Bait Stations for Controlling Voles in Apple Orchards

Bait stations made with polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe were compared with hand-broadcast applications of rodenticides for achieving long-term control of pine and meadow vole populations (Microtus pinetorum and M. pennsylvanicus, respectively) in two apple orchards in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York. The stations were constructed of three pieces of 1.5-in diameter PVC tubing joined together in the shape of an inverted T . Roofing shingles were placed over the entrances to some of the bait stations to encourage use by voles, while others were left uncovered. All stations were tied to trees, with no attempt to place them near runways or burrow entrances. Both pine and meadow voles consumed bait from the stations, regardless of whether the entrances were covered with roofing shingles. However, plugging of entrances with dirt was prevalent during winter in stations with roofing shingles. Vole activity and capture success were consistently lower on the plots with the two types of bait stations than on either the control or broadcast baiting plots 13, 26, 39, and 52 wk posttreatment, although the differences were not statistically different (p \u3e 0.05). The best control was achieved during the winter and early spring. Although spoilage of bait due to high humidity may limit its effectiveness in Eastern New York during the late spring and summer, the inverted T bait station provides a practical means of controlling voles in apple orchards during winter and early spring

Foraging ecology of the Philippine flying lemur (Cynocephalus volans)

Between August 1986 and September 1987, six Philippine flying lemurs (Cynocephalus volans) were observed foraging on 35 of 76 available species of trees, representing ≥12 families of ≥26 available families. Eight species were foraged on in amounts significantly greater than expected, given the tree\u27s abundance on the study area, and four were foraged on significantly less than expected. The foraging strategy of C. volans involved foraging many times during the night, for short duration, in several different species of tree each night. This strategy differed from that of other arboreal folivores

Movements of the Pine Vole (Microtus pinetorum) in Repopulating Orchard Habitat

Pine vole (Microtus pinetorum) populations cause significant damage to orchards and truck crops (e.g., Anthony and Fisher 1977, Biser 1967, Eadie 1954, Forbes 1972a). Yet their population structure and movement dynamics have received surprisingly little study (Smolen 1981). The scarcity of data may have been due in part to the former availability of Endrin as a highly effective control agent (e.g., Horsfall 1956b), but the appearance of Endrin-resistant populations (Webb and Horsfall 1967), the restrictions of use of chlorinated hydrocarbons, and the inclusion of pine voles in Integrated Pest Management programs have made the need for basic population data including immigration and emigration more acute. For example, demographic and movement information are universal components ofIPM programs, because management of populations is usually, and appropriately, based on demographic expectations, such as: how rapidly can pine vole populations increase? What densities can they achieve? How quickly do they recolonize depopulated areas? These are fundamental questions that require well-controlled field studies with specific aims. Other studies that bear upon the relationship of demographics and movement provide important background but fail, because of either design or analysis, to directly answer the above questions. See for example: Gentry (1968), VanVleck (1968), Gettle (1975), Gourley (1983), Renzullo (1983), Fitzgerald and Madison (1983)

EVALUATION OF A NEW DEER REPELLENT ON JAPANESE YEWS AT SUBURBAN HOMESTEADS

Jersey, an experimental deer repellent, was field tested against 2 commercial repellents on Japanese yews (Taxuscuspidata) near Ithaca, New York, during spring 1990. In Experiment 1, plots (nnn = 24) of 4 individually-potted yews were established, with 2 yews at each plot randomly treated with Jersey and 2 left as controls. Plots of 4 (1 x 4, n nn =12) and 16 (4 x 4, nnn = 2) plants were used in Experiment 2, with individual plants being treated with Jersey, Hinder”, or Big Game RepellentR (BGRR) or left as controls. Photographs with a grid matrix placed behind each h plant were taken from 2 m at the beginning of the experiment and after 10 weeks. These photographs were analyzed to produce a cover index of plant size. Plots were monitored weekly to record browsing. In Experiment 1 more control (46/48) than treated (7/48)plants were browsed (P \u3c 0.001). Controls were browsed earlier (x =1.7 wk) than treated yews (x = 4.4 wk, P \u3c 0.01). At the end of 10 weeks, control plants were reduced in size more than Jersey-treated plants (P \u3c 0.001). In Experiment 2, browsing rates did not differ among treatments in the 1 x 4 plots or 4 x 4 plots. However, controls were browsed more frequently than treated at both plot types (10/12 at 1 x 4, and 6/8 at 4 x 4 plots) (P \u3c 0.05). Browsing reduced control plants by 56.8% (n =10) in 1 x 4 plots and 47.2% (n = 6) in 4 x 4 plots. These results suggest that Jersey reduced deer damage to a shrub preferred by deer. Moreover, Jersey was as effective as BGRR and Hinder at reducing browsing. Experiments may need to be conducted under more severe conditions and over a longer time-period to separate efficacy of the 3 repellents

Evaluation of a New Deer Repellent on Japanese Yews at Suburban Homesites

Jersey, an experimental deer repellent, was field tested against 2 commercial repellents on Japanese yews (Taxus cuspidata) near Ithaca, New York, during spring 1990. In Experiment 1, plots (n = 24) of 4 individually-potted yews were established, with 2 yews at each plot randomly treated with Jersey and 2 left as controls. Plots of 4 (1 x 4, n = 12) and 16 (4 x 4, n = 2) plants were used in Experiment 2, with individual plants being treated with Jersey, HinderR, or Big Game RepellentR (BGRR) or left as controls. Photographs with a grid matrix placed behind each plant were taken from 2 mat the beginning of the experiment and after 10 weeks. These photographs were analyzed to produce a cover index of plant size. Plots were monitored weekly to record browsing. In Experiment 1 more control (46/48) than treated (7/48) plants were browsed (P \u3c 0.001). Controls were browsed earlier (i = 1.7 wk) than treated yews (i = 4.4 wk, P \u3c 0.01). At the end of 10 weeks, control plants were reduced in size more than Jersey-treated plants (P ≤ 0.001). In Experiment 2, browsing rates did not differ among treatments in the 1 x 4 plots or 4 x 4 plots. However, controls were browsed more frequently than treated at both plot types (10/12 at 1 x 4, and 6/8 at 4 x 4 plots) (P \u3c 0.05). Browsing reduced control plants by 56.8% (n = 10) in 1 x 4 plots and 47.2% (n = 6) in 4 x 4 plots. These results suggest that Jersey reduced deer damage to a shrub preferred by deer. Moreover, Jersey was as effective as BGRR and HinderR at reducing browsing. Experiments may need to be conducted under more severe conditions and over a longer time-period to separate efficacy of the 3 repellents

EVALUATION OF A NEW DEER REPELLENT ON JAPANESE YEWS AT SUBURBAN HOMESTEADS

Jersey, an experimental deer repellent, was field tested against 2 commercial repellents on Japanese yews (Taxuscuspidata) near Ithaca, New York, during spring 1990. In Experiment 1, plots (nnn = 24) of 4 individually-potted yews were established, with 2 yews at each plot randomly treated with Jersey and 2 left as controls. Plots of 4 (1 x 4, n nn =12) and 16 (4 x 4, nnn = 2) plants were used in Experiment 2, with individual plants being treated with Jersey, Hinder”, or Big Game RepellentR (BGRR) or left as controls. Photographs with a grid matrix placed behind each h plant were taken from 2 m at the beginning of the experiment and after 10 weeks. These photographs were analyzed to produce a cover index of plant size. Plots were monitored weekly to record browsing. In Experiment 1 more control (46/48) than treated (7/48)plants were browsed (P \u3c 0.001). Controls were browsed earlier (x =1.7 wk) than treated yews (x = 4.4 wk, P \u3c 0.01). At the end of 10 weeks, control plants were reduced in size more than Jersey-treated plants (P \u3c 0.001). In Experiment 2, browsing rates did not differ among treatments in the 1 x 4 plots or 4 x 4 plots. However, controls were browsed more frequently than treated at both plot types (10/12 at 1 x 4, and 6/8 at 4 x 4 plots) (P \u3c 0.05). Browsing reduced control plants by 56.8% (n =10) in 1 x 4 plots and 47.2% (n = 6) in 4 x 4 plots. These results suggest that Jersey reduced deer damage to a shrub preferred by deer. Moreover, Jersey was as effective as BGRR and Hinder at reducing browsing. Experiments may need to be conducted under more severe conditions and over a longer time-period to separate efficacy of the 3 repellents

Comparison of Methods for Detecting Voles under Apple Trees

We conducted a study in 2 heavily infested orchards in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York to evaluate methods for detecting the presence of meadow voles (MV, Microtus pennsylvanicus) and pine voles (PV, M. pinetorum) under apple trees. We quantified several possible signs indicating the presence of voles in each of the 4 quadrants under the canopy of each tree, and then set and monitored traps until capture success in the orchard declined to zero. There was no evidence that the 4 quadrants differed with respect to any of the variables examined. The apple slice index (ASI) was the best indicator for both species. Detection improved significantly (P \u3c 0.05) when the ASI was used in conjunction with the number of runways (MV) or tunnels (PV) under the tree, although neither of the latter 2 signs was by itself a reliable indicator. The ASI and search for runways and tunnels should be conducted in at least 2 quadrants under each tree. The significance of these findings for managing voles in apple orchards is discussed

Evaluation of the Yard Gard Ultrasonic Yard Protector for Repelling White-Tailed Deer

Ultrasonic devices are marketed for pest control because some manufacturers believe they possess properties aversive to animals. However, there is little evidence that ultrasound is more aversive to animals than is audible sound. In this study, we examined the efficacy of the Yard Gard ultrasonic device for deterring deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from feeding on apples. Four deer feeding stations were established at private residential properties with a history of deer damage to ornamental plants, so that control (A1 and B1) and experimental (A2 and B2) stations existed at each site. Apples were placed at each feeding station and restocked daily from mid-February to mid-March 1995. Yard Gard devices were set up at one station at each site, and we monitored daily deer activity by counting: (1) apples remaining, (2) deer tracks, and (3) deer fecal pellet groups at all feeding stations. Of the 360 total apples offered at site A while the devices were on, 175.0 (97.2%) and 179.5 (99.7%) apples were consumed at control (A1) and experimental (A2) stations, respectively. Of the 400 total apples offered at site B while the devices were on, 188 (94.0%) and 196.5 (98.3%) apples were consumed at control (B1) and experimental (B2) stations, respectively. Apple consumption at feeding stations proved to be the only quantitative data which provided a consistent measure of deer activity. Behavioral observations made at each site revealed that several deer visited the control and experimental feeding stations while Yard Gard devices were on. Apparently, the deer were alerted by the ultrasonic emissions but were not deterred from consuming apples. In conclusion, this study produced no evidence that the Yard Gard ultrasonic device protected the area from deer activity, or preferred foods from deer damage

Cost Comparisons for White-Tailed Deer Live Capture Techniques

During March 13 - July 16, 1996, we captured 75 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) using dart guns, rocket nets, and Clover traps on the Seneca Army Depot in Romulus, New York. We compared the labor and cost efficiency of these trapping techniques and reported on mortalities. Darting from a vehicle ($196/deer), and rocket-netting ($172/deer) were similar in time and cost efficiency. Darting from a blind was more costly ($358/deer) due to minimal time devoted to the technique and a high initial material investment. Clover traps were relatively inefficient (15.2 hours/deer) and costly ($895/deer), primarily due to a lack of snow. Materials comprised most of the total cost for all methods. Darting from a vehicle had the highest mortality (9.5%, n=2 of 21). Cost efficiency for all trapping techniques was poorly represented in the literature