Bird of prey on the deck railing.

Matt,
That is one good looking sharp-shinned hawk. Thanks for posting it. Out of curiosity, do you have a bird feeder on the deck or close by?
Al
 
Nice picture! They are a beautiful bird. There has been a pair nesting in the forest behind my house the last few summers and it is always fun to see the young.
 
Al,

We have had a sever infestation of voles and mice the last 1.5 years. There are hundreds of vole holes scattered around the property plus deer mice and other rodent species are out of control. In an attempt to prevent further problems inside the house as the wife does not like furry critters scampering around her house, all food sources have been removed near the house, thus no feeders with seed or grains.. a sad state of affairs..

This last fall I used 35 lbs of zinc phosphide based poison around the property, in vole holes, under out buildings, and in gopher tunnels...I do not think it made much of a difference as when the snow has melted, tunnels and rodent sign is everywhere. Then again if I had not used it I might be up to my ears in mouse poop... The local farmers are getting weary of the nuisance and the damage.

In the placement of poison I made an attempt to limit damage to no target animals by placing the baits in tunnels or under buildings and such.

Matt
 
Your answer prompts my next question. Has there been an excessive amount of trapping and shooting when it comes to coyotes and fox? This normally goes hand in hand.
Al
 
Al,

The infestation stretches from parts of central Idaho over to portions of eastern Utah, that is a couple hundred miles as the crow flies. There is some trapping locally but it has never been enough to alter the mouse population dynamics as the feral house cat population is a potential limiting factor, plus even when prices were good for pelts, mice infestations were not much of an issue ($100 red fox and $125 coyotes were common in the late 70's through the early 80's). So given the scale of the problem, a general lack of current price dynamics for pelts that would support extensive regional and local trapping pressure, plus the reduced aerial gunning efforts for coyotes locally, I think it is most likely something else driving the rodent population increases.

I have no idea what it is.

Matt
 
What is a good vole pelt going for these days?
If I could get a good price for MOLE pelts, I could easily retire.

I'm practically a Mole rancher. Wonder if I should have a tiny brand made up....
 
Hey Mr Lou.....

I have given thought to a mixture of O2 and propane.....then the match....Wonder what the wife would think of the flower garden going up in smoke and a thud....?

I have also thought about CO and a hose to the truck exhaust.

Lastly I have thought about just straight propane and displacing the air in the tunnel with it, stick a hose in and turn the bottle on..

Matt
 
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