Life Sciences Commons^™

Why I Love Grasshopper Sparrows, Michele Patenaude

UVM Libraries Conference Day

Since 2001, Michele (a library circulation supervisor in her day job) has conducted a summer breeding-bird survey of Grasshopper Sparrows at Camp Johnson in Colchester, VT. Named Grasshopper Sparrows because their breeding call sounds like a grasshopper, this little brown bird is endemic to certain types of scrubby grasslands which are becoming more scarce in the Northeast. The Grasshopper Sparrow is also declining and the species is not on the list of Vermont Endangered Birds. Come to this presentation and learn about the bird, how Michele surveys them, why they are endangered, and why Michele loves these quiet, little brown …

Room To Roam: Using Gps To Determine The Effect Of Exhibit Size And Herd Size On Zoo Elephant Movement, Matthew Holdgate, Deborah A. Duffield, David J. Shepherdson

Student Research Symposium

Asian and African elephants (Elephas maximus and Loxodonta spp.) are particularly susceptible to welfare concerns in zoological institutions due to their high intelligence, complex social structures, and sheer size. Zoo elephants are also limited by the space available to them, and the resulting lack of exercise may contribute to a host of health issues, including obesity and foot disease. Zoos rely largely on changes to the exhibit size and herd size to promote elephant movement, yet the effect of these factors on movement is unknown. Our study used GPS-equipped anklets to track the movement of 80 elephants at 43 zoos …

The Link, One Health, And Social Capital: A New Strategy For Empathy Education And Social Work, Phil Arkow

International Veterinary Social Work Summit

For 150 years, animal welfare and veterinary advocates have promoted a doctrine that animal welfare will be enhanced by teaching children kindness to animals and responsible animal husbandry practices. However, these efforts have been stymied by societal and professional perceptions that “animal” causes are less worthy than “human” services. Ten significant challenges have made it difficult, if not impossible, to gain access to educators’ curricula and social work training. In a society that continues to place humans’ interests above animals’, it is time to try a new approach that focuses on the human benefits of animal welfare. In particular, a …

Natural Dog Training Provides New Ways To Understand And Manage Stresses Of Canine Assistance Work, Jean Marie Thompson, Kevin Behan

International Veterinary Social Work Summit

Limiting dis-stress experienced by assisted therapy, crisis response, and combat comfort dogs is a concern of handlers, organizations, and researchers. Dogs communicate feelings via body language especially muzzle expressions and physical behaviors that people and other animals recognize. Projection of dis-stress by dogs negatively impacts therapeutic interactions, distracting and detracting from beneficial flow of feelings. Dog welfare is risked. Behan's Natural Dog Training ("NDT") presents an alternative paradigm for understanding dog dis-stress. NDT is an energy flow model that is different from but compatible with positive reinforcement techniques and attuned to Adrian Bejan's constructal law of nature, a physics principle. …

Compassion Fatigue Or Ethics Exhaustion?, Sonnya Dennis

International Veterinary Social Work Summit

Compassion Fatigue or Ethics Exhaustion?

In veterinary practice, the diagnosis is critical for proper treatment. Different diseases can cause the same symptoms, and while palliative treatment is sometimes necessary, ideally we want prevention or cure. In this talk, I will speak from the experiential perspective of companion animal general practice about the very real and common problem of compassion fatigue, and why it is different from, and can mask, what I call Ethics Exhaustion. In brief, I define Ethics Exhaustion as the feeling of being powerless to even try to do what you think that you ethically should do, because …

Cruelty Intervention Advocacy, A New Approach To Animal Hoarding Interventions, Allison Cardona

International Veterinary Social Work Summit

Animal hoarding affects thousands of animals and people across the United States. Conservative estimates place the number of new cases at two to three thousand per year, though no centralized database exists, so the full scope of the problem is unknown. Unlike intentional, single acts of cruelty, animal hoarding impacts a large number of animals over a prolonged period of time. Any type of animal can be hoarded, though the majority of hoarding situations involve cats and dogs, with numbers ranging from a few dozen to several hundred and even thousands of animals living in a single location. Accumulation of …

Canines And Childhood Cancer: The Effects Of Animal-Assisted Therapy For Patients, Families And Therapy Dogs, Molly Jenkins Msw, Amy Mccullough Ma, Ashleigh Ruehrdanz Ba, Kevin Morris Ph.D.

International Veterinary Social Work Summit

PLEASE USE THE PDF (available from the "download" link) TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE VIDEO

For many people, animals take center stage in their daily lives, offering companionship, comfort, joy and for some, even kinship. Increasingly, greater attention has been given to the roles that animals can play in supporting the health and emotional well-being of people in need, specifically through the use of animal-assisted therapy (AAT). However, while the field of human-animal interaction (HAI) research has expanded enormously in recent years, it is still unclear whether the incorporation of animals into clinical settings is effective from a scientific standpoint. …

Comparing Aggression Levels In Jack Dempsey Cichlids Based On Variation Of Haitat Structure, Johnne' Beaty, Bethany Sobray, Rachael Greer

Undergraduate Research Conference

Jack Dempsey cichlids, Rocio octofasciata, are native to South America and known for their aggressive behaviors. These fish are popular in freshwater aquariums, but can act aggressively towards other fish. In many species of fish individuals may behave aggressively to defend resources and the decision to defend these resources depends on factors such a habitat complexity (Oldfield 2011). Cichlids thus need ample room to maintain individual territories. Behavioral patterns in other species of cichlids have observed that the establishment of territories is constantly changing (Dijkstra et al. 2009). Individuals use information such as habitat complexity to adapt to environments, even …

Effects Of Weaning Strategy On Growth And Stress In Beef Calves, D L. Warden, M E. Brown, E G. Brown

Undergraduate Research Conference

Traditionally, calves are abruptly separated from their cows at approximately 205 days of age to prevent the calf from nursing. This process is commonly known as weaning. Weaning is very stressful for calves not only because of the separation from their dam, but also because of the change in their diet. When calves are weaned stress may result in behavioral changes, such as increased vocalization, pacing, loss of appetite and thirst. Stresses due to weaning may result in a weakened immune system which increases the risk for infection and disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate various weaning …

Identification Of Putative Origins Of Introduced Pigs In Indiana Using Nuclear Microsatellite Markers And Oral History, Joe N. Caudell, Blake E. Mccann, Robert A. Newman, Rebecca B. Simmons, Steven E. Backs, Brandon S. Schmit, Richard A. Sweitzer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) have been introduced throughout North America from various global locations (Mayer and Brisbin 1991). In some cases, sources for feral swine are provided through historical records, but for many newly established populations, the origins of feral swine are not known. Understanding the origins and dispersal patterns of feral swine is an important management consideration, because of the introduction of diseases to new locations, for prosecution of individuals who have trans-ported feral swine across state lines, and for allocating swine removal efforts appropriately to address swine translocations within a state or a management area.

Woody Vegetation Response To Over A Decade Of Deer Reduction In Indiana State Parks, Lindsay H. Jenkins, Michael A. Jenkins, Christopher R. Webster

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population sizes increased rapidly throughout Indiana in the latter half of the 20^th century due to favorable landscape conditions and regulated hunting. Hunting was historically prohibited in state parks and deer became abundant to the point that vegetation communities were severely degraded from decades of chronic deer herbivory. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources implemented controlled hunts in the 1990s to reduce deer population abundance and allow vegetation communities to recover. In 1996 and 1997, long-term vegetation monitoring plots were established in sixteen state parks and six historically-hunted reference areas for comparison. We …

Management And Attitudes Towards Predators On Quail Plantations In The Southeastern United States, Olivia Souther, Cady Etheredge, Greg K. Yarrow

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Loss of habitat and predation are two of the primary reasons given for recent bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) population declines in the southeastern United States. However, the bobwhite quail remains a favored game species of many hunters throughout the southeastern states, a fact that is reflected in the many private and commercial quail plantations advertising quail hunts. A survey of private and commercial landowners in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida was conducted to determine the significance of predator control programs in the respondents’ management plans. Survey questions aimed to assess the respondents’ attitudes towards predators of bobwhite quail, the …

Characterization Of Habitat Attributes Associated With Wild Pig-Vehicle Collision Locations, James C. Beasley, Tracy E. Grazia, Paul E. Johns, John J. Mayer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Over the past decade, the frequency of wild pig (Sus scrofa)-vehicle collisions (WPVCs) and number of human fatalities associated with these accidents in the United States has increased concurrent with the expanding populations of this invasive species. To better understand this widespread and growing human safety threat, we quantified habitat attributes associated with 311WPVC locations involving 370 wild pigs that occurred between 1983 and 2012 at the Savannah River Site in west-central South Carolina. At each collision site we measured the distance to the nearest wetland and stream, as well as the composition of habitats both immediately surrounding …

The Need To Address Black-Backed Jackal And Caracal Predation In South Africa, David L. Bergman, Ho De Waal, Nico L. Avenant, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Michael C. Marlow, Dale L. Nolte

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Prior to 1990, the four provincial governments of South Africa had a variety of programs in place to manage predation by black-backed jackals and caracals through lethal and nonlethal management in close cooperation with livestock farmers. During the 1990s the official programmes were phased out due to a multitude of factors including lower predation rates. Today, thousands of livestock (primarily sheep and goats, but also cattle and wildlife) are lost each day in South Africa due to black-backed jackal and caracal predation. The actual numbers are not known because not all losses are accounted or reported. It also does not …

Beyond Surveillance: Towards The Management Of Feral Swine Diseases, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Brian Mesenbrink, Bruce Leland

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Feral swine distribution and densities are greatest in Texas and related swine disease issues have emerged in a number of fronts. Beyond the standard surveillance protocols, the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Service program has initiated several feral swine projects to identify, contain or eliminate feral swine diseases and pathogens. This paper discusses these projects, the supportive data to quantify dis-ease management and the near-term trend in disease management.

Prairie Dog Management And Conservation Benefits, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Thomas D. Halstead, Michael A. Yeary

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Prairie dog management has evolved over the decades and present control efforts are often directed at management zones in support of prairie dog or black-footed ferret conservation. The availability of prairie dog management tools has also evolved. We present the efficacy and practicality of specific methods and provide examples of the conservation benefits of prairie dog management. Potential conflicts between conservation efforts and regulatory efforts of multiple agencies are also discussed.

Influence Of Double-Crested Cormorants On Food Web Productivity In Freshwater Ponds, Austin Butts, Kayla Frady, Kate L. Sheehan, Ron J. Johnson, Greg K. Yarrow

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Conflicts with wildlife are often based on the perceptions and concerns of citizens, industries, and managers. The gregarious nature of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; DCCO) makes their colonies highly conspicuous. Their feeding habits on forage and commercially important fishes have incited a human/wildlife conflict with this species. Colonies re-use roosting and nesting sites. In these areas guano deposits accumulate and are released into the environment where they have the potential to alter the food web through changes in productivity. This alteration can ultimately change the composition, abundance, and condition of fishery resources.

We investigate the influence of bird-derived …

Initial Evidence For The Effectiveness Of Subsonic .308 Ammunition For Use In Wildlife Damage Management, Joe N. Caudell, Michael W. Courtney, Clinton T. Turnage

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The resurgence in popularity of subsonic .30 caliber bullets in 300 Whisper and 300 Blackout has led to the development of bullets that will expand at subsonic velocities. The availability of these bullets has led to questions about the applicability of this caliber for wildlife damage management. We conducted a preliminary investigation to determine the potential of subsonic .30 caliber bullets to quickly incapacitate medium-sized game animals, such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and feral swine (Sus scrofa). We tested several bullets, including Lehigh Defense Maximum Expansion (LDME) bullets, reported to expand at 878 ft/s (268 …

Efficacy Of Predator Control: Importance Of Space, Time, And Predator Diversity, L. M. Conner, Gail Morris, Lora L. Smith

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Despite having been used for centuries to protect livestock and manage game populations, lethal predator control remains controversial. Several recent reviews of effects of predator control on prey populations concluded that in most cases predator reduction benefited prey populations (e.g., increased prey survival, abundance, or reproduction). However, each review reported a number of cases in which predator reduction had no discernible impact on monitored prey. We suggest that most predator removal efforts can be considered as a spatially structured harvest with non-harvested areas surrounding the predator removal area. As a result, immigration from non-harvested areas permits rapid recovery of predator …

Bird Use Of Solar Arrays At Airports, Travis L. Devault, Thomas W. Seamans, Jason A. Schmidt, Bradley F. Blackwell, Laura A. Tyson, Jerrold L. Belant, Nicole Mooers, Lolita Van Pelt

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recently published guidelines for new solar array installations at airports and several airports have installed solar arrays on their properties. Although an increased reliance on solar energy will likely benefit airports from environmental and economic perspectives, it is unclear how solar arrays, which provide perches and shade, might affect bird use of airport properties. Before wide-scale establishment of solar arrays at airports, they should be studied to determine whether such changes in land use adversely affect aviation safety by increasing risk of bird-aircraft collisions. We studied bird use of five pairs of solar arrays and …

Field Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Diazacon™ On Reducing Gray Squirrel Reproduction And Population, Kristina M. Dunn, Greg K. Yarrow, Wayne Chao, Brett Quattlebaum

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) (EGS) is a common wildlife species in urban and suburban communities within the eastern United States. Due to their relative adaptability and limited predation in urban environments, their numbers have increased in communities across their natural range resulting in an increase in human-squirrel conflicts. DiazaCon™ is on oral contraceptive that ultimately interferes with production of necessary reproductive steroids. The objectives of this multiyear study are to determine the efficacy of DiazaCon™ in reducing EGS reproduction and monitor potential effects of consumption of treated EGS primarily by Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) on the Clemson University …

The Efficacy Of Milorganite® As A Repellent For Ground Hogs, Suzannah Forbes, Alan T. Mulder, Mary Patsimas, George R. Gallagher

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of Milorganite^® as a repellent to mitigate damage on impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) by free-ranging ground hogs (Marmota monax). This biosolid byproduct of an activated sludge processing technique has been suggested as a repellent for a number of species. Three plots were established within 5 m of verified ground hog burrows at a feed and livestock working facility. Each plot consisted of three plastic containers with six impatiens plants per container. At each plot, containers were secured in drainage trays 2 m apart and received a …

Why Did The Terrapin Cross The Runway?, Laura Francoeur, Alexandra Kanonik, Russell L. Burke

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) have been nesting at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for decades. In 2009, the airport experienced a surge in terrapin activity that led to closing a portion of a runway. Runway closures may delay aircraft traffic at JFK which in turn can cause a ripple effect with delays at airports across the country. During the months of June and July, the terrapin nesting season coincides with peak travel for aircraft passengers with about 1,200-1,300 aircraft movements per day. The airport began collecting data on terrapins in 2010 to help understand the dynamics. From …

Benefits Of Rhodamine B In Monitoring Mammal Populations, Taylor Fraychak

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

When used in non-lethal doses the biomarker Rhodamine B may offer distinct benefits in monitoring and studying animal populations. This orally delivered fluorescent dye has been shown to persist for several months in hair and can be detected by exposing fur samples to specific wavelengths of light. The dye has recently been used to determine consumption of baits for efforts such as vaccination and contraceptive administration. In a project being conducted on the Clemson University campus, Rhodamine B is being used as a biomarker to assess the effectiveness of DiazaCon™ as a contraceptive in gray squirrels. Future research with Rhodamine …

Tactical To Practical: The Human Component Of Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution, George R. Gallagher, Susan Logsdon-Conradsen

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Often the greatest challenge in wildlife management is not the management of the animals themselves, but rather the human component of human-wildlife conflict. Persuasive and emotional dialogue is extensively used by private organizations and groups to promote specific agendas. In contrast, a persuasive educational format is often used by science-based groups to promote an agenda. We investigated the effects and importance of word choice using surveys involving wildlife and environmental issues. While topics were identical, survey questions were written to be Persuasive Educational or Persuasive Emotional in structure and were administered to students and to faculty-staff of Berry College. Based …

Managing Raptors To Reduce Wildlife Strikes At Chicago’S O’Hare International Airport, Travis L. Guerrant, Craig K. Pullins, Scott F. Beckerman, Brian E. Washburn

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) have increased nationally over the past 22 years; denoted in the National Wildlife Strike Database that has been maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since 1990. Increasing wildlife populations and air traffic coupled with quieter, faster aircraft create a significant risk to aviation safety; the cost to the civil aviation industry is an estimated $718 million dollars annually. USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services provides technical and direct assistance to over 785 airports and airbases around the United States, including Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). At ORD, raptors are the most commonly struck bird guild accounting for 25% of …

Limiting Bird Damage To Fruit Crops In New York: Damage Assessments And Potential Management Strategies For The Future, Heidi M. Henrichs, Jason R. Boulanger, Paul D. Curtis

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Fruit-crop losses due to birds are a longstanding and costly problem throughout the US. Although many deterrent techniques (e.g., acoustic scare tactics, netting, Mylar streamers, and chemical repellents) have been tested in the past, there is a lack of a systems approach to bird management. This study integrates economic and consumer impacts, as well region-specific information and landscape-level effects on bird foraging behaviors. This project integrates professional and landowner opinion to ensure long-term productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability of fruit crop production. Our primary long-term goal is to provide fruit producers with cost-effective and environmentally-sustainable strategies for bird damage management, …

Effectiveness Of Fences And Undercrossings To Mitigate Deer-Vehicle Collisions On Interstate 80 In Eastern Nebraska, Aaron M. Hildreth, William L. Lawyer Iii, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Brian L. Johnson, Kurt C. Vercauteren

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) recently reconstructed a portion of Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska between Lincoln and Omaha. Within a 12-mile stretch of the Interstate near the Platte River, DVCs ranged from 2.6-4.2 per mile per year and are among the highest in the state. As part of the reconstruction effort, 4 underpasses were modified to improve wildlife access and use in an effort to minimize DVCs. Fences were constructed along a 4-mile stretch encompassing all 4 underpasses to help funnel deer away from the roadway and toward the underpasses. The goal of this project was to evaluate …

Regulated Commercial Harvest To Manage Overabundant White-Tailed Deer: An Idea To Consider?, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Stephen M. Vantassel, Timothy R. Van Deelen, David Drake

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Dramatic growth in numbers of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and declines in hunter recruitment have challenged our ability to manage deer populations through traditional methods. We surveyed all state wildlife agencies and estimate the current abundance of white-tailed deer in North America exceeds 30 million. States currently are issuing record numbers of permits to hunters to increase harvest of white-tailed deer. Unfortunately, hunter participation has been declining in North America during the past two decades. Traditional methods of population management have been ineffective in reducing numbers of deer sufficiently in some environments. Regulated commercial harvest would help state wildlife agencies …

Deer-Activated Bio-Acoustic Frightening Device Deters White-Tailed Deer, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Aaron M. Hildreth, Kurt C. Vercauteren

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) damage urban and suburban plantings as well as crops and stored feed. Public demand for non-lethal control methods is high. Several frightening devices are available for deer, but problems exist with most, including: ease of application, cost, acclimation by animals, and public acceptance. Frightening devices that have the greatest likelihood of being effective incorporate mechanisms triggered by animal activation or bioacoustic alarm or distress calls. We tested the efficacy of a frightening device that played pre-recorded distress calls of adult female white-tailed deer when activated by an infrared motion sensor. Potential benefits of the …