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Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management

Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. www.icwdm.org Fact Sheets on Raccoons and Skunks - Info on baits, traps to use, and where to place traps. Groundhog Damage. Groundhog Damage. Options for Managing Groundhog Damage. Lethal Control Hunting/shooting Legal year round

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Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management

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  1. Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management www.icwdm.org Fact Sheets on Raccoons and Skunks - Info on baits, traps to use, and where to place traps

  2. Groundhog Damage

  3. Groundhog Damage

  4. Options for Managing Groundhog Damage • Lethal Control • Hunting/shooting • Legal year round *** Fumigation • Illegal without a permit from USDA Wildlife Services • 1-866-487-3297 • Trapping • Exclusion • Harassment • Repellents

  5. Groundhog Den System • Winter dens in woods, among cover • One opening • Abandoned after hibernation • Spring and summer dens in open areas • Edges of woods, old fields, crop fields • Typically 2 openings • Main entrance – fresh soil mound • Escape hole – often well concealed • Diameter 8-15”, 2-4’ underground, 15-24’ long • Look for well worn trails leading to feeding areas • They usually stay close to their dens and actively excavate them

  6. Groundhog Dens

  7. Groundhog Den System

  8. Groundhog Trapping Info • March 1st – Sept. 30th (hibernating Oct. - Feb.) • Locate dens during spring (early spring - young born April – May) • Easier to find – less vegetation and freshly dug out • Other rules and restrictions: • Body gripping trap less than 7 x 7 inches • No more than 3 feet away from hole • Must have enclosure or structure around trap to prevent other animals from getting in from outside

  9. For keeping them out of your gardens: Two-strand electric fence works well 1000-2000 volts, one wire at 6”, one wire at 12” Groundhog and Raccoon Exclusion

  10. Harassment and Repellents • Fill dens with rocks • Most will leave after several weeks • Area repellent: Coyote urine • Taste repellent: Capsaicin

  11. Is it a Mole or a Vole? Moles Voles

  12. Some Options Just Don’t Work!

  13. Management Options for Mole Damage • Trapping • Several types of traps • All are effective if used properly • All are lethal • Best to trap during spring or fall • Ground is damp and easy to move in • Place traps in straightest runways

  14. The Good News About Trapping • In small areas, may only be dealing with several moles • 2-3/acre on average • May mean neighborly cooperation is necessary

  15. Management Options forMole Damage • Repellents • None have been proven effective under rigorous standards • Castor oil based • Toxic bait • Talpirid and TomCat Mole Killer • Bait in the form of worm • Effectiveness not proven by scientific study • Try it with an open mind and advise landowners to read the label!

  16. Vole Damage

  17. Management Options for Vole Damage • Exclusion • Hardware cloth cylinders • ¼ - 1/8 inch opening • Not cost effective for large areas • Habitat Modification • Eliminate areas with dense grassy cover • Keep grass cut very short into the fall • Toxic baits • Grain pellets available – but be cautious of non-target species • Pre-bait with untreated grains • Trapping • Snap traps baited with peanut butter and oatmeal • Place them at mouth of tunnels

  18. Cyclic populations ~3-4 years Voles: Boom and Bust Population Cycles

  19. WHO IS THE CULPRIT??

  20. Squirrel Damage • Stripping bark from trees • Entering homes and nesting in attics • Chewing • Digging and searching in yard and flower beds

  21. Management Options for Squirrel Damage • Exclusion • Wrap tree trunk w/18” wide sheet metal placed 4 feet above ground • Polybutenes on surfaces – sticky substance • Trap then seal entrances • Trapping • Must release at least 3 miles away • Repellents • Taste repellents work best • Ropel (bitter) • Cayenne pepper • Powder (sprinkle in flower beds) • Mixed with Vaseline (smooth over wood surfaces) • Alternate food source • Run risk of attracting more squirrels

  22. What about Chipmunks? • Best techniques • Trapping most practical in homeowner situations • Live catch traps • Snap traps • Baits: nuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, peanut butter, breakfast cereal grains • Pre-baiting helps • Capsaicin repellents • Cayenne pepper • Most rat poisons NOT labeled for use on chipmunks • Letter permit required to euthanize chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits • From Division of Wildlife

  23. WHO IS THE CULPRIT??

  24. General Home Exclusions Advice • Raccoons, opossums, squirrels, groundhogs, bats • Seal off all foundation openings • Wire mesh, sheet metal, concrete • For diggers – bury 8” into ground • Cap chimneys for raccoons • They are strong than you think! • Prevent roof access • Trim near by branches • Remove trellis

  25. Home Exclusions Advice • NEVER seal an opening without know if it is empty or not! • Raccoons, skunks, woodchucks • Young will be born and out by August – September • Bats • Must wait until October to seal entrances • Always use exclusion devices • www.batcon.org for more info • Late fall is a safe bet for all home exclusions • To be sure…employ the flour trick or newspaper test

  26. Safely Excluding Bats • Look for entrance point(s): • Emergence at dusk • Dark stain from body oils

  27. White Nose Syndrome More Info: www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html

  28. We Are Running Out of Time! Just a little bit longer? No? How about some food then??

  29. Honeybee Contact Info • Northwest Beekeepers Associations • http://nwoba.honeyrunapiaries.com/ • Contact: Tim Arheit tarheit@honeyrunapiaries.com • Ohio State Beekeepers Association • Click ‘Swam Removal’ • Search by zip code

  30. Canada Goose Fact Sheet

  31. Golden Rules of Wildlife Damage Management • Never seal off a hole without making sure it’s empty • Never use kill traps where pets could be captured • Read all instruction on repellent labels…and follow them • Hunger will override any bad taste, smell, or fear • Use your toolbox – multiple methods used simultaneously are always better than one • Be persistent and attentive – the sooner you catch the culprit, the better

  32. Web Resources • Wildlife Damages Manual • http://www.icwdm.org/handbook/index.asp • Wildlife management info • http://www.wildlifemanagement.info/ • OSU Extension Publications • www.woodlandstewards.com • Extension Wildlife Damages Website • http://www.extension.org/wildlife+damage+management

  33. My Contact Info Marne Titchenell titchenell.4@osu.edu 614-292-0402

  34. Thanks and Question Time!

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