Keeping critters away - sprinkler motion sensors
 

Jim Carter wrote:
From time to time I see posts here asking how to keep critters (cats, deer etc)
away from a garden. I was going through a catalogue this morning and found a
device that does exactly that. It is a motion sensor connected to a water
squirter.

I dare say there are several places that carry these things, but one place is

www.leevalley.com .

When you go to the page you will see at the left hand side a place to enter the
item number. Plug in AT610 and you will be taken directly to this item. It
uses 2-3 cups of water per event.

I had good luck with one of these last year for about three
months. Then it quit working. That, unfortunately was the
problem with them. They were on clearance at Lowes here for
only $19.95 and I was at wits end with the deer so I figured
I'd try it. The first one didn't work at all. The second worked
great for about three months. So I purchased two others, one for
my neighbor after he saw how well it kept the deer away and one
for a spare. Both were DOA. The manufacturer's web site listed
them for something like $79.95 which I sure as hell wouldn't pay
that given my experience. If you try 'em, make sure you buy 'em
someplace they can be returned easily. And make sure they have
a decent warranty period too. Might have been the brand. Might
have been the lot. But just thought I'd share my experience.

Keeping critters away - sprinkler motion sensors
 

I haven't had any problems with mine... I made a little spike thing
to put it on because it always worked it's way out of the soil. The
only issue I have is you need two for both sides of a garden (it
doesn't work thru, say, a large tomato plant)

On Wed, 09 Apr 2003 02:54:30 GMT, Gary Flynn wrote:

Jim Carter wrote:
From time to time I see posts here asking how to keep critters (cats, deer etc)
away from a garden. I was going through a catalogue this morning and found a
device that does exactly that. It is a motion sensor connected to a water
squirter.

I dare say there are several places that carry these things, but one place is

www.leevalley.com .

When you go to the page you will see at the left hand side a place to enter the
item number. Plug in AT610 and you will be taken directly to this item. It
uses 2-3 cups of water per event.

I had good luck with one of these last year for about three
months. Then it quit working. That, unfortunately was the
problem with them. They were on clearance at Lowes here for
only $19.95 and I was at wits end with the deer so I figured
I'd try it. The first one didn't work at all. The second worked
great for about three months. So I purchased two others, one for
my neighbor after he saw how well it kept the deer away and one
for a spare. Both were DOA. The manufacturer's web site listed
them for something like $79.95 which I sure as hell wouldn't pay
that given my experience. If you try 'em, make sure you buy 'em
someplace they can be returned easily. And make sure they have
a decent warranty period too. Might have been the brand. Might
have been the lot. But just thought I'd share my experience.

Keeping critters away - sprinkler motion sensors
 

Kevin Miller wrote:
I haven't had any problems with mine... I made a little spike thing
to put it on because it always worked it's way out of the soil. The
only issue I have is you need two for both sides of a garden (it
doesn't work thru, say, a large tomato plant)

What brand is it? When mine worked, it was effective and
if I can find one that is reliable, I'd certainly buy
another.

Besides, its fun to tell guests while your cooking on the
grill, "Yea, go ahead on out and take a look at the garden" :)

Keeping critters away - sprinkler motion sensors
 

They are the Scarecrow brand... Here's a few tips I've also learned
with them

1. Turn the pressure down on the hose... I'm sure that helps with
'stressing' the mechanism

2. Don't let the sun beat on it all summer, find a way to shield it
somehow (plastic gets brittle from sun/heat)

3. I've found deer do actually get trained away... Don't use them all
the time. When the deer do come back - they will eventually - I put
them back out

I found one for $15.. It was like finding gold!!! Watch Ebay as
well...

What actually broke on yours? I was thinking about puting a steel
head on mine

Kevin

One more thing...

I never thought in million years that this would work BUT I ran
fishing line about 2 ft. high along the deer path and I haven't seen
any signs of deer for a month i.e. poop, tracks, etc.

On Thu, 10 Apr 2003 00:21:06 GMT, Gary Flynn wrote:

Kevin Miller wrote:
I haven't had any problems with mine... I made a little spike thing
to put it on because it always worked it's way out of the soil. The
only issue I have is you need two for both sides of a garden (it
doesn't work thru, say, a large tomato plant)

What brand is it? When mine worked, it was effective and
if I can find one that is reliable, I'd certainly buy
another.

Besides, its fun to tell guests while your cooking on the
grill, "Yea, go ahead on out and take a look at the garden" :)

Keeping critters away - sprinkler motion sensors
 

Kevin Miller wrote:
They are the Scarecrow brand... Here's a few tips I've also learned
with them

Thanks! I'll look around for them.

1. Turn the pressure down on the hose... I'm sure that helps with
'stressing' the mechanism

2. Don't let the sun beat on it all summer, find a way to shield it
somehow (plastic gets brittle from sun/heat)

Sounds like you might have had some problems with yours...hence
the care taking?

3. I've found deer do actually get trained away... Don't use them all
the time. When the deer do come back - they will eventually - I put
them back out

That is a good idea.

What actually broke on yours?

It got prostate problems...just started dribbling out when the
sensor tried to turn it on. :) That was the problem with the
three DOA new ones too. I tried all different water pressures
and tried to take the thing apart to see what the problem was
but it was pretty well sealed up. I guess now that its completely
dead, I'll take a hammer to the housing and see what makes
it tick.

My neighbor has been putting up tall, double fences and netting
for years and has continued to have problems with the local
deer. I got wiped out once, bought the sprinker, replanted and
nothing touched me all summer. So for you lurkers out there,
they are effective if you get one that works.

Keeping critters away - sprinkler motion sensors
 

no actually... I've just got a horrible case of O.C.D....


Sounds like you might have had some problems with yours...hence
the care taking?