I live in the Rockies at 8,500 ft. We haven't had a wet winter or summer in 5 years. Because of this drought, the chipmunks, field mice, and gophers eat things they normally never touch. There is literally nothing else for them to eat. Our wells are stressed as well. I happen to have a spring fed pond I could use to water my plants, but even it is down 14". As an example, it is now the first of Sept. and my hostas, normally 18" tall, are barely 3". I have still had good luck with the rodents not eating bleeding heart, iris, peony, alyssum and mint. The spray you can buy to keep them from stripping every plant has a strong peppermint smell, so I have been making my own with hot peppers and mint. Even so, I have had everything from the tiniest field mice to a very hungry bear tearing up the yard and garden looking for literally anything they can eat. If you are also in a drought, don't assume what they are eating this year will be what they eat when the drought breaks. They may eat coreopsis this year (stripped mine to the ground), but when things are back to normal, never touch it. Severe drought changes all the rules.
I live in the Rockies at 8,500 ft. We haven't had a wet winter or summer in 5 years. Because of this drought, the chipmunks, field mice, and gophers eat things they normally never touch. There is literally nothing else for them to eat. Our wells are stressed as well. I happen to have a spring fed pond I could use to water my plants, but even it is down 14". As an example, it is now the first of Sept. and my hostas, normally 18" tall, are barely 3". I have still had good luck with the rodents not eating bleeding heart, iris, peony, alyssum and mint. The spray you can buy to keep them from stripping every plant has a strong peppermint smell, so I have been making my own with hot peppers and mint. Even so, I have had everything from the tiniest field mice to a very hungry bear tearing up the yard and garden looking for literally anything they can eat. If you are also in a drought, don't assume what they are eating this year will be what they eat when the drought breaks. They may eat coreopsis this year (stripped mine to the ground), but when things are back to normal, never touch it. Severe drought changes all the rules.