RODENT IDENTITY & DAMAGE

Moles - Have velvety blue-black to gray mohair-like fur, a slender snout, needle like teeth, with flattened feet & claws and inconspicuous ears. Can grow from 6'-12" long depending on species. Build vast under ground tunnels in search of worms, insects & living space. Tunnels often shared usually average 6" below surface. Form conical mounds near center of mound. Mounds form a row of excavations unlike the random excavations of a gopher.Moles are insectivores that prefer solitude except during mating season and actively forage year round in their below ground tunnel systems. They execute similar daily patterns for accumulation of energy derived from soft-bodied insects, worms, and vegetative matter. Moles may be distinguished from meadow voles, gophers, and shrews by their naked, pointed nose that extends well in front of the mouth. Small eyes and ears are concealed by fur. Their spade like forefeet are wider than they are long. Discharged mounded soil and heaved runways are indicators of this pest's presence.

HOW TO CONTROL

ORCO Moles are active year round and their runways can be located by probing the ground with a pointed 1/2" metal rod, in line with but always from the mounds about 18 inches. Be careful not to extend the probe past the bottom of the runway. When a runway is located, place a teaspoon of bait in the probe hole. Make sure that the bait goes all the way into the runway. Close the hole with a dirt clod or by foot pressure to exclude light and moisture. It is important to place baits a foot or more from the molehills to assure baiting the major runway. Place bait at 10 to 20 foot intervals in the runway system. Use RCO Mole Bait for best results.

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Named for external fur-lined cheek pouches for carrying vegetable matter, also a burrowing animal with soft and glossy body hair, inconspicuous ears, with large upper and lower incisors. Their body size varies by species in size from 6"-13". Excavated crescent shaped mounds produces while tunneling for succulent portions of plants. Litter size and occurrence of liners is encouraged by ample supply of nutritious food and elongated growing seasons. Gophers locate food by odor and prefer plant life with high water content, substantial protein, vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals.

HOW TO CONTROL

Gophers are also active year round. Runways or tunnels can be located by probing 6-8" around the fresh dirt mounds pushed up by the gopher and down about 8-12" (indicated by a sudden drop). On sloping ground the tunnel is usually uphill. If the mound has a depression on one side the tunnel is usually on the depression side. Apply Omega Gopher bait with a long handled spoon or with bait dispenser, probe unit in several locations near the active digging area. Plug off the hole to shut out all light. Be careful not to cover the bait.

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Ground Squirrels - Vary specifically in size, color & length of visible activity but all hibernate in ground burrows excavated for shelter and protection. Douglas or Gray diggers are larger than the Belding and have longer periods of activity, from early spring through late fall while Beldings start hibernation during the hot days of mid summer. Damage fruit, trees, grains and green vegetative matter, love man disturbed areas.

HOW TO CONTROL

These squirrels emerge in early Spring and go dormant July through November of the year, depending on intensity of heat or cold temperatures.

BAIT STATIONS: BAITING IN CROPLAND, NONCROP AREAS AND PASTURES. GROUND SQUIRRELS

(spermophilus beechyi, s. beldingi sp): Place up to 1- 4 pounds of bait in covered bait station near runways or burrows. Continue until all feeding ceases, which may be 1 to 4 weeks. Initial acceptance may not occur until squirrels become accustomed to the bait stations, which may be several days. Bait stations should have entrance holes large enough to admit squirrels but not larger animals. Secure bait stations so that they can not be turned over. Place 50-200 feet apart. Continue baiting until all feeding has stopped. Bait placement should be checked daily; replace consumed contaminated or spoiled baits. All poison bait must be packed up and disposed of after rodent activity has stopped.

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Voles- sometimes referred to as field or meadow mice; they are poor climbers, stocky in size with blunt nose and dense fur. Is different from the small deer mouse which has large ears & eyes & a BI-colored tail. The house mouse is slightly smaller than the deer mouse with almost no hair on its scaly tail. Meadow mice reproduce prolifically, can cause dramatic losses to field crops, trees, shrubs & turf. Live in shallow burrows with many visible 1"- 2" openings.


HOW TO CONTROL

Active all year round irrespective of weather. Forage around the clock, need vegetative cover. Bait with ORCO Patrol when they are active also recognizes history of activity areas.

HANDBAITING: FIELD MICE Apply approximately 1/4 -1/2 oz. (10 lbs. Per acre) of bait by each active hole or run at each tree site. When populations are high, a second application may be made 1-2 days after the first application.

BROADCAST: BAITING IN ORCHARDS FOR FIELD MICE (Microtus californicus, m.oregonus, m. montanus). Apply up to 10 lbs. of bait per acre by ground broadcast treatment. Examine orchard floor prior to treatment to determine where the trails and runway systems are. Broadcast bait over area where mice are found. Commercially made feed, seed, or fertilizer spreaders may be used for broadcasting bait uniformly. When populations are high, a second application may be made 1-2 days after the first application. Post-harvest application only.

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