COMPARISON OF 4 PARTICULATE SUBSTANCES AS WILDLIFE FEEDING REPELLENTS

We compared the effectiveness of dolomitic lime, activated charcoal, N utra-lite (a silica-based compound), and white quartz sand as feeding repellents for brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater), white-tailed de er (Odocoileus virginianus), and Canada geese (Branta canadensis). In 4 day, two-choice aviary tests with cowbirds, consumption of treated m illet (1-4% g g(-1)) was less than consumption of untreated millet for all particulates except Nutra-lite at 1% g g(-1). Greatest reductions in consumption occurred with lime-treated millet, followed by charcoa l, Nutra-lite, and sand. Overall mean daily consumption of treated mil let by cowbirds in one-choice tests was similar to total consumption o f millet in comparable two-choice tests for each particulate. However, millet treated with 4% lime reduced cowbird consumption for 1 day. Si milarly, in 4 day, two-choice field tests involving free-ranging deer, deer consumed less corn treated (4% g g(-1)) with lime or charcoal th an corn treated with Nutra-lite or sand. Corn treated with sand did no t reduce consumption by deer relative to untreated corn. Lime applied to turf in 10 m x 21 m enclosures at an application rate of 270 kg ha( -1) did not suppress grazing by geese. Nutra-lite applied to turf at t he manufacturer-recommended rate of 2568 kg ha(-1) reduced overall goo se presence on treated plots in enclosures for 3 days but suppressed g oose grazing for 1 day only. We conclude that lime is more effective o verall as a white-tailed deer and brown-headed cowbird feeding repelle nt than is charcoal, Nutra-lite, or sand. Lime has considerable potent ial as a feeding repellent in agricultural and possibly turf situation s. Charcoal could be used effectively in situations where lime is impr actical. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.