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# 5 Humane Ways to Keep Animals Out of Your Garden

By [Andrew Lemieux (@andrewl9)](https://listium.com/@andrewl9)

64 views · 0 likes · 0 followers  
Published 15 June 2026 · Updated 15 June 2026

Category: home & garden / gardening & landscaping

Your garden may be a place of contemplation and joy to you, but to passing wildlife, it looks like dinner. There is no malice in a little rodent heart, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be any happier seeing them dig up all your carefully-tended plants. Thankfully, there are many cruelty-free ways to keep your carrots and flowers safe.

## Items

### 1. [Fence](https://listium.com/@andrewl9/144321/5-humane-ways-to-keep-animals-out-of-your-garden/1/fence)

Item ID: `1`

- Notes: The easiest way to keep an animal out is with a fence, but that is more complex than it seems at first. You’ll need to know what kinds of animals are in your area and adjust accordingly. For instance, if you’re near any woods, you’ll probably need a \[deer fence\](https://www.deerfencing.com/), and that means a two-inch or less opening size.
- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/eaba3023-538c-4553-abd9-0645c77c5aa8/original.jpg)

### 2. [Bottom Barriers](https://listium.com/@andrewl9/144321/5-humane-ways-to-keep-animals-out-of-your-garden/2/bottom-barriers)

Item ID: `2`

- Notes: But bigger critters aren’t the only beasts looking to graze on your dime. Rodents are present in most areas where people live, and need special consideration. A bottom barrier is an \[animal fence\](https://www.critterfence.com/) with a secondary fence for its last couple of feet with a smaller opening size. These barriers can keep out pests while preserving your view.
- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/391f1718-04a0-4ba3-bbaf-8067dbefc503/original.jpg)

### 3. [Dig Guard](https://listium.com/@andrewl9/144321/5-humane-ways-to-keep-animals-out-of-your-garden/3/dig-guard)

Item ID: `3`

- Notes: Some animals just don’t know when to quit. \[Dogs, cats\](https://ajlemieux.medium.com/the-ultimate-pet-friendly-backyard-setup-for-modern-homes-96bd96331b98), and groundhogs are all among our furry friends who will go low when ruining your \[organic garden\](https://listium.com/@WrightEm/2578/tips-for-organic-gardening). A dig guard is a bit of fencing that goes into the ground in an L shape. Typically, you cover it with some dirt. When animals run into it, it deters their tunneling plans.
- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/98632c39-f0e6-416b-9b81-89f10e524351/original.jpg)

### 4. [Climb Barriers](https://listium.com/@andrewl9/144321/5-humane-ways-to-keep-animals-out-of-your-garden/4/climb-barriers)

Item ID: `4`

- Notes: Next come your more acrobatic creatures. Climbing animals like cats will use most fencing like a ladder. A good \[cat fence\](https://petplaygrounds.com/cat-fence/) should take this into account. Strategies include extender and flexible fence combos that turn away from any wildlife that tries to surmount them, putting them back on terra firma.
- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/7c8ab93d-70b6-43aa-9a3e-20a2eae64b76/original.jpg)

### 5. [Remove Attractors](https://listium.com/@andrewl9/144321/5-humane-ways-to-keep-animals-out-of-your-garden/5/remove-attractors)

Item ID: `5`

- Notes: Your plants may be the main attraction to a hungry passing fawn, but you can take steps to reduce that attraction by keeping things well-tended. Cleaning up fallen fruits and vegetables, for instance, reduces the available food. You can reuse the lost foodstuffs as compost to help your future growing efforts.
- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/3084407b-86c5-444c-a7f3-5aa270ca42ad/original.jpg)