Backyard Critter Control Seminar
Scheduled for August 14th

There is nothing worse that gets a person’s blood boiling than to wake up one morning and see the yard torn all up by a pesky armadillo. Or to find that the newly planted flowers have been eaten down to the ground by deer over night.  There is nothing more of a nuisance than having a snake take up in the backyard  or dealing with a flock of Canada geese hanging out by the lakeshore.  There is nothing more aggravating and costly than having a squirrel take shelter in the attic or a vole eating down one of your prized flowering shrubs.  So much for thinking and calling these animals cute; they have become a menace in the backyard! 

Such situations with wildlife and the damage they can cause is becoming way too common.  Almost every homeowner has had some sort of run in with an animal near the home or garden and has had to deal with the consequences of its presence.  “Learning to live with them” sounds good but isn’t a realistic strategy nor does it eliminate wildlife problems.  As long as humans continue to invade areas where animals exist and attempt to coexist with them, the territorial battle and problems will continue to rise. 

Unfortunately, there is not an easy solution for living with backyard wildlife and limiting the damage they might cause.  However, knowing what will and will not work and the legal methods one can use is the best advice one can get.  

This very topic will be discussed in detail on Tuesday evening, August 14, 2007. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System in partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will host a seminar to discuss controlling backyard wildlife, limiting their damage, and applying legal and effective methods to control them.  

This public seminar – “Controlling Critters and Cures” - will be held at night from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and be located at the First Baptist Church of Dadeville on Hwy. 49 in downtown Dadeville, Alabama.  This seminar will feature a panel of "experts" - including Extension Agents, Wildlife Specialists, and Conservation Officers - that will lead the discussion and answer questions about various wildlife problems and concerns that occur around the home and garden environment.  There is a $5 registration fee to attend.  Those interested in attending are asked to call the Tallapoosa County Extension office at 256-825-1050 and submit the $5 payment by Friday, August 10th, to the Tallapoosa County Extension Office, 125 N. Broadnax Street, Room 23, Dadeville, AL 36853. 

Mismanaged Irrigation Systems

Some of my professional pet peeves are crape murder, construction damage to trees, weed and feed products, and mismanaged irrigation systems.  Just this past week, I became irked after seeing two businesses in Dadeville with automated lawn irrigation systems watering the grass at 8:30 at night.  First of all, watering at night is not a good practice because it can promote various lawn fungal diseases and lead to damaged lawns.  However, what bothered me the most was that just the night before, the Dadeville area received almost one inch of rain from a thunderstorm.  The precious green lawns of these two businesses did not need water so any extra water applied just ran off in to the streets.  Now that is wise water use!  Wonder who is paying the water bill?

Lawns need about one inch to one and half inches of water per week.  Irrigations systems should be manually turned on twice per week in the early morning hours to meet this need. However, if significant rainfall has fallen, and is has the last month, then turn off those automated timed irrigation systems and quit wasting water.  Although we have Lake Martin as a great and perceived everlasting water source, as citizens of Tallapoosa County, we should still be good stewards of our water and other natural resources and demand others to do the same. 

For more information, contact the Tallapoosa County Extension Office at 256-825-1050 or the Master Gardener Helpline at 1-877-ALA-GROW.  You may also visit us online at www.aces.edu.