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The Prairie Naturalist Volume 19, No. 4. December 1987

The Prairie Naturalist

Paul B. Kannowski, Editor

Nikki R. Seabloom, Assistant Editor

Douglas H. Johnson, Book Review Editor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BREEDING BIRDS AND VEGETATION STRUCTURE IN WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA WOODED DRAWS ▪ C. A. Faanes

PRODUCTIVITY OF RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS IN SOUTH DAKOTA ▪ J. F. Besser, O. E. Bray, J. W. De Grazio, J. L. Guarino, D. L. Gilbert, R. R. Martinka, and D. A. Bysart

DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE MOUNTAIN PLOVER ON THE CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ▪ S. L. Olson-Edge and W. D. Edge

EFFECT OF CALCULATION TECHNIQUE ON THE ESTIMATION OF LEAF AREA IN A MIXED …

Resource Law Notes Newsletter, No. 12, Nov. 1987, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Resource Law Notes: The Newsletter of the Natural Resources Law Center (1984-2002)

No abstract provided.

Water Erosion In The Geraldton Area During June-July 1986, K J. Bligh

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

The Probe, Issue 77 - November 1987

The Probe: Newsletter of the National Animal Damage Control Association

THE PROBE
National Animal Damage Control Association
NOVEMBER, 1987
Duck Hunting Regulations
Cranes
APHIS Activity Report
Bombardier Muskeg Tractor
Hunting License Sales
Letters to Ye Ed
Bird Species Endemic
Arizona Bear Society
A Pest Population Compensating for Mortality Due to Pest Control Measures
Cat Farm
Trupeter Swan colony
Animal Rights

Lake Mead Prefertilization Study: Preliminary Nutrient Enhancement Studies In Lake Mead, Richard P. Axler, Larry J. Paulson, Patrick J. Sollberger, Donald H. Baepler, U.S. Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

Studies conducted by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV), the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) have identified decreased algal production as a major factor involved in the decline of the Lake Mead sport fishery. Phosphorus-laden silt particles in the Colorado River have been sedimenting out in Lake Powell since the completion of Glen Canyon Dam 286 miles upstream in 1963. This sharp decrease in phosphorus loading to Lake Mead (>5000 tons per year) has resulted in decreased …

Controlling Blackbirds And Starlings At Winter Roosts Using Pa-14, J.F. Heisterberg, A.R. Stickley Jr., K.M. Garner, P.D. Foster Jr.

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

The only EPA-registered chemical for lethal control of winter roosting blackbird (Icterinae) and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) populations is Compound PA-14 Avian Lethal Agent (PA-14). Between 1978 and 1987, 39 PA-14 spray operations, 15 by helicopter and 24 by ground-based spray systems, have been conducted at 33 winter roosts in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. In-roost bird mortality for the aerial operations have been poor, averaging only 4% of the pretreatment roost populations or 114,000 birds killed per spray operation. Although very labor-intensive, a ground-based sprinkler system application method has proven much more successful, averaging 67% in-roost bird mortality …

State/Federal/Private Cooperative Relationships In Wildlife Damage Control, Charles D. Kelly

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

During my 30 year tenure as Alabama's Game and Fish Division Director it has been very gratifying to witness the successful restoration of wildlife populations. We have been able to allow long hunting seasons with liberal bag limits for our popular game species. However, as conditions improved from a recreational standpoint we also experienced an escalation of wildlife damage complaints. Every member of the Alabama Game and Fish Division staff is involved to some extent in answering calls, providing information and otherwise assisting with resolution of wildlife damage complaints.

We do not have the resources required to actively pursue every …

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

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

As the trend towards urbanization escalates, the United States is rapidly becoming a nation of non-farmers 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 …

Closing Remarks, James E. Miller

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

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 philosophy 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 …

Control Of Ring-Billed Gull Colonies At Urban And Industrial Sites In Southern Ontario, Canada, H. Blokpoel, G.D. Tessier

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

At eight urban or industrial sites in southern Ontario colonies of Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) were controlled to ameliorate problems caused by the adults and their young. At the Nanticoke Generating Station on Lake Erie a growing colony was eliminated by collecting eggs and subsequent harassment of adults. One colony at the Stelco Yards in Hamilton Harbor was eliminated by installing a gull exclosure and collecting eggs from nests outside the exclosure and another was controlled by frequently destroying nests and eggs. At Toronto Island Airport an incipient colony was controlled by collecting eggs and harassing adults. At …

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

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

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.

Critter Control, Inc. has sought to bring an integrated and specialized approach to nuisance wildlife control. Our general approach includes consultation on the nature of the nuisance situation, removal of …

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

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

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.

Coyotes-historically present in prairie regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan- have extended their range eastward to the Atlantic Ocean and are now present throughout most of the northeastern states with the exception of Delaware and the major metropolitan areas of Philadelphia and New York City. Of the eastern states only New York has suggested that their population may have arisen …

Public Tolerance Of Deer In A Suburban Environment: Implications For Management And Control, Nancy A. Connelly, Daniel J. Decker, Sam Wear

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

A mail survey of residents in suburban northern Westchester County, New York was conducted to determine the nature and extent of deer damage in the county, the importance of deer damage relative to other deer-human interactions, and residents' perceptions of costs and benefits associated with the deer herd. The estimated cost of damage to plantings was quite high, $6.4 million to $9.5 million (depending on the type of assumptions concerning non-respondents). Most respondents used some form of deer damage control (estimated to cost $1.2 to $1.8 million/year), but few people reported their problems to officials. Although these costs were high, …

Management Of Suburban Deer: An Emerging Controversy, Daniel J. Decker

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

During the last 10 years the presence of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in suburban areas has become an increasing concern from the standpoint of damage and nuisance problems. It is unclear whether (a) overall deer numbers in suburban environments have increased (possibly because of residential development in "natural" settings and creation of food sources represented by residents' ornamental plantings and vegetable gardens), (b) more development in suburban areas has forced deer into adjacent remaining patches of suitable habitat, resulting in increased deer densities in certain localities, or (c) some combination of both. Regardless of the factors perpetrating the situation, …

Categorization And Seasonal Periodicity Of Terrestrial Vertebrate Pest Control Inquiries In Virginiav, Harry J. Dutton, Jefferson L. Waldon, Peter L. Bromley

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

Information requests for species-specific preventive and control measures directed to the state's extension wildlife specialist were recorded by species or species group, month, day, and year, and by type of human group inquiring. Skunks (15.5%), snakes (14.7%), and bats (10.9%) were inquired about most often. Homeowners (67.4%) were the most frequent inquirers. Summer (43.5%) and spring (29.0%) were the seasons when most information requests occurred. Woodpeckers (16.0%) were the most frequently reported species in the spring. In the summer, the most frequently requested information was about bats (20.2%). Snakes (29.7%) were the most frequently reported species in the fall. Over …

Frontmatter And Contents

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD EASTERN WILDLIFE DAMAGE CONTROL CONFERENCE

Temporal Use Patterns Of Wintering Starlings At A Southeastern Livestock Farm: Implications For Damage Control, J.F. Glahn, S.K. Timbrook, D.J. Twedt

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

The farm use patterns of individually marked and transmitter-equipped starlings at a livestock farm in south-central Kentucky were studied each month during the principal damage period (December-February) of 1982-83 and 1984-85 following a pilot study in January and February of 1980. In addition to intensive observation at the farm, sightings of tagged starlings away from the farm were solicited from the public and mapped. For each year of data on individual starlings that used the farm at least once after marking, the expected frequencies of farm occurrence were calculated and compared to observed frequencies. In all 3 years, there was …

Urban Gray Squirrel Damage And Population Management: A Case History, J. Hadidian, D. Manski, V. Flyger, C. Cox, G. Hodge

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

Lafayette Park, a 3.0 hectare national park located across the street from the White House in Washington D.C., has had a gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) density as high as 50 animals/hectare. In recent years this large population caused significant damage to mature trees and other vegetation. In keeping with the legislative mandate to protect and preserve the historic landscape in Lafayette Park, the National Park Service implemented a squirrel management program following an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. The population was studied and monitored to determine the ecological bases for high squirrel numbers. Action was taken through a …

Fox Squirrels Cause Power Outages: An Urban Wildlife Problem, J.C. Hamilton, R. J. Johnson, R. M. Case, M. W. Riley, W. W. Stroup

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

In urban areas, power outages are caused each year by fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) that use electrical power equipment as travel lanes, rest sites, or for other activities. When a squirrel crosses a live bare wire on a transformer, the result is a blown fuse and electrocution of the squirrel. Power company outage reports were examined to determine when and where squirrel-caused outages occurred. Sixteen field sites in Lincoln were selected for study. Eight sites encircled transformers with ≥4 squirrel-caused outages, 1980-1985, and eight were adjacent control sites with no such outages. Squirrel behavior in relation to power …

Distribution And Impact Of Canada Goose Crop Damage In East-Central Wisconsin, James Heinrich, Scott Craven

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

The steady increase in the numbers of Canada geese on or near Horicon National Wildlife Refuge since its establishment in the early 1940s has resulted in many opportunities, and a few difficult problems. The problem of crop depredations has plagued the Horicon area since the mid-1960s. Each increase in goose numbers has brought with it renewed farmer concern, and each incident has resulted in some change in goose management direction. Increasing problems, more geese, lower harvest quotas, and the new Wisconsin Wildlife Damage Program combined to encourage the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to take a comprehensive look at …

An Evaluation Of Controlled Hunting For Management Of Feral Pigeons, Michael D. Hoy, Albert E. Bivings

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

Pigeons (Columba livia) are a problem for municipal governments throughout most of the eastern United States. Toxicants, sterilants, trapping, and shooting are the principal control techniques. Due to a general public aversion to toxicants and to monetary constraints, a pigeon control program which utilized periodic hunting pressure was initiated in Stuttgart, Arkansas County, Arkansas. Guidelines for organization of controlled hunts are presented along with pigeon harvest rates and population trends. The city government and interested citizens consider the program to be successful and cost effective.

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

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

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 …

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

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

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 …

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

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

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 commitment to damage control research by the investigator and the quality of funding support.

Research Needs In Wildlife Damage Control, James E. Miller

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

The wildlife profession has achieved great success in habitat management, game population restoration, and in learning to manage wildlife populations for public use and enjoyment during the past 50 years. However, a number of wildlife species have become serious problems to agricultural profitability and to natural resources managers in recent years.

These problem situations may well focus on a lack of appropriate research or perhaps just not keeping pace. For the most part, wildlife research for the prevention and control of wildlife damage has been latently reactive, rather than proactive. Obviously, one of the difficulties continues to be, how to …

Avoiding Controversies That Impede Wildlife Damage Control, B.W. O'Gara

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

Controversies regarding wildlife damage control often result from incorrect perceptions by the general public or conservation groups. Such controversies can usually be settled to most people's satisfaction by indisputable data. In the past, however, data were often lacking. The ban, by Executive order in 1972, of chemical toxicants for predator control on federal lands and by federal agencies is a good case in point. Indisputable data were not available concerning the level of predation. The only data were derived from questionnaires filled out by livestock producers; Government officials and the public simply would not accept such data as unbiased.

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

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

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 the use …

Coyote Control Techniques And Their Applications In The Eastern United States, Rick D. Owens

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

Conflicts between coyotes and man's activities are varied and include such problems as predation on livestock, agricultural crops, and other wildlife, as well as threats to human health or safety. Formerly restricted to the Great Plains, the coyote's adaptability has enabled expansion of its population throughout most of the United States, Canada and Mexico. This expansion has occurred in spite of large-scale control and/or eradication efforts.

In the West, coyote management includes non-lethal as well as lethal techniques. Non-lethal approaches, which have resulted in varying degrees of success, include the use of guarding dogs, fencing, and shedding. In many instances, …

Participants

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Extension's Perspective Of Federal, State And Private Animal Damage Control Programs, Gary J. San Julian

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 3rd (1987)

Extension personnel are in a unique position to observe and to be involved in animal damage control (ADC) programs at the federal, state and private levels. In order to offer educational programs, we must interpret regulations and policies to provide a workable interface between ourselves, other agencies and the public. This is not an easy task in such a sensitive and emotional area.

The lack of uniformity in policies among federal agencies as well as the hazy lines of authority and responsibility for some species makes it hard to provide guidance for our clientele. The growing involvement of the public …