How to Dispose of Shrews in Flower Gardens

Overview

When shrews take up residence in your flower garden, you'll know because they will dig up and eat certain types of bulbs, leaving you with no daffodils and other flowers to enjoy in the spring. Shrews will eat other plants, especially seeds and roots. They can carry diseases and their noisy screeching voice creates an annoying sound. Although they are only the size of a mouse, they can behave aggressively toward your pets. They smell terrible as well. Shrews are a creature you definitely want to banish from your flower garden and all of your property.

Disposing of Shrews in Flower Gardens

Step 1

Mow or trim tall grass and weeds near your flower garden. When these animals don't have the cover that this type of vegetation provides, they are less likely to make their way to your prized flowers.

Step 2

Set mousetraps along their runways, wherever you notice long, raised areas of soil. Also place mousetraps in areas where you have seen shrews. Bait your traps with peanut butter and rolled oats, and then check the traps every morning.

Step 3

Make pit traps and install them under runways. Dig a hole into which you will place a 1-gallon glass jar, and then bury it with just the lip protruding above the soil surface. Smear bacon grease on the lip. Shrews will fall into the jar and will be unable to get out. Monitor your traps daily---if you want to be humane, dispose of shrews by releasing them in a distant, uninhabited area.

Step 4

Encourage natural predators such as owls to take up residence on and near your property. If you provide a nesting site, owls will be likely to inhabit it.

Step 5

Get a cat or two because cats love to hunt shrews. If you find a dead shrew, do not touch it, but rather place a plastic bag over your hand and pick it up, using the bag as a glove. Tie the bag in a knot and then dispose of the animal in your garbage can.