Damage caused by these burrowing rodents is usually far more detrimental to crops, soil stability and general land management than that caused by birds or grazing animals like deer. Burrowing rodents are often permanent residents of land where a particular crop is grown. Ground squirrels are also a major food source for badgers which can damage fields when digging for ground squirrels. However, badger damage is not a widespread concern because badgers are not widespread. Birds Birds that cause problems in agricultural lands are the European starling, several blackbird species and migratory waterfowl.
Birds can cause severe damage in localized areas.
Wild ungulates, like deer and elk, can also cause serious crop damage in localized areas, but damage is not widespread. Direct Seeding Effects on Wildlife Damage Rodents Burrowing rodents need subsurface tunnels and above-ground corridors for nesting, escape and food gathering to survive and multiply. They cannot tolerate mechanized disturbance, particularly deep cultivation or continuous surface activity. Therefore rodent damage can be greater in direct seeding, zero tillage and chemical fallow systems because of the reduced mechanized disturbance. If reduced tillage fallow, chemical fallow or forage production is coupled with poor weed control, rodent populations can be very high.