Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
3-3-1983
Abstract
Live trapping and questionnaires were used to evaluate amount, distribution, and costs of control of damage to Ontario apple trees by meadow voles (Microtus enns lvanicus) in 1981-82. In a sample of 180 orchards, 5802 (0.77%) trees were damaged or killed by voles. Orchards with high levels of damage (> 2.5%) were smaller than the average orchard in our sample. Application of rodenticides showed no relationship to levels of damage, but was effective in short-term population reduction. Growers spent an average of $17/ha on rodenticides and $38/ha on herbicides, and they estimated that voles destroyed 2% of their crop each year. About 55% of our sample of growers stated that damage by voles was more significant than that caused by insects or other pests. In the 1981-82 season, vole numbers were lower than in 1980-81, and reported levels of damage were also lower. These differences are discussed.
Comments
Published in Proceedings of the Seventh Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposium, Harpers Ferry, WV, March 3-4, 1983, Ross E. Byers, editor. Copyright © 1983 Brooks and Struger.