Bird and Animal Damage Control in Pecans 

*Adapted from “Pecans in Georgia”, Extension Bulletin 609. 1975

Birds and animals cause Georgia pecan growers to lose 12 to 16 million pounds of pecans each year.  This represents considerable monetary loss.  The greatest damage is caused by crows, bluejays, and squirrels.  Some damage is done by deer, raccoon and rats.

A crow eats approximately one ounce of food per day (about 6 percent of its body weight).  If pecans yield 50 percent meat, then a crow must eat two ounces of pecans to get one ounce of food..  The loss is greater because some nuts are contaminated by pecking or are carried off and lost.  Assuming three times as many pecans are contaminated, wasted or lost as are eaten, then a crow can damage one-half pound of pecans per day -- 15 pounds per month.

Blue jay consumption, wastage and loss are about half that of the crow .  Thus blue jay damage amounts to 7 1/2 pounds per week and waste or bury about another two pounds .  Squirrel damage will amount to 14 pounds of pecans per month per squirrel. 

These three pests will take nuts from the tree and from the ground. Squirrels begin eating as soon as the kernel forms (about September 1).  Crows and blue jays wait about a month longer -- until the shucks open. Nuts will be eaten until harvest is complete  -- usually the first of the year. 

Animal

Damage per month (lbs./mo.)

Vulnerable Time

Expected Damage (lbs./animal)

Remarks 

Squirrel

14

4

56

To estimate total damage, multiply  the expected damage for each species by the number present and add for all species.  Damage due to other species is usually not great.  However, a complete damage control program should include them since there would be no additional costs.  

Crow

15

3

45

Bluejay

7.5

3

22.5

Damage Control Program:

The best control program is one that incorporates several different methods.  It might include: (1) alteration of the habitat so as to reduce available cover, (2) fencing to preclude entry, (3) scare devices and repellents to chase out intruders, (4) direct reduction when necessary and (5) a rapid harvest of the crop to reduce the time available for depredation. 

The method chosen will depend upon several things; the amount of damage, the species causing damage, the money available for control and the particular situation in terms of the orchard and owner. 

The University of Georgia

The University of Georgia - Department of Entomology
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Athens, Griffin, Statesboro, and Tifton, GA USA

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