![]() Geese and crows can be dispersed from a night roost by pointing a spotlight, laser pointer, or laser pistol (such as the Avian Dissuader®) at them. Strobe lights are marketed to frighten wildlife such as squirrels and raccoons. Whenever possible, choose a frightening device that moves, such as a Scary-eye balloon swaying in the wind (Figure 3). Stationary visual frightening devices are the least effective, as birds tend to habituate to these devices in a few days. Animated “human effigies” tend to work much better than the home-made scarecrows, which are better considered as garden decorations. Vantassel.įor example, some scarecrows actually move. The owl effigy on this roof does not distress the gulls. Visual devices range dramatically in price, sophistication, and effectiveness. Visual frightening devices include effigies such as plastic owls (Figure 2), scary-eye balloons, and Mylar® tape. Wildlife often quickly habituate to frightening devices, except, perhaps, biological frightening. Frightening devices fall into four categories: visual, audio, audio-visual, and biological. Frightening Devicesįrightening devices scare wildlife from a location through non-chemical means. Some experts consider exclusion to be part of habitat modification, but we treat it separately because so many specific tools and techniques for exclusion are available that it warrants a separate module. Exclusion is a popular IPM method and friendly to wildlife. This method can provide high levels of protection over the short- and long-term, but exclusion can be very costly when large areas need protection. ExclusionĮxclusion includes the use of barriers, such as nets, cylinders, and fences, to prevent wildlife from accessing areas and causing damage. ![]() ![]() When long-term effects are considered, however, habitat modification may prove cost effective. Unfortunately, some modifications can be expensive, so expect some client resistance. Habitat modification can provide long-term solutions to difficult wildlife conflicts. Even small modifications can increase the effectiveness of other techniques. Vantassel.Īnother example of habitat modification is to mow tall grass to reduce the presence of voles, or to let grass grow to discourage geese. Crushed rock is used to modify habitat around a building to reduce the availability of food, water, shelter, and access. removing vegetation near a building foundation (Figure 1), and eliminating brush, woodpiles, and junk.įigure 1.cutting back bushes and trees to reduce cover and access to structures, and.modifying bird feeders to reduce the spilled seed from reaching the ground,.Keep in mind, however, that changes in the habitat to hinder one species may encourage population growth in others. Most habitat modifications are more subtle, such as cutting brush around the perimeter of the yard, but they play an important role in long-term WDM. Although extreme, it would be effective and relatively permanent. An extreme example of habitat modification is to pave a lawn with asphalt to stop mole damage. Habitat modification addresses all three of these life requisites. Eliminate any of these elements and animals cannot survive. If the nuisance or damage is below a tolerable threshold, begin with the first four methods.Īll animals need water, food, and shelter. To take an IPM approach means using non-lethal control techniques when possible and consider what is least damaging to the environment. Methods for WDM fall into the broad categories listed below. In fact, it is advisable to use several techniques whenever practical, particularly to address long-standing damage situations. Furthermore, many methods can be used in combination with others. When you consider the diversity of species and problem situations, it becomes apparent that WDM is not a one-size-fits-all activity. Describe methods for resolving wildlife conflicts using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods.Explain the need and importance of having a variety of techniques for WDM.This module highlights those methods and tools. Several methods exist because usually no single technique will eliminate all conflicts. In wildlife damage management (WDM), a variety of methods and tools are used to reduce wildlife conflicts to tolerable levels.
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