LETTER- Fences thwart thieving critters

I sure am glad that the Jaquith family did not kill the groundhog they have attracted to their property by gardening without a fence [Essay, "Distherbing: Rifle turns rage to reconciliation," October 11]. 

After all, if you grow food outdoors, how's an animal to know it's not supposed to help itself? Thus it wouldn't have been right to shoot that chunky critter as if it were a felon breaking the law.

Groundhogs are among the easiest mammals to keep out of the garden. You can read about the proper fencing on page 102 of my book, The Nature-Friendly Garden, which is available through Jefferson-Madison Regional Library branches. 

Marlene Condon
Charlottesville

#