Five pain-free ways to manage the monkey menace

If you live on the KZN North Coast then you will be all too familiar with the chaos caused by hungry vervet monkeys raiding homes and snatching sandwiches.

This has resulted in a number of violent encounters between humans and monkeys, with some vervets shot and either maimed or killed as a result.

In the interests of keeping people happy and monkeys free of harm, here are five fail-safe ways to protect your kids, pets, homes and food stocks from being targeted without harming our hairier little cousins.

1) Plant indigenous fruit-bearing trees in your garden

If your garden is big enough, this is the perfect solution to your monkey problem. Natural-born tree dwellers, monkeys spend much of their day dining and sleeping in the branches and if there is fruit to be eaten, their attention will be far removed from your house and the many delights it is filled with. Monkeys are opportunists, so don’t give them the opportunity to take what is yours. There are a variety of indigenous fruit-bearing trees monkeys go mad for, including Natal plum, Natal fig and avocado trees, which is a great way of keeping the monkeys at bay while adding another beautiful tree to your garden.

2) Do not leave fruit bowls or other edibles next to windows

This basic ground rule is monkey-management 101. By leaving fruit, or leftovers from your Sunday braai out on display, you are indirectly leaving a tantalising ‘Welcome, come inside’ beacon to monkeys on the lookout for an easy meal. It is also important to remember to keep all windows and doors locked when you are out, as the cunning little primates know how to use their brains and break in when their stomachs are growling.

3) Put some over-ripe fruit in your garden

We all buy fruit and vegetables with the best of intentions not to waste it before it goes from ripe to rotten, so instead of throwing it in the bin, why not put it at the back of your garden? Not only will this provide a food source for starving monkeys, but you will also keep their attention fixed on the fruit in front of them and not on your family’s kitchen. Vervet monkeys have a diverse, omnivorous diet ranging from fruits and nuts to insects and arachnids. This means you can put out an array of fruits and vegetables including mangoes, apples, plums, bananas, lettuce, butternut or cabbage, for example. Monkeys will eat almost anything, but this doesn’t mean you should let them. Food items such as bread, chocolate and cake wreak havoc with vervet’s digestive systems and can make them very sick because of the high sugar content, so be sure only to leave fruits, nuts and veggies monkeys can eat safely.

4) Scatter some toy snakes around your garden

This may sound like a crazy old wives’ tale, but scattering three to five rubber snakes on your lawn, tree branches, bushes and window-sills will prevent hungry and ever-inquisitive monkeys from touching down on your home soil altogether. Monkeys are naturally terrified of snakes, with their young often falling prey to them, so fearing the risk of a toxic bite, scouts remain vigilant against the threat and will never approach an area where a snake has been spotted. A small investment in a handful of rubber snakes will go a long way in keeping your property monkey-free. It is important to note with this strategy that its success rests on you moving the snakes around your garden every day – monkeys are smart and will always remember when and where they last saw a snake.

5) Water-pistols and hosepipes 

If you have tried everything to prohibit these primates from entering your property, then a more ‘hands on’ approach is needed. Sometimes the promise of food is too great for monkeys to resist and despite your best efforts, they still make attempts at your rations, so keep a water-pistol (like the one pictured) locked and loaded next to your kitchen door. A few quick sprays with some cold water will make the raiders tuck their tails between their legs and run for the trees. Hosepipes also work perfectly to scare monkeys away and, together with water-pistols, provide a wonderful, non-violent, non-lethal way of managing your monkey menace.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.