Digital Commons Network^™

Control Of Ground Squirrels In California Using Anticoagulant Treated Baits, Dell O. Clark

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Anticoagulant treated grain baits have been used to control vertebrate pest depredations in California for over 30 years. The use of anticoagulant treated baits has increased seven (7) times in the past seven (7) years; the majority for the use of ground squirrel, Spermophilus spp., control. Since 1968-69, an average of 1,747,828 net over 5,700,919 gross acres per year has been treated for ground squirrel control.

Current use patterns for ground squirrel control with anticoagulant treated baits include: (1) Repeated spot baitings, and (2) exposure of bait in bait boxes.

Experimental work and many years of operational field use have …

Conference Participants

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

A total of 436 people registered. They came from 37 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 other countries: Canada, Egypt, England, France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Switzerland, and Venezuela. The international representation contributed greatly to the success of the Conference by providing an exchange of information on an international level.

A Public Information Program On Predator Damage Control, David S. Decalesta

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

A public information and education program was developed in Oregon to defuse a controversy between environmentalists and livestock growers over management of predator damage control. Emphasis was placed on involving special interest and leadership/influential groups in the program and participa-tion was high. Attempts were made to involve the "general public" but response to solicitation and participation were low. Participating groups thought the program was of high value and expressed the need for additional information. Attitudes and beliefs of the special interest groups were changed little by the program, but constructive communications between the groups increased and the controversy dwindled. A …

Brodifacoum (Talon™ Rodenticide), A Novel Concept, A.C. Dubock, D.E. Kaukeinen

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Brodifacoum, a new rodenticide, is described. This anticoagulant is shown to be of exceptional potency and capable of controlling resistant rodents as well as several non-commensal species. Results demonstrate that, in contrast to first generation anticoagulants, a bait concentration of only 50 ppm is adequate to give control and in only a single feeding for most species. In common with other anticoagulants, vitamin K₁ is an effective antidote. In contrast with other acute rodenticides, symptoms are delayed and no bait shyness is observed. The results of laboratory and field trials from many parts of the world are summarized and …

Electromagnetic Repellers—Fact Or Fiction?, William D. Fitzwater

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

The effectiveness of devices that supposedly repel a large number of invertebrate and vertebrate animals by emitting oscillating electromagnetic impulses is investigated. While scientific support that electromagnetic forces affect biological systems exists, these data are based on animals confined under higher intensity fields than are seemingly produced by commercial units. A number of instances of field use of the devices is discussed. These indicate little objective support for the units.

8th Vertebrate Pest Conference 1978 Frontmatter

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

CONTENTS

Management Of Blackbird And Starling Winter Roost Problems In Kentucky And Tennessee, Kenneth M. Garner

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Blackbirds and starlings in winter roosts create conflict problems in five major categories: 1) Public Health, 2) Agricultural Crop, 3) Wildlife Competition, 4) Structural, 5) Safety. After identification of problems created by an individual roost and roost site, problems are solved by one or a combination of seven methods: 1) No Action, 2) Move the Roost, 3) Alteration of Agricultural Practices, 4) Bird Proofing, 5) Move Birds from Feeding or Loafing Site, 6) Population Reduction at Feedlots, 7) Population Reduction of Roosts.

Control Of The Multimammate Rat, Mastomys Natalensis (A. Smith) In The Irrigated Fields Of The Republic Of Burundi, Jacques Giban

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Irrigated cultivations have been developed in Burundi with the aid of the European Fund for Development. Three major rodent species are considered pests, but one of them is far more important and can survive flooding: Mastomys natalensis, the multimammate rat. The biological cycle of the species is well identified, with peak populations generally in the July-October period. A first attempt to prevent the damages consisted of slight changes in the timing of some cultivations. The second step was to find a rodenticide and a bait that could have practical use in that country. Corn paraffin blocks poisoned with chlorophacinone …

Damages Caused By Cotton Rat, Sigmodon Hispidus Zanjonensis, On Sugar Cane In San Pedro Sula, Honduras , A. Gonzalez Romero, G. Tello Sandoval, J. Sernasecundino, V.M. Aguilar Ramirez

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Technical assistance was given to Compañía Azucarera Hondureña, S.A. (Agro-Industrial Co.), Honduras, Central America, to determine if a campaign against noxious rodents to agriculture crops was needed. Several trappings were carried out at different places using snap traps to determine the population structure of rodents associated with the crop, and live traps to determine the index or density of the Sigmodon hispidus rat population, which was identified as being responsible for the damage to sugarcane. Results were 43.24% adult males, 14.86% young males, 31.41% adult females, and 10.47% young females. Of the adult females captured, 54.83% were pregnant with an …

Opening Comments—Eighth Vertebrate Pest Conference—And The Stability Of Vertebrate Populations In Man-Modified Habitats, Walter E. Howard

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Good morning. I am Professor Howard, your Conference Chairperson. Welcome to the Eighth Vertebrate Pest Conference. Vertebrate pest control has come a long way since our first two-day Conference, in 1962. An excellent meeting has been arranged by the hard-working Conference Committees and the 17 members of the Vertebrate Pest Council, who direct the Vertebrate Pest Conference. It is already a great success--because all of you are here. As I said in opening our first Conference 16 years ago, this is a Conference, not a convention. No motions or resolutions will be entertained. We are here to get acquainted with …

The Changing Rodent Pest Fauna In Egypt, A. Maher Ali

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

The most serious known rodent pests in agricultural irrigated land are: Rattus rattus, Arvicanthis niloticus and Acomys sp. Occasionally there are rodent outbreaks in agricultural plantations. The changing agro-ecosystem in the present and future agricultural plantations is expected to affect the status of the following potential rodent pest species: Spalax ehrenbergi aegyptiacus, Nesokia indica, Jaculus orientalis, and Gerbillus gerbillus gerbillus. Basic studies are needed to quantify damage including water loss, which is caused by rodents, forecast of rodent outbreaks, and integrated control of rodents in agricultural projects.

Ground Squirrel And Prairie Dog Control In Montana, C. Raymond Record

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

The Columbian ground squirrel (Spermophilus columbianus), Richardson ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsoni), and blacktail prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) cause millions of dollars of loss to Montana agriculture each year. Montana's ground squirrel and prairie dog control programs are based upon local organization and operation with technical assistance being provided by the Montana Department of Livestock Vertebrate Pest Control Bureau. The results of field research programs using zinc phosphide, Compound 1080 and strychnine grain baits to control these species are reported.

Pheromones: Their Potential For Ground Squirrel Control, Terrell P. Salmon

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Olfactory communication appears to be an important aspect of the biology of most ground squirrels. Several scent-producing glands have been described as having scent-marking behavior. Although the adaptive significance of these glands has not been determined, possible functions are discussed. The potential of using pheromones in an integrated ground squirrel management program is discussed.

Biology, Damage And Control Of The Edible Dormouse (Glis Glis L.) In Central Italy, L. Santini

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

The remarkable increase in the number of colonies of edible dormouse (Glis glis L.) registered in the litoranean industrial cultivations of Pinus pinea L. in northern Tuscany over the last ten years and the grave damage to the production of pine-seeds consequent on it has created the necessity of studying systems which may reduce the dormouse menace. Going on what has previously been discovered about the habits of the species in this particular habitat, three different methods of control were experimented: direct capture in their nests, which were in this case cavities in the tree trunks which woodpeckers' activities …

The Potential Of Compound U-12171 As An Avian Repellent, Robert G. Schwab

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Tests of the effectiveness (primarily reduced plant damage) of U-12171 to repel linnets from, or reduce the amount of feeding damage on, Gem hybrid broccoli suggest that: 1) concentrations above 1.50 lb./acre deterred avian depredations whereas lower concentrations did not; 2) the "hop-scotch" feeding pattern of linnet groups may have contributed to repellency since high concentrations in one area may act as a barrier to other areas; and 3) U-12171 efficiency may be markedly affected by chemical coverage of the plant, the number of applications made, and application timing relative to crop maturity.

Population Modeling As Aid To Rodent Control In The Field, Francois Spitz

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Forecasting the damages by voles on plant crops depends on a good forecast of vole population density. Biological work in Vendee from 1959 till 1968 have furnished the fundamentals of a population model. Further work on the relationship between breeding and climate enabled us to set up a practical forecasting model. This is applied by the Plant Protection Service, and the damage prevention system consists of a test trapping in winter, a population forecasting in early March, and, if necessary, poisoning in March-April. Generalization of the system is in progress.

Biological Control Of Conifer Seed Damage By The Deer Mouse (Peromyscus Maniculatus), Thomas P. Sullivan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

This paper describes the development of a biological technique that successfully controls conifer seed damage by the deer mouse. Eleven experiments have been conducted on three study areas at the University of British Columbia Research Forest, Maple Ridge, B.C. Populations of deer mice have been monitored in all experiments with data from 56,000 trap nights. The technique involves a mixture of conifer seed (Douglas fir) with sunflower seed and oats which is uniformly distributed on logged areas in the late winter-early spring. Survival of conifer seed with these alternate foods was excellent, compared with control Douglas fir by itself, for …

Changing Status Of Mountain Lion In California And Livestock Depredation Problems, Richard A. Weaver

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

The California Department of Fish and Game studied depredation by mountain lions on livestock from 1971 through 1977 to determine the scope of the problem. Information was needed on the physical characteristics of a stock killer, the frequency and trend of predation, the livestock types preyed upon, and the geographic distribution of incidents. Department of Fish and Game verified 134 incidents of mountain lion predation on livestock which occurred between April 1971 and December 1977. Forty-five mountain lions (28 males and 17 females) were killed on depredation during this time. Approximately 42 percent of the predation incidents involved sheep, 22 …

The Prairie Naturalist Vol. 10. No. 1 March. 1978

The Prairie Naturalist

KEY TO THE SKULLS OF NORTH DAKOTA MAMMALS ▪ J. M. Wiebe

RESPONSES OF PRAIRIE GROUSE TO AVIAN AND MAMMALIAN VISITORS ON DISPLAY GROUNDS IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA ▪ D. W. Sparling, Jr. and W. D. Svedarsky

FIRST NESTING RECORD OF THE CASPIAN TERN IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ J. F. Herman, R. A. Schmidt and K. J. Wilson

MARSH HAWK PREDATION ON BLACK TERN AND PECTORAL SANDPIPER ▪ G. D. Maxson

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA—1977 ▪ R. N. Randall

BOOK REVIEW

Audubon Society "Field Guides" ▪ D. L. Kubischta

Rodents As Agricultural Pests In Mexico—National Rodent Campaign, Federico Sanches Navarete

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Since 1973, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, the Mexican Government has established a general campaign against the most important groups of vertebrate pests, which cause severe damage to growing crops, stored products and mechanical damage to agricultural and irrigation schemes. To achieve information on this subject, presently the main office of the program is engaged on several activities such as the evaluation of the damage, trapping, species involved, research on population structure (densities and fluctuations to prevent sudden increase of rodent population), sex proportion, pregnancy (number of embryos), bait formulation, distribution methods, etc. Sigmodon spp., Oryzomys spp., …

Wildlife As Vectors In Diseases: Approaches To Solving These Problems In The United Kingdom, Harry V. Thompson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Interest in wildlife diseases and their importance to man and his livestock has increased in the United Kingdom during the past decade. Reasons for this are given and particular reference made to the single occurrence of rabies outside quarantine in Britain, in 1969 (the first since 1922), and to the links between bovine tuberculosis in badgers and in cattle.

Water Current, Volume 10, No. 2, March/April 1978

Water Current Newsletter

Guest Editorial, Paul Fischbach
Guernsey Silt Run Project
Staff Activities
Water Resources in Nebraska
Reclamation Invites State Participation in Dam Safety Review
President Comments on University Research
How Dependable is the Nation's Water Supply?
Study on 160-Acre Limitation
Dr. H. William Menard, Jr., to Direct Expanded Programs as New Head of the U.S. Geological Survey
Frank Gregg Appointed to BLM Head
Research Review: Evaluate Hydrologic Effects of Implementing Various Levels of Control on Irrigation Activities

Vertebrate Control Chemicals: Current Status Of Registrations, Rebuttable Presumptions Against Registrations, And Effects On Users, Glenn A. Hood

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 8th (1978)

Man's use of chemical pesticides has received much attention in recent years, reflecting or generating public consciousness of our environmental welfare. The establishment of Water Quality Acts, the Toxic Substances Control Act, air pollution standards, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also exemplify this consciousness which has become a major political force. Although there is some unyielding antagonism against all chemicals used to control pests, there is general agreement that pesticides are necessary for the protection of our health, food, fiber, and habitats. Nevertheless, some pesticides have serious shortcomings, especially toxicity to nontarget organisms and long persistence in the environment. …

The Pine Vole - Monitoring And Research Efforts, Burel H. Lane

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

The fruit industry is an important segment of New York's agricultural economy generating over 100 million dollars of farm income annually. Of the 66,740 acres of apples in the state, four counties of the lower Hudson River Valley incorporate 20,680 acres or approximately 30% of New York's apple acreage.

Efficacy Data For Baits Prepared As Candidate Orchard Vole Control Agents, Milo Richmond, Mary Dunlay, Robert Stehn

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

I believe this audience is already well aware of the dilemma in New York State. We have suffered extensive damage from orchard mice over the past three years in New York with some growers losing their entire operation. The pine vole, Pitymys pinetorum, has assumed an Important role as an orchard pest and in eastern New York easily surpasses the related meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus as a significant orchard pest. A recent grower-funded economic survey, initiated by this Unit, and reported in a paper by Pearson and Forsney (1978) points up the severity of losses thru reduced quality and …

Research Needs: Pine Vole Depredations, G. K. Lavoie, H. P. Tietjen

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Pine voles {Pitymys pinetorum (Audubon and Bachman), or Microtus pinetorum (LeConte)} are pests of significant economic importance to orchardists in several eastern and northeastern states. The purpose of this report is to selectively review the status of pine vole research from the control, biological, ecological, and behavioral aspects, and to recommend the research needed to develop effective, economical, and safe programs for controlling this problem.

Reproductive Patterns In The Pine Vole, Margaret Horsfall Schadler

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Reproductive potential in the pine vole is low compared with other small rodents including other species of voles. Age of maturity is late. Males do not reach puberty before 51 days and females before 77 days. Estrus and ovulation are not spontaneous but tend to be induced by mature males. Gestation is long (24 days). Litter sizes are small (2.8 young weaned per female). Litters are produced less frequently because, although females mate and conceive within 3 days of parturition, prolonged gestation insures a minimum of 24-27 days between litters. Only dominant females in a group carry litters to term …

Comparison Of Pine Vole Populations In A Maintained And An Abandoned Orchard, S. K. Kukila, A. R. Tipton, R. L. Kirkpatrick

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Before more effective and reliable control methods for pine vole populations can be developed, it is essential to increase our knowledge of the pine vole's basic biology and ecology. Former research conducted by Estep et al (1978) and Noffsinger (1976) has demonstrated distinct differences in food habits, physiological condition and reproductive activity of pine voles in active and abandoned orchards. A summary of their findings is presented in Kirkpatrick and Noffsinger (1977). Results from these studies has promoted an interest to more completely define population characteristics of pine voles in these two orchard types. In this manner, it will be …

An Ecological Framework For Vole Management, Jay Mcaninch

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

A great deal of past pine vole (Microtus pinetorum) and meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) research has focused upon toxicants as a means of population control. The advent of more and more environmental restrictions on chemical uses and toxicant resistance in target populations has created endless research in this area of vole control techniques. The application of wildlife management principles through biological and cultural techniques could serve as a sound foundation upon which to build a vole control program.

Registration List

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Registration List