How to stop hares destroying your Garden

Brianboy · 10-01-2020 11:26pm #1

Would you have any suggestion on how to stop hares eating plants in your garden?

elperello · 10-01-2020 11:31pm

Netting fence round the perimeter of the garden.
You could also use plastic tree guards to protect individual trees.

They are lovely animals, you might miss them.

Bigdig69 · 10-01-2020 11:31pm

Brianboy wrote: »

Would you have any suggestion on how to stop hares eating plants in your garden?

Eat them.

zerosugarbuzz · 10-01-2020 11:40pm

I’d prefer to see hares in my garden than flowers, fabulous animals, lucky you!

Rows Grower · 10-01-2020 11:44pm

Brianboy wrote: »

Would you have any suggestion on how to stop hares eating plants in your garden?

Shotgun.

magicbastarder · 11-01-2020 12:10am

if you've to resort to shooting native animals to protect your garden, you shouldn't have a garden.

macraignil · 11-01-2020 1:13am

Adopted a couple of dogs that were abandoned just over a year and a half ago and not seen any sign of the hares that were about the place previously since then. Don't think the dogs would be fast enough to catch them but the hares probably have the sense to steer clear of them.

Used some sections of drainage pipe as tree guards before that.

LaFuton · 11-01-2020 1:15am

regular manpiss around the perimeter works a treat for this and other problems.
it can be attained a number of ways, i produce my own myself.

Shaunoc · 11-01-2020 4:40pm

I witnessed my dogs gobbling a few young hares last year. Not seen any since
I second the manpiss !

Zzippy · 11-01-2020 7:24pm

Shaunoc wrote: »

I witnessed my dogs gobbling a few young hares last year. Not seen any since
I second the manpiss !

If your dogs are killing native wildlife they should never be allowed off the lead. First time I'd give you the benefit of the doubt, but if you let it happen again tbh you shouldn't be allowed keep a dog. That's irresponsible and frankly idiotic. And I'm struggling to remain civil here.

Rows Grower · 11-01-2020 10:08pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

if you've to resort to shooting native animals to protect your garden, you shouldn't have a garden.

Careful on that high horse there, I'm sure you wouldn't want to trample on a leveret.

freewheeler · 11-01-2020 10:16pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

Careful on that high horse there, I'm sure you wouldn't want to trample on a leveret.

Seemed like a perfectly reasonable statement to me! You think we shouldn't respect nature?

Rows Grower · 11-01-2020 10:19pm

freewheeler wrote: »

Seemed like a perfectly reasonable statement to me! You think we shouldn't respect nature?

A garden is nature.

elperello · 11-01-2020 10:24pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

A garden is nature.

As is a hare taking a free bit of grub where it is going.

So how do we allow the hare to live and go about his business and still keep our gardens?

I think most people would prefer not to shoot, trample or set dogs on a hare.

freewheeler · 11-01-2020 10:26pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

A garden is nature.

Yes obviously..but thats not what i asked...you seem to have a problem with the poster objecting to someone who feels they should kill an animal just to protect their garden?

Rows Grower · 11-01-2020 10:28pm

freewheeler wrote: »

Yes obviously..but thats not what i asked...you seem to have a problem with the poster objecting to someone who feels they should kill an animal just to protect their garden?

Glad you understand now.

Rows Grower · 11-01-2020 10:31pm

elperello wrote: »

As is a hare taking a free bit of grub where it is going.

So how do we allow the hare to live and go about his business and still keep our gardens?

I think most people would prefer not to shoot, trample or set dogs on a hare.

You should run for election so because there are native laws that need changing if this is true.

freewheeler · 11-01-2020 10:33pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

Glad you understand now.

Ok don't answer that question..its obviously a touchy subject for you :rolleyes:

Speedsie · 11-01-2020 10:34pm

The Irish Hare is a protected species since the 30s, so I wouldn't be advocating shooting or trapping them.

Could you erect a Hare proof fence around your garden?

Lovely animal.

Rows Grower · 11-01-2020 10:36pm

Speedsie wrote: »

The Irish Hare is a protected species since the 30s, so I wouldn't be advocating shooting or trapping them.

Could you erect a Hare proof fence around your garden?

Lovely animal.

That's a very interesting and totally incorrect statement.

I agree that they are a lovely animal.

elperello · 11-01-2020 10:40pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

You should run for election so because there are native laws that need changing if this is true.

What has me running for election got to do with this discussion?

Besides you don't need to run for election to influence legislation.

BTW I am familiar with wildlife legislation.

Speedsie · 11-01-2020 10:40pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

That's a very interesting and totally incorrect statement.

I agree that they are a lovely animal.

Oh, I was misinformed so. Used to see them regularly when I worked in Intel many years ago

LaFuton · 11-01-2020 10:41pm

the piss thing works, anyway.

jesus, every where else on boards they're rippin each others face off over the slightest slight, real or (purposely) imagined.

i thought here of all places folk would be more chilled and treeish

pauliebdub · 11-01-2020 10:42pm

Some very unhelpful answers. How open is your garden, is there an opening where they are getting in?The only solution I can think of is putting up netting, it will be hard to deter them.

freewheeler · 11-01-2020 11:00pm

Speedsie wrote: »

Oh, I was misinformed so. Used to see them regularly when I worked in Intel many years ago

You were not misinformed..but some on here obviously are! Hares are a protected species in Ireland but somehow are allowed to be hunted/Coursed
during the 'season' what a horrible way to treat a beautiful and gentle creature...

macraignil · 11-01-2020 11:00pm

macraignil wrote: »

Adopted a couple of dogs that were abandoned just over a year and a half ago and not seen any sign of the hares that were about the place previously since then. Don't think the dogs would be fast enough to catch them but the hares probably have the sense to steer clear of them.

Used some sections of drainage pipe as tree guards before that.

elperello wrote: »

As is a hare taking a free bit of grub where it is going.

So how do we allow the hare to live and go about his business and still keep our gardens?

I think most people would prefer not to shoot, trample or set dogs on a hare.

Just to clarify my post mentioning having dogs was not a suggestion to the opening poster that it was a good idea to "set dogs on a hare". No idea where the suggestion of trampling on a hare is coming from. I agree most people probably would not like to do these things to a wild animal and as mentioned already simple tree guards seemed to work well for me. The hare is an intelligent animal and since there have been dogs in our garden it's probably the smell of a potential predator keeps them away.

elperello · 11-01-2020 11:06pm

Just for clarification this link gives some information about the Irish Hare.

https://www.vincentwildlife.ie/species/irish-hare

Rows Grower · 11-01-2020 11:17pm

elperello wrote: »

Just for clarification this link gives some information about the Irish Hare.

https://www.vincentwildlife.ie/species/irish-hare

And here is an unbiased link from an Irish government organisation

https://www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/open-seasons-order

elperello · 11-01-2020 11:25pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

And here is an unbiased link from an Irish government organisation

https://www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/open-seasons-order

If you are looking for bias I am strongly biased against anyone who would kill a hare to protect a garden.

The Irish Hare is a magnificent creature and does not deserve the fate meted out to it by successive Governments.

magicbastarder · 11-01-2020 11:26pm

but it doesn't contain any info about the hare, except the open season info on it, which was pretty much already mentioned in the previous link? not sure where bias comes in.

Rows Grower · 11-01-2020 11:35pm

elperello wrote: »

If you are looking for bias I am strongly biased against anyone who would kill a hare to protect a garden.

The Irish Hare is a magnificent creature and does not deserve the fate meted out to it by successive Governments.

I'm not looking for or interested in bias.

elperello · 11-01-2020 11:40pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

I'm not looking for or interested in bias.

Says the guy who waded into a gardening forum with a shotgun

Whether it was unwitting or not you have found it.

Rows Grower · 12-01-2020 12:01am

elperello wrote: »

Says the guy who waded into a gardening forum with a shotgun

Whether it was unwitting or not you have found it.

The OP asked a question, I answered it.

Don't shoot the messenger.

elperello · 12-01-2020 12:06am

Rows Grower wrote: »

The OP asked a question, I answered it.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Answers like yours only lead to more questions.

You are ok my guns are locked in the safe

.

Rows Grower · 12-01-2020 12:27am

elperello wrote: »

Answers like yours only lead to more questions.

You are ok my guns are locked in the safe .

Only if you don't understand the answer.

But that's cool, this is a discussion forum.

Shaunoc · 12-01-2020 1:28am

Zzippy wrote:

If your dogs are killing native wildlife they should never be allowed off the lead. First time I'd give you the benefit of the doubt, but if you let it happen again tbh you shouldn't be allowed keep a dog. That's irresponsible and frankly idiotic. And I'm struggling to remain civil here.

Cool yourself zip. Dogs have run of garden. Hares enter, then nature takes its course. It was not pleasant to see and was over in seconds, no stopping them. Struggle on zzzzz

Graces7 · 16-01-2020 4:53am

In similar vein. hares stay away here as my cats are around. Hares are intelligent as you rightly say.

macraignil wrote: »

Just to clarify my post mentioning having dogs was not a suggestion to the opening poster that it was a good idea to "set dogs on a hare". No idea where the suggestion of trampling on a hare is coming from. I agree most people probably would not like to do these things to a wild animal and as mentioned already simple tree guards seemed to work well for me. The hare is an intelligent animal and since there have been dogs in our garden it's probably the smell of a potential predator keeps them away.

VirginiaB · 20-01-2020 7:03pm

I'm in the US so this may not be available in Ireland but worth checking. I use a product called Liquid Fence. It is made of natural products, does not harm animals and works brilliantly. We have a terrible deer problem in the eastern US. The population has exploded in the last 30 years or so. They can destroy a garden in a night. But they can't stand the smell of Liquid Fence. It works against rabbits too so worth a try if you can get it there. Humans can't smell it except during and a few hours after application.

It's a spray and does have to be renewed regularly, depending on the amount of rainfall. If not Liquid Fence, maybe you can get a similar product.

Shaunoc · 20-01-2020 7:38pm

VirginiaB wrote:

the amount of rainfall.

We're usually good for a drop

elperello · 20-01-2020 7:54pm

VirginiaB wrote: »

I'm in the US so this may not be available in Ireland but worth checking. I use a product called Liquid Fence. It is made of natural products, does not harm animals and works brilliantly. We have a terrible deer problem in the eastern US. The population has exploded in the last 30 years or so. They can destroy a garden in a night. But they can't stand the smell of Liquid Fence. It works against rabbits too so worth a try if you can get it there. Humans can't smell it except during and a few hours after application.

It's a spray and does have to be renewed regularly, depending on the amount of rainfall. If not Liquid Fence, maybe you can get a similar product.

Thanks for that.
I found the website but they don't have a supplier in Europe.
https://www.liquidfence.com/Products/Deer-and-Rabbit-Control/Deer-And-Rabbit-Concentrate.aspx

VirginiaB · 20-01-2020 8:09pm

I wonder if you could look at the ingredients and find something similar. Or email Liquid Fence and tell them they're missing the boat on a marketing opportunity in Ireland and beyond.

And yes I know about the occasional drop of rain in Ireland

as I've had the pleasure more than once!

FishOnABike · 20-01-2020 10:40pm

Speedsie wrote: »

Oh, I was misinformed so. Used to see them regularly when I worked in Intel many years ago

I remember regularly seeing them boxing on the grass verges in the carpark in the dusk on spring evenings. Fantastic creatures.

How to stop hares destroying your Garden

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