15 Unexpected Animals That Could Be the Key to a Thriving Garden

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It’s more than just a patch of soil with some plants – it’s a living ecosystem where all of the creatures have their place. Yes, we think of earthworms or bees as the main garden helpers, but there’s a whole cast of unexpected animal characters that may be working behind the scenes to keep your garden in balance. Many of these unsung heroes don’t look like the classic ‘gardening ally’, but their help is no less important, if not more.

Consider your garden a busy neighborhood. Just like neighbors help by sharing resources and offering a helping hand, these animals make sure your plants thrive in unexpected ways. It could be a bird tackling pest control, or a frog bringing harmony between critters, but these helpers prove that nature has its own clever way of getting things in order. Let’s meet some of these garden allies who may surprise you.

Spiders

Spiders may be the creeps, but they’re a gardener’s best friend when it comes to pest control. These eight legged critters eat insects that could otherwise eat your flowers and vegetables. These are the silent sentinels of your garden, webbing flies, moths and beetles. Spiders can eat up to 800 million tons of prey a year, helping to control pests, a ResearchGate study found. Because of that, instead of just brushing them away, let them do their thing — they might spare you some heartache and fewer chewed up leaves.

Bats

Debunked Myths You Won't Believe People Still Fall For!" — Image Credit: Salmar/Pixabay

While bats might bring to your mind a spooky Halloween night, these nocturnal mammals are great for gardens. Flying pests like mosquitoes and moths cause havoc on your plants; however, bats gobble up flying pests. A single bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquito sized insects in an hour according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All this, while you are fast asleep… that’s some serious pest management.

Frogs and Toads

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When you see a frog or toad hopping through your garden, take it as a good omen. Amphibians are voracious eaters of slugs, snails, and other soft bodied pests harmful to plants. Their ‘services’ are completely natural and safe to the environment, unlike chemical pesticides. These hoppers will gladly stay if you provide a little water feature or damp hideaway.

Lizards

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Lizards are nature’s tiny cleanup crew. These reptiles will dine on ants, spiders and other insects that could otherwise overrun your garden. They are indicative of a healthy environment, because lizards inhabit environments free of super heavy pesticides or toxins. Also, they give a little Jurassic flair to your outdoor space, which is nice.

Ladybugs

Not only are ladybugs cute, but they’re also efficient hunters. These beetles savor on aphids, mites and other sap sucking insects which would damage herding plants. In its lifetime a single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids! Release a batch into your garden and they’ll function as tiny, flying guardians for your plants.

Hedgehogs

Though they are more common in Europe, hedgehogs are becoming more common in American gardens, too. These cute little things eat slugs, caterpillars, and other nasty bits of bugs. If you live in an area where hedgehogs roam, you can allow them to come patrolling your garden at night, by creating small entryways in the fence.

Birds

Birds are the quintessential multitasker. In addition to pollinating flowers and spreading seeds, birds also feed on caterpillars, grubs and sometimes even small rodents. Planting native shrubs and hanging a bird feeder will attract feathered friends to your garden, making it a safer place for your plants.

Ground Beetles

While not as well known as their ladybug cousins, ground beetles are every bit as valuable. Slugs, caterpillars and even weed seeds are preyed upon by these nocturnal hunters. Some species can eat their weight in pests in a couple of days. If you add a little mulch to your garden, they have somewhere to hide during the day, and somewhere to hunt at night.

Snakes

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Don’t panic, most of the snakes you’ll find in a backyard are completely harmless and actually quite useful. They keep rodents at bay, which is great if you grow fruits or vegetables. For example, garter snakes eat slugs and insects, too. As long as you leave them alone, they will quite peacefully do their job in your garden.

Moles

Moles often get a bad rap because of the burrowing they do but their tunnels aerate soil making it easier for plant roots to get at the water and nutrients. They also munch on grubs and insect larvae that could otherwise make your plants sick. Moles can be good allies if you don’t mind a little digging.

Wasps

Yes, wasps can be aggressive but they’re also very efficient at controlling pests. Wasps lay eggs inside caterpillars, and other garden pests, reducing their populations. Plus, adult wasps feed on nectar and also pollinate plants. They’re the overachievers of the insect world!

Raccoons

Although raccoons can be something to get agitated over, they are an effective way of keeping small populations of animals such as mice and bugs under check. Having raccoons around can provide a natural, and free, layer of pest control if you somehow manage to protect your garden’s produce with netting or secure fencing.

Owls

Pest management’s night shift are for owls. They’re notorious for preying on rodents and other nocturnal creatures that might snack on your crops. If you can install an owl box on a tall tree or pole, it will encourage these majestic birds to visit your garden on a regular basis,

Foxes

Foxes can be quite good garden protectors if you’re lucky enough to live near wooded areas. Small mammals and insects remain in check because they hunt them. They can sometimes nick a tomato here and there, but their pest control outweighs their occasional mischief by a margin.

Dragonflies

Dragonflies are dazzling to watch and also fierce predators of mosquitoes and other flying pests. Small pond or water feature in your garden may attract these elegant insects and you’ll be enjoying fewer bug bites in your summer evenings.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.