Mystery Creature Digging in Potted Plants at Night
It’s late at night and you sit on the porch, contentedly taking in the beauty of your well-maintained flower garden. Suddenly, you hear shuffling, perhaps even digging, coming from your potted plants. What could it be?
Common Nighttime Visitors
If you’re hearing strange noises late at night and you live surrounded by nature, it could be any number of animals who may be up for a midnight snack!
Common animals that could be causing the noise include:
- Raccoons: Though usually quiet, raccoons can be quite noisy if they happen to discover something tasty in your potted plants.
- Mice: If you’re hearing rapid, squeaky shuffling in your plants, it could be a mouse looking for dinner.
- Squirrels: Generally they’re noisy during the day, it’s not likely you’d hear a squirrel late at night, but it’s possible.
- Skunks: Skunks can be quite noisy when foraging, so if it’s late at night and you’re hearing shuffling in your plants it may be the cause of a four-legged critter.
Deterring Animals
Of course, it’s natural for animals to forage for food, but if it becomes a regular occurrence it’s time to take action. Try the following to keep your garden visitors under control:
- Make sure to keep your trash regularly emptied and secure; the smell of food can be inviting to animals.
- Avoid over-watering your plants; an overly moist soil can indicate food is nearby.
- Sprinkle cayenne pepper or cinnamon around your plants; animals find the smell unpleasant and will stay away.
- Put chicken wire around your potted plants to keep animals away.
No one likes to be startled late at night by mysterious digging sounds coming from their garden, but now you know what could be causing the disturbance and the steps you can take to prevent it from happening.
