Strange Fumigation Products for Burrowing Wildlife
I am regularly amazed at the techniques the public will invent and/or use to try to control the damage caused by burrowing wildlife, such as moles, voles, pocket gophers, and ground squirrels (See figure). Vehicle exhaust is one of those techniques that just won’t go away. I just wish I got a check every time someone told me about how he, his friend, or grandfather hooked up the vehicle exhaust. Don’t get me wrong, vehicle exhaust contains carbon-monoxide and is sufficiently poisonous to kill animals. The problem is that the research showing that vehicle exhaust is effective is pretty thin. If you have such research, we would love to read it.
The challenge facing vehicle exhaust is the smell of the fumes and the excessive heat. Both of those characteristics may frighten animals and cause them to flee or bury the tunnel before breathing enough of the poison fumes to kill them. Another challenge for fumigants is that they are potentially dangerous to the user.
Note, I am not condemning fumigants in toto. They have a role in wildlife control. I am just saying that vehicle exhaust is probably not the best way to employ fumigation for the control of wildlife. If you want to explore fumigation for the control of subterranean animals, consider the P.E.R.C. system. It at least has some research behind it.
About the Author
Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator who helps individuals, businesses, and agencies resolve wildlife damage issues through training, writing, expert witness, and research. His latest books are the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd edition and The Practical Guide to the Control of Feral Cats. He can be contacted at wildlifecontrolconsultant at gmail dot com.
If you would like your publication, video, or product reviewed, please contact the author at the e-mail above.
Copyright
All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.