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Pocket Gopher and Richardson Ground Squirrel
Control Demonstration
(Site # 2)
Project Summary: Over the years Richardson Ground Squirrels
(gophers) and Pocket Gophers (moles) have been a huge problem on farms. When
green grass is available these rodents do not seem to eat the rodenticides.
Since 1996 we have been experimenting with different rodenticides. Up until
2001, we used the 2% strychnine product available through the ASB. In 2002, we were not able to test many new rodenticides, due to the lack of new products on the
market.
Objectives:
·
To prove which
products and baiting processes control Richardson Ground Squirrels.
·
To determine
application techniques and products to control Pocket Gophers.
·
To reduce rodent
populations and their economic impact on the producer’s land.
Co-operators: Doug Bullock Wyett
Swanson
Will Porter Harvey Adams
Kidd Farms Ralph Maull
Ed Masson
Co-operating Agencies: Loveland
Industries (Brody Blair)
Nu Gro Professional IP Inc.
Savolite Manufacturing
Don
Sutherland
Project Advisors: E.C.A.F.A rodent control Sub-committee
Local Agriculture Fieldman – Burt Forbes
George Jackson –
Wilco Bait retailer
AAFRD Staff
Legal Land Locations:
NE 3-40-5-W4 NW 1-41-3-W4 and SE
1-41-3-W4
SE
6-38-6-W4 NW 34-40-6-W4
NW
31-38-28-W3 NW 16-41-4-W4
NE
31-39-4-W4
Background/ Project
Description: Throughout the past 9
years, pastures with an excessive number of Richardson
Ground Squirrels or Pocket Gophers were treated with various types of
rodenticide products. Each year, at the project site, about 20-50 active holes
were flagged and baited, then filled with soil two days after baiting. This was
done to detect if the gophers or moles had died, as reopened holes mean the
rodents are still alive. In the control area, about 500 feet or more away from
the baited areas, another 20-50 active holes were treated the same way, but
with no bait used.
Observations:
Pocket Gophers (Moles)
The forage association has tried numerous
pocket gopher baits throughout the past few years, in attempts to find the most
effective method of control. No pocket gopher rodenticides were tried between
2000 and 2002.
Pocket Gophers (Moles)
|
Product
|
Land Location
|
Date
|
# of holes
|
Result (bait vs. control)
|
|
Elston
G. Getter
|
NE 3-40-5-W4
|
May-96
|
20
|
no difference
|
|
"
|
NE 3-40-5-W4
|
Jul-96
|
20
|
20% fewer holes reopened
|
|
"
|
NE 3-40-5-W4
|
Aug-97
|
30
|
no difference
|
|
Eaton's
Answer
|
NE 3-40-5-W4
|
Aug-97
|
30
|
no difference
|
|
Burrow
Oat Bait
|
NE 3-40-5-W4
|
Aug-97
|
30
|
30% fewer holes reopened
|
|
Fairview G. Cop
|
NE 3-40-5-W4
|
Aug-97
|
30
|
no difference
|
|
Sanex S.G Kill
|
NE 3-40-5-W4
|
Aug-97
|
30
|
no difference
|
|
Exit
|
NE 3-40-5-W4
|
Yr 1999
|
2
|
Uncertain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richardson Ground Squirrels (gophers): In previous year, the Forage Association has tried a
variety of products in an effort to control the Richardson Ground Squirrel
population. These included strychnine gopher kill bait (with and without
licorice flavor), and gas cartridges. Premixed baits were tried as well with
varying results.
In 1999, we recorded and
outstanding 96% success rate with Exit! We are still anxiously waiting the
registration of this product in Canada.
This year we tested Burrow
Oat Bait and Rozol. The baiting took place between May 24 – June
19, 2002. Unfortunately, due to a cool start this year
we did not receive as good a results as we would have
liked. When we were able to get a high enough number of gophers in the field,
the grass in this area had started growth and the gophers were not as
interested in the products we used. Gophers would much rather chew on fresh
alfalfa and grasses than on rodenticides.
Richardson Ground Squirrels (Gophers)
|
Product
|
Land Location
|
Date
|
# of holes
|
Result (bait vs control
|
|
Gas
Cartridges
|
SE
1-41-3-W4
|
Jul-96
|
18
|
half
reopened
|
|
Sanex S.G.Kill
|
NW
34-40-6-W4
|
May-96
|
20
|
slight
decrease
|
|
"
|
SE
1-41-3-W4
|
Jul-96
|
30
|
0%-
all reopened
|
|
"
|
NW
15-41-4-W4
|
May-97
|
20
|
60%
fewer
|
|
"
|
NW
34-40-6-W4
|
May-97
|
30
|
100%
after second baiting
|
|
"
|
NE
31-39-4-W4
|
May-97
|
20
|
100%
after second baiting
|
|
"
|
NE
31-39-4-W4
|
May-97
|
3 Stn.
|
100%
after second baiting
|
|
"
|
SE
1-41-3-W4
|
May-98
|
35
|
47%
after second baiting
|
|
"
|
SE
1-41-3-W4
|
Jul-98
|
3 Stn.
|
38%
after fourth baiting
|
|
Rozol
|
SE
1-41-3-W4
|
Jul-98
|
3 Stn.
|
49%
after fourth baiting
|
|
Fairview G.Cop
|
NW
16-41-4-W4
|
May-97
|
20
|
60%
fewer
|
|
"
|
NW
16-41-4-W4
|
May-97
|
30
|
0%
no difference
|
|
"
|
NW
34-40-6-W4
|
May-97
|
57
|
very
little difference
|
|
"
|
NE
31-39-4-W4
|
May-97
|
20
|
no
difference
|
|
"
|
NE
31-39-4-W4
|
May-97
|
3 Stn.
|
60%
after second baiting
|
|
"
old
|
SE
1-41-3-W4
|
May-98
|
35
|
9%,
11% after second
|
|
"
new
|
SE
1-41-3-W4
|
May-98
|
35
|
26%,
24% after second
|
|
"
|
SE
1-41-3-W4
|
Jul-98
|
3 Stn.
|
19%
after fourth baiting
|
|
"
|
NE
31-38-28-W3
|
yr
1999
|
61
|
26
closed 43% success
|
|
Ground
Force
|
NE
31-38-28-W3
|
yr
1999
|
46
|
11
closed 24% success
|
|
Exit
|
SE
6-38-6-W4
|
yr
1999
|
52
|
50
closed 96% success
|
|
Wilco G. Bait
|
NE
34-40-7-W4
|
yr
2000
|
30
|
poor
test conditions
|
|
Wilco G. Bait
|
NW
34-40-7-W4
|
yr
2001
|
42
|
poor
test conditions
|
|
Wilco G. Bait + Barley
|
NW
34-40-7-W4
|
yr
2001
|
41
|
poor
test conditions
|
|
George's
special Bait
|
NW
34-40-7-W4
|
yr
2001
|
40
|
poor
test conditions
|
|
2%
Strychnine Bait
|
NW
34-40-7-W4
|
yr
2001
|
numerous
|
good
visual results
|
|
Burrow
Oat Bait
|
NW
1-41-3-W4
|
yr
2002
|
22
|
33%
kill of 22 holes 8 vacant
|
|
Rozol
|
NW
1-41-3-W4
|
yr
2002
|
27
|
41%
kill of 27 holes 11 vacant
|
Future Plans: We will continue trying to find products and
baiting techniques that can successfully control Pocket Gophers and / or
Richardson Ground Squirrels.
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