How to get rid of shrews on your property: the most effective ways

The need to get rid of shrews - the smallest and most charming insectivorous predators - is assessed by gardeners and gardeners 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 up the entire garden, they can cause serious damage to the crop.

The shrew (pictured) holds the title of the smallest mammal on the planet

Before getting rid of shrews in your summer cottage, you should take into account that under certain conditions these animals do more good than harm. Therefore, when choosing the most effective method of counteraction, you need to understand the nature of their life activity.

Shrew: description

As already mentioned, the shrew has an external resemblance to a mouse, but differs from it in its long proboscis and tail. In temperate latitudes, you have to deal more with two types of shrews: the pygmy shrew and the tiny shrew. As a rule, the 2nd type is more widespread.

This animal can be distinguished from other similar animals by a number of characteristics:

• The shrew has a more elongated head with a movable proboscis of a lighter shade.
• The body, 18 to 25 cm long, is covered with short but thick hair.
• The fluffy coat is dark brown with a gray tint.
• The shrew's tail is thicker and longer than that of the mouse.
• The tiny shrew measures no more than 5 cm.
• The shrew moves quickly and builds long tunnels underground, similar to mole holes.
• As a rule, it is found mainly in mid-latitudes. Prefers more humid places with sufficient food available. They can often be found near bodies of water, where they occupy empty holes of mice and moles.
• The shrew does not feed on potato tubers, since its diet consists of organisms of animal origin living in the thickness of the earth.
• The nest of this animal is not large, therefore inconspicuous, lined from the inside with dry branches and leaves.
• Each animal has its own “hunting grounds”, several tens of square meters in size.
• The shrew's diet consists of small and large insects, earthworms, toads and small lizards.
• The shrew stores excess food in a nest, which is located underground.
• The shrew has a fast metabolism, therefore, it has to actively move underground most of the time in search of food.
• A shrew can fight to the death for its territory.

general characteristics

The shrew family (Soricidae) belongs to the order of insectivores of the mammalian class. Externally, the shrew is similar to an ordinary mouse , but has a smaller body (from 3.5 to 18 cm long, weighing from 1.2-1.5 to 100-150 grams), with soft fluffy fur of a predominantly gray color and a very long tail. She has small, blind eyes above an elongated muzzle with an elongated proboscis nose and almost invisible ears on her head.

More than 20 species live in Russia, including the ubiquitous common shrew , whose sharp teeth are colored 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 and weighs 4-16 grams.

Common shrew (pictured)

From April to September, the female breeds 2-3 offspring, numbering from 4 to 14 cubs, bearing them for 13-28 days. 4 weeks after birth, the animals are ready for independent life, the duration of which is about 18 months.

When a mother shrew moves with her offspring, you can see them holding onto each other's tails with their teeth, as if they were playing "train"

Reasons for appearance

Shrews, like other similar creatures, constantly carry out natural migrations in search of suitable places for their livelihoods. But this does not mean at all that it can appear in any area, since this requires certain conditions. Even if there is a lot of food in the area, but there is little moisture, the shrew is unlikely to appear. Hard soil that is not watered or does not have natural moisture does not allow the animal to dig long passages. Therefore, this animal is most often found near water bodies or in areas that are watered on a regular basis.

Shrew

Application of the barrier method

Metal or plastic mesh of different sizes is used. For what:

• a trench is dug 80 cm deep and 30 cm wide;
• The mesh is laid and sprinkled with earth.

The goal of the method is to make a fence 25 cm high above the ground. Ideally, use a plastic material that will not rot or lose strength for up to 25 years.

To control pests on lawns, it is better to lay a net over the area to a depth of 20 cm, sprinkling soil on top. Judging by the reviews, a barrier mole trap is one of the best options. After all, you can lay a net on your site and forget about rodents for a long time.

What harm does a shrew cause?

This small animal, thanks to its activity, digs long and numerous passages. At the same time, the structure of the soil is disrupted, and the root system of many cultivated plants planted in the garden is damaged. As a result, crop losses are possible, and significant ones at that.

In this regard, when a shrew appears on the site, the owners begin to panic and begin to think about how to get rid of this little pest. Moreover, you need to start fighting them immediately, otherwise a whole colony of shrews may appear on the site.

Before choosing a control method, you should weigh everything, because:

• This animal does more good than harm. Shrews actively destroy many pests inhabiting the area, which bring only harm and no benefit.
• The shrew's favorite food is mole crickets, woodlice, chafers, earthworms, lizards and frogs.
• When holes are constantly dug, it improves the supply of oxygen to the soil.
• The downside is that shrews are quite fertile (up to 40 cubs per litter) and too many burrows leads to a negative result. Therefore, in such conditions, there is too little benefit from this animal, but it interferes with the normal growth of vegetables, cereals and other crops. If shrews dig up the entire garden, then it is unlikely that anything will grow on it.

Is it possible to use sulfur bombs and firecrackers?

Smoke and sulfur bombs:

• light up;
• placed in passages, holes in the ground;
• tightly covered with a sheet of plywood or a bucket.

As the smoke spreads along the passages, it begins to have a poisonous effect, scaring away shrews and moles from the summer cottage.

If firecrackers are used, they are placed in the passages, covered with a bucket, then exploded in a wave. The roar quickly spreads through the underground passages, deafens and scares away the animals. Another option for using firecrackers:

• place on a small container treated with ammonia;
• Set it on fire so that a fine ammonia smell begins to spread.

Important! Repellent smoke bombs are not the most humane method of repelling. They poison the soil and lead to the death of worms and insects.

How to deal with this animal

Since this animal brings more benefit, under certain conditions, than harm, the fight against it is mainly of a humane nature. The main thing is to prevent the shrew from multiplying on the site at a high rate, as this will cause significant damage to the crop.

To start fighting this animal, you need to study its habits, and most importantly, what attracts them. If you do not create such favorable conditions for them, then they themselves will be able to control the process of life activity, or even leave the site altogether. There are 2 such conditions: the presence of food and high humidity. If the site undergoes regular daily watering, then it makes sense to abandon it. Perhaps this is the main factor for them.

Folk methods of struggle

Often, it is the owners themselves who are to blame for the appearance of certain types of pests on their property. In order not to start a real war, it is better to immediately analyze what caused the appearance. It is possible that you won’t have to carry out any struggle; you just need to abandon any activities that do not particularly affect the yield, but only attract pests. If you study the nature of the life activity of this animal, you can easily deal with it by forcing it to leave the area.

To get rid of such a neighborhood, it is enough to use a number of methods:

• Fill the holes with plain water . The method is quite effective if you know exactly where these moves are located and their configuration. Otherwise, the effect will be zero. First you need to stock up on water, at least one bucket. Actions must be quick. After this, the shrew will have to leave the area.
• Use foul-smelling products or substances . To do this, you can use rotten fish or meat. Substances such as naphthalene, gasoline, and kerosene are also suitable. Rags are soaked in them and laid out near the entrance to their burrows. At the same time, we must not forget that these products will smell bad not only for the animals, but also for the owners and neighbors.
• Plant some plants in the garden that have a negative effect on these animals with their aroma. Similar plants include mint, wormwood, thyme, lentils, imperial hazel grouse, etc.

Application of chemistry

If there are too many shrews on the site, and no one paid attention to the problem before, then there is no way to do without chemicals that quickly reduce the number of individuals. To deal with them, it is enough to use any means to combat rodents. Chemical control agents are sold either in specialized stores or in hardware stores. Alternatively, the drug can be purchased in the online store. The following remedies may be effective:

• The Nutcracker . It is a thick green mass. This product kills rodents such as mice and rats, but can also be used against shrews. The substance is deposited next to the burrows. If the bait is eaten, the animal will die.
• Hunter Antirodent . This substance is sold in the form of briquettes, which contain cheese, flour and other additives that attract both moles and shrews. The animals die from suffocation.
• Rat death . Shrews die quite quickly from this poison. This is a highly toxic drug that causes suffocation and internal bleeding. But it is better to use it in extreme cases.

On a note! The use of chemicals is not recommended in some cases. This is especially true when there are cats and dogs on the farm, which can eat the bait purely by accident. After all, you can’t keep them in the house, and they walk wherever they want. As a result, they may die. Chemicals are no less dangerous in the presence of small children who immediately put unfamiliar objects into their mouths. As a result, severe poisoning and possibly death.

Repellers

Many people know about the existence of electronic ultrasonic repellers, which have a negative effect on rodents, and not only on them. The only problem is that such products act not only on pests, but also on pets. At the same time, many experts point out that ultrasonic waves, under certain conditions, have a negative effect on humans. In addition, animals that are located deep in the ground are unlikely to be “treated” with these devices.

We drive moles and shrews out of the garden

Mechanical repellers

These types of repellers are easy to manufacture and do not require additional costs. To do this, you need to take wooden sticks, dig them in the garden (hammer them) and hang cans on them. Under the influence of the wind, they will hit each other, creating noise. The noise is transmitted along the stick into the ground, which creates uncomfortable conditions for the life of the animals.

The method, although simple, has its drawbacks. The main disadvantage is the noise, which affects not only animals, but also humans, and especially neighbors.

Magnetic resonance repellers

Often, the functions of an ultrasonic repeller also include a magnetic resonance function. In other words, the device creates a magnetic force field that negatively affects the animals. As a result of this action, the pests develop a feeling of panic, as they lose orientation in space. As a result, after some time, they move to another area.

Basically, these are compact devices that can operate both from batteries and from the mains. They have a directional effect, so the device can be installed on an outbuilding, in the direction of the garden.

Buying such a device requires studying its characteristics so as not to harm pets and humans.

Reviews from gardeners

Konstantin, 64 years old, Rostov

The simplest methods helped to scare away shrews from a summer cottage: acoustic and “aromatic”. Before the autumn digging of the garden, dried marigolds crushed into dust were scattered, and rags soaked in turpentine were buried along the entire border of the plot. Pieces of rotten fish were placed in the holes. In case the shrews bypassed the bait, additional metal reinforcement was dug into the garden bed at a slight angle to the ground, to a depth of 40-50 cm. A plastic bottle was placed on it, which moved with a light blow of 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 was the same - an unbearable roar was heard.

Veronica, 56 years old, Ryazan region

In the garden plot we did not decide to use poison or traps for humane reasons, so we save ourselves from shrews using the Grad ultrasonic device. I insert batteries into the device, seal it in a plastic bag and dig 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 region

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 placed a fine-mesh (size 6 mm) grate between the bottom and the lower body, but the tight holes prevented the bees from exiting. In March I replaced it with a mesh with 8-10 mm cells. In addition, I cleaned the hives of dirt and placed a pollen collector on the entrance. After that, all the problems with pests disappeared.

Prevention of occurrence

No one has yet managed to protect their site 100% from the appearance of various pests, including shrews. If there are few shrews, then they are only useful, but over time their population increases, and their benefit turns into harm. Unfortunately, this happens late and you have to think about how to get rid of them, otherwise serious crop losses are possible.

There are a number of options for using various homemade devices or planting plants that help a person fight the invasion of animals. For example:

• Repellers based on a wooden stick with plastic or cans on it work well. The noise generated by the wind scares away underground burrowing animals.
• Planting plants such as beans and other legumes, as well as mint, wormwood and other plants that have a persistent aroma, also helps regulate the number of these animals on the site.

Although traditional methods have their advantages, they do not provide the same effectiveness as chemicals or modern electronic devices.

When choosing one or another method of control, you should remember that these are mainly useful animals, unlike rats and mice.

Review of popular brands

Manufacturers offer various remedies for moles and shrews on the site: tablets, poisonous baits, ultrasonic repellers. The most popular of them are:

"Dakfosal"

The fumigation insecticide begins to emit heavy gas upon contact with the soil, spreading throughout all passages, penetrating into hard-to-reach places. Two to three tablets are placed at maximum depth. The hole is filled with earth.

DETIA

DETIA with essential oils, safe for people and soil, but effective against moles. The balls are buried at a distance from each other in the hole. Poisonous toxins immediately begin to evaporate. To achieve results, the procedure must be repeated at least 2 times per season.

"Russian Trap"

Bait in the form of paraffin briquettes is used to expel shrews, moles, rats, and mice from a summer cottage. Contains: active brodifacoum and fragrances with a suffocating effect.

ARGUS (gel)

One tube (30 g) is sufficient to distribute at the entrance to each burrow. The active substance is brodifacoum. Causes paralysis.

"Alphos Krot"

An effective drug against moles, hamsters, and gophers. It releases alphos (heavy gas), which gradually displaces air, settling to a soil depth of 3–4 m. The drug will not leave behind new mole spots after 7–10 days. Animals will become afraid and leave the area. For use:

• scatter around the area, throw into holes;
• sprinkle with earth.

The result can be observed within 20 hours after use.

The tablets are used according to the instructions. Do not open the packaging indoors.

"Stop the Mole"

A toxic chemical with migratory properties that quickly fills burrows. 2-3 tablets are placed in each hole and covered with earth. It is better to carry out procedures during the day (from 12:00 to 16:00). Predators immediately leave the dug up areas.

Reference! It is not recommended to throw tablets into holes after rain, or to inhale the gas released.

"Green House Antikrot"

Poisonous gel concentrate is a poison against shrews and moles in a summer cottage. Contains active bromadiolone. One treatment with placing 15 grams into a mole hole is enough, and the desired result will not take long to arrive.

"Antrokot" is a good remedy with a long-lasting effect and is affordable. Eliminates entire populations of rats, mice, moles. Although, according to the instructions, you have to breed the bait yourself.