In Virginia, I used mothballs in my garden to keep the deer from eating the new shoots of all my daylillies. It worked but I was always worried that a wayward dog might end up poisoned. As far as I know, it never happened.

Ah, the squirrels. I have many funny stories about my dad's effort to keep the squirrels off his birdfeeder...electrified birdfeeder - they didn't care...pellet gun - he missed and hit the glass patio table instead. Now he has an extra special feeder that whirls the squirrels off. Me? I used Crisco shortening to grease the pole. It worked until the squirrels found another path...up the window screens to the baywindow roof and then a short jump to the feeder. I say squirrels are just smart rats!