Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Location
Asheville, North Carolina
Start Date
3-10-1993 12:00 AM
Description
A floating rope system consisting of lengths of 9.5 mm (3/8 in) yellow, polyethylene rope and foam floats was evaluated for reducing double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) depredation on farm raised channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in Mississippi. The ropes were placed at 15-17 m intervals across 2 ponds (4.6 and 6.0 ha) perpendicular to the prevailing winds. Helium-filled balloons were used in an attempt to enhance the effect of the ropes. Cormorant numbers entering both test ponds were recorded during pretreatment, treatment, and posttreatment periods. The floating ropes were effective in reducing cormorant numbers on ponds (by at least 95%) during the 3 to 8-week treatment periods and may be more practical to use on large ( > 2 ha) ponds than overhead wire grid systems.
Recommended Citation
Mott, D. F., Flynt, R. D., & King, J. O. (1993). An evaluation of floating ropes for reducing cormorant damage at catfish ponds. In King, M. M. (Ed.), The Sixth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (pp. 93-97). Asheville, NC: Clemson University.
Included in
An Evaluation of Floating Ropes for Reducing Cormorant Damage at Catfish Ponds
Asheville, North Carolina
A floating rope system consisting of lengths of 9.5 mm (3/8 in) yellow, polyethylene rope and foam floats was evaluated for reducing double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) depredation on farm raised channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in Mississippi. The ropes were placed at 15-17 m intervals across 2 ponds (4.6 and 6.0 ha) perpendicular to the prevailing winds. Helium-filled balloons were used in an attempt to enhance the effect of the ropes. Cormorant numbers entering both test ponds were recorded during pretreatment, treatment, and posttreatment periods. The floating ropes were effective in reducing cormorant numbers on ponds (by at least 95%) during the 3 to 8-week treatment periods and may be more practical to use on large ( > 2 ha) ponds than overhead wire grid systems.