There are a few alternatives out there, but they are all either ineffective or less than ideal. Statues and figurines such as scarecrows typically don’t do a whole lot to deter furry visitors. In fact, they work as an excellent perch as hungry bird eyes which one of your strawberries will take one bite out of before flying away. Another option is to use deterrent sprays. The chemical options are not good for the soil, as well as the plants that you intend on eating. The all natural sprays are safe for the soil as well as the plants but are pretty ineffective. If you are interested in giving these methods a try before purchasing something that requires installation, you are more than welcome. However, it is our understanding that if you want to keep out pests, there is really only one way to do it: a good old fashioned fence.