Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
March 1981
Abstract
Entire symposium.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN PINE AND MEADOW VOLE SYMPOSIUM
The Fifth Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposium was held at the Sheraton Inn-Gettysburg, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania March 4 and 5, 1981, for the purpose of assessing the current status of research, extension, and industry programs relating to the problem of vole damage to fruit trees. The meeting was intended to create a problem solving atmosphere in which growers; various governmental agencies such as EPA, USDA, USDI; the chemical industry; and university personnel could observe the cur¬rent thrusts of research and extension programs and their potential impact on future control strategies.
By the 1981 meeting the influence of the USDI contract monies for pine and meadow vole research had begun to show. Both the quality and quantity of research papers was increased. Information relating to the ecology, behavior, physiology, movements, population monitoring, re¬production, and control methodology of these animals had been generated by the various research groups. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for various research groups to interact and to assimilate the meaning of various research programs with regard to vole damage control.
A tour of the Pennsylvania State University Fruit Research Laboratory at Biglerville and fruit grower operations was arranged by Dr. George M. Greene (Pomologist) and Mr. Tom Piper (Adams County Extension Agent). The excellent local arrangements and registration were handled by Drs. George Kelley and Wally Tzilkowski. Although the pine vole appeared to be a problem in some Pennsylvania orchards, the meadow vole was the predominating species. Emphasis on cultural control appeared to be evident in the local orchards visited. This may be in part due to the species most prevalent and the extension service approach to the control problem.
In all, the Fifth Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposium was proba¬bly one of the most important symposia to date. The quality of the presentations was impressive and data represented useful and much needed information. What was more gratifying was the productive exchange of information and ideas which went on "after hours" between the researchers, extension personnel, growers, and chemical representatives throughout the symposium. The cooperative spirit of those involved in vole biology research, damage control and the support offered by USDI funding were certainly responsible for increased understanding of the vole control problem.
Comments
Published in Proceedings of the Fifth Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposium, Gettysburg, PA, March 4–5, 1981, Ross E. Byers, editor. Copyright © 1981.