Wildlife Damage in Commercial Pecan Orchards: A Comprehensive - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Wildlife Damage in Commercial Pecan Orchards: A Comprehensive Approach Southeastern Pecan Growers Association Convention Feb. 25 th 2017 Adam T. Rohnke, MSU Extension

Overview  Understanding the biology of the problem  Integrating the biology into pecan production schedule  Understanding the law  Select species control methods

Understanding the Biology of the Problem

Biology: Habitat Four key needs of all species:  Water  Food  Shelter  Space  Any of these or combination could be the key “attractant”

Biology: Annual Cycle The stages of life  Spring = Breeding  Summer = Raising of young  Fall = Preparation for winter  Winter = Pre- breeding/survival Smith & Smith 2000

Pecan Production Schedule  ddd Penny Medders Stark Bro’s Rick Addicks

Biology Knowing your problem allows you to:  Target your management Huffington Post  Reduce harm to the animal  Reduce cost and liabilities to staff Istock Istock

Legally Speaking

Laws: Reach Out  Before you engage in any control think twice!!  Establish relationship w/ WCO and regional USDA Wildlife Services personnel  Refer to resource materials

Laws: Mammals General Guidelines Nuisance Animals in MS  Game and nuisance  Beaver animals can be controlled  Coyote legally via hunting season.  Fox (Red and Gray)  Must use implement of that given season.  Nutria  Outside of season you will  Skunk need Wildlife Control  Wild hogs Permit from MDWFP for game. Many states have similar processes.

Laws: Birds All birds are protected via the following laws:  International Migratory Bird Treaty Act  U. S. ,Canada & Mexico  Endangered Species Act, Bald Eagle Act, and state game laws Wikimedia Dan Skalos Whatbird.com

Laws: Birds Restricted Protected Species Non-protected Species  Rock dove (pigeon)  Blackbirds, Grackles, Cowbirds, Crows  European starling  Double-crested cormorants  House sparrow  Geese species Nat. Geographic Nat. Geographic

Laws: Birds Migratory Bird Depredation Permit Human health and safety  Personal property  Specific Requirements: Positive identification  Evidence and est. economic  value of damage Non-lethal actions  Proposed lethal measures Nat. Geographic  Review from WS and State Wildlife Agency 

Select Species Control Methods

The Key Culprits  Based on informal survey in MS  Others:  White-tailed deer Huffington Post  Feral Hogs  Armadillos Istock Istock

Squirrel Biology  Life History  Breed (by age 1) twice a year (3 per litter)  50% of mortality of pop  Range 1-100 acres  Consume ½ lb. of pecans per animal per day Istock Annual Cycle Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Young Young Young Young Breed Breed Breed Born Active Born Active

Squirrel Control  Game Species – control through hunting season  Pressure orchards & surrounding woods  Trap w/ Tube traps A.T. Rohnke HUNT TRAP HUNT Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Young Young Young Young Breed Breed Breed Born Active Born Active

Crow Biology  Life History  Intelligent  Longer lived (4-6yrs or more)  Established family groups w/ sentinel  1-2 broods/yr with 4 eggs per attempt  Flocking  Hundreds of family groups Huffington Post  Fall & Winter  Key activity center (Home base)  Travel 6-12 miles for food  (1/2 to 1lb per crow per day) Huffington Post

Crow Control PROTECTED & GAME SPECIES Harassment  Sound, pyrotechnics, and pursuit A.T. Rohnke Distress Call Systems  Uses recorded distress calls of given species  Have seen some success  Use in WTD work recently

Crow Control Shooting  Effective but time consuming  Conducted through hunting season Nov. - Feb (Many states have no limits)  May make it an income opp. FOX PRO  Outside of hunting season will require depredation permit through state and feds

Raccoon Biology  Life History Pinterest.com  Once per year 2-5 young  Avg. life span 3.1 years  Use tree cavities (females), brush piles (males)  Intelligent Annual Cycle Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Young Young Breed Born Active

Raccoon Control Trapping  Box traps, foothold, & snares  Effective, time efficient, low-cost Hunting/Shooting  Staff or local hunters A.T. Rohnke HUNT/TRAP HUNT/TRAP Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Young Young Breed Born Active

Recap  Understanding the biology of the problem  Integrating the biology into pecan production schedule  Understanding the law

Resources  Handouts  Center For Human Wildlife Conflicts at MSU http://www.humanwildlifeconflicts.msstate.edu/  Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management http://icwdm.org/  MS Dept. Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks http://www.mdwfp.com/