Home - Wildlife Damage Management BLOG

8/28/2008

Turkey populations are growing substantially around many parts of the country. Responsible wildlife management coupled with changes in land use have allowed turkey numbers to dramatically increase. Of course, whenever, numbers of anything increase, there are bound to be conflicts.

Turkeys are no different. Farmers have complained that turkeys damaged their crops. Homeowners have claimed that turkeys have ruined their grass searching for insects.

Recent research, however, raises doubts about these claims. In a two year study, Purdue University Extension educator Brian MacGowan and his co-authors have found that turkeys are frequently blamed for damage that was actually caused by other animals. Their publication "Truths and Myths about Wild Turkey (Publication # FNR-264-W) says that turkeys are accused of causing the problems because landowners can see them. They found that turkeys do feed on grain and corn but typically are just gleaning the left-overs of deer, raccoon and other species. The same goes for turf damage. The authors said, it is rare for turkeys to scratch undisturbed turf. Typically they work grass that has already been assaulted by skunks and raccoons.

It is important to note that turkeys can impact human interests. Their roosts in suburban areas can leave a great deal of unsightly excrement beneath them. The ICWDM has received one complaint about turkey pecking has broken the side-mirrors of cars. Turkeys damage vehicle paint by pecking also. Information on the management of these problems can be found at Turkey Damage Management

Posted at 10:42 AM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: Species | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

8/20/2008

Black-Footed Ferrets and Plague

If one just thought of the title of the U.S. Geological Service (USGS), it would be understandable if you thought that the Federal agency just handled rocks and maps. However, that would be quite wrong.

The USGS also does a great deal of work in the area of animal diseases including those potentially dangerous to humans. A recent press release discusses their work in protecting the endangered Black-Footed ferret. Ferrets are highly susceptible to sylvatic plague which is a bacteria disease transmitted by fleas. From time to time, plague outbreaks occur in the prairie dog towns used by ferrets to both live and hunt in.

Recently, researchers have developed a vaccine capable of protecting ferrets against the plague. They even can inoculate the ferrets by treating bait that would be eaten by the ferrets. Although the drug isn't quite ready for prime time yet, it is encouraging to see that it is another tool in the fight to protect ferrets from extinction.

Readers can learn more about this program, including photos of ferret trapping at Ferret Vaccine

Ferret Photos

Posted at 1:12 PM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: Species | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

7/28/2008

Problem Animals: Domestic or Wild?

One of the most difficult aspects for Wildlife Control Operators (WCOs) is the legalities of domestic animals that become a nuisance. For example, under ordinary circumstances, house cats, (Felis domesticus) are domesticated animals and therefore are not typically allowed to be trapped and controlled by WCOs.

The situation becomes more tricky when we are talking about feral cats, namely house cats that are not "owned" by anyone. Is the cat a wild animal or a domesticated animal? The answer makes all the difference. For if it is a domestic animal than most wildlife licenses don't permit the control of domestic animals. If it is wild, then WCOs can work to get the species on their license.

The fact is, however, that the government has not made the distinction clear. Various cat lobbies also muddy the waters bey saying that so called Trap, neuter, and release programs are the proper way to deal with feral cat colonies. I am not going to explain why I believe that solution is a bad one. But I will say, that even if this policy is adopted, how does it help landowners who want to stop stray cats from defecating in their gardens, bushes and attacking birds by their feeders?

Clearly something needs to be done. Until that day comes, I would suggest that WCOs think twice before accepting a job controlling feral domesticated species. For the risks of such activity are very great. Stephen Vantassel

Posted at 3:52 PM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: WCO Business Topics | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

7/14/2008

Possible Repellent for Pocket Gophers

Visitors to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management know that the Center does not push the use of repellents. The reason we don't stems from the fact that repellents frequently fail to work the way the public wants them to. The public's expectations of repellents is just too high. Repellents (namely the ones actually shown by research to work) under the best of conditions frequently only reduce rather than eliminate damage.

Nevertheless, I came across an article that might be of interest to readers. It was written by Epple, G.; Niblick, H.; Lewis, S.; Nolte, D.L.; Campbell, D.L.; Mason, J.R. and published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology May 1996. v. 22 (5), p. 1013-1025.

The title was "Pine needle oil causes avoidance behaviors in pocket gopher Geomys bursarius." Geomys bursarius is the scientific name for the Plains Pocket Gopher, largest pocket gopher in the U.S. What the researchers found was that essential oils from coniferous trees contain chemicals that cause plant eating animals (herbivores) to avoid them and these oils did reduce plains pocket gopher feeding.

Now before you get too excited, a word of caution. First, the studies were done under lab conditions. While laboratory settings are necessary to determine if a product works at all, readers should know that sometimes, what works in the lab doesn't translate to the field. Second, the researchers noted that activity was reduced, NOT eliminated.

Nevertheless, perhaps this research will stimulate someone to continue the research. Wildlife control is an interesting field because as ideas come forward, they frequently stimulate thinking for others and sometimes, real breakthroughs are made.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Posted at 1:20 PM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: Wildlife Control Methods | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

7/10/2008

Misguided Wildlife Control Techniques

Americans love technology. The advances of science, and the conveniences it has wrought, has given rise to the belief that technology can solve everything. In the broad sense, technology can solve a lot of problems. Technology is essentially the study of how to manipulate materials to achieve a certain goal.

The problem, however, comes when people equate technology with easy and simple. Take wildlife control for example. The public believes that ultrasound will drive nuisance animals from a given location. The research, at least the research that I am familiar with, says that ultrasound is not effective in performing that task. To look it up yourself visit Ultrasound Research. By the way, we welcome any information that passes scientific muster which shows that ultrasound is effective for any wildlife problem.

The unfortunate fact is that, at least for wildlife damage management, if the technique sounds too simple or easy, it probably won't work. To highlight the various misguided control techniques, the ICWDM has created pages discussing these techniques and explaining why they don't work. We hope you will check them out by vising our site ICWDM. We also welcome your contributions and suggestions to add to our list.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Posted at 10:59 AM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: Wildlife Control Methods | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

7/1/2008

Wildlife Damage Management and Public Safety

For professional wildlife control operators, it is deemed unprofessional to use fear to sell one's services. We believe that using the fear tactic is exploitive of customers and unnecessarily creates an antagonism between humans and other organisms in the environment.

However, it could very well be that we may not have been too cautious as a profession. Given the hatred expressed against wildlife control by various protest industry groups and the public's resultant antagonism, perhaps nuisance wildlife control operators (NWCOs) should be emphasizing the risks wildlife pose against human interests.

The recent and tragic levee collapse in Missouri is one example of the way a little muskrat can cause such devastation (for story see Missouri Levee Collapse due to Muskrat) Of course, the Dutch have known the risks posed by muskrats for years. They have professional trappers working year round to control muskrats and thereby protect their levees.

Ground squirrels were implicated in another levee collapse in Nevada that flooded scores of homes whose owners thought they were safe. (for story see Nevada Levee Break)

Ultimately, I have two points to make. First, NWCOs must do a better job in educating the public about the need for wildlife damage management. Second, the public must understand that while it may not be pleasant to think about wildlife control, the failure to perform it can have devastating consequences. In life there is no free lunch.

Posted at 10:16 AM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: Species | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

6/23/2008

Easy Gopher Control Without Poisons--Video Review

Thomas Wittman of Gopherslimited.com in California has created a splendid video describing and demonstrating his techniques for controlling pocket gophers.

We don't endorse products at the ICWDM so my comments here must be understood as my own and are not representative of the ICWDM or the Universities affiliated with this site.

Mr. Whittman was kind enough to send me a copy of his video and I had the distinct pleasure in viewing it. The video is 75 minutes long and available in DVD format. It was professionally shot and edited and viewers should be satisfied with the clarity of the video and the audio.

Whittman does a great job explaining his preferred control method, (trapping) and makes a rather persuasive case about the benefits of using the Cinch Trap. My experience with pocket gophers centers on the Macabee and the DK-1 traps. But after watching his video, I think I will have to give the Cinch trap a closer look.

The video covers a whole slew of topics from trap setting, gopher biology, and controlling gophers in agriculture and urban settings. Two things to consider when looking at the video. First, it does not delve into the business side of gopher trapping. Second, Wittman is trapping California pocket gophers which are smaller than gophers in the great plains. This latter point may not be a problem, but it is just important to consider as you will need to use the larger Cinch trap (there are two versions) and there may need to be some modification to the techniques that he describes. (I would welcome your thoughts on the matter if anyone has used the Cinch trap for Geomys bursarius).

The video is priced at $39.00. Dealer pricing is also available. You can learn more about Mr. Whittman and his company at www.gopherslimited.com

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Posted at 4:31 PM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: Wildlife Control Methods | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

6/16/2008

Raccoon Roundworm

When it comes to animal threats, most people are aware of rabies. Unfortunately, few are aware of the relative risks involved in raccoon roundworm.

Raccoon roundworm, whose scientific name is Baylisascaris procyonis, is a parasite that infects raccoons and other host species. Like other worms, it has a complex life-cycle. What matters for us, however, is that humans can become infected with this creature.

The primary route for infection is through ingesting viable eggs. These eggs can only be seen with the aid of a microscope. Once the eggs are ingested, the eggs hatch with the worm burrowing through the intestinal wall. Now under ideal circumstances the worm stays in muscle tissue where no long term harm is done. However, in other scenarios, the worm will migrate to eye tissue and even brain tissue where its eating habits can lead to long-term disability or even death.

Children are particularly at risk because they frequently put their dirty hands in their mouths. The bottom line is this. Whenever it is known that raccoons have been living in your home or creating toilettes on your property, it is imperative that the matter be treated seriously. [Raccoons have a habit of defecating in the same location thereby creating an area of incredible fecal contamination) Treat the toilettes as biological hazards. The eggs can also be airborne. So don't just roam around in an attic or stir up fecal piles without proper protection.

To learn more about raccoon roundworm visit Raccoon Roundworm Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

ICWDM

Posted at 2:14 PM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: Species | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

6/12/2008

EPA Rodenticide Ruling

NWCOs (Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators) should be aware of a new ruling by the EPA regarding rodenticide use. For many years now, the EPA (along with many activist groups) have been concerned over the risks posed by rodenticides to children and wildlife. The rodenticides under this decision include, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, bromethalin, chlorophacinone, cholecalciferol, difenacoum, difethialone, diphacinone (and its sodium salt), warfarin (and its sodium salt), and zinc phosphide. Essentially the ruling has two impacts. First, the public (meaning those who lack a pesticide license) will only be able to purchase rodenticides packaged in bait stations. The days of buying free-standing bait blocks are gone. The goal of this regulation change is to reduce the risk of poisoning children and secondarily other non-target creatures. The second impact is that the public will not be able to purchase second generation toxicants, namely brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, and difenacoum. The rationale behind this stems from growing concern over the persistence some of these rodenticides in the livers of predators, such as hawks. It is believed that these predators encounter the rodenticide by eating poisoned prey, see http://www.tufts.edu/vet/wildlife/rodenticide.html and http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/full/40/4/688 to get a taste of the research. What this ruling means for NWCO's remains to be seen. But I think a few predictions are in order. First, the public will become increasingly fearful of rodenticides. Whether this fear is rationale or not is irrelevant to the larger concern that NWCOs should consider preparing for a new market opportunity, namely rodenticide free rodent control. Second, NWCOs who chose to use rodenticides must be even more careful in its use. Greater fear means a higher risk of lawsuits. If you want to read the entire abstract and if interested, the entire report begin by visiting http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2008/June/Day-04/p12493.htm Stephen Vantassel http;//icwdm.org Copyright 2008.

Posted at 10:01 AM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: Wildlife Control Methods | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

6/5/2008

Share Your Photos

We here at the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (http://icwdm.org) provide a wide array of wildlife related photos to the public through our Content DM site. You can check it out for yourself at http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/content/custom/wildlife/wildlifesplash.php If you can't browse the collection, the problem is probably due to a conflict with your port 2000 begin used or designated to another program. (We have heard reports of some people having trouble with viewing). The Content DM site contains almost 700 images, and growing) on all aspects of wildlife damage management. We have photos of equipment, damage, scat, trapping sets, and more. We created this database so that instructors, media, individuals could have access to quality images that could help visually tell the story of wildlife damage management. Additionally, they are free to use. Imagine that. Guilt free public use provided you are giving us and the photographer credit and you are not selling them. But we are always looking for more photos. People ask us, "What do you want?" In short, everything. We want scat, tracks, hair, damage, control techniques, prevention techniques, even animals doing nothing wrong at all. We are particularly interested in vehicle strikes, bird strikes, otters, alligators, nutria, muskrat, mink, raptor, mountain beaver, bear, elk, moose, flying squirrel, spotted skunk, shrew, snake, and vulture related images. We hope you will consider helping us in our mission. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Yours in responsible wildlife damage management, Stephen Vantassel

Posted at 3:25 PM by SENECA\svantassel2 | Category: WCO Business Topics | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

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