Gary Y. Gao, Joseph F. Boggs, Jane C. Martin, Pamela J. Bennett, Dave E. Dyke, Gary L. Comer Jr., Amy K. Stone, Erik A. Draper, and James A. Chatfield
This report is a compilation of the noteworthy wildlife problems discussed during the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL) telephone conferences that occurred weekly on Tuesdays, from April to October in 1999. Nuisance wildlife problems reported in the BYGL were mostly related to birds, groundhogs/woodchucks, moles, squirrels, rabbits. 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.
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 their garden and landscape. It is important to be aware of methods of handling wildlife problems as they relate to different geographic areas. Contact your local game wardens or the Wildlife Office of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources relating to control methods and legal issues of nuisance wildlife management. In addition, your local Extension office maintains a list of animal trappers that trap nuisance wildlife for a fee in your area.
Nesting birds in hanging baskets were reported to be a nuisance problem during early June. English sparrows, house finches, and house and Carolina wrens are some of the birds commonly known to build nests around houses, including in hanging baskets. One way to deter nesting is to hang mylar tapes around these structures for several weeks. One may also need to repeatedly remove these bird nests. Male house wrens are more persistent than other birds, building three to four nests at a time to attract a female.
If you happen to like these nesting birds, you can try the following method. Use 12-inch baskets and, in the middle, place an upside down two-liter bottle with the top buried in the potting soil. Cut a hole on the side of the bottle, and use the bottle as a bird house. Birds will go in and out in the same spot. You can water the hanging baskets without watering the nest and baby birds. The surrounding flowers will grow and cover the bird house and nest, while you watch mother (bird) do her thing!
Groundhogs were reported to cause problems during early July. Groundhogs 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 one to two inches to prevent burrowing.
Groundhogs may be legally hunted in Ohio year-round and may be taken in unlimited numbers by properly licensed hunters in accordance with Ohio hunting regulations. Gas cartridges, which produce a fumigating gas when burned, may be used in dens by property owners. These cartridges produce carbon monoxide gas, which accumulates in lethal amounts when confined within the burrow system. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. In Ohio, groundhogs that are damaging property may be trapped. Groundhogs may be trapped with steel leg-hold traps or with live traps made of wood or wire mesh. The means of animal disposal should be determined before trapping groundhogs. In many cases, homeowners or property owners should hire nuisance wildlife control professionals.
Moles can be a serious problem in lawns and landscapes.
While there are many recommendations out on the market, trapping with a Victor
Harpoon trap, or an Out O’Sight Scissor-Jaw trap, or a Nash Choker-Loop
trap, still remains the only sure-fire methods of control. Moles are carnivores,
primarily feeding upon earthworms and insects. They do not have the mouth structures
to chew gum and poison baits, and controlling grubs in the lawn will not rid
yourself of this tunneling pest! Trapping does take time and patience, but is
still the best recommendation to eliminate moles. For more information on mole
control, check out this web site by Tom Schmidt, The Mole Man:
http://www.themoleman.com/
Rabbit-feeding injury to muskmelons was reported during late June. The rabbit ate leaves and parts of the developing fruits. There seemed to be a bumper crop of rabbits in 1999. The best way to deal with a rabbit problem is to fence the garden or valuable plants with hardware cloth. When fencing around young trees or shrubs, make sure the gap between the hardware cloth and young trees or shrubs is about one and one-half inches wide. Rabbits are game animals and protected by state laws. Individuals should call their local game warden, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), and follow his/her advice before setting traps. Trapping rabbits is usually not a good solution to the problem since another rabbit will often replace it and relocating rabbits may create problems for someone else. Refer to OSU Extension Fact Sheet 1031-96, Controlling Rabbits in the Landscape, for more information.
Squirrels were reported nipping short tips off evergreens such as Norway spruce and firs during late April. This behavior may be associated with a gnawing need to wear down their growing front incisors. Recommended squirrel control efforts center on trapping (e.g., box and cage traps). Squirrels are game animals and are protected by state laws. Check with the Wildlife Offices of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for more current regulations. Taste repellents can be applied to protect trees and shrubs; however, most repellents are water soluble and require frequent applications.
This publication is available in both book and electronic format (CD-Rom). The cost of the book is $40 plus $5 shipping, while a CD-ROM copy of the publication is $40 plus $3 shipping. Copies of both the book and the CD-ROM can be purchased at a discount price of $60 plus $5 shipping. Call 402-472-2188 for information.
Wildlife District One
1500 Dublin Road
Columbus, OH 43215
614-644-3925
Wildlife District Two
952 Lima Ave., Box A
Findlay, OH 45840
419-424-5000
Wildlife District Three
912 Portage Lakes Drive
Akron, OH 44319
330-644-2293
Wildlife District Four
360 E. State Street
Athens, OH 45701
614-594-2211
Wildlife District Five
1076 Springfield Pike, Box 576
Xenia, OH 45385
937-372-9261
In Sandusky
419-625-8062