Gary Y. Gao, Joseph F. Boggs, Jane C. Martin, Pamela J. Bennett, David E. Dyke, and James A. Chatfield
Nuisance pests such as moles, squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks, mice, raccoons, skunks, and voles caused damage to Ohio landscape plants in 1998. The control measures for each vary greatly. However, the principles of wildlife damage prevention and control are similar. They include physical exclusion, live trapping, relocation of wildlife, alteration of habitats, lethal methods, and use of chemical and physical deterrents.
Prevention and control of wildlife damage are an increasingly important part of the wildlife management profession because of expanding human populations and intensified land use. As more people move into previously agricultural areas, people and wildlife merge. People need to learn to deal with wildlife so that they can prevent or minimize damage to fruits, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and lawns. It is important to be aware of ways to handle wildlife problems as they relate to different geographic areas. This report is a compilation of the note-worthy wildlife problems discussed during Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL) conferences that occurred on Tuesdays from April to October in 1998.
Moles were active in 1998, and agents received numerous calls regarding damage in home lawns. Moles caused most of their damage to home lawns in spring, summer, and fall. Moles created surface tunnels as well as mounds of soil, which are the result of digging deeper to build nests or to avoid freezing soils.
While there are many recommendations for controlling moles, trapping with harpoon traps or scissor-jaw traps still remains the only sure-fire control method.
In order to learn about mole control, one must understand the nature and habits of moles. Since they are insectivores, the primary diet is earthworms and other soft insects. They don't have the mouth structures to chew gum and poison baits!
Trapping takes time and patience in order to eliminate moles but is still the best recommendation. Contact your local Division of Wildlife office for information on habits and trapping.
Squirrels were found in an attic chewing up baskets in April and were also reported to be cutting off branches of ash trees in June. Apparently, they were sharpening their teeth by chewing on tree branches. Recommended control efforts primarily center on trapping (box and cage traps) and relocation. Of course, this can be a time-consuming venture.
Tree squirrels are common residents in the urban forests of Ohio, and they will occasionally nest in attics or walls of homes. The best control option is exclusion; homes should be closely inspected and openings closed with wood, masonry, or hardware cloth. If squirrels cannot be easily excluded, they may be repulsed using naphthalene (moth balls). The granules should be spread on floors and between walls at a rate of 5 pounds per 2,000 cubic feet.
If these methods fail to work, the only alternative is population reduction either through trapping, predation, or lethal control methods (hunting). Though time consuming, live traps can be very effective when baited with peanut butter or whole or halved nut meats. Hunting is not a realistic alternative in urban areas; however, predation from other animals can have some effect.
Chipmunks, woodchucks, mice, and voles constituted the vast majority of wildlife calls. Frequently, chipmunk problems were associated with bird feeders attracting the little critters. Moving the feeders at least 15 to 30 feet from the nearest structure or cover may help to mitigate damage. Damage may also be avoided by not planting groundcover, trees, and shrubs in a continuous fashion, thus connecting wooded areas to flower beds and structures.
Woodchucks can be discouraged from sampling the goodies in your garden by heavy mesh fencing. The fence should be at least three- to four-feet high with the top 15 inches bent outward at a 45-degree angle to prevent climbing over the top. The lower edge of the fencing should be buried 10 to 12 inches in the ground or bent at an L-shaped angle leading outward and buried in the ground 1 to 2 inches to prevent burrowing.
Numerous voles or mice were reported to scurry around the base of junipers. The lower branches and stems of the plants were extensively gnawed upon by these rodents.
Raccoons or skunks damaged turf by pulling up or rolling back sod. The BugDoc, Dave Shetlar, reported in his August 24, 1998, issue of The P.E.S.T. Newsletter (Vol. 7, No.12), that earthworms, grubs, and even periodical cicada nymphs are part of raccoons' or skunks' diet.
Young raccoons commonly learn to forage for themselves in middle to late summer and roll up the sod for insects, since other food sources are less available during the periods of dry weather.
This publication is available in both book and electronic format (CD-Rom).
Copies of the book are $40.00 each plus $5.00 shipping. CD-Rom copies of the publication are $40.00 each plus $3.00 shipping. Copies of the book plus CD-Rom are available at a discount price of $60.00 plus $5.00 shipping.
Call 402-472-2188 for information. Make checks payable to the University of Nebraska. Mail to:
Wildlife Handbook
202 Natural Resources Hall
University of Nebraska
P. O. Box 830819
Lincoln, NE 68583-0819.
Wildlife District One
1500 Dublin Road
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-3925
Wildlife District Two
952 Lima Ave., Box A
Findlay, OH 45840
Phone: 419-424-5000
Wildlife District Three
912 Portage Lakes Drive
Akron, OH 44319
Phone: 330-644-2293
Wildlife District Four
360 E. State Street
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 614-594-2211
Wildlife District Five
1076 Springfield Pike, Box 576
Xenia, OH 45385
Phone: 937-372-9261
Lake Erie Unit
In Sandusky
Phone: 419-625-8062