Hello Rye.
In response to your question in October (sorry for time elapse), I
considered trapping to be out of the question for several reasons.
Primarily the extent of the squirrel numbers. The population
explosion we were dealing with, and the size of the orchard and the
extensive woodland habitat land adjoining, pretty well assured a
constant in-migration until predator or food source decline could
check this. But there were other considerations.
Considerable time would need to be expended in any trapping effort
and this would need to come at a very busy time (managing both your
picking crew and also the parallel customer traffic in the orchard
and doing so before drop might end everything).
Third, since copious amounts of fruit were already present and
available in the orchard, no scarcity existed to drive the squirrels
to baited traps.
Finally, baited or not, rodents have high aversion to traps.
Hopefully, winter and food scarcity and cyclical predator response
will reset the squirrel population to previous background levels.
Kevin Iungerman
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2012 16:24:01 -0700
From: Rye Hefley <ducn...@yahoo.com>
To: <apple-crop@virtualorchard.net>
Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Red Squirrel Feeding Causing Severe Apple losses
along the Southern Champlain and nearby Vermont
I'm curious why trapping is out of the question?
Rye Hefley
So. Cal
------------------------------
On Fri, Oct 5, 2012 9:10 AM PDT Kevin A. Iungerman 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: k...@cornell.edu
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."
_______________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
apple-crop mailing list
apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
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--
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: k...@cornell.edu
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
apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
