Field Crops Webinar: Integrated Wildlife Management in Michigan Field Crops

March 14, 2023

James DeDecker

Michigan is home to abundant wildlife that create valuable opportunities for recreation and sport. Yet, when wild animals make use of farms for food and shelter, the damage they cause can be frustrating and costly. Effectively managing wildlife damage requires special attention to applicable laws/regulations, divergent perspectives on the value of wildlife, and the principles of integrated pest management. This discussion will cover the background on wildlife damage in Michigan, provide tips on identifying and diagnosing wildlife damage, a review of wildlife damage management strategies available to farmers, and highlight education resources available for addition information. Join James DeDecker, MSU Director of Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, Amberly Hauger, USDA Wildlife Biologist, and Colter Lubben, Michigan DNR Wildlife Technician to discuss how you can minimize wildlife’s effects on your farm.

USDA wildlife service’s mission is federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist. Wildlife services provides a variety of integrated wildlife damage management techniques to provide technical assistance and direct management operations in response to requests for assistance. This presentation will discuss who we are at USDA wildlife services, how we can help mitigate wildlife damage, guidelines on whether a federal or state permit is needed to address wildlife damage, discuss the federal depredation permit and the process of obtaining a depredation permit.