounding areas, removing weeds, woodpiles and other debris, and removing fallen fruit, nuts and berries. If you feed your pets outside, remove uneaten food. By eliminating hiding/nesting places and “domestic” food sources, you increase the likelihood that natural predators will be able to control the pest.

Resistant plantings: Some animals will not eat plants that have a strong aroma (such as lavender, thyme, chives), a fuzzy or prickly texture (rudbeckia, lamb’s ear) or a bitter or alkaloid taste (daffodil and foxglove). Native plants are a good choice in the landscape because they are typically more resistant to pests or resilient after damage. But no plant is entirely resistant.

Exclusion: Keep pests away from plants by using fencing, netting, wire mesh baskets or hardware cloth. Types of exclusion are pest-specific. To exclude deer, the fence must be at least 7 feet tall. If you need to exclude rabbits, bury chicken-wire 6 inches in the ground and extend it up 2 feet. Bulbs can be protected from burrowing vertebrates by burying a wire mesh “basket” in the ground into which the bulbs are planted. Tree trunks can be protected from “girdling” and gnawing by surrounding the trunk with hardware cloth.

Scare tactics: Some animals can be scared away with motion-activated sprinklers, loud noises or shiny/moving objects. It is necessary to change these tactics frequently due to habituation.

Chemical repellents: Chemical repellents smell or taste bad and animals will avoid plants to which these chemicals are applied. Repellents typically are made from natural products and are safe for use on plants. Most must be reapplied after rain and as the plant produces new growth.

Trapping: With trapping, the goal is to capture and relocate the animal. Trap type, placement and camouflage are critical to success.

Poisons and baits: When consumed, poisons and baits kill the pest. Poisons and baits, however, usually are dangerous to other animals — wildlife, pets and humans. The poison or bait must be registered for the pest and the pest name must be shown on the product label. Rules and regulations restrict tracking, hunting or otherwise killing certain animals, even if they are pests. Because regulations change frequently, go online to http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/rules/ for the latest information.

Next week’s article will feature specific pests, identifying damage of those pests and recommended methods of control.

Jeanette Stehr-Green and Judy English are Washington State University-certified Clallam County Master Gardeners.