My Favorite Fences to Keep Out Critters, Caterpillars, and Birds (No DIY Needed)

Confession: I never knew how many animals roamed the night until I moved into a house with a yard that was a veritable buffet for said animals.

Raccoons, opossums, skunks, even coyotes and foxes — all of them are common sightings in my neighborhood and a real problem for residents with edible gardens, nicely mulched landscapes, or small cats and dogs.

As natural scavengers, they emerge after dark (or even in daylight, on the rare occasion) and begin their nightly hunt for food from trash ca...