Animal deterrent for protecting plants

Abstract

The invention provides materials, compositions, methods, and kits for deterring or repelling animals from eating plant materials. The invention relates to the use of particulate matter to deter animals from eating plant materials that are susceptible to grazing by animals. In exemplary embodiments, an adhesive is applied to target plant material and the particulate matter is then applied prior to curing or drying of the adhesive.

1 . A method of deterring or repelling an animal from eating plant material, said method comprising applying at least one particulate material to the plant material.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is an herbivore.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is a deer, moose, elk, caribou, rabbit, groundhog, raccoon, skunk, opossum, squirrel, chipmunk, beaver, gopher, vole, mouse, rat, nutria, or muskrat.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method deters animals from eating untreated parts of the plant or untreated plants in the same area as treated plants.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one particulate material comprises glass.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one particulate material comprises sand, rock, silica, crystalline forms of minerals, metal, or plastic or another man-made substance.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating the applying.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying an adherent to the plant material, the at least one particulate material, or both.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the adherent is applied before the particulate material.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising combining the adherent and particulate material prior to applying them to the plant material.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying comprises injecting or embedding the particulate material into the plant material.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant material comprises bird food.  
   
   
       13 . A method of deterring or repelling an animal from eating plant material, said method comprising applying to the plant material a spray adhesive and glass beads having an average size of between about 300 μm and 1400 μm.  
   
   
       14 . A kit comprising at least one container containing at least one adherent suitable for applying to plant material, and at least one particulate material that is of sufficient size and strength to interfere with contact of upper and lower teeth of an animal that ingests the particulate material.  
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one adherent and at least one particulate material are contained in the same container within the kit.  
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one adherent and at least one particulate material are contained in separate containers within the kit.  
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one particulate material comprises glass.  
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one particulate material comprises sand, rock, silica, crystalline forms of minerals, metal, or plastic or another man-made substance.  
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one adherent comprises spray adhesive.  
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one device for applying the at least one adherent, the at least one particulate material, or both.  
   
   
       21 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the average size of the at least one particulate material is between about 300 μm and about 1400 μm.  
   
   
       22 . A kit comprising at least one container containing at least a spray adhesive, and at least one container containing glass beads having an average size of 300 μm to about 1400 μm.