Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Wildlife Damage Management

Plan Goal

To make farmers, ranchers, and the general public aware of contemporary practices utilized to reduce or eliminate animal damage problems. To develop innovative and cost effective methods to cope with wildlife damage problems.

Situation Statement

Many species of birds, mammals and reptiles can be problematic for the general public, agriculture and commercial industry in New Mexico each year. Reported predator losses amounted to almost $2,000,000 for livestock producers in New Mexico during 1995. Some species, such as rattlesnakes and rodents can be a significant source of hazard to the health and safety of many people within the state. Therefore, technical information outlining the methods of control for wildlife damage is greatly needed. Wildlife damage control methodologies and the legal constraints surrounding control change rapidly. This requires farmers, ranchers and the general public to have access to up-to-date information on control techniques and the legalities pertaining to those techniques. Individuals applying for certification to employ "restricted use" pesticides need training materials that will prepare them for certification and the careful use of restricted chemicals. The public, including youth will improve their understanding of renewable natural resource issues and the consequences of their actions. An effective educational program such as this will create informed decision makers that will ultimately lead to actions that protect and improve the environment. Extension programs have made farmers, ranchers, and the general public aware of contemporary practices utilized to reduce or eliminate animal damage problems. Practical training materials and instruction for vertebrate pest control is provided at a variety of workshops including the Ornamental and Turf CEU Workshops, Master Gardeners Program, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture Vertebrate Control Programs.

Target Audience and Actions

The target audience is composed of farmers, ranchers, and the general public in both rural and urban areas of New Mexico. Up-to-date material on wildlife damage control will be distributed to county extension faculty, agriculturalists, industry and the general public through extension publications, workshops, presentations and verbal communications. New methods will be tested to determine the most biologically and economically effective techniques for eliminating or reducing animal damage. Practical training for vertebrate pest control applicants will be provided by conducting CEU training workshops across the state.

Short-Term Objectives

• At least 200 farmers, ranchers, and members of the general public will gain awareness of up-to-date practices to reduce or eliminate animal damage problems.
• At least 100 of these individuals will apply one or more of these practices.

Medium-Term Objectives

• Statewide impact associated with the level of wildlife damage will be decreased by 15% over the next five years.

Long-Term Objectives

• Improve wildlife damage management decisions by state and federal natural resource management agencies, farmers, ranchers, and the general public.
• Improve knowledge level of county Extension agents regarding wildlife damage management through in-service trainings.

Evaluation Plan

Knowledge change will be measured utilizing pre- and post-training tests for attendees of CEU training workshops. Verbal and written responses from clientele concerning the effectiveness of the methodologies employed will be used to evaluate the success of the program. Further evaluation will also be possible during the development and testing of new animal damage control methods. As these projects occur, efficacy can be compared between new methodologies and old procedures using the levels of damage as and index.