Wildlife controllant and methods of using the same

Abstract

An animal controllant comprises a shellfish waste material mixed with a binding agent and applied to plants such that the controllant repels or attracts animals therefrom, depending on the animal desired to be controlled. The shellfish waste material typically comprises shell and/or tissue material of crab, lobster, mussel, shrimp, clam, oyster, and mixtures thereof, and the binding agent typically comprises clay, corn oil and/or ground corn. A colorant such as alfalfa, which may also act as a binder, may also be added to the controllant formulation. The controllant may be applied to plants by itself or with the aid of an adhesive. The repellent may also be applied to a substrate such as a flag or a protective tube, which is then positioned on or about the plant. The inventive shellfish waste formulation has been found to protect plants by repelling animals including deer, elk, hares, rabbits, gophers, voles, mountain beavers, and moles and by attracting certain insectivorous and carnivorous animals, such as dogs, wolves and coyotes. The controllant is believed to function by releasing ammonia as the formulation decomposes as a result of exposure to sunlight and water.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An animal controllant, comprising: 
 shellfish waste material, and    a binder material,    wherein said shellfish waste material comprises a weight percentage of the controllant in a range of 40 to 100 percent.    
     
     
         2 . The controllant of  claim 1  wherein said shellfish waste material is chosen from the group consisting of crab, lobster, mussel, shrimp, clam, oyster, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The controllant of  claim 1  wherein said binder material is chosen from the group consisting of clay, ground corn, corn oil and alfalfa.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said animal controllant is a repellent to animals chosen from the group consisting of deer, elk, hares, rabbits, gophers, voles, mountain beavers, and moles, and is an attractant to animals chosen from the group consisting of insectivores and carnivores.  
     
     
         5 . The controllant of  claim 1  wherein said shellfish waste material includes a mineral composition of calcium carbonate in a range of 80 to 95 weight percent, calcium phosphate in a range of 5 to 15 weight percent, and chitin in a range of zero to 5 weight percent.  
     
     
         6 . The controllant of  claim 1  further comprising a colorant.  
     
     
         7 . The controllant of  claim 1  wherein said controllant is adhered to a substrate manufactured from a material chosen from the group consisting of mylar, plastic, and vinyl.  
     
     
         8 . The controllant of  claim 1  wherein said shellfish waste material comprises mussel material, said binding agent comprises ground corn, and wherein said mussel material comprises soft mussel tissue in range of 20 to 40 weight percent of the shellfish waste material and hard mussel shell in a range of 40 to 80 weight percent of the shellfish waste material, said repellent further comprises corn oil in a range of 5 to 10 weight percent of the controllant, and colorant in a range of 0.001 to 10 weight percent of the controllant.  
     
     
         9 . The controllant of  claim 1  wherein said shellfish waste material comprises ground crustacean shell material.  
     
     
         10 . The controllant  1  wherein said controllant is nontoxic to plants and is biodegradable.  
     
     
         11 . The controllant of  claim 1  wherein said controllant is used as an attractant for carnivorous animals.  
     
     
         12 . A method of repelling animals from a plant, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a repellent, said repellent including at least 40 weight percent shellfish waste material,    placing said repellent on a plant.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of placing said repellent on said plant comprises placing said repellent on a region of a plant chosen from the group consisting of a plant leaf, a plant needle, a plant branch, a plant root zone, and a plant bark.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of placing said repellent on said plant comprises placing said repellent on a substrate and then placing said substrate on said plant.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said substrate comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of mylar, plastic, and vinyl.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said substrate comprises a tube placed on a root zone of said plant and extending upwardly therefrom and around a remainder of said plant.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said repellent further includes a binding agent chosen from the group consisting of clay, ground corn, corn oil and alfalfa.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said shellfish waste material is chosen from the group consisting of crab, lobster, mussel, shrimp, clam, oyster, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of placing said repellent on said plant comprises placing an adhesive on a portion of said plant, and then placing said repellent on said adhesive.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said adhesive is non-phytotoxic and is chosen from the group consisting of water and glue.  
     
     
         21 . A method of preparing an animal controllant, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shellfish waste material including water mixed therewith;    grinding said shellfish waste material;    adding a binding agent to said shellfish waste material to form a shellfish waste mixture; and    drying said shellfish waste mixture to reduce a water content thereof and so as to form said animal controllant.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said animal controllant repels deer, elk, hares, rabbits, gophers, voles, mountain beavers, and moles.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said animal controllant comprises at least 40 weight percent shellfish waste material, at least 40 weight percent binding agent, and a colorant.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said shellfish waste material is chosen from the group consisting of crab, lobster, mussel, shrimp, clam, oyster, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said step of drying said shellfish waste mixture comprises drying said shellfish waste mixture to reduce a water content thereof to a water content of less than 5 weight percent.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said step of drying said shellfish waste mixture comprises drying said mixture at a temperature in a range of 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit for at least forty five minutes.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said animal controllant is an attractant to insectivores and carnivores.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said controllant produces ammonia in response to exposure to sunlight.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said controllant produces ammonia as said controllant decomposes.