Wildlife is a valuable resource to many. Thousands of Hoosiers
take part in wildlife viewing, hunting, and other outdoor recreation
activities each year. In many areas of the Midwest, farmland
is the primary open space available to wildlife. However, when
people and wildlife live together, conflicts can and do occur.
Researchers have estimated that crop damage by wildlife costs
Indiana farmers millions of dollars each year. It can be difficult
to determine what species of wildlife is causing the problem
so appropriate action can be taken. The best way to know what
species cause which types of damage is to view them in the
act. The information presented in this video is a direct result
from research conducted by Purdue University Department of
Forestry and Natural Resources in cooperation with the Indiana
Division of Fish & Wildlife, and the National Wild Turkey
Federation. Research crews spent thousands of hours surveying
160 corn and soybean fields for wildlife damage, and over 300
hours were spent in blinds and stands observing and recording
wildlife
feeding behavior in fields. |
