Catfish Losses to Wildlife

Catfish Losses
to Wildlife
Washington, D.C.

Released March 16, 2004, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department
of Agriculture. For information on "Catfish Losses to Wildlife" call John Lange at 703-720-0585, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. ET.

Catfish Losses to Wildlife in 2003 Reported by 69 Percent
of All Operations
A survey of producers in the 13 largest catfish producing States revealed that 69 percent reported some
wildlife-caused losses in 2003, the same percentage as when the survey was conducted in 1996. The
lowest rate of reported losses was in the Southeast, where 56 percent reported wildlife losses, compared
with 46 percent in 1996. The highest rate of loss was reported in Arkansas, at 79 percent, compared
with 74 percent in 1996.
The average cost of wildlife-caused loss for all States was $17,200 per operation reporting a loss, while
the average expense to prevent loss was $9,200. Birds were reported as being the most common cause
of loss, with great blue herons reported by 64 percent of the growers reporting loss. Other cormorants
were reported by 45 percent and double crested cormorants by 41 percent. Muskrats, reported by 29
percent of the growers reporting loss, were the most frequently cited mammal, primarily for damaging
dikes and roads. Of those producers reporting wildlife-caused losses, the primary types of damage were
wildlife eating catfish reported by 96 percent of the growers, 66 reported injury to catfish, 38 percent
reported feeding patterns interrupted, and 27 percent reported levee or road damage.
This Wildlife Damage Survey was funded by USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services.
State
and
Region

No. of
Operations
Jan. 1
2004 1

Water
Surface
Acres During
Jan 1-Jun 30,
2004 1

Total
2003
Sales 1

Percentage
w/WildlifeCaused Loss
2003

Avg. Cost
of WildlifeCaused Loss
2003 2

Average
Expense
to Prevent
Loss
2003 3

Number

Acres

$1,000

Percent

Dollars

Dollars

5,400
9,800
74
85,159
25,400
200
AL
14,300
22,400
79
59,047
34,000
161
AR
8,800
19,600
69
243,176
101,000
410
MS
1,700
5,800
56
10,200
4,250
193
S. E. 4
17,700
19,000
70
9,488
3,490
69
West 5
11,000
26,500
60
17,855
9,650
84
S. W. 6
Average
9,200
17,200
69
NA
NA
NA
per Farm
7,100,000
13,300,000
NA
424,925
177,790
1,117
Total
1
Source: USDA, NASS, Catfish Production, February 5, 2004.
2
Average of operations reporting wildlife caused losses. May not calculate due to rounding procedures and non-response
calculations.
3
Average of those operations reporting expenses to prevent wildlife caused losses. May not calculate due to rounding and
non-response calculations.
4
Includes FL, GA, KY, NC, and SC.
5
Includes CA, IL, and MO.
6
Includes LA and TX.

Aq 3 (3-04)

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