October 2022 - 16

WILDLIFE & RODENT MANAGEMENT
How to protect fruit farms from rodents
By Emory Matts
Board Certified Entomologist and
Technical Service Manager for Rentokil
North America
& Todd Johnson
Associate Certified Entomologist and
Technical Service Manager for Rentokil
North America
Climate change continues to have
a global impact as rising seasonal
temperatures lead to longer warm weather
months and shorter cold weather months.
Extended warm months can
significantly impact seasonal pests and
leave crop production vulnerable to pest
infestations. Rodents are among the
seasonal pest species that can pose a threat
to fruit farms.
Rodents can carry and spread harmful
pathogens wherever they go, such as E. coli
and salmonella, leaving behind droppings
and urine as they move. If left undetected,
rodents can cause extensive and costly
damage to crops while also spreading
harmful diseases. Fruit farmers can follow
three steps to better protect their fields and
crop production from the costly damages
and health impacts of a rodent infestation.
Step One: Start with
preventative measures
Before the first plant or fruit tree is
placed in the ground, it is recommended
that farmers integrate fencing around
the perimeter of the crops. Small mesh
fencing around the perimeter of the crop
fields can help deter ground squirrels,
voles and pocket gophers. Ensure the
fencing is buried six-to-eight inches in
the ground and extends at least 12 inches
above the ground.
Greenhouses should have an interior
and exterior perimeter system in place to
reduce burrowing. A small rock barrier
about two-to-three feet wide along the
exterior perimeter of the wall will
make it more difficult for rodents to
create burrows.
Installing proper fencing and ground
barriers is one proactive way to prevent
rats, mice, voles and other rodent species
from feeding on crops. Farmers can also
work with a trusted pest control expert
to evaluate regional vulnerabilities and
recommend the best pre-treatment
solution as part of a collective integrated
pest management approach.
Step Two: Identify the signs of
a rodent problem
Many fruits and nuts are especially
attractive to rodents. As the fruit ripens,
rodent species such as roof rats, mice,
squirrels, voles and ground squirrels
become increasingly attracted to the smell
and will seek out a place to hide while
feasting on the ripened fruits. Fruit trees
are also vulnerable as voles will sometimes
feed on the trunks of the trees.
One distinguishing feature of rodents
is a pair of continuously growing, incisor
teeth in their upper and lower jaw. Rodents
work to keep their jaw muscles in shape by
constantly gnawing, a process also known
as bruxing. Farmers can look for signs of
hallowed fruit and gnaw marks about four
millimeters wide as one sign of rodents.
Runways and burrows along the ground
and rodent droppings are some additional
signs that rodents are near. Rat and mice
species can produce a large number of
droppings throughout the day. Although
they can vary by size and color, the
droppings typically measure between the
size of a sunflower seed and a grain of rice,
are pointed at one or both ends and brown
or black in color. Burrows can be found
along the perimeter of greenhouses and
other facilities, close to tree trunks and at
the base of plants. Other ground rodents
such as squirrels and voles can leave
behind runways as they travel back and
forth from their nests to feeding areas.
Step Three: Regularly monitor
vegetation, water and waste
management
Proper vegetation, water and waste
management on farms is an essential part
of keeping rodent problems at bay. Many
rodent species find comfort in tall grass
fields and seek out overgrown vegetation
as hiding and nesting spots. Maintaining
a vegetation-free zone or short grass
around the base of the trees will help
reduce cover for rodents near the trees.
Farmers should also remove unnecessary
shrubs or bushes around the crops and
trim them off the ground to remove
hiding areas.
Remove old vegetation from crop areas
to prevent the build-up of food sources
or hiding areas near plants. Proper waste
management, especially of edible waste,
will also have a significant impact on
reducing the available food sources. This
includes making sure waste is collected
regularly and placed in appropriate
rodent-resistant receptacles.
Farmers should also be aware of proper
drainage practices. Standing water spots
and overwatering can lead to soil erosion
in fields and can soften the ground,
creating gaps and exposing pipes around
building structures. If standing water
accumulates near a greenhouse or storage
facility rodents will have easy access to
those buildings.
Many rodent species view fruit farms
as the ultimate paradise for harborage.
Rodents often seek out seeds, nuts,
roots, tubers, stems, leaves, flowers and
fruit as their main source of food. Due
to the vulnerable nature of fruit farms,
it may be impossible to stop rodents
from encroaching on the property,
but there are steps farmers can take to
prevent rodents from harboring in and
around important crop production.
When farmers implement preventative
measures, understand the common
signs of rodents, and regularly monitor
vegetation, water and waste management
along the property they can better protect
their crops and farms from the costly
and harmful risks associated with rodent
infestations. FGN
16 | FruitGrowersNews.com
http://www.motomco.com http://www.FruitGrowersNews.com
October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2022
