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Location

Ithaca, New York

Start Date

27-9-1983 12:00 AM

Description

Meadow vole, Microtus pennsyluanicus, is the most common field rodent found in Ontario and causes extensive damage to orchards and hardwood plantations (Radvanyi 1974a, 1974b). The damage is usually most serious when their normal food supply is limited, especially under deep snow cover during winter when occasionally voles breed (Brooks et al. 1976). The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (Ells and Hikichi 1979) suggests that damage to the orchards can be prevented by mowing the sods regularly, cleaning up trash from bases of fences, keeping the ground clean around tree base, use of pitfalls, and especially protecting the young trees by galvanized wire mesh tree guards. Poisoned baits containing zinc phosphide, diphacinone, or chlorophacinone are commercially available. In the fall, before the ground is covered with snow, it is recommended to lightly distribute the bait just inside the drip line of the tree, or in bait stations, or in a line along each side of the tree row. The bait may be distributed with a fertilizer or seed spreader. In problem orchards and where mice move in from adjacent fields or woods, repeated application of bait is necessary. Moist conditions will determine the choice and effectiveness of bait formulations. Under such conditions, especially under a deep winter snow cover, limiting control to the fall would be ineffective unless the voles were completely eliminated and there is no reinvasion. Therefore, the extended winter season and the possibility of winter breeding produce a major problem in vole control in Ontario (Brooks and Schwarzkopf 1981).

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Sep 27th, 12:00 AM

Meadow Vole Control in Ontario Apple Orchards

Ithaca, New York

Meadow vole, Microtus pennsyluanicus, is the most common field rodent found in Ontario and causes extensive damage to orchards and hardwood plantations (Radvanyi 1974a, 1974b). The damage is usually most serious when their normal food supply is limited, especially under deep snow cover during winter when occasionally voles breed (Brooks et al. 1976). The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (Ells and Hikichi 1979) suggests that damage to the orchards can be prevented by mowing the sods regularly, cleaning up trash from bases of fences, keeping the ground clean around tree base, use of pitfalls, and especially protecting the young trees by galvanized wire mesh tree guards. Poisoned baits containing zinc phosphide, diphacinone, or chlorophacinone are commercially available. In the fall, before the ground is covered with snow, it is recommended to lightly distribute the bait just inside the drip line of the tree, or in bait stations, or in a line along each side of the tree row. The bait may be distributed with a fertilizer or seed spreader. In problem orchards and where mice move in from adjacent fields or woods, repeated application of bait is necessary. Moist conditions will determine the choice and effectiveness of bait formulations. Under such conditions, especially under a deep winter snow cover, limiting control to the fall would be ineffective unless the voles were completely eliminated and there is no reinvasion. Therefore, the extended winter season and the possibility of winter breeding produce a major problem in vole control in Ontario (Brooks and Schwarzkopf 1981).