CONTROL OF SMALL PREDATORS 



By Bob L. Burkholder, Mammal Control Supervisor 

 Illustrated by Bob Hines 



The small flesh-eating mammals, commonly 

 called carnivores, are usually more beneficial 

 than harmful. All have varying degrees of use- 

 fulness as fur bearers, game animals, and natural 

 enemies of insects and rodents. At times they 

 may attack poultry and cause other economic 

 losses, but it is a mistake to condemn all members 

 of the group for actions of a few that occasionally 

 interfere with man's interests. 



Measures to prevent damage by these animals 

 can be either reductional or protective. Reduc- 

 tional control involves removal of offending 

 animals, by poisons, traps, and gases. Protec- 

 tive control entails less drastic measures to pre- 

 vent losses — removal of nearby cover to make an 

 area unattractive to predators, or repair of 

 buildings or fences to exclude marauding animals. 



Because of the benefits from the small carniv- 

 ores, control by killing should be limited to the 

 animal doing damage. Selective removal can 

 usually be attained by lethal measures in the 

 immediate vicinity of the damage. Often, pre- 

 ventive control will be more effective and cheaper 

 in the long run, particularly if the operation to be 

 protected is within small, well-defined boundaries. 



A fence to discourage predators is often desir- 

 able on poultry farms. Although the initial cost 

 is high, this may be offset by savings from reduced 

 predation. An effective fence can be made of 

 stout chicken wire 6 feet high ; it should be braced 

 on the inside. A smaller mesh wire must be used 

 to exclude mink and weasels. The wire should 

 extend underground at least 1 foot and then out- 

 ward IK feet, to discourage digging. 



In addition, a single-strand electric wire 8 

 inches above the ground and 8 inches in front of 

 the chicken wire will further repel animals. 

 Weed-killing chemicals should be used to prevent 

 short-circuiting of the charged wire by ground 

 vegetation. For the fence to be completely 

 effective, there should be no tree or brush nearby 

 to help an animal jump over. 



If such steps are not practicable, it may be 

 necessary to capture or kill the objectionable 

 predator. State laws usually permit the killing, 



without regard to season, of wild animals that 

 damage property, even though they may nor- 

 mally be protected as fur or game species. Since 

 statutes governing the taking of predators vary, 

 it is well to be familiar with the local laws before 

 taking action. 



In most cases where reductional control is called 

 for, trapping is the easiest and most effective 

 method. The small animals most likely to be 

 pests, and trapping procedures for capturing them, 

 are described here. 



RACCOON 



Raccoons are found in most sections of the 

 United States and southern Canada, and are 

 variously classified as fur bearers or game animals. 

 They are omnivorous — they eat both animal and 

 vegetable foods. Because of their fondness for 

 sweet corn in the milk stage, they may at times 

 severely damage cornfields. In southern States, 

 they also feed on avocados, peaches, and citrus 

 fruit. Predation on muskrat colonies and sea- 

 turtle eggs sometimes occurs. In northern States 

 the animals hibernate, or "den-up," in cold 

 weather. 



KILLING HABITS 



Raccoons sometimes prey on poultry, and 

 occasionally kill lambs or other small farm 

 animals. They invade farm premises after dark, 

 and it is characteristic of them to eat the heads 

 off many chickens in one night. 



CONTROL 



Raccoons may be trapped with No. 2 steel traps, 

 preferably the coil-spring type. Sets should be 

 made along suspected routes of travel, such as 

 stream banks, near den trees, or in the shallow 



