Experience with Blow Up Owls, Snakes etc?

In the interest of actually getting to EAT some of my strawberries, blueberries, peaches etc, I have just purchased one of those owl figures that you blow up. You're supposed to put in around your yard to convince rabbits, squirrels, birds etc that it is real, so that they avoid feeding in that location. Also purchased a snake, which totally looks fake because its the size of a python! Hoping my critters are dumb...

So, wondering, has anyone had success with these deterrants? I've tried netting (slight success, a pain to do), repellants (don't work), cat (mine's too lazy and well-fed) etc. What works for you?

I have two rubber snakes on my roof, which keeps the squirrels and birds off, at least I THINK they are.

Try nylon netting staked down over your strawberries - works for me.

My biggest problem will be my yellow lab, Abby The Labby. She "prunes" all of the berries off of the ligustrums as high as she can reach - I was wondering why there were none on the lower branches, then I saw her doing that. She also wats the berries on the Mondo Grass and even chews my variegated grass.
What a goofy dog.
But my sister had a husky that would eat blueberries off of the bushes - she would go to a friends' place and the white dog would come in with a dark blue muzzle. First he was eating them out of her bucket when she wasn't looking, but when she got wise to that she made him pick his own.

Netting or whirlygigs sounds good.

How about chili peppers?

One of my dogs serves as the grape tester. When he starts eating the grapes I know they're ripe.

Yes, my dog does get some of the strawberries, but I've got that licked this year, I think--using row covers for them. But have found that the squirrels and chipmunks will find their way inside any net/cover on the blueberries and, of course, can't really net a whole peach or pear tree!!! The birds, also, are wise to my nets, and poke through anywhere the fruit is near enough to the netting for them to reach.

Got an OOzzie?
Or BB gun?
Or wind chimes?

Lavina

I saw where some folks make spinners out of old CD disks string on a string - very flashy in the wind during the day. Maybe you could put a light on them for at night?

Old timers would also put open-necked bottles in the ground so that the wind would blow across them, but only works if there is a wind. Spooky sound, my gramma had a neighbor that would do that for moles- my gram just used a shotgun trap, hard to get a permit for one of those nowadays LOL. She swore that neither one worked against the pests.

What about Chasers? http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_404015_404015 If it works for moles it might work for the other critters?

You are NO help Lavina!!!! Come to think of it, my son has a BB gun (let me make this clear, though, its against my wishes--Dad prevailed). Maybe I can just pull him out of school indefinitely and have him sit there. Might make him like school more, huh? Yes Pyro, I've seen the spinners--might have to try that. No one uses the owl approach, it seems?

I do not think that the owls thing works, or we would see more of them around.

Now, my friend about a mile from me has a pair of owls that roost in her trees - she has seen them take out feral cats!
Even full-grown ones.

You have those giant owls? I ran into one of those huge things one night in my back yard, never knew an owl got that big. I've seen lots of barn owls but what ever this guy was he was big.

They are Barred Owls (they hoot "Who Cooks for YOU, for YOU")

And yes, they are as big as great horned owls

We've got hawks that are afraid of NOTHING---not even me! They come way too close for comfort, but don't seem to faze the critters that eat all my stuff....

Yep, it is hard to appreciate how big a hawk is until you have been buzzed by one.

They do keep the squirrels down, though, so those critters better watch out!

I do know they catch a bunch--I have seen them pick a squirrel off a tree just off my porch--but they seem to get more birds than rodents, at least in my yard. I love all creatures (even the pesky ones), so am not amused when the carnage is within view, but the squirrels seem to keep their numbers up nicely. Apparently, the winters are long and boring up there in the trees, and they find lots to do, reproductively speaking!

Maybe what I really need is a few blow up hawks, eh?

Yote have you got a sling shot?
Me you and Bonnie need to get together in May when I come to Raleigh.

Lavina

Oh, Lavina, I'm a whimp--I can barely even squish snails and slugs, much less kill little cute furry creatures. If I'd been a pioneer, I'd of starved! Let me know when you are coming our way, ok?