Moles Voles California Ground Squirrels Pocket Gophers. Classified as non-game mammals and can be controlled when causing damage

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1 The World Leader In Rodent Control Technology

2 Turf & Ornamental Vertebrate Moles Voles Pests California Ground Squirrels Pocket Gophers Classified as non-game mammals and can be controlled when causing damage

3 THE MOLE A Strange Animal, But A BIG Opportunity

4 Developed System to Capture Live Moles Nearly 300 moles have been captured and held at Bell Laboratories Each mole maintained in its own area Kept in excellent health h for months at a time Some moles have been in our facility for nearly 3 years Conducted thorough biological and behavioral evaluations

5 Let Us Share Our Learning

6 A MOLE... Is an insectivore, not a rodent (worms, grubs, insects) Consumes 80%-100% of their body weight a day Has small eyes and ears are completely hidden in their silky fur Has large, broad forefeet with webbed toes Lives in burrows... rarely coming to the surface Is a loner, its runways are made independently Leaves volcano-shaped hills pushed up from deep tunnels

7 Vole vs. Mole Mounds Vole: Mole:

8 Moles Of North America There are 6 major species of moles in North America: *Eastern Mole *Star-Nosed Mole *Coast Mole *Townsend s Mole *Broad-Footed Mole Hairy-Tailed Mole *Included on Talpirid Label

9 Broad-Footed Mole (Scapanus latimanus) Similar to the Coast and Townsend mole species Identification Size: 6-9 including the tail Color: brownish or grayish Young: 3 to 5 per litter Habitat Moist soil in various habitats from mountains to valleys

10 Broad-Footed Mole Population Distribution Southern most of all the western N.A. moles Along the coastal areas from southern Oregon into the Baja peninsula Also extending into northern and Also extending into northern and eastern California/western Nevada

11 BIOLOGY OF THE MOLE

12 Feeding Habits Moles are insectivores (NOT rodents) Moles use their Eimer Gland to sense vibrations in the soil, hence their food source (worms, grubs etc)

13 Evaluation of Stomach Contents 5% 5% 90% Earthworms Grubs Other

14 EARTHWORMS Approximately 50 worms per sq. yard (can keep a mole alive for 2 days) ~ 200,000 worms per sq. acre Water compromises 80% - 90% of a worms body weight (act as an additional water source for moles); survive mos. of drought A ti i 70% t i d t A worm s tissue is 70% protein and = to one egg

15 Mole Metabolism Metabolism is extremely high Moles consume food equivalent to 80% - 100% of their own body weight each day Digestion occurs at an equally fast pace Complete digestion in approximately 90 min Excretion of non-digestible contents in approximately 4 hours

16 FAST EATERS

17 Mole Reproduction Breeding in late winter or early spring Males construct overlapping tunnels to adjoining female systems (only time when moles are social) Gestation period is approx days (depending on species) Young are weaned after 3-5 weeks (depending on ou gae ea edate 3 5 ee s (depe d g o species) before being forced from the nest to find/develop own tunnel system

18 Behavioral Characteristics Moles are active year-roundround They do not hibernate Typical lday involves 3 periods of intense activity: -from 45 minutes up to several hours -timing i and duration dependent d upon time of year

19 Behavioral al Characteristics acte In addition, moles... Are solitary and fiercely territorial Will not voluntarily leave a productive feeding area Will quickly re-colonize a productive feeding area that has been abandoned

20 Mole Tunnels/Nesting Moles live underground most of their lives -moles seen on the surface are most often juvenile animals forced from their mother s nest and are moving to establish their own tunnel system Mole tunnels comprised of 2 types of systems... Surface Tunnel Deep Tunnel

21 Mole Damage 100 Yards of tunneling per day Typical tunneling occurs at feet per hour In already excavated y tunnels they can travel 80 feet per minute

22 Lethal Doses For Moles Active LD 50 Moles LD 50 Rats/Mice Comparison Brodifacoum 5 mg/kg Rat LD mg/kg Rat - 20x Mouse LD mg/kg Mouse x Bromadiaolone 4 mg/kg Warfarin 500mg/kg Rat LD mg/kg Mouse LD mg/kg Rat LD50 58 mg/kg Mouse LD50 60 mg/kg g Rat 7x Mouse 4x Rat 9x Mouse 8x Zinc 500 Phosphide hid mg/kg Mouse LD Rat LD mg/kg mg/kg Rat 14x Mouse 9x

23 We Chose Bromethalin LD50 Moles Comparison LD50 Rats/Mice 3 mg/kg Rats 2.5 mg/kg 1.2x Mice 5.6 mg/kg.5x

24 A Bait Must Mimic the Moles Natural Food Source: Earthworm Same size and shape Easily identifiable head and tail as defined by the Clitellum Similar pliability and stretchability (feel) Head Clearly identifiable clitellum defines head from tail of worm Tail

25 The Result A bait that can kill with just ONE worm A bait that is PROVEN to kill in 24 hours in fact it is the ONLY product submitted to the EPA with laboratory efficacy data on MOLES the bar has been raised with the EPA A bait that has little to no risk of secondary or primary poisoning

26 Packaging One Box 2 Trays 10 worms/ tray 5 boxes / case Shelf Life Unopened 2 year Opened days In the ground days

27 USING TALPIRID

28 The Service... Preliminary Evaluation Evaluate Determine Active Runs Baiting Application Bait only the active runs Follow Up Determine Success

29 Typical Residential Application Suburban lawn (1/4th of an acre) Approximately 35 of visible runways and/or mole hills. Huge variation can exist due to location, lot size, feeding patterns, etc.

30 Surface Tunnels (Eastern, Star-Nosed, Hairy Tailed, Broad-footed Moles) Surface Tunnels - 2 types exist Primary i Use Tunnel Generally LINEAR, long and straight Can also be BRANCHED, straight with a few branches. Exploratory Tunnel Used to determine new feeding areas/zones. Generally spider web-like in shape and often abandoned after digging Exploratory Runs

31 Preliminary Visit Surface Tunnels Meet with the customer Evaluate the lawn and mole tunneling Use Talpirid Inspection Probe/finger to punch holes into mole tunnels which will help determine which runways are active and should be baited Mark these holes (lawn flags, lawn paint, golf tees, horticulture markers etc.) Use Dowel Mark Hole

32 Areas of Focus Focus your attention: ti Along fence-lines Around trees Around landscaping In and around flower beds Along sidewalks or driveways These areas tend to hold more moisture and hence more worms/grubs. Along fence lines or in between properties you will often find mole super-highways areas are frequently traveled by more than one mole.

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34 MULCH

35 Deep Tunnel

36 Deep Tunnel

37 Linear Run Lawn Markers Assessment Holes < 5 feet 6-50 feet Hole every 5-10 ft >50 feet Hole every ft.

38 Branched Run Lawn Markers Assessment Holes

39 Exploratory Run Lawn Markers Assessment Holes

40 Determine Active Tunnels Return to the marked holes Determine active runways by evaluating which runway holes were refilled. You will notice plugs in tunnels or holes that were refilled by the moles. Plugged holes indicate active gg mole runs.

41 Baiting Application for: Surface Tunnels Using probe/finger, punch new holes 1-3 feet away from plugged hole in the active tunnel. If possible, punch holes on each side of the plugged hole h h l d h l (d Punch out the plugged hole (during the follow up, this will help you determine if the mole passed back through this run and came in direct contact with the bait)

42 Bait Each Side of a Plugged Hole 1-3 3ft. Linear Branched Assessment Holes Plugged Holes Lawn Markers Exploratory Bait

43 Bait Place the worm carefully into the fresh hole Push the worm down into the mole s tunnel with your finger.

44 Close Baited Holes Pinch baited holes closed, careful not to collapse the tunnel. With loose or dry soil, do not try to pinch the holes closed but cover with rocks, leaves, es, pine cones etc. It is very important not to It is very important not to damage the tunnel.

45 Follow-UP Confirm the bait is taken by checking the assessment thole for plugs Stomp down the runs Collect lawn markers

46 Reoccupation Moles will occasionally reoccupy empty mole tunnels It is important in mole It is important in mole prone areas to consider reoccupation and continue to monitor for new activity

47 The Bottom Line in Mole Control

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49 Voles Also know as Meadow Mice or Field Mice

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51 Vole: Voles are rodents and they eat a variety of plants, grasses, crops and bark Voles do more damage to ornamentals, tree plantings, and crops than moles Voles will occupy existing mole tunnels

52 Identification Create well traveled runways that connect burrow openings

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55 Identification Mouse like appearance with body lengths 5 to 8, including the tail Droppings are 3/16 and are green in color o Gnaw marks 1/8 to 3/8 found in irregular patches at the bottom of tree trunks

56 Biology & Behavior Active day and night Home-range vary with habitat quality and food Up to several thousand per acre Populations are cyclical, reaching peak numbers every 3 to 6 years

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58 Biology & Behavior Prolific breeders, reaching sexual maturity in as little as 35 days with up to 10 litters per year, 3 to six per litter Life espan is susually less essthan 12 months Should not enter homes and are poor climbers

59 Damage Lawns and golf courses Will eat crops, fruit trees, and ornamental plants Girdling damage to trunks and roots can interrupt fruit bearing process

60 Vole Damage- Drip Irrigation

61 Vole Damage- Turf

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64 Vole Damage- Trees

65 Management Habitat Modification Introduce Predators Exclusion Trapping Baiting (ZP AG, P.C.Q.)

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68 PCQ P.C.Q. Double strength Diphacinone (anticoagulant.01%) Scattering bait will take advantage of a Voles oesnatural a foraging ghabits abts Can be used in a bait station Pre-bait using untreated oats Read and follow the label!

69 Using Stations to Control ol Voles

70 Choosing the Correct Bait Zinc Phosphidehid Zinc Phosphide Mode of Action- Phosphene Gas Acute- death occurs in 2-3 hours Cannot be applied in OR above ground from Sept. to May Restricted use product (QAL, QAC)

71 Any Questions?

72 California Ground Squirrel Found in almost all regions of CA

73 Super Squirrels

74 Identification Forage above ground near burrows Body measures 9 to 11 inches with a 5 to 9 inch tail Will always retreat to burrow Only travel 100 feet from burrow

75 Biology & Behavior Populations are high in grazed rangeland, fence rows, and crop areas. Live in burrow systems Colonies can number more than 2 dozen Ati Active during the day, mid-morning i through h late afternoon. Breed once a year, 7 to 8 per litter.

76 Biology & Behavior Breed once a year, 7 to 8 per litter. Mate from February to April after hibernation. Go through a periods of hibernation from November-March and July-August. Wake up every 4 to 5 days to eat and use bathroom

77 Damage Burrow openings present danger to levees, mowing, pedestrians, machinery and livestock. Can harbor diseases harmful to humans (Bubonic Plague) transferred by fleas.

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81 PLAGUE 1,000 to 3,000 annual cases worldwide 5 to 15 cases in Western U.S. each year Common carriers are Rats, Prairie Dogs and the California Ground Squirrel

82 Management Trapping Fumigation Habitat Modification Baiting

83 PCQ P.C.Q. Double strength Diphacinone (anticoagulant.01%) Scattering bait will take advantage of squirrels natural foraging habits Pre-baiting untreated oats will increase the acceptance Also controls House Mice and Deer Mice and Voles

84 Choosing the Correct Bait Zinc Phosphidehid Zinc Phosphide Mode of Action- Phosphene Gas Acute- death occurs in 2-3 hours Non-toxic to dogs and most other animals (except horses) because it causes vomiting Restricted use product (QAL, QAC)

85 Pocket Gopher

86 Identification Five species are found in CA ( Botta s pocket gopher is the most widespread) Fresh soil mounds are the first sign Mounds are made in non-irrigated areas during spring and fall (year round in irrigated soil)

87 Identification Mounds are crescent or horse-shoe shape 1 gopher can create several mounds in a day

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90 Burrows Sometimes leave burrows to feed (body length) Burrows are 2 to 4 inches in diameter Feeding burrows are 6-12 inches deep Food storage and nesting burrows are up to six feet deep

91 Pocket Gopher: A Pocket Gopher is a rodent It has fur lined pouches outside of the mouth used for carrying food They are 5-14 inches in length and also have large clawed forepaws Sensitive facial whiskers to assist with movement in the dark Can travel at the same speed going backward as they do forward

92 Reproduction Pocket gophers reach sexual maturity in 1 year and can live up to 3 years In non-irrigated soil females will produce 1 litter per year ( 5 to 6 per litter) In irrigated soil a female can produce up to 3 litters in a year.

93 Food Pocket gophers are herbivorous Feed on herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees Use sense of smell of locate food Usually feed on roots & fleshy portions of plants they encounter while digging Can also feed above ground but only leave the hole within a body length or so.

94 Damage Feed on crops, ornamental plants, vines, shrubs, and trees Gnaw on plastic sprinkler heads and waterlines es Tunnels can divert irrigation water causing soil erosion ( hazard to levees and dikes)

95 Management Trapping Habitat Modification Baiting Fumigation

96 Probing the Burrow Use a gopher probe with an enlarged tip which is wider than the shaft. This will increase the ease of locating the main burrow

97 Baiting the Main Burrow 1. Locate area of recent activity (dark or moist soil) 2. Probe 8-12 inches from the plug side of the mound, the main burrow is usually 6-12 inches deep. 3 Wait to feel probe puncture burrow a 3. Wait to feel probe puncture burrow, a sudden, noticeable drop of 2 inches

98 Baiting the Burrow 4. Widen the hole and apply bait ( use a funnel to reduce spillage) 5. Plug the hole with soil, leaves, rocks (gophers will plug any portion of burrow with access to light) - Baiting the lateral tunnel to a mounds is not as effective as baiting the main burrow

99 Choosing the Correct Bait Zinc Phosphidehid Zinc Phosphide Mode of Action- Phosphene Gas Acute- death occurs in 2-3 hours Non-toxic to dogs and most other animals (except horses) because it causes vomiting

100 PCQ P.C.Q. Double strength Diphacinone (anticoagulant.01%) Scattering bait will take advantage of squirrels natural foraging habits Pre-baiting untreated oats will increase the acceptance Also controls House Mice and Deer Mice and Voles

101 Any Questions?