Hi Kevin, The stripping of trees of fruit by squirrels this season has been dramatic. Here at the lab we've lost a fair amount of research data from grey squirrel harvesting. Small farms throughout the Hudson Valley with high edge to apple acreage blocks have seen huge losses. The losses early in the spring from freeze of food sources may have some part to play here?
Peter J. Jentsch Senior Extension Associate - Entomology Department of Entomology Cornell University¹s Hudson Valley Lab P.O. Box 727, 3357 Rt. 9W Highland, NY 12528 Office: 845-691-7151 Cell: 845-417-7465 FAX: 845-691-2719 On 10/5/12 12:10 PM, "Kevin A. Iungerman" <[email protected]> wrote: >Hello. > >I had a report from a NY grower near Whitehall NY, virtually astride >the VT border, that he was being invaded by red squirrels who were >causing significant fruit loss due to feeding. He reports never >having seen such levels previously. > >I then had a call from an AP reporter asking about this and other >situations in VT. > >Trapping is out of the question, as are rodenticides as fruit is on >the trees presently, customers are in the orchard, and non-target >species would be greatly at risk. For much the same reason, shot guns >and/or squirrel guns have very limited utility. > >I am speculating that normal food stocks of these critters has been >negatively effected by drought conditions in June, July, and early >August, and perhaps also, that several mild winters and earlier >springs has allowed greater survival and reproductive numbers. > >(I understand that black bears are also seeking alternate food >sources as customary wild foods were severely impaired due to weather >conditions.) > >While such population surges likely cyclically normal, this grower >reports never having seen such squirrel numbers - and damage; warming >climatic conditions are likely amplifying the cyclical potential . > >Perhaps others can offer effective control methods and a more >accurate assessment of what may be going on. > >Best Regards, Kevin Iungerman >-- >Kevin Iungerman, Extension Associate >Cornell University Cooperative Extension's Northeast NY Commercial >Fruit Program >50 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 >Phone: (518) 885-8995 >FAX: (518) 885-9078 >email: [email protected] >website: NE NY Cold Climate Orchards and Vineyards >http://nenycoldclimateorchardsandvineyards.com > >Providing Equal Opportunity Commercial Tree Fruit and Grape Research, >Education and Programming with the Support of the Farmers and Cornell >Cooperative Extension Associations of Albany, Clinton, Essex, >Saratoga, and Washington Counties, and Cornell University's College >of Agriculture and Life Science. > >Serving NY's Upper Hudson and Champlain Region - Home to Premium Cold >Hardy Orchard and Vineyard Fruit, Including: McIntosh, Honeycrisp, >and Sweetango Apples, and Marquette and LaCrescent Grapes! > >"Suggestions? Comments? Ideas? Possibilities begin with people >sharing ideas and working together." >_______________________________________________ >apple-crop mailing list >[email protected] >http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list [email protected] http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
