May 29, 2008

Pond management workshop explores pesky water pests

Workshop facilitators will provide participants with resources that are available to them when dealing with pond problems, said Stacey Clupper a Purdue Extension educator. It will be at 5:30 p.m. at 1287 S. 200 E., Hartford City, and will cover a variety of topics for home or landowners with or without ponds on their property.

One of the topics covered will be ways of dealing with wildlife pests that flock to the pond and surrounding areas. Two of the major pests are beavers and muskrats.

“Beavers and muskrats can cause damage around a pond by ruining the dam or the bank. People driving lawn mowers can have a tire drop into the water from damage on the bank, and this can cause the entire lawn mower to flip into the water,” said Tim Dale, private animal control and wildlife management specialist.

Muskrats also can cause major damage to the ground by digging tunnels around the pond and can damage a lawn by going into the yard and eating the grass. Beavers also might came up into the yard, but instead of eating grass, they chew trees. The best way to control these pests is to trap them.

“It is best to control the pest population quickly before they become too numerous and impossible to control,” Dale said.

Muskrats can have anywhere from two to three litters a year, and each litter may have five to six kits. Beavers may have one or two litters per year, and each litter may contain four to six babies.

Other topics include weed control options, pond water quality and testing, the proper way to safely cook and clean fish, rules of pond safety, fishing do’s and don’ts, and ways to select and adjust the fish population in a pond.

It is not necessary for workshop participants to have a pond or be in the process of adding one.  There is no cost to attend, and those who fill out an evaluation will receive a Pond Guidebook, which is valued at $20. The workshop was made possible thanks to the Conservation Marketing Initiative Grant from the Clean Water Indiana Act.

To attend the workshop, register by June 2 by calling (765) 348-3213 or e-mail Stacy Clupper at cluppers@purdue.edu

Writer: Ashley Bechman, (765) 494-8402, aabechma@purdue.edu

Sources: Stacy Clupper, (765) 348-3218, cluppers@purdue.edu

Tim Dale, (260) 731-4573, ccmuncie@parlorcity.com

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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