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Will bone meal or fish emulsion attract pests like racoons? #914757

Asked August 20, 2025, 6:04 PM EDT

Will bone meal or fish emulsion attract pests like raccoons? We used blood and bone meal in the past and had some sort of critters dig up our seedlings. Maybe that was an application issue as they were applied to the soil surface. I have a rose bush that planting instructions call for the use of bone meal mixed in the hole as a soil amendment and fish emulsion to be used as fertilizer as granular fertilizers will void the warranty. Are my concerns unfounded?

Washington County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hi Erik,

Both of these can attract raccoons, dogs, cats and other animals. Mixing bone meal well into the soil before planting may minimize that.

Animals are attracted to fish emulsion fertilizer because of the smell. You can counter that by buying a "deodorized" fish emulsion product. I searched the web and there are many out there.

If you want to protect the rose after planting encircle it with chicken wire for awhile. Any smell from the bone meal in the ground should soon go away and then you can remove the wire.

Hope this helps. Thanks!

MJ Replied August 21, 2025, 4:39 PM EDT

Thanks for the info.  Are you aware of an alternative to bone meal that will provide the same benefits?

Thanks!
Erik

“In any moment of decision,

the best thing you can do is the right thing,

the next best thing is the wrong thing,

and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

          Teddy Roosevelt


Erik B. Seavey
<personal data hidden>

On Thu, Aug 21, 2025, 3:39 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied August 21, 2025, 5:00 PM EDT

Some websites say rock phosphate is a good substitute but I can't find any research supporting that. The NPK nutrient measures are different from bone meal, too.

I'd follow the grower's instructions. Thanks.

MJ Replied August 21, 2025, 5:09 PM EDT

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