ORCHARD MOUSE CONTROL 



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During the past month I have made several tours through Ccnneotlout and Massa- 

 chusetts orchaixis and have become increasingly concerned vd.th the number of trees 

 ShoY/ing off-color foliage. In several instances the area beneath the branches of the 

 trees ■vms carefully examined and no active moi:ise signs vrere found or any visible cird'" 

 ling noted* Active signs ivere found, hovcever^ at trees viith normal, dark green foliage* 

 Orchard mouse damage to the roots or trunk seldom causes leaf yelloTdng the same year 

 that it occurs and root damage may take several years. 



One orchardist agreed to sacrifice one of these questionable trees— that is, 

 as to vrhether the off-color i^as caused by w^et feet, nutrient defieiencies, spray in- 

 ;}ury, or mouse damage* Vfhen the tree was removed, it was found that approximately 

 80 percent of the larger roots had been damaged by mice and hair or feeder roots \:ere 

 practically nil» 



This article is not meant to infer that every off-color tree has been injured 

 by mice but it is intended to bring to your attention the fact that root damage by 

 mice can be a contributing factor to poor grovith and irregularity in production^ 



Year after year this Service has repeatedly brought out the fact that thorough- 

 ness is the most important factor in a successful orchard mouse control program and 

 there has been no reason to change* Ihe following is a list of reconmendations to 

 follow in making the program more thorough: 



1» Study and follovr control information carefully, 



2, Ee alert throughout the entire year* 



3* Select reliable help, 



li* Know the habits and characteristics of the mice the same as you would 

 any other orchard pest* 



5* Run trap lines before and after poisoning* 



6* Remember that killing is not the only phase of a control program. 



Although a control program is necessary regardless of \fhether the mouse popu- 

 lation is one or five mice per tree, trapping can be helpful and worthvrhile in deter- 

 mining the kind of mice (Pine, Meadow, Deer Mice or Shrews) that are present, whether 

 the- population is high or low, and if the baiting program has been successful. Use 

 v;ooden-base, snap traps baited -vdth a small piece of apple plus a few kernels of rol- 

 led oats* Place traps level with base of mouse trail and at right angles. Traps 

 should be placed as indicated in. the diagram belovr| 



a Trees J x « Traps before poisoning} a «= Traps after poisoning. 



