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Taxonomic Status Of Wild Canids In The Southeastern United States, Michael L. Kennedy

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In the last 20 years (especially during the last decade), reports of coyote-like wild canids have increased steadily in the southeastern United States. These canids have apparently become well established in many parts of the Southeast. Taxonomically, the coyote-like animal could represent coyote (Canis latrans), red wolf (C. rufus), gray wolf (C. lupus), domestic dog (C. familaris), or hybrids of these taxa. There has been wide speculation (especially among the general public) in some areas as to the taxonomic status of wild canids. General references to wild "coy-dogs" (coyote x domestic dog …

Home Range Responses Of White-Tailed Deer To Crop-Protection Fences, S. E. Hygnstrom, S. R. Craven

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

We studied the home ranges and activity patterns of 24 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in south-western Wisconsin via radio-telemetry and visual observation to determine their response to single-strand electric crop-protection fences. Deer were allowed to establish feeding patterns in alfalfa fields during the spring green-up periods of 1986 and 1987. In mid-April of each year, 7 fences were constructed around selected 7-25 ha alfalfa fields to exclude deer from varying portions of their home ranges. No fences were constructed around alfalfa fields in one area. Fences were built around 50 and 100% of the alfalfa in 2 other …

Methiocarb-Treated Rice Seed Applied After Field Draining Fails To Repel Blackbirds From Sprouting Rice, N. R. Holler, P. W. Lefebvre, R. E. Matteson, G. R. Gutknecht, R. A. Dolbeer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Blackbirds, primarily Agelaius phoeniceus, cause extensive losses to sprouting rice in southwestern Louisiana. Methiocarb applied to seed prior to planting at rates above 1.0 g a.i./kg rice (0.1%) has provided excellent protection to sprouting rice in Louisiana under conditions of high bird pressure. To reduce treatment costs, some farmers have used over-flights of methiocarb-treated seed applied at low rates to part of the field after draining. This study showed this technique was not efficacious under conditions of high bird pressure. Four fields treated in this manner suffered 98% loss of sprouts compared to 100% loss in four untreated fields. …

Use Of Soybean Fields In Eastern Virginia By White-Tailed Deer, Linda A. Lyon, Patrick F. Scanlon

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) use of soybean fields in Virginia was observed during the 1983 and 1984 growing seasons. Total deer observed and deer seen per observer-hour were both greater in 1983 (199 and 2.1, respectively) than in 1984 (122 and 1.8, respectively). The number of deer seen per observer-hour was related to crop phenology; it was highest during the early vegetative stages and decreased when the soybean plants entered reproductive growth stages. Most (90%) deer were sighted within 50 m of edge cover. In both years, the number of adult does seen was about 3 times the …

Drc-6749--An Avian Wetting Agent Of Low Aquatic Toxicity, P. W. Lefebvre, T. D. Bills, A. R. Stickley Jr., R. E. Matteson, L. L. Marking

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

PA-14, the compound presently registered for lethal control of blackbirds and starlings at roosts, is labelled for use only at upland sites. Research was undertaken to identify another wetting agent which might be registered for use at aquatic sites. Of 90 samples received from suppliers, 60 were evaluated for wetting ability in a standard laboratory test. Of these, 10 were chosen for test against an aquatic indicator animal, Daphnia. One of the 10, DRC-6749, a block copolymer, was found significantly low in toxicity, and underwent further aquatic testing against 6 fish and 1 mussel species. Under standard test conditions, …

A State-Administered User-Pay Program For Nuisance Wildlife Control, Dale W. May

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In recent years Connecticut, like many other northeastern states, has experienced dramatic suburban encroachment into woodland and farmland areas. The expansion of human population and the accompanying habitat alteration have resulted in a substantial increase in the frequency of wildlife/human conflicts. The Department of Environmental Protection's Wildlife Bureau, mandated to respond to the needs of the people as well as the wildlife of Connecticut, is the state agency given the responsibility of controlling nuisance wildlife problems. Although the Wildlife Bureau provides free technical assistance and educational material, in many cases landowners are either unwilling or unable to resolve nuisance wildlife …

A Perspective From A State Department Of Agriculture, Robert J. Mungari

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Prior to addressing our topic of "Research Needs in Wildlife Damage Control" it is necessary to provide you with the perspective of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets as it relates to wildlife damage. The Department does not possess statutory authority over the management of the State's wildlife resources. We, therefore, lack the ability to address agricultural crop losses from a statewide or regional perspective through the utilization of population management. Instead we must approach damage control on an individual farm basis with the impact of our present control activities and practices being somewhat localized.

A Need For Professionalism In Wildlife Damage Control, James E. Miller

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The need for professionalism in wildlife damage prevention and control is more important today than ever before. It will be even more important in the future as we are faced with increasing interaction between people and their interests which includes many different perceptions about wildlife. Wildlife professionals must change their philosolopy regarding communication with the public about both the positive and negative impacts of wildlife. We can no longer afford the luxury, if indeed we ever could, of avoiding people and their perceptions about wildlife. We must provide scientific, biologically and ecologically sound information in a form which the public …

Cooperative Beaver Control: Usfws-Adc And Private/Industrial Landowners: An Overview, Kim F. Rohr

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Beaver populations in North Miss. and West Tenn. have increased rapidly. Pelt trapping has been the major control method in the past. With low demand and poor prices for southern pelts, this activity is almost nonexistent today.

The Future Of Wildlife Damage Control In An Urban Environment, Gary J. San Julian

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

As the trend towards urbanization escalates, the United States is rapidly becoming a nation of nonfarmers and suburban residents. Consequently, the conflicts between residents and wildlife species are increasing, while the interest in urban wildlife and backyard habitat is growing. These trends, coupled with changes in pesticide regulations, a shortage of trained professionals and relic legislation, create a complex and paradoxical situation for residents and professionals in the area of urban wildlife management. The future of wildlife in the urban environment will depend on our ability to convince and educate wildlife managers, citizens and legislators about the need for control …

Status Of Mesurol® As A Bird Repellent For Cherries And Other Fruit Crops, Mark E. Tobin, Richard A. Dolbeer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

A single application of Mesurol at 1.5 lb (Al) /ac to ripening cherries reduced bird damage in a field test in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York, 1986. Treated trees averaged 8.9% damage compared to 17.5% damage for untreated trees. An average of 7.4 birds flew into treated blocks per 15-min count versus an average of 19.8 birds that flew into control blocks. These results support the various evaluations over the past 15 years of Mesurol as a bird repellent for fruit crops. The consensus of these tests is that Mesurol often provides an effective nonlethal means of reducing conflicts …

Status Of The Coyote In The Northeastern United States, Robert E. Chambers

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

This report represents a summary of information derived from responses to mail questionnaires from the state wildlife agencies in 16 northern states extending from Maine to Minnesota with minor modifications by the author where experience deemed it feasible.

Use Of Drc 1339 To Control Crows In Three Roosts In Kentucky And Arkansas, Frank L. Boyd, Douglas I. Hall

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Field tests utilizing DRC 1339 (3-chloro-4-methylbenzamine hydrochloride) 98% concentrate on whole kernel com for crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) control were conducted in January and February 1981 in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1982 in Ashdown, Arkansas. Treated bait was placed in staging areas near the roosts after prebaiting indicated good acceptance at the sites. The rate of acceptance varied with bait placement. Best results were obtained when bait was placed on bare ground at habitually used staging areas close to the roost site. Population reductions of up to 25% were obtained with limited baiting. DRC 1339 appears to …

The Problem Of Planting Louisiana Swamplands When Nutria (Myocastor Coypu) Are Present, W. H. Conner, J. R. Toliver

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Logging of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) in the swamps of the southeastern United States is once again becoming common and an area of particular concern in Louisiana is the regeneration of cypress in its natural environment. One way to ensure the proper stocking of cypress is to plant seedlings, but nutria usually damage or destroy newly planted seedlings and are a deterrent to cypress regeneration in flooded areas. In 1985 cypress seedlings were planted in a flooded logged area and in an area where flooding was preventing the establishment of natural seedlings. Nutria destroyed 86% of the seedlings in …

Frogs Captured In Green Bean Harvest: Analysis Of A Pest Problem, Donald F. Caccamise

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In southern New Jersey a new agricultural pest problem has seriously impacted production of green beans for plant processing. Newly acquired harvesters inadvertently capture frogs, which are difficult and expensive to remove from harvested beans. Goals of this project were to (1) define the biological properties of the pest problem, and (2) identify biologically sound and effective methods to manage the problem.

Fowler's toad (Bufo woodhousei fowleri) was the most numerous (82%) of 9 species sorted from harvested beans, and it was also the most common in field censuses (76%). Density estimates based on field censuses were higher …

Rodenticide Use In Agricultural Crops, Terrell P. Salmon

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The in-crop use of pesticides is allowed only after establishment of a crop tolerance with supporting residue data for the crop. Residue data from different regions and pesticide application methods (hand treatment, aerial broadcast, etc.) are required. Most rodenticide uses have been considered as non-crop since they are generally applied in and around rodent burrows and runways. Because of this, rodenticides do not generally have tolerances or residue information for crop use.

Recent inquiries by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a review of current rodenticide labels, and new pesticide laws, suggest the need for reevaluating the question of in-crop use …

Lethal Roost Toxicants For Control Of Starlings And Blackbirds, David L. Otis

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Roosting congregations of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and several blackbird species (Icteridae) cause several millions of dollars in losses to agricultural crops throughout the United States. In addition, they are responsible for a variety of nuisance problems, human and livestock diseases, and human safety hazards. Dozens of tools have been developed for alleviating these problems, some of which are nonlethal techniques aimed at either roost dispersal or site specific protection of the problem site. Lethal baiting techniques for use at staging areas or at the problem site have also been developed. However, the most controversial solution involves …

Characteristics Of Predation And Losses In The New York Sheep Industry, Jay B. Mcaninch, Michael J. Fargione

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

A questionnaire survey was used in 1985 to obtain data on predation and losses from New York sheep growers. Surveys were returned by 685 growers which was a 40% return rate. The average grower managed 160 acres, including 24 acres of pasture, kept 106 sheep and received 12% of the total family income from sheep farming. Sheep predation occurred on 44% of the farms and dogs were considered the most harmful predator by 88% of the growers with losses. Growers with sheep losses had significantly larger flocks, more acreage in pasture, larger farms and depended more heavily on sheep farming …

Research Needs In Education And Research Institutions, Jay B. Mcaninch

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Research to support wildlife management programs has traditionally been conducted by scientists in education and research institutions. Much of this work has resulted from state and federal agency program needs or has been funded by state or federal agencies upon solicitation from scientists at these institutions. Regardless of the origin of the research, these institutions have primarily provided the investigators and staff for conducting research on animal damage problems. The priorities, duration and depth of the efforts have been dependent upon the committment to damage control research by the investigator and the quality of funding support.

The Critter Control Concept Approaches Of A Firm Specializing In Nuisance Wildlife Control, Lynn Braband, Kevin Clark

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The private sector has been involved in certain aspects of nuisance wildlife control for some time. Examples include commensal rodent control by pest control companies, capture of nuisance furbearers by trappers, and repair of structural damage by carpenters. Social trends, such as increased urbanization, increased population of certain wildlife species, and decreased government funding have combined to provide increased opportunity and need for the private sector in nuisance wildlife control.

State/Federal/Private Cooperative Program Relationships In Wildlife Damage Control, Rene M. Bollengier Jr.

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

On December 19, 1985, Congress transferred the Animal Damage Control (ADC) program from Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Department of the Interior, to Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The transfer of personnel and equipment was officially completed on April 1, 1986. The transfer brought to USDA personnel with hundreds of years of collective animal damage control experience in agricultural and non-agricultural types of man/wildlife conflicts.

Coyotes In The Eastern Us: Status And Implications --Damage Problems And Economic Losses From Coyotes In The Northeastern U.S.--, Dennis Slate

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Losses of livestock to coyotes (Canis latrans) have historically been a matter of concern to ranchers and Animal Damage Control personnel in the western US. With range expansion of the coyote into the eastern US, coyote depredations on domestic stock and fowl appears to be emerging as an issue that will deserve to be more fully addressed by researchers, policy makers and management personnel in this region of the US. This portion of the panel presentation will review and discuss damage problems and losses from coyotes in the northern states of the Eastern Animal Damage Control (ADC) Region.

Preliminary Testing Of A Selenium-Based Systemic Deer Browse Repellent, T. R. Angradi, W. M. Tzilkowski

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Silviculturists use a variety of techniques, including repellents, to reduce browse damage by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to valuable eastern hardwood seedlings. Systemic selenium, sodium selenite, was evaluated with captive white-tailed deer for its repellency in white ash (Fraxinus americana) and black cherry (Prunus serotina) seedlings. Selenium had no effect in reducing browsing of black cherry. However, there was a reduction (p < 0.05) in the white ash browsing level.

Effects Of Differential Pine Vole Populations On Growth And Yield Of "Mcintosh" Apple Trees, M. E. Richmond, C. G. Forshey, L. A. Mahaffy, P. N. Miller

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Pine voles (Microtus pinetorum LeConte) were maintained as known populations (0, 269, 538 and 1075/ha) in wire mesh-enclosed blocks of 'McIntosh'/M26 apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) for 2 years. There was little measurable effect of the voles on growth and production the 1st year, but during the 2nd year the highest population was associated with the death of one tree; severe reductions in growth, yield, and fruit size; a 78% reduction in crown bark weight, 56% loss of fibrous roots, and a dramatic reduction in the value of the crop. Although the low and the medium populations showed …

Nonpredatory Mammal Damage Research Needs, John L. Seubert

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Nonpredatory mammal damage probably exceeds one-half billion dollars each year in the U.S., in spite of many techniques and programs for controlling such losses. Improved and new control methods are obviously needed. The task of ADC researchers has become increasingly demanding and complex, however. They must not only obtain information to satisfy recurring Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data call-ins required to maintain and improve existing State and Federal rodenticide registrations, but must develop and register new damage control techniques and strategies. New methods must be highly efficacious, safe, cost effective, and present the lowest possible hazard to nontarget species and …

Research Needs In Wildlife Damage Control: Research Needs As Perceived By State Directors In The Eastern Adc Region, Dennis Slate

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

This presentation provides a brief overview of wildlife damage-related research needs as they are perceived by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Damage Control (ADC) State Directors in the Eastern ADC Region. There are 23 State Directors in the Eastern ADC Region who are responsible for managing operational and technical assistance animal damage programs in 31 states. Because of their collective experience with a variety of species and control techniques under various environmental circumstances, their imput and insight should be valuable in helping those in the research community more clearly define wildlife damage-related research needs.

Decontamination Of A Histoplasma Capsulatum-Infested Blackbird Roost: Use Of A Sprinkler System To Apply Formalin, A. R. Stickley Jr., J. R. Pruitt, C. E. Hume, T. Pass Ii, C. H. Gayle

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

When disturbed, blackbird/starling roost sites can be sources of locally severe outbreaks of histoplasmosis; therefore decontamination with formalin is sometimes prudent. We describe the use of a $5000 sprinkler system for spraying formalin on a Histoplasma capsulatum-infested roost site. This system precludes direct worker involvement in the application of this hazardous chemical to the area. Analysis of soil samples collected and cultured both before and after formalin treatment confirmed the eradication of H. capsulatum from the 1.3 ha site. Cost was approximately $17,000 with sprinkler system provided at no charge.

Clonal Foraging In Perennial Wheatgrasses: A Strategy For Exploiting Patchy Soil Nutrients, L. D. Humphrey, D. A. Pyke

Aspen Bibliography

1 Foraging by means of plasticity in placement of tillers in response to low- and high- nutrient patches was examined in the rhizomatous wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus. Its ability to exploit soil nutrient patches was compared to that of the closely related but caespitose E. lanceolatus ssp. wawawaiensis. 2 Clones of 14 genets of each taxon were planted in boxes consisting of two 30 x 30 cm cells: the 'origin cell' where clones were planted, and the adjacent 'destination cell', with each cell containing soil with either low or high levels of nutrients. 3 The rhizomatous taxon, which can …

Use Of Woody Vegetation By Beavers In Southeastern Virginia, John L. Echternach, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Nonbreeding and sometimes transient beavers, Castor canadensis, cut a variety of woody plants throughout the year during a 15-month study at three sites in southeastern Virginia. Ten species of trees were cut in proportions greater than would be expected according to their availabilities. Beavers heavily used viburnum, alder, ironwood, bayberry, tulip poplar, and dogwood. Winter food caches were constructed but were only lightly used.

Thermal Tolerances And Preferences Of Fishes Of The Virgin River System (Utah, Arizona, Nevada), James E. Deacon, Paul B. Schumann, Edward L. Stuenkel

Publications (WR)

Critical thermal maxima (CTM) and thermal preferenda of the common fishes of the Virgin River were examined. Differences in final temperature preferenda and CTM for species with low thermal lability (speckled dace, spinedace, roundtail chub) correspond well with differences in their distribution and abundance in the river. These species shifted their acute thermal preferences relatively little as acclimation temperature increased. For thermally labile species (woundfin, red shiner, desert sucker, and fiannehnouth sucker), the final preferendum is a less precise indicator of probable distribution. The woundfin, an endangered fish, has a high CTM (39.5 C at 25 C acclimation) and a …