Effectiveness of a physical barrier in deterring vole and snowshoe hare feeding damage to lodgepole pine seedlings

Zimmerling, T.N.; Zimmerling, L.M.

Effectiveness of a physical barrier in deterring vole and snowshoe hare feeding damage to lodgepole pine seedlings

1998

Zimmerling, T.N. | Zimmerling, L.M.

We examined the effectiveness of a tubular, polyethylene/polypropylene mesh seedling protection device in reducing overwinter feeding damage by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) on spring planted, plug stock (1 + 0) lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Seedlings fitted with the seedling protection devices (SPD) had significantly lower levels of feeding damage (3 and 9%) than control seedlings (25 and 41%) on two study sites. Most of the feeding damage to treated seedlings was the clipping of the terminal leader or laterals that were not protected by the protection device. In two instances, a vole tunneled under the seedling protection device to damage the stem of the treated seedling; however, this was the exception. This physical barrier can be effective in reducing feeding damage by small mammals on lodgepole pine.

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