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 trap Groundhog trap

Shooting

Nonlethal Methods

Exclusion Repellents Frightening devices Live trapping Aversives

Exclusion

Scare Devices

© Contech Electronics Inc. 1995-2002

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

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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

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

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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

Control Strategies

Large-scale exclusion Repellents Scare devices

Large-scale Exclusion

FencingFencing

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 ResourcesAdditional Resources

Twitter: @veggiedrWordPress: veggiedr.wordpress.comE-mail: christine.coker@msstate.edu