the orchard. As I recall, it was a bait that was supposedly very
effective. Does anyone recall that subject? . . . if so, what is
the name of the stuff, who makes it, & where can I buy it? I've
been using an anti-coagulant called "Tom Cat" and it just doesn't
seem to be very effective.
You're most likely thinking of Zinc Phosfide (sp?). ZP is one name,
sold as pellets. provides a quick knock down, bait disolves when wet
and mice quickly get bait shy.
I think a complete approach is needed. Get rid of as much cover as
possible. Use mouse tree guards. Use ZP once/year, late in the
season(now). I also have sheets of old barn roofing steel all around
the perimeter of the orchard. Apply the Tom Cat chunks underneath
the steel sheets just before winter sets in. Then the mice have a
nice place to get out of the weather AND a little to eat <Grin>
Karl
Pat,
I would urge you and others not to use the anti-coagulants. These
products eventually produce mortality - and that is their major
problem as I see it. Their use can secondarily lead to poisoning of
various raptors, especially owls, as the anticoagulant activity is
passed along via the consumed prey. Predators will preferentially
take these animals precisely because they become impaired.
In contrast, zinc phosphide is an acute poison, and oftentimes, the
bait will be taken back to the nest. The rodent is less available to
the predator, and its body will generally decompose rapidly. (If you
have orchard cats, you are similarly exposing them to anti-coagulant
poisoning.
Please, we want the complementary action of the predators (and their
beauty) lets not endanger them. Or crows for that matter. Though
they are a nuisance as fruit begin to color, post harvest, crows can
be an equally important predator of voles and mice.
Along with zinc phosphide, Karl's suggestions for prevention are good
ones. Close mowing and herbicide strips remove the cover that mice
and voles require. On new and young orchards, wire-mesh tree guards
ought to be used. Make sure they go down into the soil several
inches, and will typically exceed the snow line as to height. (Once
trees are established, herbicide strips, close mowing, and careful
monitoring and baiting may be sufficient, and allow removal of the
guards as their continuance in place can complicate life when
attempting to control weeds, suckers, and root and stem borer
activity around burrknot areas.)
It is important to establish bait "stations" which is no more than
providing little shelters - old shingles, pieces of tire, or pvc
tubes (the inverted "T" arrangements with a screw cap on the upright
are useful, and can be re-baited after snow fall). After your first
early snows, look for evidence of runways to both gauge vole activity
and suggest where to bait.
You might also use poisoned oats. Be very wary of poisoned grain
(i.e. corn) particularly in any broadcast scheme as you are sure to
inadvertently sicken or poison pheasant and other ground feeding game
birds, especially if grain is scattered in heribicide strips. We have
too many reports of this in local media in both New England and New
York in recent years, and it is entirely avoidable - both the risk to
the birds, and the negative surge of publicity that attends such
mistakes.
Your local landgrant university may have specific publications
providing guidance an mouse and vole control, I would try their fruit
website. You can also go to Cornell's site as follows to find
information about the critters, and control options.
Best Regards, Kevin Iungerman.
http://ipmguidelines.org/TreeFruit/CH08/default.asp
http://wildlifecontrol.info/ccewdmp/publications.htm
http://wildlifecontrol.info/ccewdmp/Publications/Voles.pdf
--
Kevin Iungerman, Extension Associate
Cornell Northeastern NY Commercial Fruit Program
Serving NY's Upper Hudson and Champlain Region
(Albany, Saratoga, Washington, Essex and Clinton Counties)
Growing McIntosh, Honeycrisp, and other fine apples and fruit!
50 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
Phone: (518) 885-8995
FAX: (518) 885-9078
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Possibilities begin with people sharing ideas and working together."
