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Articles 1 - 21 of 21

Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences

Commentary Wildlife Habituation: Advances In Understanding And Management Application, Valerius Geist Jan 2011

Commentary Wildlife Habituation: Advances In Understanding And Management Application, Valerius Geist

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Survival Analysis And Computer Simulations Of Lethal And Contraceptive Management Strategies For Urban Deer, Marrett D. Grund Jan 2011

Survival Analysis And Computer Simulations Of Lethal And Contraceptive Management Strategies For Urban Deer, Marrett D. Grund

Human–Wildlife Interactions

I monitored survival of 34 female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Bloomington, Minnesota, from October 1996 to December 1999. Twenty deer died: nineteen were killed by vehicles, and one was killed in a deer-removal program conducted by an adjacent suburb. Summer survival was high and varied little over the 3 years of study (range = 0.93 to 0.95). Fall survival ranged from 0.84 to 1.00, and winter survival was generally high during the 3 years of study, except during a severe winter (range = 0.72 to 0.95). I calculated population growth rates (λ) from Leslie matrix projections, using …


A Rat-Resistant Artificial Nest Box For Cavity-Nesting Birds, William C. Pitt, Laura C. Driscoll, Eric A. Vanderwerf Jan 2011

A Rat-Resistant Artificial Nest Box For Cavity-Nesting Birds, William C. Pitt, Laura C. Driscoll, Eric A. Vanderwerf

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The puaiohi or small Kauai thrush (Myadestes palmeri) is an endangered bird endemic to the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The sole population of about 500 birds is currently restricted to remote, higher elevation areas of the Alakai Plateau. Puaiohi nest primarily on steep streamside cliffs, and their distribution and abundance are limited by availability of suitable nesting sites. Black rats (Rattus rattus) cause nest failure and mortality of nesting female puaiohis, and ground-based rodent control has not been effective at reducing nest predation. In 2007, we investigated whether artificial nest structures might be a viable alternative …


In The News, Joe N. Caudell Jan 2011

In The News, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Misconceptions About Black Bears: A Response To Geist (2011), Lynn L. Rogers, Susan A. Mansfield Jan 2011

Misconceptions About Black Bears: A Response To Geist (2011), Lynn L. Rogers, Susan A. Mansfield

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Commentary State Of The Berryman Institute, Christopher R. Ayers Jan 2011

Commentary State Of The Berryman Institute, Christopher R. Ayers

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Too Many Hogs? A Review Of Methods To Mitigate Impact By Wild Boar And Feral Hogs, Giovanna Massei, Sugoto Roy, Richard Bunting Jan 2011

Too Many Hogs? A Review Of Methods To Mitigate Impact By Wild Boar And Feral Hogs, Giovanna Massei, Sugoto Roy, Richard Bunting

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) are among the most widely-distributed mammals in the world and have the highest reproductive output compared with other ungulates. Worldwide, feral hogs are increasing in range and numbers. Human–feral hog conflicts include impact on abundance and richness of plant and animal species, crop damage, predation on livestock, vehicle collisions, and disease transmission. We reviewed methods employed to mitigate the impact of feral hogs on human activities and discussed these methods in terms of effectiveness, feasibility, costs, and social acceptance. Traditional methods of control include trapping, angering, shooting, poisoning, and Judas hogs. Nonlethal methods of …


Soap Box The Wildlife Society Responds To Cnn Report On Feral Horses, Laura Bies, Michael Hutchins, Thomas J. Ryder Jan 2011

Soap Box The Wildlife Society Responds To Cnn Report On Feral Horses, Laura Bies, Michael Hutchins, Thomas J. Ryder

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Aggressive Body Language Of Bears And Wildlife Viewing: A Response To Geist (2011), Stephen F. Stringham Jan 2011

Aggressive Body Language Of Bears And Wildlife Viewing: A Response To Geist (2011), Stephen F. Stringham

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


In The News, Joe N. Caudell Jan 2011

In The News, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Feed Depredation By European Starlings In A Kansas Feedlot, Brandon E. Depenbusch, James S. Drouillard, Charles D. Lee Jan 2011

Feed Depredation By European Starlings In A Kansas Feedlot, Brandon E. Depenbusch, James S. Drouillard, Charles D. Lee

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Confinement cattle-feeding operations have been associated with large populations of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) during the winter months. Starlings can eat nearly 1 kg each of feed per month (Besser et al. 1968). In the first of our 2 studies, we evaluated feed selection and feed depredation by starlings using 5 concentrate-based cattle finishing diets. Four diets evaluated were in traditional meal-type form, and 1 diet was an extruded pellet. We placed rations into a section of the feed trough that we made accessible to starlings but not to cattle. Of the original 13.6 kg of steam-flaked corn and …


Factors Governing Risk Of Cougar Attacks On Humans, David Mattson, Kenneth Logan, Linda Sweanor Jan 2011

Factors Governing Risk Of Cougar Attacks On Humans, David Mattson, Kenneth Logan, Linda Sweanor

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Since the 1980s wildlife managers in the United States and Canada have expressed increasing concern about the physical threat posed by cougars (Puma concolor) to humans. We developed a conceptual framework and analyzed 386 human– cougar encounters (29 fatal attacks, 171 instances of nonfatal contact, and 186 close-threatening encounters) to provide information relevant to public safety. We conceived of human injury and death as the outcome of 4 transitions affected by different suites of factors: (1) a human encountering a cougar: (2) given an encounter, odds that the cougar would be aggressive; (3) given aggression, odds that the …


Livestock And Domestic Dog Predations By Wolves In Michigan, Justin L. Edge, Dean E. Beyer Jr., Jerrold L. Belant, Mark J. Jordan, Brian J. Roell Jan 2011

Livestock And Domestic Dog Predations By Wolves In Michigan, Justin L. Edge, Dean E. Beyer Jr., Jerrold L. Belant, Mark J. Jordan, Brian J. Roell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wolves (Canis spp.) have recolonized the Great Lakes region and expanded into agricultural areas where there is increasing concern of conflict with livestock. We documented 121 wolf predation events on captive or domestic animals in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan between April 1996 and April 2009. We investigated the relationship between annual wolf abundance and predation events, seasonality of predations on livestock, and the association between previous winter severity and predations on livestock. The annual number of predations on livestock increased with wolf abundance, and overall, predations on cattle and calves increased during calving season. We observed a …


Preference Of White-Tailed Deer For Corn Hybrids And Agricultural Husbandry Practices During The Growing Season, Joshua A. Delger, Kevin L. Monteith, Lowell E. Schmitz, Jonathan A. Jenks Jan 2011

Preference Of White-Tailed Deer For Corn Hybrids And Agricultural Husbandry Practices During The Growing Season, Joshua A. Delger, Kevin L. Monteith, Lowell E. Schmitz, Jonathan A. Jenks

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Damage to field corn (Zea mays) by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can be substantial, resulting in millions of dollars lost annually. Numerous methods exist to minimize deer depredation, but all have met with varying degrees of success. Currently, little information is available on preference of white-tailed deer for corn hybrids during the growing season and how that preference might affect depredation patterns. We used adult female white-tailed deer in captivity to study the effect of herbicide treatments on deer-use (treatment versus no treatment) of corn in 2005 and to document preference among specific corn hybrids in …


Comparison Of Fencing Designs For Excluding Deer From Roadways, Daniel W. Stull, William D. Gulsby, James A. Martin, Gino J. D'Angelo, George R. Gallagher, David A. Osborn, Robert J. Warren, Karl V. Miller Jan 2011

Comparison Of Fencing Designs For Excluding Deer From Roadways, Daniel W. Stull, William D. Gulsby, James A. Martin, Gino J. D'Angelo, George R. Gallagher, David A. Osborn, Robert J. Warren, Karl V. Miller

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We evaluated the efficacy of several fencing designs for restricting movements of 18 captive, female white-tailed deer (Odocoelus virginianus), including standard wovenwire fencing (1.2-m, 1.5-m, 1.8-m, 2.1-m, and 2.4-m tall), opaque fencing (1.2-m, 1.5-m, and 1.8-m tall), and an outrigger fence (i.e., 0.6-m outriggers attached to a 1.2-m-tall wire fence angled at 45º). We recorded the number of successful fence crossings for each deer and characterized behaviors associated with each failed crossing attempt. No deer crossed the 2.4-m fence, whereas all deer crossed the 1.2-m fence. We observed no differences in crossing success between woven-wire and opaque fencing …


Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Implementation Of Electric Fencing For Establishing Effective Livestock-Protection Dogs, Thomas M. Gehring, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Anna C. Cellar Jan 2011

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Implementation Of Electric Fencing For Establishing Effective Livestock-Protection Dogs, Thomas M. Gehring, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Anna C. Cellar

Human–Wildlife Interactions

To be effective, livestock protection dogs (LPDs) must be carefully integrated with the livestock they will be protecting. Others have developed guidelines to assist producers in this training and assimilation process. In many areas fencing is necessary; however, guidelines for containing LPDs and their livestock behind electric fencing are lacking. We present results from larger projects involving LPDs where we encountered issues with fencing and preventing LPDs from roaming from their owner’s property. We found that ranging and escaping from pastures was exhibited by LPDs that were not properly introduced and trained to electric fencing at an early age. LPDs …


Rock Pigeon Use Of Livestock Facilities In Northern Colorado: Implications For Improving Farm Bio-Security, James C. Carlson, Larry Clark, Michael F. Antolin, Mo D. Salman Jan 2011

Rock Pigeon Use Of Livestock Facilities In Northern Colorado: Implications For Improving Farm Bio-Security, James C. Carlson, Larry Clark, Michael F. Antolin, Mo D. Salman

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Rock pigeons (Columba livia) have been implicated in the spread of pathogens within commercial livestock facilities. Currently, there is no data characterizing pigeon habitat use and movement patterns within and among commercial livestock facilities. To better understand the capacity for pigeons to spread pathogens, we used radio-telemetry techniques to estimate the home-range, travel distance, activity, and habitat use of pigeons roosting on and off dairies and feedlots in western Weld County, Colorado. Our observations suggest that pigeons roosting on (resident) and off (nonresident) livestock facilities use habitat differently. Nonresident pigeons used larger home-range areas than did resident pigeons. …


Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Quantify Anthropogenic Foraging In Black Bears, Jerod A. Merkle, Jonathan J. Derbridge, Paul R. Krausman Jan 2011

Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Quantify Anthropogenic Foraging In Black Bears, Jerod A. Merkle, Jonathan J. Derbridge, Paul R. Krausman

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Deciding whether to monitor, aversively condition, relocate, or destroy a problem black bear (Ursus americanus) can be difficult for wildlife managers. Understanding the extent of anthropogenic foraging within bear populations can provide insight for management decisions about black bears. An innovative way to estimate opportunistically the amount of anthropogenic food in an individual or a population of bears is through stable isotope analysis (SIA), where hair samples can provide an index of assimilated nutrients (i.e., diet) for the period of hair growth. Our objective was to use SIA to determine whether there was a difference between diets of …


Public Perceptions Of Bears And Management Interventions In Japan, Ryo Sakurai, Susan K. Jacobson Jan 2011

Public Perceptions Of Bears And Management Interventions In Japan, Ryo Sakurai, Susan K. Jacobson

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Conservation of bears is a challenge globally. In Japan, Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) are considered a nuisance because of agricultural and property damage and personal human danger due to occasional human casualties. Reduction of human–bear conflicts in Japan would improve long-term conservation of bears and reduce risks to human health and safety. To understand Japanese perceptions of and experience with bears, we analyzed results of 5 public surveys and reviewed 29 articles from the research and gray literature in Japan. We compared recommendations for interventions to reduce human–bear conflicts with …


The Soap Box Use Of Illegal Methods In Kenya’S Rural Communities To Combat Wildlife Damage: A Case Study Of Laikipia, Nixon Sifuna Jan 2011

The Soap Box Use Of Illegal Methods In Kenya’S Rural Communities To Combat Wildlife Damage: A Case Study Of Laikipia, Nixon Sifuna

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Managed Shotgun Hunts For Suburban White-Tailed Deer, Ryan D. Hubbard, Clayton K. Nielsen Jan 2011

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Managed Shotgun Hunts For Suburban White-Tailed Deer, Ryan D. Hubbard, Clayton K. Nielsen

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Deer managers often utilize managed hunts to curtail burgeoning white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations in suburban areas. Although several studies have used population modeling to focus management, these efforts generally provide only harvest numbers, without considering the spatial placement of hunters on the landscape. Further, few studies have modeled management effort as deer density changes during the hunt. We modeled 2 types of managed shotgun hunts, a replacement hunt, where the stand of each successful hunter would be filled the following day, thus, ensuring the same number of hunters would be present each day of the hunt, and …