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Writer's pictureJim Jones

Protecting marijuana plants from animal pests

Updated: 6 days ago

One of the most serious enemies of marijuana plants is bigger pests such as cats, dogs, and rodents. This also includes wild animals like deer, rabbits, and raccoons. By nature, these creatures like to dig, nibble, and trample on plants. Obviously, this can be bad news to the cannabis crop and hence it is very important to protecting your marijuana plants from animal pests.

Protecting marijuana plants from animal pests:


While tiny insects and bugs can be destructive, it usually takes a long time for them to do serious damages. On the other hand, bigger animal pests can single-handedly ravage the garden overnight. This is especially true when we have squirrels, gophers, and rabbits digging up the ground and damaging roots systems.

For marijuana growers, finding the garden in such a bad condition is a stressful nightmare. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing months of hard labor gone to waste. While it is possible to resuscitate wilting plants, those with bigger damages in the roots will most likely die.


To deal with this issue, this article will cover the identification of different animal pests that could frequently visit the garden. Once we can identify them, prevention becomes easier, and we can return to focusing on taking care of the plants.

Tips to protect marijuana plants from animal pests

Food and shelter are the main reasons why large pests sometimes bother the marijuana garden. That’s why most damages occur between fall and spring. As such, they are packing up calories in the fall to prepare for the harsh winter. Then, during springtime, they are trying to regain the pounds they have lost. In both cases, the fatter they are, the better. Here is a complete list of animal pests and the methods to deal with them.


Birds

Birds on cannabis plants

Birds on marijuana plant

Birds are known to feed on germinating marijuana seeds. As a result, we are left with nothing to grow if can’t control the number of birds feeding in the garden. On the other hand, if they are not eating up the seeds, they could be digging holes to hide their stash. They do so to bury nuts and other seeds to hide them from other predators.


Identification

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Deers

Wild animals such as the deer are heavy feeders but they are selective on what plants to eat. Basically, they like to consume only the ones that are nutritious and don’t emit strong scents. However, when they are left with nothing else, they will leave no plants untouched.

Download my free Grow Bible for more information about growing your own marijuana plants and how to protect them from animals !

Since they also like to explore for food, they could end up in the garden no matter how well we hide it. As such, they have no problem eating up the leaves of the marijuana crop.


While the damage can be tolerable with only one deer grazing in the garden, having two or more can be harder to manage. As a result, we can end up with stalks that have very few surviving leaves. Even worse, they can include eating up the flowers that are supposed to produce the buds.


Prevention

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We can also surround the garden with lush bushes since the deer don’t like wasting time entering an area like this. Simplest of all, make sure that the garden is clean and doesn’t have any acorns or fruits and flowers lying around. But if hi-tech is what we are after, there are also many options for this electronic method.


Moles

Gophers and moles on cannabis plants

Moles

Moles are furry creatures about 5 to 7 inches long that have pointy noses and powerful claws. Although they don’t have any interest in the plants, they can still damage the garden by burrowing underground and leaving the roots to dry out.


Prevention

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Gophers

Gophers moles on weed plants

Gophers

Like the moles, gophers are tunnel diggers but instead of just looking for grub, they like to feast on the plants’ roots. Hence, they are a big cause of concern for marijuana growers.


Identification

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Rabbits

Rabbit

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Rabbits are frequent visitors in the garden and they love to feast on the roots of the plants when they are underground. When they are above ground, they usually trample or eat the leaves. Hence, they can do double damage to the marijuana crop. Add to that, if left unchecked, they can multiply at a very rapid rate.


Identification

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Prevention

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Another option is to use urine from predators like lions or coyotes. Simply pour the urine around the plant to deter any herbivores from plucking the leaves.


Rats and mice

Marijuana Pests Rats and Mice

Rats and Mice

These rodents generally prefer to gobble up human trash but they have no problem feeding on marijuana plants as well. But the main reason they disturb the plants is that they have this urge to constantly gnaw at something. Their teeth grow fast and they would generally feel sick if they allow their teeth to continue growing. If left to continue, these critters can multiply rapidly, making it even more difficult to deal with them.


Identification

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As gross as it may sound, rats and mice are also attracted to animal poo. So, make sure to clean the feces of domestic animals such as the cats and dogs.


Raccoons

Raccoons

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Raccoons feed on a great variety of soil insects as well as earthworms, especially in the spring and fall. They do this by using their front paws and use them like hands to rip off and flip the soil. To the marijuana crop, this activity is a death sentence.


Identification

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Skunks

Skunk

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Skunks are similar with the raccoons in a way that they eat the same food and dig up the earth to get them. The only difference is that skunks can leave a pungent odor when harassed by other animals that forage on the same area.


Identification

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Squirrels

There are two types of squirrels that can wreak havoc in the garden. These are the tree squirrels and the ground squirrels. Obviously, their choice of habitat is very different but they are classified as the same species.


Tree Squirrel

Squirrels

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This type of squirrel digs up holes in the garden with the same intent as birds: to hide their food. All the digging and covering can be disastrous to germinating plants.


Ground Squirrel

Ground-Squirrel

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These critters also like to dig but not with the purpose to hide their food. Much like the gophers, they dig to make a habitat for themselves and consume the roots for food.


Wallabies

Wallabies

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Common in Australia, wallabies are the smaller relatives of the kangaroo. Their source of food is primarily plants which include grasses, vegetables, and leaves. To find food, they will cover many distances, so, it is not uncommon for some of them to wander in the garden.


Wombats

Wombats

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Native to Australia, these muscular marsupials are notorious for burrowing just about anywhere in a property. Hence, they are the most problematic to handle. As such, they can be motivated to dig deep tunnels to look for food, escape the heat, or hide from a predator. To the marijuana crop, this can have disastrous consequences.


Identification

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However, be cautious about the wombat’s next move. In general, when they get displaced, they would start to burrow in even more undesirable locations such as under the house or garage.

Controlling Domestic Animals

Cats and dogs are usually domesticated animals that don’t depend on the marijuana plants for food or lodging. However, they love staying in the garden and will most likely poo or pee near the plants. In addition, a pest infestation also needs to be dealt with before it feeds on all the leaves.


Cats

Cats and dogs on marijuana plants

Cats

These feline friends are usually cute and cuddly but they can harm the plants by making the garden their personal toilet. Their urine has high ammonia concentration which can damage the plants. On the other hand, their poo is teeming with various bacteria which attracts harmful insects and rodents. In addition, sometimes, they are drawn to the cannabis and bite on the leaves.


Keep your pets away from your cannabis plants and get higher yields every time!

Dogs

Dogs

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Dogs pee and urine are equally harmful to the plants. But mostly, they like to trample on the leaves and stems.


Controlling bigger pests ensures healthy outdoor marijuana

To ensure a healthy garden that survives to produce buds, it is vital that we know the behavior of common animal pests. The ability to tell if they have been in the garden is also important so we can prepare the best method to repel them. Most of all, we must try to discourage them from settling in the garden by using humane methods.

In general, the best way to repel these bigger pests is to use preventative measures. Doing so reduces the chances of disturbance to ever occur in the garden. So, be familiar with the many different pests and deal with them accordingly and naturally. Doing so will make for a more satisfactory gardening experience.


FAQ about protecting marijuana from animal pests

How to prevent pests from destroying your outdoor cannabis plants?

Here are some top tips that can protect your marijuana plants from pests attack: Grow companion plants, Sterilize your soil, Spray neem oil from time to time, Place sticky pads around the plants, and have a strong fence.


How to keep bugs off plants without pesticides?

Here are 5 natural things you can use to keep bugs off: Neem oil spray, Salt spray, Onion & garlic spray, Eucalyptus Oil, and Chrysanthemum Flower Tea


Does vinegar kill bugs on plants?

Yes, Here’s our one of the top vinegar tips: Mix 3 cups water and 1 cup vinegar in a spray bottle and add 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Spray it on you marijuana plants at least 2 times a week.

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