Week.11.Rodents & Other Vertebrates In The Landscape (Beneficial Animals For Biological Control & Pest Management)

Question 1

Pests in the landscape include:

-Deer, rabbits, crows, seagulls, pigeons, geese, voles, rats, mice, moles, racoons, skunks, feral pigs, and pocket gophers are just a few of the many vertebrate pests that affect our living environment

Answer 1

-The same IPM concepts apply to the management of any of these vertebrate pests

Question 2

Damage from vertebrates can be extensive and complex. It comes in many different forms: (5)

Answer 2

-Browsing and defoliating the plants

-Gnawing on the plant stems causing girdling and dieback

-Holes in the landscape

-Damage of the root systems

-Degradation of environment among others.

Question 3

How to tell the difference between a Vole and Gopher, in the landscape?

Answer 3

-Voles dig Holes

-Gophers grow Mounds

Question 4

Rodents may Girdle Shrubs and Plants meaning…

Answer 4

they chew on the lower bark.

Question 5

-For any animal to become a pest there needs to be favorable conditions that help the populations of these organisms to reach and surpass critical injury levels.

Answer 5

-There is typically a lack of natural enemies that keep their populations in check.

-There is lack of food, in some cases, that may push these organisms to explore urban areas. In the time of drought, browsing animals may put more pressure in the urban environment.

Question 6

Understand your landscape -Location- to:

Answer 6

Predict & Prevent Pest Problems.

Question 7

Fences and walls to keep pests out is an example of …. .

Answer 7

Exclusion.

Question 8

When building a fence keep in mind (2)…

Answer 8

-How deep will the animals tunnel?

-Is it necessary to install a deep plastic barrier along the fences (like a root barrier) to keep pests from digging through?

Question 9

-These shelters or guards are made of different materials that prevent animals from browsing or damaging young trees and shrubs.

Answer 9

-Wire, poly mesh, or biodegradable plastic are common materials used in the fabrication of the shelters.

Question 10

Shelters or guards for trees, have the purpose/benefit of Preventing….

Answer 10

-damage from rodents to their trunks,

-mechanical injury from equipment

-in the case of solid tubing also protect plants from herbicide drift.

Question 11

-Landscape designers must be in tune with the area’s potential pests especially browsing animals.

-If deer or rabbits are common in the area, try plants that deer do not like to browse.

Answer 11

-Consult your local literature to figure out what plants are resistant.

Question 12

Certain landscape designs features can contain or exclude animals from becoming pests of the landscape. Such as… (2)

Answer 12

-Ha Ha Wall.

-Typical Wall.

Question 13

-Controlling vertebrate pests is more challenging and expensive than preventing and excluding the pests.

Answer 13

-Natural chemicals like liquid fence or rabbit scram have short life and are expensive.

Question 14

-Natural or Synth Chemicals easily degrade and get washed out with irrigation or rain. Resulting in need of reapplication. It gets expensive with inconsistent results.

Answer 14

-Chemical control or trapping of vertebrate pests is an option, but best delegated to professionals.

Question 15

-Certain chemicals that are used to reduce populations of rodents and other vertebrates are toxic and may bio-magnify and accumulate.

Answer 15

-Bio-magnify, is when the pesticide residues move up the food chain affecting natural predators and other beneficial wildlife.

Question 16

Problems that can occur when relocating pests are (2)…

Answer 16

-Spreading of diseases & viruses to clean areas.

-Invasive to non-native land.

Question 17

-Trap and release is a regulated activity and local agricultural commissioner may have rules on what is permissible.

Answer 17

-Most trapped animals must be euthanized humanely (minimal pain) and disposed of correctly. Should be done by professionals.

Question 18

Hunting is a form of controlling pests.

Answer 18

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Question 19

Pocket Gophers can cause damage to all forms of…..

Answer 19

Irrigation.

Question 20

Gopher damage is more severe is in —- and —- seasons, when gophers are active near the soil surface.

Answer 20

Spring & Fall.

Question 21

-Pocket gophers have fur lines pouches outside of the mouth. These pockets are capable of being turned inside out and are used for carrying food.

Answer 21

-Gophers are solitary animals except when breading or rearing young.

-Gophers prefer moist soil for digging.

Question 22

-Pocket Gophers create crescent shaped mounds and deep burrows up to several feet deep and several hundred feet in length.

Answer 22

-Pocket Gophers dig burrows and push soil to the surface. They can create up to 70 mounds per month in ideal conditions.

Question 23

-Pocket Gophers can be trapped by setting traps in the MAIN tunnels, or along LATERAL tunnel.

Answer 23

-Traps can be marked above ground with flags and should be anchored with a stake, so a predator does not carry off with the catch and trap.

Question 24

Other forms of Gopher control that are not the best but available are: (4)…

Answer 24

-Commercial Repellants.

-Flooding of tunnels.

-Toxicants/Baits.

-Fumigants (only works in moist soil.

Question 25

Signs of Mole are when the mound’s hole is…..

Answer 25

NOT plugged.

Question 26

Signs of Gopher are when the mound’s hole is…..

Answer 26

Plugged.

Question 27

The shape of Gopher mounds are typically…

Answer 27

Crescent Shaped & Plugged.

Question 28

-Meadow Mice/Voles are also pests.

Answer 28

-There are 155 species of voles. Commonly know as meadow mice or field mice.

Question 29

How many species of Voles (mice) occur in California?

Answer 29

6.

Question 30

Voles (mice) reach sexual maturity in approximately ___ month, resulting in exponential growth.

Answer 30

1 month.

Question 31

Voles can have 5 to 10 litters per year and seldom live more than __ months.

Answer 31

12 months.

Question 32

-Voles(Mice) thrive on small plants and are mostly herbivorous.

Answer 32

-They will girdle shrubs and trees, eat succulent roots, and bulbs.

Question 33

-Voles(Mice) have both diurnal and nocturnal behaviors.

Answer 33

-Voles(Mice) spend most of the time in their burrow system.

Question 34

-A protective layer of grass or ground cover usually hides the maze (Voles(Mice) runways.

Answer 34

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Question 35

-Habitat Modification: Mowing, reduction of vegetation and protection makes (Voles(Mice) vulnerable to predators.

-Creation of buffer areas without plant material will help numbers decline.

Answer 35

-Exclusion with fences ¼” mesh at least 12” above ground, 6-10” deep to prevent burrowing.

-Plant protection with shelters or guards. (To prevent tree girdling)

Question 36

<Voles/Mice>

-Trapping for small infestations may be appropriate.

Answer 36

When numbers are high, toxic baits may be the most practical method of control. They are controlled with use of grain baits with anticoagulants. Must be applied between irrigation to prevent deterioration. Highly regulated.

Question 37

Natural control: Voles/Mice, have many natural enemies including birds of prey, felines, canines and other larger mammals.

Answer 37

-Barn Owls are effective means of control.

-Should not use chemical control if natural control is being practiced.

Question 38

<Feral>
-More than 5 million feral swine in at least 39 states.

-Cause up to 2.5 billion of damages a year.
</Feral>

Answer 38

<Feral>
-Risk for agriculture, health and native wildlife.

-Federal budget to control exceeds 30 million per year.

-Swine don’t have natural predators.
</Feral>

Question 39

<Feral>
-Compete with other animals for food

-Compete with other animals for food
</Feral>

Answer 39

<Feral>
-They are also known to eat dear fawns if they find them.

-No effective measures for control.

-Hunting, toxic baits and contraceptives are some of the methods utilized.
</Feral>

Question 40

Some examples of Beneficial Vertebrates are (4)….

Answer 40

-Birds

-Bats

-Reptiles

-Amphibians

Question 41

(4) main vertebrates that control rodents are…

Answer 41

-Coyotes

-Felines

-Snakes

-Birds of Prey

Question 42

The common Barn Owl ____ ____ are known to help reduce rodent populations in urban and rural environments.

Answer 42

Tyto alba

Question 43

A family of owls can consume over ____ rodents per year in a 4-month breeding cycle

Answer 43

3,000

Question 44

-In many areas Barn Owls have multiple clutches a year, raising the total for possible rodents consumed per year.

Answer 44

As long as there is plenty of food, Barn Owls are not overly territorial.

Question 45

-Barn owls in California select mates in November and begin selecting nesting sites in December or January.

Answer 45

-Nesting season is February to May with peak hatches in April.

-Occasionally nests can be started as late as March.

Question 46

Barn Owl Clutch sizes varies and may be up to ___eggs.

Answer 46

8.

Question 47

Barn Owl
-During incubation the female is fed by the male.

Answer 47

-An adult may eat one rodent a night

-Each chick may eat from two to five depending on the size of the chick and the rodent.

Question 48

-Barn Owls will fly as far as ____ miles in search of food.

Answer 48

three and a half.

Question 49

-Owls do a good job controlling gophers in the fields.

Answer 49

-Owls do not typically hunt in the immediate area around their nest box.

-Owls control nocturnal rodents.

Question 50

-Barn Owls hunt ___ to ____ feet away from their nests and need clear areas to fly and trap rodents.

Answer 50

100 - 300 feet.

Question 51

-Multiple Barn Owl boxes can be installed to attract the birds.

Answer 51

-These are unsuitable if areas are densely wooded or urban.

Question 52

For small properties 2 acres or less 1 to __ Owl Boxes are recommended.

Answer 52

1-3

Question 53

For medium properties between 3-10 acres ___ Owl Boxes are recommended.

Answer 53

2-6

Question 54

For larger properties install ___ Owl boxes for every 10 acres.

Answer 54

5

Question 55

-Owl Boxes require monitoring, and maintenance program.

Answer 55

-Only licensed individuals may handle or keep Barn Owls.

-Maintenance programs for boxes should be left to professionals.

-Hazards involved.

Question 56

Owl Box inspections should be done twice a year in ___ and ___.

Answer 56

June & November.

Question 57

-June: Owl Box Cleaning should be done after the last chick leaves the nest in late spring.

-Remove any dead animals and old wood shavings.

-Owl pellets can be saved.

Answer 57

-Disinfect box with 2% bleach solutions.

-Fall inspection in November and December is important to make sure wasps or bees have not moved in the boxes.