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All About Discovery! ™ New Mexico State University aces.nmsu.edu Integrated Wildlife Damage Management: For Master Gardeners in New Mexico
Master Gardeners 2018
Samuel T. Smallidge Wildlife Specialist Cooperative Extension Service
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is an engine for economic and community development in New Mexico, improving the lives of New Mexicans through academic, research, and extension programs. Outline Introduction Species 1. Pocket gophers 2. Squirrels 3. Skunks 4. Rabbits 5. Snakes 6. Birds 7. Bats http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_L www.icwdm.com Integrated Wildlife Damage Management Principles of Wildlife Management
Appropriate use Follow label Check local, state, and federal laws/regulations. Humane dispatch
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound cure.” Multiple and Integrated Methods 2 FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGIES
HABITAT MANAGEMENT Food Water Shelter
POPULATION MANAGEMENT Direct Indirect △N = +B +I –D –E Wildlife Damage Management Steps to Consider:
(1)Define and identify problem; • What is the damage? Quantify amount ($). Identify species. Cost-benefit analysis (2) Understand problem species; • Nocturnal or diurnal? Carnivore or herbivore? Migratory? (3) Evaluation of control method(s); (4) Apply control method(s). (5) Monitor progress & adapt effort accordingly MONITORING
“if you can’t monitor it, you can’t manage it”
-old adage from old unknown source BIOLOGICAL YEAR
Integration
NO CONTROL Habitat Mod. Exclusion Baiting CONTROL Fumigation Harassment CONTROL Repellants
CONTROL Trapping Shooting Pocket Gophers in NM
Yellow-faced pocket gopher (Cratogeomys castanops)
Botta’s pocket gopher Northern pocket gopher Southern pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) (Thomomys talpoides) (Thomomys umbrinus)
Plains pocket gopher Desert pocket gopher Jones pocket gopher (Geomus bursarius) (Geomys arenarius) (Geomys knoxjonesi) Pocket Gophers
Illustrations and distributions courteous Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Gopher Burrow System
Burrow systems:1-2 main tunnels;4 to 18 in. below surface; lateral burrows for foraging, defecating, nesting, food cache. Rate of mound building highly variable; R.O.T. ~ 1 to 3/day, up to 70/month; correlated with rainfall; quickly seal openings 6-8/acre OR 63 may = high densities Illustration courtesy of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Gopher Damage
Consume roots of saplings (pos. girdle) Tunnels divert water Undermine irrigation infrastructure Gnaw water lines Damage equipment if burrows collapse Potential Gopher Benefits
Increase soil fertility by adding organic matter Soil cycling – 1 t/y Increase soil aeration and decrease soil compaction Increase water infiltration Gopher Habitat Modification • remove weeds to create an unsuitable buffer strip • mechanical or chemical modification • adjacent to areas experiencing consistent damage
Planting 50-foot buffer strips of grain around hay fields to discourage gopher immigration
Flooding -
In garden, try marigolds, narcissus, and daffodils Gopher Exclusion
Expensive and has limited practicality
Fence valued ornamental shrubs or trees • 1/4 or 1/2 inch hardware cloth buried at least 18-24 inches
(Drawings by Jenifer Rees.)
Finding the tunnels Locate main runway Find freshest mound 4-12 in. behind plug 15 to 18 inches from mound Patience, skill, experience key Finding Gopher Tunnels
Illustrations courtesy of the University of California Cooperative Extension Fumigants
• aluminum phosphide (RUP): effective
• gas cartridges (nRUP): not as effective
efficacy related to soil moisture. Fumigants Prohibited: residential properties, nursing homes, schools (except athletic fields), day care facilities, and hospitals. within 100 feet of a building that is or may be occupied by people or domestic animals.
DANGER/PELIGRO Image of skull and crossbones, DO NOT ENTER/NO ENTRE, FIELD NOT FOR USE name and EPA registration number of the fumigant, & a 24-hour emergency response number.
Signs may be removed 2 days after the final treatment. Fumigant Management Plans required Pressurized Exhaust Rodent Control PERC Propane Exploder
Mixture of propane and oxygen • Built-in, self contained ignition system ignites mixture creating underground shockwave or concussion • May collapse burrow system Toxic Baits Anticoagulants Acute
Diphacinone Zinc phosphide (RUP) (RUP) Chlorophacinone Strychnine (nRUP/RUP) (nRUP/RUP)
Multiple feedings Single feedings Bait Applied Underground
Follow label Apply rec. amount of bait
April-May Late September – Early October Baiting
Thorough training ~ doubled efficiency rates for bait applications.
15 min. = 27% efficiency 90 min. = 58% efficiency
1. Ensure bait is in active tunnel (acitve v. backfilled). 2. Regular check application equipment for clogging.
Baldwin 2014 Trapping Gophers
Effective on small or large infested areas or as supplement control
A) Macabee B) Victor C) D-K 1 D) Guardian Trapping Gophers
Mound Set & Main Tunnel Set Tunnel no wider than trap-jaw width Trapping Trap all the way in the tunnel Bed the trap Trapping 92% Alum. Phosphide 84% PERC 62% Baldwin et al. 2013a
Gophinator > Macabee Covered sets late spring/early summer (no diff. autumn) Covered sets = > T req. (Diff. in captures not enough) Ag. setting don’t cover sets Baldwin et al. 2013b
No Sig.Diff. for Peanut Butter, anise, grapefuit essence, carrot w/o attractant - uncovered > covered PB/covered sets yielded heavier pocket gophers (mop-up/breeders) Baldwin et al. 2014
As time affords. . .
Audience Selection Audience Selection
1. Squirrels 2. Skunks 3. Rabbits 4. Snakes 5. Birds 6. Bats http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_L www.icwdm.com Ground Squirrels
Rock squirrel (Spermophilus variegatus) NM Thirteen-lined ground squirrel (S. tridecemlineatus) NM Spotted ground squirrel (S. spilosoma) NM Golden-mantled ground squirrel (S. lateralis) NM Antelope ground squirrel (Ammospermophilus spp.) NM Spermophilus lateralis
S. spilosoma Ammospermophilus spp. Ground Squirrel Identification
• Forage above ground near burrows • 9-11 inches in length (5-9 inches tails) • Variable coloration (grays, blacks, browns, whites) • May look like tree squirrels (& climb trees) – will always seek shelter in burrow. Ground & Tree Squirrels & Chipmunks
Illustrations courteous of Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Ground Squirrel Burrows
Burrows: Open; multiple entrances (~4” dia.) never plugged with soil at surface (hib./est.) Maybe complex Colonial species Active during day (mid-morning; late afternoon) Ground Squirrel Diet
Herbivore/Omnivore OR Omnivore/Herbivore change w/ season green vegetation during growing season Seeds, grains, nuts, fruit (when grasses dry up) Also insects, bird eggs, baby mice, carrion
Usually forage close to burrow (range 30 – 150+ yds) Ground Squirrel Damage Ag crops (fruits), home gardens, recreational areas, Girdle trees, damage roots (decreased productivity) Gnaw on plastic sprinkler heads, irrigation lines Burrows divert irrigation water, increase erosion
Photos courtesy UCD Extension Ground Squirrel Control Control method influenced by life cycle and behavior.
Illustration courtesy UCD Cooperative Extension Squirrel Control Methods
Exclusion Fences: not practical can dig beneath fences buried several ft deep expensive Sheet metal cylinders around tree trunks
Frightening techniques not effective Chemical & odor repellents generally not effective Trapping
-Trapping can be effective in reducing low to moderate squirrel populations -Try baiting with banana and/or peanut butter; walnuts, almonds, slice of orange or melon. Fumigants
gas cartridges (GUP)
CO, CO2, other nail to stir insert fuse & light deep placement & plug burrow entrance
** efficacy related to soil moisture. gas cartridges Squirrel Fumigants
Alum. Phosphide (RUP) Gas Cartridges (GUP)
Most effective following squirrel emergence from hibernation - before the squirrels reproduce Toxicants
Rodenticides labeled for species Read the label Reference label for correct dosage and proper application Consider Non-target risk ZP - Pre-baiting increases efficacy Rodenticide-treated bait hand applied Shooting/Hunting Labor intensive, but potentially effective
Shot over squirrels become vary wary
Follow local laws (no shooting w/in city limits) Skunks
New Mexico is home to the Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis) Hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus mesoleucus) Hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura) New Mexico Skunks
Spotted Hog-nosed Hooded Striped
Variety of habitats: farmland, grasslands, ravines, rocky outcrops, fence lines, woodlots, forest edges. Key is food supply and denning sites/cover. Illustrations and distributions courteous Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Skunk Diet
Omnivorous; diet depends on season Feed on insects (beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, grubs) Earthworms, snails, clams, crayfish, frogs Mice, voles, moles, rats, squirrels Bird eggs, carrion, garbage Variety of wild fruits Skunk Populations On average move 0.6-2 miles depending on season and geographic location
Densities vary but are highest in early summer as juvenile skunks become active Skunk Diseases
Major vector of rabies Account for 20% of rabies cases in the US Skunks with rabies may be extremely docile or exhibit extreme aggression Very susceptible to canine distemper virus, leptospirosis, and infectious canine hepatitis Leptospirosis is a widespread bacterial disease to which humans are also susceptible Skunk Damage Ranging from nuisance to economic damage • Digging in lawns, golf courses, gardens for grubs and invertebrates • Denning under residential buildings • Odor can be noxious to humans Skunk Habitat Modification
Proper garbage & (pet) food storage and disposal Attracted to rodents and denning sites • Barns, crawl spaces, sheds, garages • Debris such as lumber, fence posts, junk cars • Remove fallen fruits, nuts and etc. . Clean up and seal off • wire mesh, sheet metal, or concrete • Fencing with 3 inch mesh buried 1.5 - 2 feet Skunk Repellents
No registered repellents
Moth balls or flakes (paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene)
Ammonia-soaked cloths
Repellents only a temporary measure Skunk Behavior
Normally docile, nonagressive, and usually flee
If provoked will face adversary and discharge their musk Musk may be expelled as a fine spray or as droplets to a range of 10-16 ft
Spray myths… Trapping Skunks
Box traps Canned cat food Broken raw egg reduce non-target catches Use canvas to cover trap before setting Dispatch or released • Transport at least 10 miles Odor Removal
Pets and People • 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide • ¼ cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) • 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap • Mix and bathe thoroughly • Rinse with tap water and repeat as necessary Skunks
New Mexico is home to the Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis) Hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus mesoleucus) Hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura) Rabbits NM Rabbits Species found in New Mexico Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) Nuttall’s Cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttalli) Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus auduboni) White-tailed Jack Rabbit (Lepus townsendii) Black-tailed Jack Rabbit (Lepus californicus) Cottontail Habitat Wide variety of disturbed, early successional, or shrub-dominated habitats with abundant forage and dense understory cover Jackrabbit Habitat
In NM, black-tailed occupy desert shrub communities dominated by mesquite, snakeweed, & soap-tree yucca. Cottontail and Jackrabbit Diet
Diet influenced by seasonal availability Prefer green vegetation when available Herbaceous plants during growing season; woody species during dormant season • Buds, bark, small twigs, mesquite leaves and seedpods Rabbit Damage
Damage by cottontails and jackrabbits similar Vegetable gardens especially susceptible Ornamental trees and shrubs susceptible to overbrowsing, girdling, and stripping of bark . High populations can damage rangelands Rabbit Exclusion
Best garden insurance is a tight poultry wire fence • 1-inch-mesh wire 24 to 36 inches high • Cut tall grass, weeds, and brush near the garden
Protect young trees and shrubs with hardware cloth cylinder • 1-inch-mesh
Illustration from: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage. Editors, S. E. Hygnstrom, R.M. Timm, G.E. Larson. 1994. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 2 vols. Rabbit Control
Trapping best method in cities, parks, urban areas • Cold weather bait: dried alfalfa, clover • Warm weather bait: apples, carrots, cabbage
Chemical repellents • Discourage browsing but provide only temporary No toxicants or fumigants registered Shooting (considered nongame in NM); However license required for nonresidents Snakes NM Snakes
46 species of snakes in New Mexico 8 poisonous species in New Mexico 7 Rattlesnakes and Coral snake Western diamondback Black-tailed Western (prairie) Massasauga Ridgenose Rock Mojave
Photo by E.K. Schafhauser Snake Biology
Nature’s most efficient mousetrap Help keep rodent pests in check
Become inactive during very hot and cold times of day and season
Rely on behavior to regulate body temperature Seek shade during hot part of day, sun themselves in warm open areas on cool days Snakes
Unproven home remedies: • Moth balls, sulfur, lime, cayenne pepper
No fumigants or poisons registered
No effective snake repellent
Modify the environment is effective Likely Places to Find Snakes
Firewood and haystacks Old lumber or junk piles Gardens and flower beds with heavy mulch Untrimmed shrubs near foundation Unmowed lawns Pond and stream banks with debris or trash Cluttered basements and attics with rodent, bird, or bat problems Modify Habitat
Lawns kept clean and closely mowed Remove rock, junk, and trash piles Trim shrubs above 12 inches from ground Stack firewood on rack 12 inches from ground Keep dog and cat food cleaned up Removal small rodents Prevent Snakes Entering Home
Check foundation for cracks and openings 1/4 inch or larger Use mortar to plug holes Use 1/8 inch hardware cloth or sheet metal seal holes and cracks in wood Seal cracks and opening around windows, doors, pipes, and wiring with caulk Snake Bites
~45,000 snakebites/year in U.S.
~ 8,000 by a venomous snake
However, very few individuals die from a venomous snakebite Snake Bites: What to Do (from Juckett, G., and J, Hancox. 2001. Venomous Snakebites in the United States: Management Review and Update. American Family Physician 65:1367-74,1377.)
1. Safe location
2. Seek emergency medical attention
Keep victim calm and minimize activity
Immobilize the limb
Remove jewelry or tight clothing (in case of swelling) Snake Bites: What NOT to Do (from Juckett, G., and J, Hancox. 2001. Venomous Snakebites in the United States: Management Review and Update. American Family Physician 65:1367-74,1377.)
Do not “cut and suck”.
Do not ice.
Do not use electrical shocks.
Do not use alcohol.
Do not use a tourniquet or constriction band.
Do not try to catch or kill the snake; Glueboard Birds Pigeons (aka Rock Dove)
Highly dependent on humans Primarily grain and seed eaters Droppings deface buildings and properties Consume large quantities of food and feed destined for human or livestock consumption May carry and transmit diseases to people and livestock through droppings (e.g. Salmonella) Not federally protected Pigeon & Disease
Encephalitis Newcastle Disease Cryptococcosis Toxoplasmosis Salmonella Histoplasmosis Control Nuisance Birds
Remove & exclude daily requirements
European startling Use a variety of excluding & repelling (Sturnus vulgaris) methods simultaneously
Plant selection: avoid edible nuts, fruits, berries
Reduce house sparrows: • feed only black, oil-type sunflower seeds • discontinue feeding in spring, summer, early fall . Water sources attract starlings and others Exclusion (Prevent Nesting or Roosting)
Nylon or plastic netting, plywood, sheet metal, ¼ wire mesh on rafters, under hangs, vents, plants, steeples, etc.
Sticky nontoxic repellents (e.g. ledges, roof beams) (Tanglefoot, Roost-No-More) (messy, collect dirt, reapplication necessary) Exclusion (Prevent Nesting or Roosting)
Wire Prongs or Bird Spikes
4, 6 & 8” Frightening Devices
Alarm and distress calls Exploding shells Gas exploders Balloons with big “eyes” Water sprays
Hawk silhouettes
Flashing lights
YES for starlings and blackbirds; NO for house sparrows and pigeons Most effective: move visual & noisemakers (and persistence) Netting or Trapping Birds
Live traps for house sparrows include • Funnel traps • Nest box traps • Mist nets Protected songbirds can be released
Prebait with cracked corn 1 to 2 weeks
Check with local Game and Fish Dept. for local trapping regulations SWALLOWS
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Cave Swallow (Pertochelidon fulva) Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) Violet-green Swallow (T. thalassina) Purple Martin (Progne subis) Northern Roughwinged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) Cliff Swallow (P. pyrrhonota) Health Issues & Swallows
Not known to be a significant source of any infectious disease transmittable to humans or domestic animals Swallow habitat
1.Open area for foraging (insectivores; range 4 mi.) 2.Suitable surface for nest construction (overhang or ledge) 3.Supply of mud 4.Fresh water for drinking
Human structures have increased the number and distribution of suitable nesting sites. Swallow Biology and Behavior
N migration – mid-March to mid-April
Homing tendency - CS arrive w/in ~ 24 hours - possibly staggered w/ large colonies
CS colonies often abandoned after a few years – thought to be response of heavy insect infestations Swallow Biology and Behavior
Nest Constrcution M & F construct nests usu. 1-2 weeks to build (w/in ~ ½ mile) 900-1400 mud pellet/nest
Egg laying (CS) 1/d usu. 3-4/clutch late-Mar through early May M & F incubate eggs 12-16 d for CS 13-17 d for BS
Fledge: CS 20-25d BS 17-24d post-hatch CS may raise 2 broods/y NEST REMOVAL
Permit required to disturb occupied nests.
No permit required to remove unoccupied nests
Knock nests down as they are being built – consistent effort required for success Nest failure common so birds persistent -annual vigilance needed
- Habitat Modification: smooth surfaces less attractive (fiberglass panels) Swallow Exclusion Woodpeckers in NM
Northern flicker, Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Red-bellied sapsucker, Red-headed woodpecker
Listed as migratory, nongame birds and protected by state and federal laws
Permits must be obtained from USFWS before live trapping or killing woodpeckers • Migratory Bird Office (505) 248-7882
Illustration from WhatBird.com Woodpecker Control
Exclusion- effective in preventing damage to wood & stucco siding using: • ¾ inch mesh netting (for overhanging eaves) • metal sheathing • ¼-inch hardware . Repellents • Hawk, falcon, owl silhouettes • Plastic strips • Noise makers • Water sprinklers • Taste and odor repellents BATS Order Chiroptera
• approximately 1,000 species of bats • only Rodentia has more species
Colonial bats: little brown bat; big brown bat; Mexican free-tailed bat; pallid bat; Yuma bat
Most often encountered around human-built structures
Solitary bats: red bat; silver-haired bat; hoary bat
typically roost in tree foliage or under bark, occasionally in buildings BENEFITS
Bats are insectivorous and are capable of consuming ½ their body weight in insects per night
A large colony is capable of eating tons of insect annually
Bats pollinate trees and cacti (including Agave plants)
DAMAGE
Occupy attics, spaces between walls, unused area in upper stories of buildings
Guano and urine create bad odor and may have health risks associated with them. If you have a large accumulation of guano – contact a professional to clean up the mess.
Histoplasma capsulatum (Histoplasmosis, airborne transmission) Neurotropic lyssavirus (Rabies, 6% prevalence nationally) BATS
Urban & Feral Predators
Urban Coyotes increasing no. encounters habitat modification remove food & shelter sources small children always attended
Feral Dogs
Feral Cats Sam Smallidge Wildlife Specialist [email protected] 575-646-5944 Extension Animal Sciences & Natural Resources Department
Cooperative Extension Service, College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
Extension Wildlife Publications online:
http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_L