The Rural Voice, 2003-11, Page 19something you're willing to have
them eat. Bishop's Seeds has created
several wild seed mixtures that can
be planted to attract wildlife and keep
them out of crops.
Bishop's Wildlife Forage Mixture,
for instance, has proven attractive to
deer. It's a commercially available
mix of alfalfa, trefoil, clovers,
chicory, rape, turnip, kale, millet and
ryegrasses. It has the added
advantage of regrowing after grazing,
to provide an alternative food source
later in the season.
For crop damage, deer are a
major culprit. The OSCIA points out
that while other wildlife species tend
to exploit the farm bounty at specific
times of the year, deer can cause
losses all year round. Particularly
hard hit are fruit growers. For field
crop producers OSCIA's survey
showed deer were second to raccoons
in crop damage.
There are some steps that can
help minimize crop losses to
deer. Deer are more cautious if
there are open spaces between crops
and cover such as forested areas.
Deer damage in corn is highest in
November so harvesting in October,
in growing seasons when that is
possible, will save losses, even if it
increases drying costs.
Timing of planting is also a
consideration with winter wheat and
rye especially susceptible to grazing
by deer in early spring. Planting
spring varieties that sprout later can
help offset damage.
Of course whether they're
marauding coyotes or nibbling deer,
the temptation, when frustration
rises, is to blast the offenders to
smithereens. Weaving your way
through the regulations of what's
protected, what's not and what you
can do even if an animal is protected
can be a challenge says OSCIA.
Generally a landowner, in
protection of his property, can
capture, kill or harass wildlife
protected under the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Act. This includes, but
is not limited to, fur -bearers such as
raccoon, skunk, weasel, fox, coyote
and beaver (including their dams);
small game such as rabbits and
squirrels and birds such as crows,
cowbirds, starlings, grackles,
blackbirds and wild turkey.
If the landowner doesn't have the
time or ability to control wildlife, he
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NOVEMBER 2003 15