Often a gray fluffy animal with a long tail - a shrew is mistaken for a mouse. However, it has nothing to do with rodents of the mouse family. This animal is very small, lives in the surface layers of the soil, tearing out underground tunnels for free movement.
Description of the shrew
A small animal, whose body reaches a maximum of seven centimeters, with a gray-brown or light brown coat, with an elongated elongated nose, a long thickened tail - this is the shrew. From afar, it resembles a mouse, but looking at it closely, it becomes clear that this is not a mouse at all, but a special kind of the smallest mammal that lives on earth.
A shrew rat can also live in the ground. Many shrews are mistakenly attributed to the rat family. But, the shrew rat is very large. The size of her body can reach twenty-five centimeters.
In the video below, you can clearly see the nimble animal.
Shrew habitats and their food
Shrews live in the fields, on the garden plot, in rotten tree stumps, occupy the holes of moles or rodents, in the soil of the banks of reservoirs, in the garden, in the garden, they are very common and are attracted not by root crops, as many believe, but by a large number of insects living in the ground.
A small mammal can only eat worms, spiders, grasshoppers, bears, caterpillars and insect larvae. This animal is very voracious and in search of food processes large areas of soil, without food it can live only half a day. The rapid metabolism of his body contributes to the constant search for food.
The summer period is very favorable for the survival of shrews, while winter is a very difficult time of the year for them. It is in winter that most shrews die due to lack of food.
An ordinary mouse is not what the shrew eats. One serving of insects eaten by a shrew is several times its body weight, which can vary from two to four grams. 
The shrew can consume both harmful and beneficial insects. She is not whimsical in their choice. The omnivorous animal is a predator and can attack small frogs. The shrew, due to the absence of insects, eats lizards. In addition, a shrew with rodent cubs is more than dealt with due to sharp teeth.
Many mistakenly believe that she willingly eats root crops. Plants do not attract her as food. The daily diet consumed by her should be as nutritious as possible, food is the main goal of her existence and reproduction.
reproduction
Shrews in one season are capable of producing up to four numerous offspring. The fertility of females is due to the presence of an abundant food source. If she has chosen a piece of land, then her territory is not limited to one mink, her house can occupy several tens of meters in length and width.
It should be noted that shrews live alone. The offspring bred by one female independently take care of their food, mastering more and more new areas of surface soils.
What are harmful and useful shrews
Since shrews are always in search of food, they dig through the surface layers of the soil very carefully. At the same time, the root system of agricultural plants is damaged, whether it is a planted seedling, or a seedling of a fruit shrub or tree, or a lawn grass, or a formed root crop.
The soil in which shrews live is loose, enriched with oxygen due to the many passages through which air enters deep into. But it is not suitable for growing plants while a hungry animal hunts in it and not alone.
Therefore, so often gardeners and professional summer residents are interested in the question of how to get rid of a shrew. The animal is very nimble, rarely shown on the surface of the soil. It is very difficult to catch him. 
Varieties of shrews
Before you learn how to deal with a shrew, you must first figure out what kind of animals settled on your site. So, in nature there are more than three hundred varieties of them. The climate of Russia is favorable for the reproduction of twenty-five species of shrews. The main ones are:
The most nimble species of white-toothed is the many-toothed - the Etruscan shrew. It is the smallest and most unpretentious to the habitat: the Etruscan shrew lives both on the banks of reservoirs, and in gardens and orchards. Without food, this animal cannot live even for two hours, so it moves very quickly in search of a prey for food.
Kutora (water shrew) and putorak can rarely be found on a garden or garden plot, while the Etruscan shrew and shrews are the most urgent problem for agricultural land and plantations.
Amateur gardeners often deal with the smallest species of shrews. However, this does not mean that they cannot be large. So in Africa, for example, there is an elephant shrew (jumper), which has an oblong nose in the form of a trunk and its body length can reach thirty centimeters.
The smaller the body size of a shrew, the more food it needs. This animal can die from banal exhaustion.
Effective methods of struggle
The common shrew is an integral part of the evolution of the animal world. Birds of prey, such as owls, feed on them. Weasels and ferrets catch these animals. Sometimes they become victims of foxes and pets. Dogs, cats, and wild animals often mistake them for mice, but don't eat them because shrews have a peculiar smell.
A shrew is a very undesirable guest in a personal household. How can it be effectively dealt with? How to get rid of shrews if they cause significant harm to home gardens?
The captured animal is not harmless. It can bite painfully, so do not pick it up. Better to view it from a distance.
Now you know how to deal with annoying shrews with the help of special and improvised devices. Having got rid of uninvited guests, do not rush to plant the site with new ones. So that your efforts are not in vain, make sure that the problem is finally resolved.
Shrew - a small animal lives in gardens, cottages or in the garden area. It is here that there is enough food for him, and the rodent feeds on a variety of insects. Shrews resemble mice, which have a long proboscis. There is a lot of trouble from them. For what reason does the enemy of the harvest start? Experienced gardeners know the effective methods that are described in this article.
Description
The shrew is not much different from a mouse in appearance. The main difference between the animal is the tail and the presence of a long proboscis. In temperate latitudes, two types of shrews can be found:
- dwarf multident;
- tiny shrew.
In Russia, gardeners are especially often worried about the second type. The following signs will allow you to accurately recognize the pest:
- The animal has an elongated head and a movable proboscis, which has a lighter color;
- The animal reaches a size of 19-25 cm, covered with short fluffy fur;
- The coat is dyed brown with a slight gray tint;
- The tail of the animal is thicker than that of a mouse, does not exceed 5 cm in length;
- The tiny shrew is very mobile, moves quickly, is able to break through long passages in the ground that look like wormholes;
- Lives in middle latitudes. Prefers wet places with an abundance of food: kitchen gardens, orchards, lawns, suburban areas;
- Often shrews settle near a reservoir, under rotten stumps, occupy the holes of moles and mice;
- The pest eats only insects, small amphibians, worms, potato tubers does not interest him;
- Each shrew has its own area for hunting several tens of square meters in size;
- The shrew keeps the uneaten food in the nest underground;
- The shrew's nest is small, inconspicuous, lined inside with dry leaves and twigs;
- A fast metabolism requires the animal to have an active lifestyle, a continuous search for food;
- The shrew protects its territory from other animals.
Reasons for the appearance
Shrews change their location from time to time within the limits of natural migration. They are attracted by the presence of a large amount of food on the site. An important factor in the settlement of the shrew is the abundance of moisture, which is important for the life of the animal.
If watering is scarce, the animal living underground cannot dig its passages. Therefore, the animals settle only in places with regular soil moisture, as well as near water bodies.
Damage
Tiny creature tirelessly digs underground passages, breaking the structure of the soil. Minks, tunnels, passages harm the roots of plants, reduce the supply of nutrients to foliage, berries, vegetables, and lead to crop loss.
For this reason, the detection of a pest suggests its removal from the site. If you delay a little, there will be more dangerous animals, as they multiply quickly.
Important! From a tiny animal there is not only harm, but also benefit, since it destroys harmful insects in the areas.
The shrew eats May beetles, bears, wood lice, lizards, dung worms, and frogs. When digging holes and passages, the soil is loosened, aeration and oxygen access to the root systems are improved. But too rapid reproduction becomes a real disaster. There can be up to 40 cubs in one litter. Long passages interfere with the normal growth of cereals, vegetables, flowers and leafy greens. Therefore, from an uninvited guest, there is more harm than good.
Watch the video! Shrew extermination
Methods of destruction
Since the benefits of shrews on the site have been noticed, quite humane methods of exposure are often used to them for breeding. The caught shrew looks adorable, but the active reproduction of the animal must be prevented by any available means. Damage to the root system will destroy the crop. If there are more than a dozen shrews on the site, it will be necessary to place poisonous baits already.
Often a humane attitude towards the animal can play a cruel joke. The pest will leave the allotment for a while, but there will already be so many underground tunnels that one should forget about the high yield.
Folk remedies
Many owners of country plots are familiar with the habits of this animal. Knowing the characteristics of life, the taste preferences of the shrew, you can choose the appropriate method, how to deal with it.
The method of filling holes with water is effective. The method is effective if there are few holes. You need to pour at least a bucket of water. All found moves are filled with water and marked with flags so as not to miss a single move.
It is most convenient to do the work with an assistant who will lay out products with a bad smell in front of the entrance to the aisles. A rotten herring, rotten meat, naphthalene scare the animal well. Fight against shrews these methods are very effective.
Sometimes they lay out rags soaked in kerosene, but this method is a fire hazard, especially during the heat. Better drop off in the garden plants with an unpleasant odor for shrews. The animals do not tolerate the smell of mint, thyme, wormwood, lentils, imperial hazel grouse. In this way at the cottage reliable protection will be created.
The use of chemicals
With excessive reproduction of a harmful animal, toxic drugs will be required. There are many pest control products on the market. moles and shrews which are perfect for getting rid of the pest. You can even order the necessary drugs on the Internet. The Nutcracker has proven itself very well. The thick green stuff does the job just fine. The tool is placed next to the hole and waiting for the animal to eat it.
Hunter Antirodent is sold in briquettes. The product contains bait, cheese, flour. They attract a variety of rodents that, having eaten poison, die from suffocation.
Dangerous poison Rat death leads to the instant death of a rodent. Its action is based on the fact that the animal has suffocation and internal bleeding. The drug should be used only as a last resort.
Warning! Poisonous baits can kill pets - cats or dogs, which can swallow the poison. It is forbidden to use toxic baits if there are children. They pull everything into their mouths out of curiosity and can get poisoned by tasting the bait.
The use of repellers
A variety of animal repellers can be purchased or made independently.
Modern devices are more effective than homemade devices. But many do not trust complex technology, they are satisfied with the result from simple devices.
Mechanical repellers
Mechanical deterrents are very economical due to their simple design. It is not difficult to make such a device. You need to take two sticks and empty cans or plastic bottles. The stick is fixed in the ground, a jar or bottle is put on it. Under the influence of the wind, the containers sway, making an unpleasant sound that depresses the rodent. The effect will be stronger if a metal strip is placed inside the can. The volume of the noise will immediately increase.
Ultrasonic and magnetic resonance instruments
These devices are capable of emitting waves of a certain range or creating a force field. All this has a negative effect on mice, moles, shrews. A working device causes the animal to panic, causes erratic movement, a complete loss of orientation in space.
The pest is not able to search for food, rushes about, feels very bad. The result will be the departure of the animals away from the restless place. The device has a compact size, its range reaches 200 m.
Since the device requires power, it can be installed in any building near the garden. The repeller of this species does not harm people and pets, but causes tremendous damage to rodents. But the impact on small rodents is very strong.
Preventive measures
It is absolutely impossible to protect the site from pests by 100%. The animal is too brisk and active, constantly looking for food. The tiny size makes it hardly noticeable, does not attract attention. Traces of the activities of an uninvited guest are already detected when a sufficiently large number of them have bred.
The problem will be solved by installing devices that will scare away voracious animals:
- It will help planting plants that scare away shrews with their smell, make them move to a more favorable area;
- The simplest devices are quite effective in repelling rodents. Plastic bottles and cans do a great job of this. Gusts of wind cause a strong noise of repellers and shrews leave the territory;
- Some plants completely do not tolerate small animals. This is mint, wormwood, thyme. Planting these plants will reduce the risk of shrews entering the site.
A serious attitude to the problem and the choice of an effective means of struggle will do their job. Many prefer folk fighting means, which are not always effective.
In practice, the most effective option is to install an ultrasonic or magnetic resonance repeller against rodents. It will help get rid of mice, moles, shrews. Reviews about such devices are very good.
Especially popular are devices of the brands Tornado, Grad, Pest Redzhet, Clean House. Using a repeller will preserve the crop and the integrity of the landscape. Shrews are harmful and useful at the same time. But too active reproduction of the animal is highly undesirable, since it is much more difficult to get rid of a large number of shrews.
Conclusion
The animal is not too dangerous, there are much fewer moles and rats. This allows the use of humane methods of struggle. Home-made and modern devices will prevent the invasion of the pest on the site, reduce the likelihood of finding shrews in the garden and vegetable garden.
Watch the video! We expel moles and shrews from the garden
The need to get rid of shrews - the smallest and most charming insectivorous predators - gardeners and gardeners evaluate in two ways. On the one hand, these mammals destroy insect pests and do not eat either cultivated or lawn plants, but on the other hand, they damage their roots, digging up the ground in search of food, and if they dig through the entire garden, they can cause serious damage to the crop.
Before you get rid of shrews in your summer cottage, you should consider that under certain conditions, these animals do more good than harm. Therefore, when choosing the most effective method of counteraction, it is necessary to understand the nature of their life activity.
general characteristics
The family of shrews (Soricidae) belongs to the order of insectivorous mammals. Externally a shrew looks like a normal mouse, but has a smaller body (length from 3.5 to 18 cm, weight from 1.2-1.5 to 100-150 grams), with soft fluffy fur, mostly gray in color and a very long tail. She has small blind eyes over an elongated muzzle with an elongated proboscis nose and almost imperceptible ears on her head.
More than 20 species live in Russia, including the ubiquitous common shrew, whose sharp teeth are painted brown, due to the presence of iron in the enamel (which explains its name). The body is covered with light brown hair and reaches no more than 8 cm in length with a weight of 4-16 grams.
From April to September, the female breeds 2-3 offspring, numbering from 4 to 14 cubs, carrying them for 13-28 days. 4 weeks after birth, the animals are ready for independent life, the duration of which is about 18 months.
Distinctive features of shrews and habitat
For the appearance of shrews in a summer cottage, certain conditions are needed. They choose well-moistened soil, since hard ground does not allow digging even shallow burrows with narrow earthen passages. Therefore, the animals prefer shady places with dense vegetation near water bodies or in areas that are watered on a regular basis. If there is a greenhouse in the garden, then the shrew will definitely get inside through the underground labyrinths.
Shrews equip their nests underground from dry branches and leaves, as a rule, in other people's minks free from former owners - moles, mole rats and field mice. At the same time, the animals keep apart and militantly protect the boundaries of their territory from relatives. Special glands secrete a sharp musky odor, allowing them to scare away natural enemies (with the exception of owls, ferrets and weasels).
Researchers have found out a strange unique ability of shrews, the so-called "Denel effect", when in autumn young animals decrease in body size and flatten their skulls. This phenomenon is due to the fact that in winter they do not fall into hibernation, and the volume of habitual food is reduced. From April to June, body parameters increase to their previous size.
An animal eats an amount of food equal to its own weight in three hours, and dies of seven hours of hunger.
Maintaining a constant body temperature and an accelerated metabolism force the animals spend time looking for food around the clock taking a short break to sleep. Their days are divided not into day and night, but into periods for sleeping and hunting. Different types of shrews have their own day: some of them are divided into 10 periods, others, for example, a shrew, go to bed 78 times in 24 hours and wake up the same number of times in order to get food for themselves.
In spring and summer, the diet of these predators includes a large number of beetles and their larvae, other insects and earthworms, and they can also attack frogs, lizards and cubs of small rodents. In winter, even under the snow, they find dormant insects and plant seeds.
Harm and benefit
Whether it is necessary to get rid of the presence of these animals on the site is an open question, since the real benefits they bring are obvious, and each gardener can evaluate the harm caused in his own way. In order not to engage in lengthy reasoning, we present the main arguments in the table:
Fertilize and loosen the earth, which saturates it with oxygen.
Destroy small rodents - mice.
Do not eat underground parts of plants
If you still intend to fight these little predators, then you can not only exterminate them with the help of pesticides. There are many other, humane ways to drive away or scare away the animals.
Countermeasures
Of the currently used methods, the most effective can be considered the one that will be the safest for humans and pets. When there are few animals, then in order to get rid of shrews in a summer cottage, it is advisable to use preventive, physical and folk methods of scaring away. If their population increases, which leads to serious crop losses, unfortunately, radical methods of control cannot be dispensed with.
Prevention
To prevent the appearance of a pest, preventive work is carried out:
- install along the perimeter of the garden (to a depth of 1.5 m) a barrier in the form of a fine-mesh mesh made of plastic or metal;
- dig the land to a depth of 20-25 cm;
- lay a fine metal mesh before sowing lawn grass.
Folk methods
Various home-made devices for scaring away animals, traps with baits are considered to be proven and quite effective in use.
To remove shrews from the site, experienced gardeners advise:
- dig bottles into the ground at an angle of 45 ° or wooden sticks with tins or plastic cans put on them. Under the influence of the wind, noise or a rumble arises in them, scaring away the animals;
- plant stunted marigolds, onions, garlic, mint, lentils, imperial hazel grouse, legumes and other plants with a persistent aroma around the perimeter of the garden.
To scare away shrews, a pipe with a door is installed in the underground tunnel, which opens only inward. In the form of bait, earthworms are placed in it. After the trap has worked, the animal is carried far beyond the suburban area.
Physical
The most effective and easiest way to get rid of a shrew in the country is with ultrasonic devices that affect the well-developed hearing organs of animals, causing them to feel panic, forcing them to go in search of a more peaceful home.
Ultrasonic devices create a sound of a certain frequency, which extends to approximately 400-500 m 2 or more (depending on modification). For example, action « Tornado OZV.01" based on electronic timer settings. A vibrating sound (lasting 10-15 seconds) is heard every 45-50 seconds and, amplifying many times, spreads over the territory up to 1000 m 2.
Chemical
This method is the most radical way to fight with pests and is used when too many holes interfere with the normal growth of vegetables, cereals and other crops, and root crops literally fall into the ground.
The composition of such chemicals includes toxic substances that cause paralysis of the respiratory system, due to which animals quickly die.
Among the most effective pesticides (rodenticides) are:
- "Hunter Anti-Rodent";
- "Nutcracker";
- "Rat Death".
It is important to remember that children, pets and beneficial insects can suffer from chemicals. When working with pesticides, it is necessary to strictly observe safety measures and not violate the dosage indicated in the instructions.
Reviews of gardeners
Konstantin, 64 years old, Rostov
To scare away the shrew from the summer cottage, the simplest methods helped: acoustic and "aromatic". Before the autumn digging of the garden, dried marigolds pounded into dust were scattered, and rags moistened with turpentine were dug along the entire border of the site. Pieces of rotten fish were placed in the minks. In case the shrews bypass the bait, they additionally dug metal reinforcement in the garden at a slight slope to the ground, to a depth of 40-50 cm. A plastic bottle was planted on it, which moved with a slight breeze of the wind, and the noise from the vibration of the steel rod scared away the animals. Champagne bottles, also at an angle, were buried in the ground - the effect is the same - an unbearable rumble is heard.
Veronika, 56 years old, Ryazan region
We did not dare to use poison or traps on the garden plot for humane reasons, so we save ourselves from shrews with the help of an ultrasonic Grad device. I insert batteries into the device, seal it in a plastic bag and drop it near the holes to a depth of 10 cm. After 2-3 weeks, I observe the complete disappearance of the pest. At the same time, ultrasonic waves do not have a harmful effect on animals and people.
Semyon, 48 years old, Krasnodar Territory
In my apiary in mid-November, a shrew got into the habit of emptying the hives. It is more dangerous than ordinary mice, because it is small and very voracious. To drive it away, I put a fine-mesh (size 6 mm) grate between the bottom and the lower body, but the tight openings prevented the exit of the bees. In March, I replaced it with a mesh with 8-10 mm cells. In addition, I cleaned the hives from dirt and put the pollen collector on the notch. After that, all pest problems disappeared.
Video
Cognitive information about the life of shrews and ways to scare away these insectivores are shared by experienced gardeners in the following videos:
By main specialty - an accountant, therefore, even at a summer cottage, he strives for accuracy and the achievement of an ideal order in everything. Preference is given to the cultivation of grapes. I am sure that the deeper you delve into gardening and gardening, the more you understand that there is no limit to perfection!
Compost - rotted organic residues of various origins. How to do? Everything is put in a pile, a pit or a large box: kitchen leftovers, tops of garden crops, weeds mowed before flowering, thin twigs. All this is interbedded with phosphorite flour, sometimes straw, earth or peat. (Some summer residents add special composting accelerators.) Cover with foil. In the process of overheating, the pile is periodically stirred or pierced to bring in fresh air. Usually compost "ripens" for 2 years, but with modern additives it can be ready in one summer season.
Convenient applications for Android have been developed to help gardeners and gardeners. First of all, these are sowing (lunar, flower, etc.) calendars, thematic magazines, collections of useful tips. With their help, you can choose a day favorable for planting each type of plant, determine the timing of their maturation and harvest on time.
Both humus and compost are rightfully the basis of organic farming. Their presence in the soil significantly increases the yield and improves the taste of vegetables and fruits. In terms of properties and appearance, they are very similar, but they should not be confused. Humus - rotted manure or bird droppings. Compost - rotted organic residues of various origins (spoiled food from the kitchen, tops, weeds, thin twigs). Humus is considered a better fertilizer, compost is more accessible.
From varietal tomatoes, you can get "your" seeds for sowing next year (if you really liked the variety). But it is useless to do this with hybrid ones: the seeds will turn out, but they will carry the hereditary material not of the plant from which they were taken, but of its numerous “ancestors”.
Tomatoes have no natural protection against late blight. If late blight attacks, any tomatoes die (and potatoes too), no matter what is said in the description of the varieties (“late blight-resistant varieties” is just a marketing ploy).
Humus - rotted manure or bird droppings. It is prepared like this: manure is piled in a heap or pile, interbedded with sawdust, peat and garden soil. The collar is covered with a film to stabilize the temperature and humidity (this is necessary to increase the activity of microorganisms). Fertilizer "ripens" within 2-5 years - depending on external conditions and the composition of the feedstock. The output is a loose homogeneous mass with a pleasant smell of fresh earth.
It is necessary to collect medicinal flowers and inflorescences at the very beginning of the flowering period, when the content of nutrients in them is as high as possible. The flowers are supposed to be torn by hand, breaking off the rough pedicels. Dry the collected flowers and herbs, scattering in a thin layer, in a cool room at natural temperature without access to direct sunlight.
Natural toxins are found in many plants; no exception, and those that are grown in gardens and vegetable gardens. So, in the bones of apples, apricots, peaches there is hydrocyanic (hydrocyanic) acid, and in the tops and peel of unripe nightshade (potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes) - solanine. But do not be afraid: their number is too small.
- causes agriculture not only benefit, but also harm. For large agricultural lands, the benefit, of course, outweighs: the animal eats the larvae of harmful insects, which pose a real threat to the crop.
But in small summer cottages and vegetable gardens, a shrew can become a real disaster, especially if its numbers are high. To get rid of the pest, you need to take urgent measures aimed at the destruction of individuals and the prevention of their occurrence in the future.
What is the harm from the animal?
Small gray mammals with an elongated muzzle and long tail can endanger the entire crop, as they constantly dig new passages underground in search of their food.
They do not directly harm humans and do not gnaw the stems of plants, but in the course of their activity they can seriously damage the root system of plantations, due to which they wither and die.
Most often, shrews move to vegetable gardens - the smallest of all existing members of the family, having a body length of up to 5 cm. Their coat is characterized by a light brown color, and it is they who cause multiple problems for gardeners.
Individuals multiply so rapidly that subsequently one can only wonder where all the new plowed grooves on the surface of the earth come from.
However, not only large numbers of these mammals can harm - 2-3 individuals are enough to damage the root system of most plants in a few days. That is why the fight against the animal should begin at the first sign of its appearance on the site.
Ways to protect the site from pests
If the task is set to permanently get rid of shrews, it is necessary to act decisively and for sure. It should be remembered that only an integrated approach using various means of destruction will help solve the problem. To push small enemies out of your territory, you need to do the following:
- Before you catch a shrew in the garden, you need to find out how many mammals live in the garden at the moment. For this, mechanical methods of trapping animals with the help of ordinary mousetraps or other traps suitable for pests of this type, which should be placed near minks, are suitable;
- The next step is to fill the animal burrows with water. Thus, it is necessary to act until the animals no longer fall into the traps;
- Next, you should use the people's advice and spread rags soaked in kerosene or tar everywhere. It is best to dig them a little near the plants and at the ends of the flower beds or beds;
- Speaking about how to get a shrew out of the garden, it is worth mentioning another non-standard way - laying out rotten fish over the area and directly into the minks, which emits a stench that does not allow individuals to calmly settle in the territory;
- The next step to drive out pests is to install repellers. They can be handmade or store-bought (preferably both). Purchased models should be used in accordance with the instructions and only on flat areas that do not have significant obstacles to ultrasonic waves, and those created by yourself can be distributed throughout the garden. For this, ordinary turntables or empty bottles dug into the ground at a slightly angle are suitable - pests are afraid of their sounds like fire;
- If insects have just begun to settle around the site and there is some time left, you can additionally plant odorous herbs and legumes that shrews cannot tolerate;
- In the case when it is required to immediately destroy the animals, pesticides can be used. There are many substances on the market for these purposes, and the most popular drugs today are Hunter and The Nutcracker, as well as Rat Death. Poisoned baits must be laid out before entering the mink or inside. The poison is also dangerous for humans and their pets, so the drugs should be used with extreme caution.
To achieve a long-term effect, all of the above measures should be applied in combination with each other - only in this case the animals will stop disturbing the owners of the garden.
After the enemy is completely eliminated, a cardinal protective measure can be taken - to dig linoleum or slate along the perimeter of the site to a sufficient depth - this method will prevent not only shrews, but also moles from entering the site.
How to get rid of a shrew in a summer cottage? Searching the net for this question yields the most amazing results. Some of them are bewildering, others are laughable. And in fact, there are very few effective ones. At the same time, it is very strange to see lengthy arguments about the humanity of this or that method.
Gentlemen, what kind of humanity are we talking about when a small population of shrews is capable of destroying cultural plantings up to 900 square meters in a week? And this despite the fact that shrews are predators. They do not feed on root crops and plant roots. They just gnaw at them, making their moves. These little monsters can't avoid obstacles. They have one way - through and through.
No doubt, rodents bring some benefit, they eat a huge amount of pests on the site. At the same time, they devour absolutely all earthworms, ladybugs and other friends of the gardener.
When one day you find numerous passages, bumps and bald spots on the site of your beautiful lawn, then we'll see how you sing about the notorious humanity. And now we will analyze the methods of merciless destruction of nasty rodents.
Cat or dog
For those who have the opportunity, several sources recommend getting a dog on the site. She will catch all the shrews and you will be happy. Only the authors do not mention that in search of a pest, the dog will dig even deeper holes and pits. By the way, dogs also dig through. Carrots or beets will not be spared. He will dig up such pits for you that you will think - it would be better if there were mice.Cat. Not a bad option. That's just to persuade a cat to catch shrews is sometimes difficult. Because from the point of view of nutritional value, the rodent is of no interest to cats. They simply do not eat them, because the musky smell discourages all appetite. But a young kitten will gladly help you get rid of a shrew in your summer cottage. Because it is both a game and a hunt for him. And do not forget to remove the prey in a timely manner. A bunch of smelly corpses on the site - very unpleasant for the sense of smell and vision.
Advice. If it is not possible to have your own animal, then try to lure the neighbor's goodies. And there, you look, and will come to visit more often.
Plants or urine
Recommendations for planting around the perimeter of some plants are found everywhere. Allegedly, peas or beans scare away shrews. I wonder what is so terrible for a rodent in these plants? To be honest, absolutely nothing. Shrews do not like strong pungent odors - according to this principle, you need to choose scaring plants. The roots of beans or peas do not stink. But in the imperial hazel grouse - how. Therefore, it repels rodents well. You can safely plant it around the perimeter of the site.
Another method is to pour human urine into the minks. I wonder where to get so many of them? Go to collect neighbors, ask all households to recover in minks? Do you have any idea the length of the shrews' moves? This is how much liquid you need to drink to spill them completely! And then how to use the earth abundantly flavored with urine? Wait until everything is processed by soil bacteria. And it's not just a day or even a week. A dubious way, plus a very unhygienic one.
Advice. If you chose the grouse method, then prepare a large amount. You will have to plant a lot of plants, and its bulbs are not cheap.
Vibration or noise
The mole industry has developed vibrating repellers. Interestingly, these devices will wonderfully help you get rid of shrews in your summer cottage. Rodents really do not like the vibration of the soil and simply go to other habitats.
It is noteworthy that you can make such repellers on your own quite quickly and at low cost. They simply stick a few stakes into the ground, then cut off plastic bottles or tin pins are put on them. Any wind flow creates vibrations that are transmitted through the stakes to the ground.
Noise repellers practically do not work. They create sound on the surface, while shrews spend most of their lives underground. They just don't hear the noise, even if it's the trumpets of Jericho.
Advice. Vibrating repellers must stand constantly. If they are removed, then the pests can return again.
Traps or poison
There are various traps for shrews. They are inserted into holes, where rodents stumble upon thin needles and die. You can put ordinary mousetraps. Just don't forget where. And then you yourself will jump around the garden with mousetraps on your toes.
The poison is recommended precisely with the marking on the package "from mice-voles." Because the common shrew is ignored. Keep in mind that you will have to hide the "treat" deep in holes. Otherwise, children, pets or birds can find it.
Advice. Use grubs or earthworms instead of bread or cheese for bait in traps. The result will be better.
- In some old book, it is recommended to be on duty at the mink with a gun. As soon as the pest looks out, immediately shoot him. Well, perhaps it was convenient to do this before, when only a bastard did not have a hunting rifle. And even then it is doubtful that expensive cartridges were spent on such small animals. Although, you can try to sit by the mink with a slingshot. Or a gas pistol. Traumatic would work too. After all, a shrew with a black eye is completely different from a healthy shrew. Just don't forget to take an "I hunt predators" selfie. It will then be studied by psychiatric students as a manual.
- Another "important" tip. Fill all holes with water. Just plug in the hose and turn on the pump. Well, the water will fill all the passages, the rodents will scatter. As soon as the soil absorbs moisture, the shrews will return and dig with a vengeance. After all, the water will wash away some of the passages, which means they will have to restore their housing.
- On some website, unfortunate advisers recommend launching poison gas into holes. Yeah, in a gas mask and a chemical kit, dragging a cylinder of poisonous gas around the site ... then you will be surprised for a long time by the arrival of the police and an ambulance for psychiatric care. How from where? Neighbors will call, looking at your fighting. It's easier to contact the nearest military headquarters, let them bring a tank of napalm to burn predatory monsters. Or they will immediately mine the site, to be sure.
- Burdock. Yes, the most ordinary dry burdock thorns. They are laid out in all visible minks and pushed deeper with a stick. The shrew runs along the passages, clings to the fur with prickly seeds and that's it! Loses peace, trying to get rid of them. He cannot eat and live in peace, knowing that agrimonies are stuck on the fur. He cleans his fur coat all day and finally goes crazy on this basis. And mentally unhealthy shrews do not live long. As a result, you have an absolutely clean area from rodents. Only for some reason, burdocks sprout everywhere in huge quantities. But really - why?
How to get rid of a shrew in a summer cottage? You will have to put in a lot of effort and spend a lot of time. Only a comprehensive struggle will give tangible results. Using one thing, it is foolish to expect improvements. Remember the movie "Mouse Hunt", be prepared for something like that.
Video: how to drive moles and shrews out of the garden