Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Studies by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the efficacy of methiocarb for reducing bird damage to sprouting corn, rice, soybeans, lettuce, and sugar beets, and to ripening rice, grain sorghum, wheat, cherries, grapes, and blueberries have shown it to be an effective, broad-spectrum bird repellent and crop protectant. The short-term plans of the Service for the further development and testing of methiocarb are reviewed. Also discussed is some of the rationale behind the use of chemical repellents to prevent agricultural damage by birds.