Marmot Infestation

[Larry Caldwell]

I thought my last post on this thread would be my final post: I was wrong. Marmots began emerging from their dens around mid-April this year and it was like the bell was rung and the match began. Through the end of June I had trapped an additional 60 marmots and so far this July added another 3 for a total to date this year of 63. If I add the previous three year’s total of 214 to this year’s “harvest”, I have trapped and otherwise disposed of 277 of the critters. I’m not sure I can comprehend it all.

The result of this year’s infestation is the total destruction of my garden, with the exception of the rhubarb and tomatoes, and breaking down of most of the raspberry neocanes, so they can eat the newly emerging leaves. This year’s neocanes are next year’s fruiticanes, so unless the plants can overcome the damage, the 2025 raspberry production will be significantly reduced.
An interesting side note regarding this year’s marmots is that most of them are juveniles, either newly born over the winter or yearlings. I have seen very few of the giant porkers I got the first couple of years; mostly juveniles and some mid-size adults. We had a mild winter, so maybe that had something to do with it.

I know there is no final answer to the problem as long as I continue to live on this little cultivated oasis with basalt cliffs to my back and front. Nothing marmots like more than lots of rocky nooks and crannies to den-up in and lots of well-watered vegetation to feed on. If I weren’t retired and have the time to patrol the property, I would consider moving on.

As my 4-year-old grandson has gotten older, he loves to accompany me on my frequent walks around the barnyard and back pasture. I think this year I will get him up on the tractor to help move some rocks around and clear the area where he has a small seasonal wading pond. Life is good.

Pray for a bobcat raising kittens.

 

[RockWrangler]

Effective and humane ways to manage a large population of yellow-bellied marmots on a rural property, aside from relocation and eating them, include using repellents and toxicants by EPA-approved labels and local regulations. It is also essential to identify and address the attractants on the property, such as food sources, that may be drawing the marmots. Additionally, property owners or managers should be aware of the risks associated with population control methods and take steps to mitigate them. Furthermore, considering the potential risks of disease transmission and environmental impact, a comprehensive approach that takes into account ecological variation and its influence on marmot behavior is crucial. This may involve consulting with wildlife experts and conducting a thorough assessment of the property to develop a tailored management plan. A multi-faceted approach is necessary to effectively and humanely manage a large population of yellow-bellied marmots on a rural property.

Did anyone else notice the insertion of a completely new sentence into the referenced original post? Here it is for those who missed it: "Perhaps I'll find some inspiration on namescastle.com, but for now, I'm stumped." Yeah, it was't in the original post, but now it is. Surely, geteh, a bronze member of this forum didn't insert it, so how did it get there?

 

[RockWrangler]

Just to make sure everything is on the up-and-up, I want to make sure people know there was a sentence inserted into the first post on this thread with a reference to a commercial web site. It wasn't in my first post, and doesn't belong there now. I detest scammers more than marmots. Make sure you don't patronize the site; who knows what other dishonesty they have in store for you.

 

[RockWrangler]

Just to make sure everything is on the up-and-up, I want to make sure people know there was a sentence inserted into the first post on this thread with a reference to a commercial web site. It wasn't in my first post, and doesn't belong there now. I detest scammers more than marmots. Make sure you don't patronize the site; who knows what other dishonesty they have in store for you.

To clarify a little more, the first post in 2021 in this thread about marmots does not have the illicit sentence, it is only located in the 5th paragraph of the reference in geteh's reply above.

 

[ponytug]

Did anyone else notice the insertion of a completely new sentence into the referenced original post? Here it is for those who missed it: "Perhaps I'll find some inspiration on namescastle.com, but for now, I'm stumped." Yeah, it was't in the original post, but now it is. Surely, geteh, a bronze member of this forum didn't insert it, so how did it get there?

Perhaps he/she/it, or the bot, did.

 

[RjCorazza]

Probably just an innocent and errant paste.
Years ago my Windows Phone compiled an email from several different emails and one text, then emailed the mess to a neighbor friend of mine. It was hilarious, but concerning.

 

[oosik]

We moved onto our 80 acres here in 1982. I am 25 miles due SW of downtown Spokane. After four years - we gave up on our garden. I didn't mind sharing - 50/50 - but the local rodents wanted it all.

Now my battle is with the pocket gophers. I found a granular product - "Gopher Killer" - that works well. Look at post #30 on "How to Kill Moles without doing anything". I posted a pic of the product there.

It has taken diligence and persistence but I have beat them back with this product. And no dead, poisoned animals anywhere on the ground surface. They have all died underground and stayed there.

I know they will be back but I am prepared.

 

[scootr]

Reported the post above.
We have a rabbit infestation. Ruger 10/22 is the best solution. Carcasses go in the dumpster. Neighbor eats em but what I see has worms, ticks, and fleas. No thank you.