2. Do not think that you can get these unwanted visitors to leave your fruit trees and/or garden alone by providing them with food. By doing so, you will not be solving the problem but adding to it. If you decide to feed one visitor, within one week you will be feeding his entire family.
3. Keep a tight lid on your garbage and compost. If a tight lid is not working, try using a bungee cord to help secure it. Do not leave pet food out overnight. Be sure to bring your pet food dishes in at night
4. If you do want to feed the birds, but do not want to feed other animals such as rats and squirrels be sure to keep spilled seeds cleaned up. If you do see rats, it is best to take down your bird feeders for awhile. Keeping squirrels out of bird feeders can be rather tricky. However, there are several bird feeders designed to safely keep squirrels from eating all of the seeds before the birds do. Look for inverted bowl shapes or wobbly tin roof feeders, both excellent ways of keeping squirrels out. Also, look for feeders that have cages around them that will only allow small birds through.
5. To keep unwanted visitors such as deer and raccoons out of your garden, try using motion sensors. Motion sensors are available that shoot out sharp bursts of water when triggered. Sensors that turn bright lights on towards any activity is great for deterring raccoons. It is best and most effective to move your motion sensor to a different location on a regular basis. When you leave the sensor in just one area, it will not be long before your unwanted visitors figure it out and move to a different part of your garden or fruit trees. So keep them surprised with a bright light or squirt of water in different areas.
6. If you have a fish pond, you may need to protect the fish or get used to buying new fish on a regular basis. Raccoons love nighttime fishing and other visitors may wander in seeking water and find other things to eat in your garden. Try covering small ponds with a wire mesh screen every night. Make sure the screen is tightly secured. If you have a larger pond, you may want to try motion sensors that are aimed near the pond but not at the pond, you don't want the fish to continually trigger it or just provide fish with places to hide.
7. If birds are becoming a problem by eating your fruits and berries before you can, try covering them with Reemay. This is a brand of lightweight, floating row cover. It is also used by gardeners to give their crops another degree or two of warmth early and late in the season. The Reemay is tied at the base, and the birds will not be able to get in. Another possible solution is bird netting. It is black and may not be too noticeable to you. Bird netting can help keep birds out of fruit trees and berry patches.