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.
The loss is greater because some nuts are contaminated by pecking or are carried off and lost. Blue jay consumption, wastage and loss are about half that of the crow . 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. To estimate total damage, multiply the expected damage for each species by the number present and add for all species.