Organic? Yes Humane? No

Tony KIENITZ’S recommendations for gardening with humane, environmentally friendly deterrents [“Sssssolutions That Are So Repelling,” April 14, and “Some Pests Are Still Undeterred,” April 21] are right on target, except for one: predator urines.

Allegedly collected from coyotes, foxes, bobcats and other animals, predator urines may be variously billed as safe, organic and humane. Safe and organic these products may be, but humane they are likely not. Predators aren’t known to urinate on demand at collection stations in the wild. Judging by the volumes that increasingly line the shelves of garden supply stores, logical sources of predator urine are the thousands of wild animals raised on fur farms.

Animals at these “farms” -- often little more that a series of small wire cages in an open shed -- are bred and raised for their pelts. They suffer from extreme confinement, poor housing conditions and die inhumane deaths.

Far more effective and humane alternatives for resolving wildlife conflicts abound, including fencing, netting and repellents.

Margaret Baird

Director of Communications,

Urban Wildlife Program,

Humane Society

of the United States,

Washington, D.C.