Wildlife Damage Prevention and Control Strategies Rutgers Cooperative Extension Rutgers University s Snyder Farm-Center for Wildlife Damage Control
Keys to Success Identify species causing damage Develop a wildlife damage management plan Estimate annual economic loss
Keys to Success Integrated approach randomness diversity Each situation is unique
Deer Ecology Habitat Mixed woods, fields brushy areas Home range 0.5 to 3 square miles Food habits Browse, forbs, fruits, nuts, crops, landscaping plants
Identifying Deer Damage Browse damage Buck rub Trampled or flattened vegetation Look for tracks and droppings
Hunting Most efficient and cost-effective control method Important to harvest the proper ratio bucks:does Can generate additional income from leasing land Liability insurance Leasing agreement
Legalities of Deer Control Seasons and bag limits set by NJDFW Community-based deer management Depredation permits available
Fencing Control or preventative method Portable, temporary, and permanent Inexpensive ($0.12/ft) to expensive ($8.00/ft) Low to high maintenance
Repellents Contact vs. area Intended to reduce-not eliminate-wildlife damage Intended primarily for ornamentals, garden, etc Majority not labeled for food crops
Repellents Variable effectiveness (wildlife density, precipitation, new growth) Costly ($17.00-$200.00/gallon) Requires much vigilance
Deer-resistant Plants Variable success Use as a general guide What grows in immediate area?
Goose Ecology Habitat Lakes, ponds, bays, fields, parks, yards Home range Migratory or resident Food habits Submergent vegetation, grass, crops
Identifying Goose Damage Grazing damage Fecal load Water contamination Physical presence Look for tracks, feathers, and droppings
Goose Control Hunting Depredation permits
Legalities of Goose Control Resident and migratory Canada geese Seasons and bag limits set by USFWS Depredation permits available
Exclusion Techniques Fencing around water can prevent geese from landing on water and walking on land $150.00 per 500 feet Overhead grids (mylar tape, fishing line, wire) can deter geese from landing on water or fields $8.00-$700.00 per 500 feet Netting can protect high value crops $0.09-$0.14 per square foot
Frightening Devices Pyrotechniques (propane cannons, bangers, screamers) $70.00-$600.00
Frightening Devices Balloons and kites (mylar, eye-scare, avikite, silhouettes) $4.00-$180.00
Frightening Devices Visual deterrents (flagging, owls, dead goose decoys, scare crows) $4.00-$100.00
Frightening Devices Miscellaneous (strobe lights, distress calls, audio deterrents, dogs) $30.00-$1650.00
Repellents Taste vs. visual Applied to vegetation and water Liquid or aerosol $7.00-$200.00 per gallon
Groundhog Ecology Habitat Woods, meadows, fields, landscaped areas Home range 0.5-0.75 acres Food habits Grasses, vegetables, landscaping, crops
Identifying Groundhog Damage Browse damage Circular to semi-circular pattern Typically eat vegetation to ground level Gnaw or claw woody vegetation Burrowing damage 1 to 1.5 foot diameter hole Mound of dirt near entrance Physical presence Look for burrow
Legalities of Ground Hog Control May kill ground hogs any time damage occurs Legal to use Shotguns 10 ga. Or smaller Bow Centerfire/rimfire rifle Muzzleloading rifles/shotguns
Ground Hog Control Shooting Fumigants (carbon monoxide, aluminum phosphide) Gas cartridges present a potential fire hazard Aluminum phosphide is a registered use pesticide Aluminum phosphide for outdoor use on noncropland/orchards
Ground Hog Control Woven wire fencing Should be at least 3 feet high and buried 10-12 inches deep Bend bottom and top of fence outward Electric fencing Trapping Only live traps legal in NJ $58.00-$86.00 per trap
Rabbit Ecology Habitat Brushy areas, old fields, woods, landscaped areas Home range 1 to 14 acres (5 acres average) Food habits Grasses, flowers, forbs, fruits, berries, vegetables, woody vegetation
Identifying Rabbit Damage Vegetation cleanly snipped at 45 o angle Woody vegetation may be girdled Bark may be gnawed Look for round sawdust-like droppings
Rabbit Damage Prevention and Control Exclusion Fencing 2 foot high non-plastic material 1 inch or smaller mesh Tree guards Hardware cloth 0.25-0.75 inch mesh Place 1 to 2 inches away from tree
Rabbit Damage Prevention and Control Habitat modification Remove cover Manage habitat for predators Repellents Contact (Thiram-based) or area (mothball) Variable effectiveness Can be costly Much vigilance required
Rabbit Damage Prevention and Control Trapping Home-made or commercial live traps Shooting Seasons set by NJDFW
Squirrel Ecology Habitat Hardwood/mixed forests with nut trees Home range 1 to 3 acres Food habits Fruits, nuts, buds, berries, seeds, flowers, cones
Identifying Squirrel Damage Chew bark and nip twigs on woody ornamentals Eat planted seeds, fruits, or grains Eat bird seed from feeders Dig holes in yard Enter buildings and nest in attics Look for tracks, physical presence, food signs
Squirrel Damage Prevention and Control Exclusion Metal collars around trees, poles, etc 2 foot wide 6 feet above ground PVC pipe over wires Close openings to buildings 0.5 inch wire mesh 1 way doors on squirrel excluders Custom mesh fencing with electric wire(s)
Squirrel Damage Prevention and Control Habitat modification Trim limbs 6 to 8 feet away from buildings Provide alternative food sources Repellents Moth balls, Ro-pel, capsaicin, polybutenes Trapping Shooting Seasons set by NJDFW
Mole Ecology Habitat Eastern mole Open fields, lawns, gardens, sometimes woods Well-drained loose soils Star-nosed mole Wet woods, fields, swamps
Mole Ecology Home range 0.5 to 2 acres Food habits Eastern mole Worms, grubs, and insects Star-nosed mole Worms, grubs, insects (terrestrial and aquatic)
Eastern mole Identifying Mole Damage Surface and deep tunnels Star-nosed mole Burrows in muck, with 2 to 2.5 inch openings into streams, ponds, and lakes Openings surrounded by dirt mounds
Mole Damage Prevention and Control Exclusion Not very practical Use sheet metal, wood, brick Bury fences at least 12 inches deep Bend bottom of fence outward at 90 degree angle
Mole Damage Prevention and Control Habitat modification Pack soil Reduce soil moisture content Reduce food source (IPM, insecticides, etc ) Toxicants Chlorophacinone
Mole Damage Prevention and Control Fumigants Aluminum phosphide Gas cartridges Trapping Very successful and practical Scissor-jawed, harpoon, or choker loop traps Live trapping is possible
Vole Ecology Habitat Meadow vole Wet meadows, grasslands Pine vole Deciduous and coniferous forests, abandoned field, orchards
Vole Ecology Home range 0.25 acres Food habits Grasses, forbs, seeds, tubers, bulbs, flowers, bark, vegetables, crops (root, leafy, grain)
Identifying Vole Damage Girdling and gnawing of woody vegetation Meadow vole builds surface runways 1 to 2 inches in diameter Vegetation in tunnel clipped short Feces and grass clipping found in runways Pine vole builds underground tunnels
Vole Damage Prevention and Control Exclusion Hardware cloth cylinders protect seedlings 0.25 inch mesh or smaller Bury bottom of cylinder 6 inches deep Habitat modification Eliminate weeds and heavy ground cover Mow grassy areas regularly Clear mulch away from trees
Vole Damage Prevention and Control Repellents Meadow voles Thiram or capsaicin Toxicants (hand-placed) Zinc phosphide Hazardous to ground-feeding birds Anti-coagulants Slow acting (5 to 15 days) Trapping
Black Bear Ecology Habitat Mixed hardwood forests, dense swaps, forested wetlands Home range 2 to 60 square miles Food habits Berries, nuts, tubers, wood fiber, insects, small mammals, eggs, carrion, ag crops, livestock, beehives, garbage
Identifying Black Bear Damage Broken trees and limbs (especially in orchards) Chewed or clawed bark, sometimes hanging in strips Large, localized areas of trampled crops Broken beehives Livestock predation Deep tooth marks on neck Possible claw marks on the shoulders and sides
Identifying Black Bear Damage Scat 2 to 6 inch segments May contain insects, grass, leaf litter, berries, wood, and hair Tracks 5 toes and claws, and large heel pad Track can be up to 6 to 7 inches long and 4 inches wide
Black Bear Damage Prevention and Control Exclusion Portable electric fences Permanent welded-wire fence Bear-proofing buildings and containers Elevated platforms (15 to 20 feet above ground)
Black Bear Damage Prevention and Control Habitat modification Place livestock pens, beehives, and crops at least 50 yards from protective cover Frightening Lights, loud noises, dogs Repellents Capsaicin spray
Black Bear Damage Prevention and Control Trapping Culvert traps Contact NJDFW Shooting Depredation permits Contact NJDFW Public education
Additional Sources of Information Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension Refer to the blue pages of your local phone book www.rcre.rutgers.edu www.deer.rutgers.edu New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Control Unit: 908-735-8793 www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services 908-735-5654 US Fish and Wildlife Service: Migratory Bird Permits 413-253-8643
Additional Sources of Information Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Cooperative Extension University of Nebraska Great Plains Agricultural Council USDA-APHIS-Animal Damage Control http://icwdm.org/handbook/index.asp