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A key MWDI Best Practice is to insure that predator guard
protection is excellent. PVC sleeves and flashing wrap can work
but most programs that use PVC sleeves do not enclose the top or
bottom and snakes are able to move inside them easily. Raccoons
can climb them as well although one program participant has
success with PVC sleeves by adding strips of Nixalite. MWDI has
not had time to try this and evaluate it more fully.
We know from field experience that 4" sleeves do not deter
raccoons and a 6" sleeve will not stop the larger ones from
climbing up. At a
minimum, we ask program managers to seal the top
gap of any PVC sleeve and replace all 4" tubes. For those whose
sleeve guards are too low or short, raccoons simply use them as
step ladders to step on or pull themselves up.
There are several other type of guards but the cone shaped 3 foot
diameter guard is considered to be a pragmatic, cost effective
solution if the guard is adhered tightly to the pole with no gaps
and surrounding vegetation is kept away.
Predator Guards – Suppliers Arranged
MWDI placed orders for 158 guards for 16 private program sponsors from
Chappell Central out of Minnesota.
http://www.ChappellCentral.com.
They will also
provide future supplies for anyone interested. For price
information and quotes, please contact:
Mike Grossman
Inside Sales
Custom Fabrication Division
Chappell Central, Inc.
2101 Gorton Ave. NW
Willmar, MN. 56201
PH: 320-235-8989
888-557-2151
(toll free)
FAX: 320-235-8995
mgrossman@chappellcentral.com
Website:
www.chappellcentral.com
MWDI is still
hopeful that Maryland suppliers will be found to provide guards
locally.
Maryland Correctional Institute
Inmates in
Hagerstown manufactured and delivered
300 predator guards for public lands, which will last through
the 2009 nesting season. A huge MWDI thank you goes out
to all who helped make this happen - the inmates (without whose
work this would not have been possible), MD DNR's Bill Harvey,
who helped set-up this program, and John
McKay, the metal shop manager. We extend a very special thanks to Jason Flynn of the
Roof Center for assisting MWDI by obtaining and delivering the metal
supplies.
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