Non-Lethal Pest Control

Methods to Avoid

Not a lot of research has gone into the efficacy of different types of predator control, but when scientists started to look at the available data they have found some troubling repercussions following lethal control.

The "silent spring" resulted from overuse of pesticides, but similar occurrences happened around the world where pesticides killed the birds who ate crops or ate insects who fed on poisoned crops. The videos of birds spasming painfully to death and haunting lack of bird song or singing crickets caused scientists and the public to start taking a more critical look.

Since then we've found that insects, fungi, and other species are growing increasingly resistant to chemicals that easily kill off non-target and beneficial creatures, while sometimes even poisoning the farmers as well as workers who routinely handle those poisons.

Similarly, we've been driving "problem" species including predators to extinction for as long as we've roamed the planet. Farmers and governments have killed of apex predators including bears, cats, wolves, and more, but science is finally offering the data which shows that wiping out apex predators causes mesopredator release, trophic cascades, and eco-system collapse, effecting every aspect of a biome down to the microbes and soil structure. This in turn costs communities far more than the original costs of predator attacks.

The article to the right (or below) explains that "killing one wolf increases the odds of depredations 4 percent for sheep and 5 to 6 percent for cattle the following year. If 20 wolves are killed, livestock deaths double."

Glue Traps

These kill many species in addition to the species you might want to trap. Animals including birds, frogs and lizards may be lured over by the prey animals who are stuck to the trap, then become trapped themselves. This often results in them slowly dying of starvation and dehydration, or ripping off their own body parts including their skin, legs, feathers, and tails. It's an extremely cruel way to die with glue traps often having many victims at once, mostly unintended. These are increasingly being banned in different places.

General Pest Deterrents by Type

Biological Control

"Biological control is the beneficial action of parasites, pathogens, and predators in managing pests and their damage. Biocontrol provided by these living organisms, collectively called “natural enemies,” is especially important for reducing the numbers of pest insects and mites. Use of natural enemies for biological control of rangeland and wildland weeds (e.g., Klamath weed, St. Johnswort) is also effective. Plant pathogens, nematodes, and vertebrates also have many natural enemies, but this biological control is often harder to recognize, less well understood, and/or more difficult to manage. Conservation, augmentation, and classical biological control are tactics for harnessing natural enemies’ benefits." - Guide: Biological Control and Natural Enemies of Invertebrates

Hedgerows

The healthiest of these include a large variety of different plant species including different species of trees and shrubs in order to support many types of animal from pollinators to predators.

Pollinators help promote crop yields via pollination, while predators help crops by controlling pest species populations.

Some of  the predatory species that will happily live in hedgerows and come out to eat nuisance species include:

Insect Netting

Insect netting can keep out more than just bugs, it can help deter birds and other larger animals too. Netting and other equipment can be reused over and over, making this a particularly eco-friendly choice if you want to avoid chemicals and grow produce every year.

Smelly Solutions

Smell is a vital sense for many species, and can influence their behavior. Deer and predator urine have long been used to attract or deter certain species. 

In the video to the right, we learn about new research exploring the option of spraying fields with ladybird beetle smell, which has been shown to decrease aphid populations in fields. Also interesting is that the insects remaining in the treated fields produce less offspring while the ladybird smell is present.

11:34 minute video "Ladybugs aren’t just cute nursery rhyme stars. Beneath the charming spots and vibrant colors lie killer instincts. They’re effective predators and sometime agricultural allies in their hunger for plant pests like aphids. Entomologist Sara Hermann, Ph.D. is investigating how ladybugs’ “perfume”—the chemical cocktail that makes up their odor—might even become a tool for sustainable agriculture."

Deterrents by Species

Elephant Deterrents

Adapting to the Situation: Elephants in the Nursery (2:44 minute video)

"Ol Mariko nursery in Kenya is located on the path of an “elephant highway”, and elephants have tended to tromp through our planting beds, flattening the seedlings. Our first step was to put a fence around the nursery. However, we came to learn that elephants like to eat cement, and they would pull out the fence post to eat the cement securing the posts. So our team took a number of additional steps to deter the elephants, including digging trenches, soaking the fence posts in motor oil, and hanging dried tobacco leaves."

[From the link above] "Honeyguide  is deploying this alarm system through 60 “crop protection teams” across northern Tanzania. Each team of 10 or more volunteers nominates a leader to receive training on how to use the elephant alarm kit. Each night, the crop protection volunteers keep watch throughout the village. If an elephant is spotted heading into an agricultural area, the team leader springs into action, armed with his elephant alarm kit.

The alarm system involves four sequential steps, each deployed only if the previous strategy didn’t work. These methods do not harm the elephant, they just make the elephant uncomfortable enough to turn around. (Watch this short video to see how it works.)

Step 1: Shine very bright flashing lights at the elephant

Step 2: Sound off a very loud air horn

Step 3: Throw a “chili cloud”—chili powder mixed with sand and a lit firecracker inside of a condom—near where the elephant is grazing

Step 4: Set off a roman candle—they are loud, bright, and a little scary!"

Studies on Effective Methods

Wasp Deterrents 

Wasps pollinate flowers, and keep various problematic insect species in check.  

"Insects, mammals, birds, and reptiles eat wasps. Insects like beetles, centipedes, dragonflies, hoverflies, spiders, moths, robber flies, and praying mantis eat wasps." 

This makes it important to avoid pesticides when at all possible.

 Click the link article to learn about staying safe with wasps around, discouraging them from moving in, and encouraging them to move out if they have already decided to be your neighbor.

Wolves

Wolves don't actually kill many cattle, but culling is known to backfire and results in more livestock loss than when non-lethal solutions are used.

One of the top recommended solutions was to use guard animals including:

Invite Your Allies

Beneficial Insects

Dragonflies

Ladybirds /Lady Bugs

Pray Mantis

Spiders

"Your home can be a haven for all kinds of insects like ants, roaches, flies, and more. Spiders make a meal of these pests, so your home doesn’t become overrun. Spiders also eat each other, which keeps their population in check, as well. Long-legged cellar spiders are even known to attack black widow spiders, which are dangerous to humans."

"In the fields, there’s a wide variety of pests like aphids and caterpillars. Spiders eat these insects, keeping the harvests healthy. According to Norman Platnick, a spider expert from the American Museum of Natural History, spiders prevent all our crops from being “consumed.” These creatures could also help us develop better, safer pesticides. Vestaron, a biotech company, has spent years developing a “biopesticide” based on funnel-web venom."

"Rather than rely on chemicals for pest control, let spiders feast on moths, mites, aphids, weevils, and other bugs. Other creatures (like ladybugs and birds) also eat garden pests, but studies indicate that spiders are the best hunters." - Open Education Online: 10 Reasons Why Spiders are Important

Useful Tip!

Try to get your hands on an identification pamphlet or book for your local spider species! 

This can help you learn who's who, and if you should be wary of them.

Perhaps more importantly: Having such a guide can help you and others learn more about these amazing creatures, become less fearful (if that is a problem), and hopefully gain a lasting appreciation for our 8-legged friends.

The benefit of a printed copy, is you can use it at any time, even without power, or internet access.

Wasps

Birds

Owls

Birds of Prey

Marsupials

Possums / Opposums

"...Opossums eat pests like cockroaches, vermin like rats and mice, and even overripe fruit and berries which can attract flies and other pests.

Opossums are odd little omnivores, even going so far as to prey on snakes, especially venomous snakes like copperheads and cottonmouth rattlesnakes. They are able to prey on these predators because they are resistant to snake venom. The main benefit, however, is that opossums are excellent at reducing your chance of contracting Lyme disease. This is due to the fact that possums love to eat ticks. It is estimated that the average opossum eats over 5,000 ticks in one summer according to the National Wildlife Federation. They even take good care of themselves, cleaning their fur of ticks and fleas. North America’s only marsupial is truly one of the greatest creatures that one can have around their home. Everyone should take great care to avoid accidentally contributing to their demise." - How Opossums Actually Benefit Your Home

Mammals

Foxes

"Red foxes help to control populations of their prey animals, such as rodents and rabbits. They also disperse seeds by eating fruit. In some areas where foxes had been killed off, rodents increased so much that farmers brought in other foxes." -  Wetlands Mammals: Red Fox

Thanks to their impact on flee and tick carrying species there is "evidence has come to light suggesting that foxes may have a role to play reducing the incidence of Lyme disease." - Red Fox Interaction with Humans - The Fox As An Ally

Plants & "Weeds"

Some people have been pulling up and poisoning certain species for so long, that most people no longer know the benefits of those species. Some are useful for medicinal or food purposes, including animal feed. Others support pollinators or other important species. Many of them even improve soil quality or act as indicator species (warning about flood-prone areas or various soil qualities that could be useful to farmers and gardeners).

Resources

Africa

Europe

UK

Ireland

Projects

Africa

Organizations

Europe

UK