Thinking Behavior Management Concerning the Common Vole (Microtus arvalis) Control

Abstract During 2007-2014 has appeared, in the South part of Romania, a pandemic of common voles (field mice), which surprised farmers and authorities and which caused damages of 1,200-2,000 kg/ha on wheat and 1,000-1,700 kg/ha on rape. This enormous pest produced, at national level, damages of over 3 billion RON, i.e. 700 million EURO only in 2014. The knowledge of the problem and the pandemic control were obstructed by certain psycho-economic considerations, namely by the unawareness of the farmers, population and authorities regarding the statistical information arising from research. Using only mental statistics for this purpose was unsuccessful, the explosion of mice not being observed. With some recurrent behaviors, especially in the agricultural year 2009-2010, the common voles population ( Microtus arvalis ) has continuously increased, reaching 4,000-6,000 specimens/ha in 2014. Psychological studies on population, authority and farmers reaction towards this situation have been made – the results are presented in this paper. We can state that the presentation of the statistical research results is very little taken into consideration by those tested, by the respondents. New forms of presentation in order to obtain a positive reaction against common voles were required. The emotional component has played an important role in the proposal of not destroying the pest population. In the same time, the European Union principle of precaution has played an important role in the delayed elaboration of a control plan.