Digital Commons Network^™

Coyote-Activated Frightening Devices For Reducing Sheep Predation On Open Range, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Michael J. Lavelle, Steve Moyles

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Domestic sheep ranching is an important agricultural industry in the United States and coyote (Canis latrans) depredation on lambs and ewes continues to challenge ranchers and agencies responsible for protecting sheep. Lethal methods used in controlling coyote depredation include aerial gunning, toxicants, trapping, and calling and shooting. Nonlethal methods include frightening devices, fences, livestock protection animals, and stringent husbandry practices. Ranchers and agencies responsible for controlling coyote depredation need frightening devices that are more effective than those currently available. We describe a field evaluation of 2 animal-activated frightening devices: an acoustic device and an acoustic device with a …

Mycobacterial Diseases In Wildlife, Gary W. Witmer, Thomas Deliberto, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Peter Butchko

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Mycobacterium infections occur in numerous wildlife species worldwide and this bacterial genus can also cause disease in humans and livestock. Two Mycobacterium species and one subspecies that infect wildlife are important from a wildlife damage management perspective. Mycobacterium avium, avian tuberculosis, is a ubiquitous and cosmopolitan disease of wild and domestic birds. Wild and domestic ruminants are host to M. avium paratuberculosis, also known as Johne’s disease. Finally, Mycobaterium bovis, bovine tuberculosis, is primarily associated with domestic and wild bovines and ungulates, but also infects many other species of mammals. Eradicating these diseases from wildlife populations is …

Storm Effects On Regional Beach Water Quality Along The Southern California Shoreline, Rachel T. Nobel, Stephen B. Weisberg, Molly K. Leecaster, Charles D. Mcgee, John Dorsey, Patricia Vainik, Victoria Orozco-Borbón

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Works

Two regional studies conducted during dry weather demonstrated that the Southern California Bight (SCB) shoreline has good water quality, except near areas that drain land-based runoff. Here, we repeat those regional studies 36 h after a rainstorm to assess the influence of runoff under high flow conditions. Two hundred and fifty-four shoreline sites between Santa Barbara, California and Ensenada, Mexico were sampled using a stratified-random sampling design with four strata: sandy beaches, rocky shoreline, shoreline adjacent to urban runoff outlets that flow intermittently, and shoreline adjacent to outlets that flow year-round. Each site was sampled for total coliforms, fecal coliforms …

Public Trust Doctrine And Public Access In New Jersey, Urban Harbors Institute, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Urban Harbors Institute Publications

A discussion paper prepared as part of a series of focus groups on the topic of the Public Trust Doctrine and Public Access in New Jersey.

Public access is specifically identified as one of the key priorities of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972. More importantly, the Act enables states to develop their own coastal zone management programs and to receive federal funding with which to implement them. There are a number of criteria that such plans must include before they can receive federal approval.

Low Mitochondrial Dna Variation In Double-Crested Cormorants In Eastern North America, Juliann L. Waits, Michael L. Avery, Mark E. Tobin, Paul L. Leberg

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Double-crested Cormorant (Phohoiornx audus) numbers are increasing throughout eastern North America. We compared variation for five portions of mtDNA to determine if genetic differences existed among portions of the breeding range that would need to be considered when formulating management programs. Sequences for four mtDNA regions were identical across sample locations: frequencies of two haplotpes of the mitochondria1 Control Region were similar across sampling locations. There is no evidence of restricted gene flow among breeding areas, or between subspecies with different migratory patterns.

Restoration Of The Red Wolf, Michael K. Phillips, V. Gary Henry, Brian T. Kelly

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

"WOLFERS" IN NORTHEASTERN North Carolina were busy on February 5, 1768. Records from the Tyrrell County courthouse read: “Giles Long and Thomas Wllkinson awarded one pound for a certified wolf scalp; Jeremiah Norman awarded two pounds for certified wolf and wild-cat scalps; Davenport Smithwick awarded one pound for a certified wolf-scalp. Such was the nature of the war on the wolf: people killed them for money. The belief of the time held that the war was necessary because it was humankind's manifest destiny to tame the wilderness. And for the wilderness to be tame, the wolf had to be exterminated. …

Characteristics Of Spring And Fall Blackbird Roosts In The Northern Great Plains, George M. Linz, Richard S. Sawin, Mark W. Lutman, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

To successfully reduce blackbird (Icteridae) damage to sunflower crops in the northern Great Plains, wildlife damage managers must be able to identify sites where large roosts could form in spring and fall. In 1998 and 1999, we measured several habitat and land-use characteristics of spring and fall blackbird roosts. Our objective was to quantify the relationship between roost formation and wetland habitat and land-use. We used data from 7 spring roosts and 12 fall blackbird roosts to set search guidelines that might increase the efficacy of locating potential roost sites in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains. …

Monetary Valuation Methods For Economic Analysis Of The Benefit-Costs Of Protecting Rare Wildlife Species From Predators, Richard M. Engeman, Stephanie A. Schwiff, Henry T. Smith, Bernice Constantin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Many threatened and endangered species are negatively impacted by predation. Management of the predators that are geographically and telnporally in position to threaten species of concern can greatly aid in their conservation. However, decisions on managenlent strategies are based within economic constraints, while the success of management actions is measured by wildlife resource improvement. Here, we review methods for applying monetary valuations for threatened and endangered species so that cconoinic analyses of management actions can be used to help guide and evaluate managcmcnt decisions. A variety of applied exa~nplesa re provided to demonstrate the principles.

Sand Creek Watershed Project / Sand Creek Watershed Management Plan, Annis Water Research Institute

Watershed Management Plans and Reports

The overall goal of the Sand Creek Watershed Project is to improve and protect the designated uses of the watershed. In order to achieve this overall goal and attain compliance with the TMDL established in Sand Creek, four goals have been established and prioritized. The primary goal of the Sand Creek Watershed Project is to restore or improve the cold water fishery. The secondary goal of the project is to protect and improve the habitats of native aquatic life and wildlife. Both goals can be achieved by reducing the amount of known pollutants affecting both of these uses. Pollutant reduction …

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2003, Annis Water Resource Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Use Of Date Pits As An Energy Source For Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis Niloticus, Maitha Mohammed Sultan Al-Darmaki

Theses

The present study was conducted to evaluate date pits as an energy source of Nile tilapia fingerlings and adults, in two consecutive experiments. In the first experiment, five isocaloric (450 kcal/100g)-isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) diets containing of date pits as a replacement for wheat bran (energy source) 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels were prepared. The diets were fed to duplicate groups of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings and adults, with average initial weights of 10 and 50g, respectively twice a day, for 70 days. The culture system consisted of 70-L, fiberglass tanks connected together in a closed system. …

Development Of An Expert System Tool For Environmental Impact Assessment, Raed Mohamed M. Al Marzouqi

Theses

In this study, approaches to environmental impact assessment are reviewed and discussed. An expert system tool has been developed via the use of Microsoft Access tool for data management and Visual Basic programming for decision-making. Policies and regulations included in the program are based on the Technical Guidelines # 4 of the Dubai Municipality. The salient features of the program can be summarized as follows: the program allows the EIA applicant to input all the necessary information about his/her company and its activities. All discharges to air, water and land are compared with TG # 4 and status report is …

Floristics Of The Banksia Woodlands On The Wallingup Plain In Relation To Environmental Parameters, Claire Mccamish

Theses : Honours

An understanding of the underlying environmental factors contributing to the floristic composition of Banksia woodlands should improve the effective management of Banksia woodland communities of the Swan Coastal Plain. Although a number of studies have examined the vegetation on the Banksia woodlands on detail there have been few studies aimed at identifying the specific environmental parameters influencing the floristic gradients on the Swan Coastal Plain. A comprehensive local scale study was undertaken on the northern Swan Coastal Plain to determine the environmental correlates influencing floristic communities in an area of Banks/a woodland known as the Wallingup Plain. Vegetation communities of …

Indirect Evidence Of Density-Dependent Population Regulation In Aponomma Hydrosauri (Acari: Ixodidae), An Ectoparasite Of Reptiles, Andrew J. Tyre, C. Michael Bull, Brigitte Tenhumberg, Neil Chilton

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The extent to which density-dependent processes regulate natural populations is the subject of an ongoing debate. We contribute evidence to this debate showing that density-dependent processes influence the population dynamics of the ectoparasite Aponomma hydrosauri (Acari: Ixodidae), a tick species that infests reptiles in Australia. The first piece of evidence comes from an unusually long-term dataset on the distribution of ticks among individual hosts. If density-dependent processes are influencing either host mortality or vital rates of the parasite population, and those distributions can be approximated with negative binomial distributions, then general host– parasite models predict that the aggregation coefficient of …

Chemical Repellents For Reducing Crop Damage By Blackbirds, Michael L. Avery, John L. Cummings

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chemical repellants are intended to prevent birds from feeding on a particular food (the crop) at a given location. To be considered effective, a chemical repellent must produce 1 of 2 responses (1) depredating birds remain but feed on an alternative non-crop food item or (2) depredating birds leavc and go elsewhere to feed. The search for a safe, cost-effective chemical repellent has spanned decades. During the 1950s, 196Os, and 199Os, repellent screening programs, using captive red-winged blackbirds (Aaelaius Dboeniceus), brown-headed cowbirds (Molorhrus ater), and European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), identified numerous potentially useful compounds. …

Wading Bird Management And Research On North American Aquaculture Facilities, Brian Dorr, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Aquaculture in North America varies geographically with respect to species cultured, annual production, size, complexity, and spatial arrangement of facilities. Species assemblages of predacious birds using aquaculture facilities also vary with many of these industry characteristics. Wading birds are highly adaptable, relatively ubiquitous throughout the aquaculture industry, and often associated with fish depredation problems at aquaculture facilities. Suitability of information regarding the impacts of wading birds to aquaculture varies dramatically by depredating species and industry sector. Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) cause considerable depredation losses on trout aquaculture in the Northeast, and current research suggests that little blue …

Training Deer To Avoid Sites Through Negative Reinforcement, Dale L. Nolte, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Kelly R. Perry, Suzanne E. Adams

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Deer frequently visit areas where they may cause damage. Incidents along roadways and runways inflict numerous injuries to animals and humans, and cause considerable economic losses. Concerns are increasing that deer interactions with domestic animals may contribute to spread of disease. Deer foraging in residential areas, agricultural fields, or plant propagation sites can impede growth and possibly survival of desirable plants. We conducted a series of trials to determine whether mild electric shock would induce place avoidance in deer. Shock was delivered through a device attached to a collar. A noise cue was emitted as an animal approached a defined …

The Influence Of Predator Odours And Overcrowded Mouse Odours On Regulation Of Oestrous Cycles In House Mice (Mus Musculus), Natalia Yu. Severtzov, Svetlana V. Naidenko, Anna E. Voznesenskaia, Georgy J. Krivomazov, Larry Clark, Vera V. Voznessenskaya

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We investigated the influence of chemical signals derived from different sources—urine of feral cats (Felis catus) and urine from overcrowded mice (Mus musculus) on regulation of oestrous cycles in Mus musculus musculus under laboratory conditions. Cat urine and urine from mice housed in overcrowded conditions caused very similar effects. Application of urine from feral cats and from overcrowded conspecifics to the bedding of experimental animals for a period of 21 days caused a significant increase in numbers of animals with extended oestrous cycles. Application of cat urine or overcrowded mouse urine to the bedding of female …

Double-Crested Cormorant Impacts To Commercial And Natural Resources, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii, Brian S. Dorr

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The North American population of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) has increased at an annual rate of 6.8% since 1966, with regional growth exceeding 20%/year since 1990 in Ontario and states bordering the Great Lakes. Population numbers, though operating under biological carrying capacity, have exceeded acceptance capacity with several wildlife stakeholder groups throughout Canada and the United States. Stakeholder concerns predominantly focus around social, ecological, and economic values associated with habitat destruction, changes in recreational fisheries, and loss of production at aquaculture facilities. We describe perceptible impacts to these commercial and natural resources, and discuss current research and management …

Characteristics Of Mountain Lion Bed, Cache And Kill Sites In Northeastern Oregon, James J. Akenson, M. Cathy Nowak, Mark G. Henjum, Gary W. Witmer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We described mountain lion (Puma concolor) habitat characteristics during two studies in the same area of northeastern Oregon during the 1990s. In the first study (1992-1994) we evaluated micro-habitat features associated with 61 diurnal bed sites that were not associated with kills. We used similar techniques in the second study (1996- 1998) to evaluate habitat features at 79 cache sites near lion-killed prey. A dog was used to find 93% of the diurnal bed sites. Radio telemetry triangulation was used in the second study. Characteristics of diurnal bed sites and cache sites were compared with random habitat plots. …

Status Of Double-Crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax Auritus Research And Management In North America, Scott J. Werner, Shauna L. Hanisch

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Double-crested Cormorant, the most abundant of North America’s six cormorant species, has rebounded to high numbers after new extirpation in the 1960s and early 1970s. Enhanced environmental regulations and the availability of prey fishes facilitated the resurgence of Double-crested Cormorant populations by the mid-1970s and numbers have continued to increase steadily in most geographic regions through the present. The North American population of Double-crested Cormorants has been estimated at one to two million birds. Concerns about impacts of Double-crested Cormorants on aquacultural stock, sport fish populations, other birds, vegetation, private property, and local economies have been raised. Economic impacts …

Comparison Of Isoflurane And Sevoflurane For Anesthesia In Beaver, Stewart W. Breck, James S. Gaynor

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We compared the hemodynamic and respiratory effects, recovery time, and cost of two gas inhalants (isoflurane and sevoflurane) for anesthetic induction and maintenance of beaver (Castor canadensis) during surgery to implant radio transmitters in the peritoneal cavity. Heart rate, respiratory rate, relative hemoglobin saturation with oxygen (SpO₂), and body temperature were measured every 5 min for the first 45 min, and arterial blood gas was measured once, 25 min into the anesthetic procedure. Induction for either agent was smooth and rapid. Heart rate and respiratory rate both decreased during the procedure though neither was lower than …

Coyotes; Coyotes In Yellowstone National Park: The Influence, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Testudines, John Woolard, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, John Griner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Predator Presence Affects The Reproductive Success Of Prey In Outdoor Conditions, Sergey V. Naidenko, Svetlana V. Naidenko, Larry Clark, Vera V. Voznessenskaya

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The reproductive outcomes of laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) housed at different distances (2, 20 and 80 m) from a predator (Lynx lynx) were investigated. Virgin female (n = 120) and m3ie (n = 40) rats of an outbred laboratory population were used for the experiments. Groups of rats (one male and three females) were housed in standard cages in close proximity to the predator Litter size, sex ratio. number of live pups, number of placental scars and corpora lurea were counted; and pre- and post-implantation losses were calculated for each female. The reproductive success …

A Review Of Pathogens Of Agricultural And Human Health Interest Found In Blackbirds, Larry Clark, Robert G. Mclean

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Because of their numbers and close association with humans and agriculture. the role of blackbirds in disease transmission has been of concern. Unfortunately fear systematic and quantitative studies have been carried out that bear on this issue. We review the extant literature on zoonoses and pathogens of agricultural concern where there is documented evidence for the involvement of blackbirds and starlings. It is clear that blackbirds can exacerbate levels of risk for failures in agricultural biosecurity and human health. To what degree these levels of risk are raised is largely unknown and should be the focus of future studies because …

A Review Of Pathogens Of Agricultural And Human Health Interest Found In Canada Geese, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The roles that waterfowl in general, and Canada geese in particular, have in the dissemination and transmission of viral and bacterial diseases of human or agricultural importance are covered in this review. In addition to the biological information about the etiology of the disease, economic impacts and zoonotic potential of viral and bacterial pathogens are considered. In most cases existing evidence suggests the importance of waterfowl in disease dissemination and transmission, however, definitive data are often lacking, indicating the need for more directed studies before quantitative risk assessments can be made. Finally, a brief assessment of management options is considered.

Potential Chemicals To Manage Llght Goose Populations, John Cummings, Pete Poulos

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Over-abundant light geese are having long-term negative effects on the Arctic tundra ecosystem. Significant damage to native plants, increases in soil degradation and impacts on bird communities are likely to be the main consequences (Batt 1998). The extent of which over-abundant light geese reduce food and cover for other wildlife on wintering grounds and migration routes is not well documented, although anecdotal observations suggest that light geese could compete with wintering waterfowl for food, i.e. Louisiana rice fields (J. L. Curnmings, National Wildlife Research Center, personal observation).

Efficacy Of Zinc Phosphide For Controlling Norway Rats, Roof Rats, House Mice, Peromyscus Spp., Prairie Dogs And Ground Squirrels: A Literature Review (1942-2000), John D. Eisemann, Brett E. Petersen, Kathleen A. Fagerstone

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Zinc phosphide has been used as a control agent for commensal rodents for over 60 years. Studies utilizing zinc phosphide as a population control agent were gathered and summarized to determine its efficacy when baiting the Norway rat, roof rat, house mouse, Peromyscus spp., prairie dog and ground squirrel. Efficacy information was abundant for rats, squirrels, and prairie dogs. However, efficacy data for baiting mice with zinc phosphide was limited. Overall the data show that in both laboratory and field testing, control levels of greater than 70% can be achieved for commensal rodent pests. Bait acceptance appeared to be …

Fear And Loathing: The Modulatory Affect Of Stress On Memory Formation And Its Wildlife Management Implications, Arla G. Hile

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

An ongoing challenge for wildlife managers is that target species habituate to or forget about hazing, even though the animals must be somewhat stressed by the hazing. Although stress and efficient memory formation/retrieval are considered to be incompatible, research suggests that the effect of stress on memory is complex. Mild and intense stress can impair memory formation and chronic stress can disrupt memory retrieval. Intermediate stress, however, actually enhances the formation of new memories, particularly long-term memories. Unfortunately, these conclusions are based data from only a very few domesticated species under highly controlled conditions. In nature the variation in baseline …