Jul 30, 2014 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – The Greene County Conservation District is warning farmers and livestock owners to carefully monitor the placement of certain types of erosion control devices on their property. Certain devices, such as blanketing and survey flagging tape, may pose a hazard to livestock when used in grazing areas.

Although biodegradable, the materials are not meant to be consumed and can cause serious intestinal damage, blockages and even death. Several cases of animal injury or death apparently because of the ingestion of these materials have been reported to the conservation district.

The conservation district urges landowners who have pasture areas used for grazing purposes to keep their animals off the site until full vegetative cover is established and the controls have either been removed or completely vegetated.

In areas where pasture animals tend to graze intensively, it is advised to ensure that the erosion control blanketing is completely degraded before letting livestock enter. The animals can still pull the blanketing from under the roots and ingest the material.

Landowners involved in projects currently in the planning stages should make any company performing work on their land aware of their livestock and the intent to graze areas after their work is completed. Other controls can be used where the blanketing is to be placed. Landowners can and should request alternative controls that are safe for livestock. Companies should be able to fulfill these requests without any complications.

For more information, call the conservation district at 724-852-5278, or e-mail gccd@co.greene.pa.us.