Excluding Feral Swine, Javelinas, and Raccoons from Deer Bait Stations

Abstract

This paper presents a design, list of materials, and construction procedure for a physical and electric barrier fence to prevent feral swine (Sus scrofa), javelina (Pecari tajacu), raccoons (Procyon lotor), and perhaps other non-target animals from accessing or damaging bait stations designed to administer acaricide treatments for the prevention of cattle ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, and southern cattle ticks, R. (B.) annulatus, from successfully feeding on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). The document includes behavioral rationale for the specific design, evidence of durability during deployment under field conditions in the brush country of southwestern Texas along the border with Mexico, and a demonstrated efficacy of 100%, as documented by photographic data gathered during this deployment. This study was undertaken specifically to aid in maximizing efforts of the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (CFTEP) and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to control ticks feeding on white-tailed deer and will aid in preventing the re-introduction of cattle fever ticks and the potentially fatal Texas Fever that they vector from Mexico back into U.S cattle herds.