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footed mouse. This mouse's tail is well over ? inches long, and all underpants 

 of this mouse are covered with white fur. It is reported to eat the bark of 

 young trees occasionally, but it is generally considered a non-pest species in 

 orchards. Your traps may also catch a shrew, which is a beneficial small 

 mammal, or a mole, which is neither harmful nor beneficial. A shrew can be 

 identified by its long, pointed snout and its needle-pointed front teeth. 

 Moles can be identified by their front feet, which are very large, with 

 prominent digging claws. 



Orchard Floor Management 



Prevention of vole population build-ups offers the most practical method 

 of reducing tree injury. 



1. Mow orchard floor sod frequently during the growing season. 



2. Maintain a vegetation-free area within at least '< feet of the tree trunks. 

 The use of herbicides may be necessary to accomplish this. 



3. Eliminate brush and thick vegetative cover around orchard perimeters. 

 ^. Completely remove all fruit drops from the orchard. 



Tree Guards 



Maintenance of proper tree guards is the most effective measure for 

 preventing tree girdling by meadow voles, unless snow depth exceeds the height 

 of the guard. Voles tunnel through snow to any depth. Also, trunk guards do 

 not prevent underground damage by pine voles. 



Galvanized hardware cloth is one of the best materials for tree guards. 

 One-quarter-inch mesh in 2'4-inch width is preferred. The cloth is cut large 

 enough to completely encircle the tree and allow enough room for 10 or more 

 years of growth. The cloth is formed into a cylinder and fastened together so 

 that no gaps are left through which the mice can gain entry. Two or 3 short 

 pieces of wire may be necessary to secure the seam. The guards are embedded at 

 least 2 inches into the soil to prevent the rodents from burrowing underneath. 

 An annual check of the guards is recommended, preferably before the ground 

 freezes. The disadvantages of hardware cloth are that it is difficult to work 

 with and installation is time-consuming. 



Several rigid, perforated polyethylene or plastic mesh products are being 

 promoted for use as tree guards. Each is used in a way similar to that of 

 galvanized hardware cloth to form a cylinder which is buried in the ground and 

 is of large enough diameter to give free circulation to air and to allow for 

 tree growth. These products are easier to handle than wire guards, but some 

 may be broken down by ultraviolet light and may have a limited life. 



Wrap-around plastic guards are readily available, cheap, and easy to 

 install but are not recommended unless they are removed each spring and 

 installed again in the fall . Various borers seem to prefer trees with wrap- 

 around plastic or paper guards. Also, the bark beneath plastic guards remains 



