When Animals Come to Dinner… animal control in specialty crops Dr. Christine Coker Associate Research and Extension Professor of Urban Horticulture Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center Beaumont Horticultural Unit

Outline  Basic Principles  Management Options  Types of Pests  Specific Pests and Control Strategies

Basic Principles

Habitats and Habits  The area that provides an animal with with all of its basic survival needs--  food  water  shelter  space  is known as habitat.

 Habit refers to the behavior of an individual animal or species.

Management Options

Lethal Methods  Baiting

Trapping Rabbit trapGroundhog trap

Shooting

Nonlethal Methods  Exclusion  Repellents  Frightening devices  Live trapping  Aversives

Exclusion

Scare Devices © Contech Electronics Inc Using heat and motion sensors, Critter Gitter detects animals as they enter your yard or garden. The Critter Gitter emits a startling high- pitched sound and flashes L.E.D. lights. The sudden sound and light frightens the animals away HTML Copyright© 2000 MCIC Copyright© 2000 Wildlife Control TechnologyMCICWildlife Control Technology

Battery-Powered Energizer for Pets and Gardens Fi-Shock Inc. Description: Prevents damage from animal mischief. Operates off two D-Cell batteries. Includes a mounting stake which makes for easy installation when driven into the ground. Cat & Dog Stop Contech Electronics Inc. Description: The built-in motion sensor detects the animal entering the area and emits a piercing, high decibel alarm. It startles the cat and frightens it away. Since the sound is ultrasonic you and your neighbors cannot hear it. It is also effective on dogs, squirrels and other small animals.

Repellents

What kind of critter do you have?  Below-ground  Above- and below-ground  Above-ground  Fliers

Below-Ground Pests  Moles  Pocket gophers

Moles

Mole Trap Dig a hole down to main tunnel. Make certain that hole is no larger than the trap and that it is aligned with straight section of tunnel. Build a mound in center of hole using loose soil. Place trap in hole, pushing down firmly until it rests on mound. Fill in tunnel entrances with soil. Release safety hook.

Above- and Below-ground Pests  Woodchucks  Ground squirrels  Chipmunks  Rabbits  Voles

Rabbits  Exclusion  Short fence  Repellents  Thiram  Trapping  Live trap  Scare Devices  Noisemakers  metallic flashing  Habitat Alterations  Remove brambles

Above-ground Pests  Tree squirrels  Rats and mice  Raccoons  Deer

Skunks

Opossums

Fliers  Birds  Bats

Birds

Bats © Bat Conservation International, Inc., 2002 HTML Copyright© 2000 MCIC Copyright© 2000 Wildlife Control TechnologyMCICWildlife Control Technology

Deer

Deer Physiology  Deer are ruminants  Four-chambered stomach (like cows)  Deer eat 6 to 8 lbs. of plant material each day  Deer can and will eat anything  plants, twigs, pebbles, etc.

Control Strategies

 Large-scale exclusion  Repellents  Scare devices

Large-scale Exclusion Fencing

Havahart Putrescent Egg Spray Active ingredient: Putrescent whole egg solids

XP-20 Active ingredient: Thiram

Hinder Active ingredient: Ammonium salts of higher fatty acids

Grant’s Active ingredient: benzyl diethyl[(2,6 xylyl carbomoyl) methyl] ammonium benzoate Also known as bitrex.

Ro-Pel Active ingredient: benzyl diethyl[(2,6 xylyl carbomoyl) methyl] ammonium benzoate Also known as bitrex.

Recommendations  No single treatment will solve your animal damage problem.  A combination strategy works best.

Additional Resources

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