WATER: Decoys

Wild animals that hunt or feed at night are acutely aware of their surroundings. They will only feed in a safe area where they won’t be noticed. Any sense of a predator, and raccoons, possums, deer, will not venture too close. Possums, although beneficial in many ways, also carry very specific equine diseases. For example, leptospirosis and EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis). Here are a few tips to deter unwanted creatures from your horse’s water and feed.

• Remove attractants like trash and other food sources.

• Strategically place decoys (large water duckies) in water troughs. Add glow in the dark paint to the whites of the duckies eyes. Note: some horses play very wildly with their duckies. Have plenty on hand to replace as needed.

• Put up predator solar lights in feed and hay storage areas.

• Install electric fencing.