The Backyard Battle Plan : The Ultimate Guide to Controlling Wildlife Damage in Your Garden - Softcover

Rutledge, Cooper

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140272089 ISBN 13: 9780140272086

Publisher: Studio, 1998

Synopsis

A practical, unsentimental, A to Z guide to the fastest growing threat to America's backyard gardens identifies and describes problem-causing animals and birds and their habitats, the diseases they carry, and methods of controlling them. Original. 17,500 first printing. Tour.

About this title

Reviews

Rutledge, a landscape and forestry professional, presents short chapters on backyard pests?mostly mammals?and includes background information and possible control methods (exclusion, trapping, hunting, baiting, poisoning, or repelling). The format and quality of the chapters varies considerably, with some including illustrations of the animal's tracks, information on the efficacy of folk remedies, and extreme examples of backyard incidents (though sources are usually not cited). A separate section increases the reader's understanding of recommended control methods, use of poisonous plants, disease problems, and legalities. Some gardeners may be offended by Rutledge's condescending tone (particularly in passages about environmentalists and animal rights), and some factual errors are troubling, such as the author's assertion that alligators are American crocodiles. In addition, the book's subtitle is overstated, implying that this is the most comprehensive, well-researched, user-friendly, accurate guide available. However, local extension-office publications or a basic gardening guide like Rodale's Complete Garden Problem Solver (Rodale, 1998) may suffice for the amateur. Recommended only for comprehensive gardening collections or where demand warrants.?Bonnie Poquette, Appleton P.L., WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Rutledge divides his book into two sections--"The Enemy" and "The Battle Plan." "The Enemy" is a list of problem animals that can ruin crops by eating them or by spreading diseases. The enemies list includes alligators, birds, cats, dogs, chipmunks, deer, gophers, moles, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, mice, skunks, squirrels, woodchucks, and insects. Rutledge gives scientific information on each one, along with control methods (fences, traps, frightening devices, nest destruction, etc.). "The Battle Plan" section goes on to evaluate the different animal and insect control methods. To augment the text there are black-and-white drawings throughout. George Cohen

Edition details

• Publisher: Studio
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0140272089
• ISBN 13: 9780140272086
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224