Got Nature? Blog

Morning AgClips — You have probably seen a cartoon or stereotypical TV show where someone sees a mouse and says, “Eek, a mouse!” Mice and rats around homes and farmsteads can be a problem. Have control methods improved on the typical snap trap of 50 years ago? In short, they have.

The adult house mouse is about 5½ to 7½ inches long, including the 3–4-inch tail. Norway rats are much larger, from 13 to 18 inches long, including the 6–8½-inch tail. According to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (ICWDM), mice eat many types of food but prefer seeds and grain. They sample new foods and are considered “nibblers.” Foods that are high in fat, protein, or sugar (e.g., bacon, chocolate, butter, nuts) may be preferred, even when grain and seeds are present. An individual mouse consumes about 1/10 of its body weight each day and up to 8 pounds per year. Mice contaminate far more food than they consume through their urine and feces.

In homes and commercial buildings, mice may feed on stored food items and pet foods. They contaminate food with their urine, droppings, and hair. On farms, they damage structures that store feed and equipment. Mice often act as reservoirs or vectors of diseases, such as swine dysentery, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and other diseases.

ICWDM suggests several preventive and control methods people can employ. Proper sanitation around structures is helpful. This reduces sources of food, water, and shelter. Rodent-proof construction is recommended, along with proper storage and disposal of refuse and garbage. They indicate that ultrasonic frightening devices are generally not effective. Repellants and toxicants are options to consider. Trapping devices, such as snap traps, cage or box traps, and glue boards, may also be considered for use.

Read more details on the Morning AgClips website at Dealing with Rodents Around Homes & Farms.

Resources:
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Wildlife Habitat Hint, Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Playlist
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Playlist
Woodland Management Moment, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Playlist
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Invasive Plant Species Identification, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Invasive plants: impact on environment and people, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Woodland Invaders, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Preventing Wildlife Damage – Do You Need a Permit? – The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Selecting a Nuisance Wildlife Control Professional, The Education Store
How to Construct a Scent Station, The Education Store
Question: How do I properly relocate raccoons from my attic?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension FNR
Nuisance Wildlife – Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Subscribe to our FNR Extension YouTube Channel with over 250 videos which include: aquatic, forestry, urban forestry, wildlife, community planning videos and much more.

Morning AgClips

John E. Woodmansee, Extension Educator – Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR)
Purdue Extension – Whitely County

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Weekly Review, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Indiana DNR: Will Drews, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer with the DNR Division of Entomology & Pathology shares in September Weekly Review e-newsletter how staff will continue to help coordinate kudzu control throughout the state and expands upon the state funded kudzu control program.

As some of you may know, kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) is an invasive woody vine that can now be found throughout the state of Indiana. It is referred to colloquially as “the vine that ate the south,” and if you took a drive through some southern states (e.g. Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, etc.) right now, you’d see why. Kudzu has tremendous growth potential, sometimes as much as 1 foot per day. Some vines reach lengths of up to 100 feet. Because of this it is a detriment to Indiana’s natural resources, kudzu has been listed as a prohibited invasive plant under the DNR’s Administrative Code as per 312 IAC 18-3-16 Control of kudzu.

While part of the language includes that the landowner “must take efforts to eliminate this species in such a manner as is consistent with federal and state law,” the Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology have been leading a state funded control program where sites are treated on a rotating, priority basis to eradicate or suppress further spread with no cost to the landowner. Over the last month, around 40 kudzu sites in Indiana have been treated and we have seen some great progress from last year.

If you think you have seen a new kudzu population, please send me that information (photos and GPS coordinates or address) at my email address provided below. A couple of the sites treated this year are new reports from last year that we were able to address. With your help, we can try to reduce the impact of this incredibly invasive vine and protect our natural resources.

For more information regarding this invasive vine Kudzu see the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Kudzu.

Subscribe: Entomology Weekly Review.

Resources:
Indiana Department of Natural Resources-Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology
Indiana Department of Natural Resources-Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Profile
Indiana Department of Natural Resources-National Invasive Species Information Center
Indiana Department of Natural Resources-Kudzu Alert & Identification Sheet
Indiana Department of Natural Resources-Kudzu Fact Sheet
Indiana Department of Natural Resources-Kudzu Before & After Treatment Photos
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive Species, Purdue Invasive Species
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species
Invasive Plant Species Identification, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Mile-a-minute Vine, The Education Store
Invasive Plant Series: Swallow-worts, The Education Store

Will Drews, Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, WDrews@dnr.IN.gov
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IN DNR)

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