Gin traps catch many non-target animals
Our focus is to eliminate or reduce conflicts by introducing proactive preventative measures to the conflict interface. Our interventions include advice and guidance on management of specific wildlife conflict issues in urban and rural environments, with emphasis on pro-active, preventative and non-lethal interventions. Our experience ranges from dealing with ants to elephants; for farmers, land managers, game reserves and protected areas, lodges and in business premises.
Dogs4Wildlife ~ Canine conservation services:
Dogs are playing an increasing role in conservation and wildlife services, as proactive guardians against predators, and as reactive response to poaching and wildlife crimes. We work with a network of partners to attain the very best solutions for our clients, by partnership with Mans Best Friend.
Livestock Guardian Dogs which can protect cattle, goats or sheep against predators, by a method of familial bonding to your livestock. Puppies may be delivered as inoculated puppies at 8 weeks of age and with minimal guidance; but we prefer to place a puppy on a system offering a 12 month farmer-dog support program. We source top quality livestock guardian dogs and with a 12 month monitoring contract, we guarantee that stock losses will be reduced or your money back.
Game bird population surveys using Pointing Dogs and GPS technology to quantify and record bird population densities, or presence / absence. These may be overlaid onto maps to enable exposure of biodiversity links to land management practices. Examples of this are linking bird numbers to veld burning practices.
Read more about Dogs 4 Wildlife here.
In addition to the human-wildlife conflict interface, we offer:
Third Party Negotiation and arbitration skills to resolve human-human conflicts related to the environment, when conflict levels obstruct rational negotiation between first and second parties.
Independent Field Assessments and reports on trans-boundary conflicts (Farm-farm/ Protected Area-Community etc.).
Conflict resolution services:
Training of land managers or custodians about application of systems thinking to management processes to reduce conflict with all forms of wildlife. Quick fix gains are highlighted for avoidance when these obscure long term gains.
Training of managers by using case studies from conflicts elsewhere, to illustrate efficient and effective solutions to resolve conflict issues for all species.
The chemical and pesticide interface is addressed to avoid poisoning, and a variety of long term conflict resolution methods are taught or offered. Cognisance is taken of the need for balance between farm profit and environmental stability.
Training for conservation and agricultural extension officials on
i. Conflict Management for field activities, and
ii. Inter-personal conflict resolution skills.
Full courses are offered at the Southern African Wildlife College from time to time, and tailored courses can be designed for your specific needs.
Donkey as livestock guardian
Eland caught in a snare © Tim Snow
Rodent management advice
We are often asked about Best Practice for rodent control, and of course the best ways are natural and keeping places tidy to keep rat infestations away, but if one does have to use a rodenticide, then to use a multiple feed product reduces risk to owls…
Racumin is a Bayer product, distributed by Coopers in South Africa, which contains the active ingredient coumatetralyl. It ís a multiple feed rodenticide, meaning that a rodent needs to feed several times before becoming intoxicated, and that is over about 4 days. With most other rodenticides, rodents only need a single feed, although they may eat for a few days before they die.
So the rat needs multiple Racumin feedings to reach 16, 5 milligrams per kg body weight over 4 days. (Lethal dose oral for rats is 16, 5 mg/kg). Death is by inhibited blood coagulation (internal bleeding). (The antidote for accidental mammalian poisonings in Vitamin K, to be administered by a vet).
The link to owls:
For an owl to reach the lethal dose by multiple feeding is unlikely. Also the lethal dosage for birds is >2000 mg/kg (Japanese quail); = about 121 times less toxic to the quail than the rat, and then with an owl being heavier that the quail, again possibly a greater safety margin.
There are a few formulations of Racumin available, blocks, paste sachets and granules, and if placed in a way that pets and farm animals can’t get to it, in my opinion it’s the lowest risk rodenticide for farm use. Also then the most environmentally acceptable.
The liquid formulation is classed as Group 1, because of the possibility to ingest a lethal dose in a single event.
For more information please contact us.