A Preliminary Experiment on Covering Sweet Corn with Netting to Exclude Raccoon
S. Stern, R. E. Nimocks, Robert Jaye, Ralph E. DeGregorio, Mark W. Schonbeck, D. H. Simser, S. Cady · Journal of Sustainable Agriculture · 1996
The Eastern raccoon, a pest in sweet corn, deters some farmers and gardeners from attempting to grow this crop. In a preliminary experiment, covering small plots of sweet corn with poly-propylene netting completely excluded raccoons, while unprotected sweet corn suffered substantial damage. However total and "edible" corn ear yields were lower under netting, likely because of reduced radiation levels. Further research is required to determine whether other netting materials might transmit light better, and thus allow normal yield; whether netting remains effective in the absence of unprotected corn (no-choice test); and if other vertebrate and insect pests might be controlled by netting.