Watermelon is a popular fruit among people worldwide. So, do you think that only humans love to eat watermelons? Farmers and growers know how challenging it is to protect their watermelons from wildlife.

Watermelon has a mouth-watering sweet flavor. So, it is not to wonder that animals attract to this fruit. On the other hand, watermelon grows around. It also makes it easy for animals to reach their targets.

But do not get this struggle as a big rush. Because now, you can use some simple techniques to save your watermelons from animals. But before exploring them, let’s see which are the animals you have to battle with.

• Raccoons
• Birds
• Rabbits
• Rats
• Coyotes
• Squirrel
• Bugs

There are separate ways to protect watermelon from each animal. Further reading will help you to gather these techniques deeply.

PROTECT THE WATERMELONS FROM RACOONS

Raccoons have sharp paws. They use them to create large holes in the watermelon. Through this, they are able to carve out the watermelon flesh. Ultimately it creates only an empty hole for growers. How hard is it to see?

Anyhow, protecting your garden from raccoons is especially difficult. Because they are smart enough to solve problems very cleverly, that’s why you should be smart than them to protect your watermelons. But there is nothing impossible. Here are some tricks to protect the watermelons.

Build a fence

You may think that building a fence is a very simple and common method. But think, it has become common because it is effective. So, you can build a fence around your garden; it may restrict the entrances of the raccoons.

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But another issue is that the raccoons are able to climb. That is because you should cover the top of the fence.

Remover other food sources from the place where growing watermelons

Raccoons try to find some foods by rummaging through garbage. Therefore, remember not to throw other foods into your garden.

PROTECT WATERMELONS FROM BIRDS

Many birds enjoy the flavor of the juicy flesh of watermelons. Especially, crows are big fans of the sweet flavor of watermelons. Also, they are omnivores, so there are no restrictions.

However, birds, including crows what to do is, poke holes around the watermelon fruit. Because their ultimate goal is to get watermelon’s juicy flesh out, that’s how the watermelons are destroyed. But here are effective methods to protect your watermelons.

Netting

You can avoid the way that they use to reach your watermelons. So, it is better to cover the watermelon plants using nylon and plastic nets.

However, it is important to ensure that the net is placed in a manner that perfectly surrounds the watermelon plant. After perfectly placing the net, use a weight to hold it tight to the soil.

Scatter grains and corn seeds

This is a trick to turn their attention to other food. It means when you scatter grains and seeds around the plant; they tend to eat these grains instead of watermelons. So, the damage will postpone.

Use Scarecrows

You can use visually scary objects to prevent the birds from interrupting. Here you can place scarecrows, flags, plastic snake toys, and faces drawn on balloons around the plants.

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PROTECT WATERMELONS FROM COYOTES

Cayotes are amazing hunters. But it does not mean that this animal only targets other animals. Cayotes hunt both animals and plants, especially during the nighttime.

However, the bad news is this animal has the ability to break open the entire fruit to eat the flesh of the watermelon.

But do not try to catch them. Because it is very difficult, it is a must to identify whether Cayotes lives in your area or not. But how?

Basically, you can recognize them through their unique way of creating damage to your harvest. For instance, Cayotes leave paw marks and fag marks that are similar to dog marks.

But how can we protect watermelon from coyotes? Is it very difficult?

No, you can save watermelon easily from Cayotes. You just have to use tomato cages. Because animals are unable to break open them.

PROTECT WATERMELON FROM RABBITS AND SQUIRRELS

Both squirrels and rabbits are herbivores. Therefore, it is challenging for growers to protect their gardens from them.

So, watermelon farmers should always be ready to face their attacks because squirrels and rabbits are known to chew your plants in the seeding stage. Not only that, squirrels and rabbits love to taste the vine and leaves of watermelon.

But how are you ready to protect your watermelon fruits and plants from squirrels and rabbits?

Build fence

You know watermelons grow on the ground, because of that both these animals can reach them easily. So, a fence can stop them from entering your garden. However, when you build the fence, you should follow these guidelines.

1. Deeply bury the fence in soil
2. Make sure there is no space for them to sneak it
3. It is better to use wire mesh as high enough because it does not allow them to climb up

However, how do we stop tree squirrels?

Actually, it is a bit difficult. If there are plenty of trees surrounding your garden, it is a must to cover the top of the fence with netting because squirrels have the ability to jump off the trees and invade.

Use repellents

It is an effective way to keep animals away from watermelons. When you use repellents, their awful taste has the ability to avoid the next bite of the animals. Plus, repellents help to avoid fungal infections, and it is quite safe to use crops.

Modifications of the place

Here you can remove other things that can attract animals to your garden. So, it is better to remove any other natural vegetation, debris, brush piles, etc.

PROTECT WATERMELONS FROM RATS

Rats are popular to make trouble for people. However, it is surprising to hear the rats eat watermelons, right? But they do. Their sharp teeth will make it easy.

Generally, rats are one of the main enemies of gardeners. But below methods can get rid of rats easily from your garden.

Rat repellent

Generally, rats hate peppermint oil. Because they strongly dislike its scent, you can keep rats away from the watermelons by sprinkling them around the watermelon plants.

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Mesh tubes

Placing mesh tubes or netting surrounding the watermelon plants will block the way of these animals. So it prevents the damage.

Hot pepper flakes

It is better to sprinkle it everywhere on the watermelon plant because it will cause them to think about the next bite.

PROTECT WATERMELONS FROM BUGS

There is no doubt that this small creature is strongly disturbing when growing watermelons. However, the below-listed insects affect the watermelons directly.

• Flea beetles
• Cucumber beetles
• Grasshoppers
• Cabbage loopers
• Beet armyworm
• Melon aphids
• Squash bugs

On the other hand, the below-listed insects affect the soil. So, it will indirectly affect the watermelons. Therefore, let’s check out who they are?

• Seedcorn
• White grubs
• Mole crickets
• Maggots

But how do we stop their damage? Here are some tricks.

• Use hot pepper spray – chop the pepper and mix it with the hot water
• Use garlic spray – chop onion and garlic. Then mix them with hot water. Plus, adding cayenne pepper powder will increase the effectiveness.
• Sprinkle soap – mix the soap with water and spray it on the watermelon plant and fruit