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Woodpeckers, Rex E. Marsh

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalusand Picoides pubescens) belong to the order Piciformes and the family Picidae, which also includes flickers and sapsuckers. Woodpeckers are found throughout the United States. Because they are dependent on trees for shelter and food, woodpeckers are found mostly in or on the edge of wooded areas. Most woodpeckers feed on tree-living or wood-boring insects; however, some feed on a variety of other insects. Woodpeckers are an interesting and familiar group of birds. Woodpecker damage to buildings is a relatively infrequent problem nationwide, but may be significant regionally and locally. Woodpeckers are classified as migratory, …

Red Imported Fire Ant Impact On Wildlife: An Overview, Craig R. Allen, Stephen Demarais, R. Scott Lutz

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

We reviewed the past 50 years of literature concerning red imported fire ant impacts on wildlife species. The red imported fire ant has had a negative impact on numerous species of wildlife. However, experimental evidence of population-level impacts is meager. We discuss potential fire ant perturbations and suggest research directions that may settle the long-standing controversy concerning the impact of imported fire ants on native vertebrates and the ecosystems they have invaded.

Armadillo (Dasypus Novemcinctus), Donald W. Hawthorne

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is a rather interesting and unusual animal that has a protective armor of “horny” material on its head, body, and tail. The armadillo ranges from south Texas to the southeastern tip of New Mexico, through Oklahoma, the southeastern corner of Kansas and the southwestern corner of Missouri, most of Arkansas, and southwestern Mississippi. The armadillo prefers dense, shady cover such as brush, woodlands, forests, and areas adjacent to creeks and rivers. More than 90% of the armadillo’s diet is made up of insects and their larvae. The armadillo is active primarily from twilight through …

Bird Damage At Aquaculture Facilities, W. Paul Gorenzel, Fred S. Conte, Terrell P. Salmon

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Reduction of the damage caused by fish-eating birds requires accurate bird identification and some knowledge of avian biology and habits. The open-water areas and large concentrations of aquatic livestock at aquaculture facilities are natural attractants to many birds. Birds can have a significant economic impact on the culture of aquatic products including fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. For our purpose here, we will refer to these birds as fish-eating birds, and the aquatic products as fish.

Magpies, Thomas C. Hall

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Magpies (Pica pica and P. nuttalli) have lived in close association with humans for centuries. Magpies are found in western North America. Magpies are associated with the dry, cool climatic regions of North America. Magpies are omnivorous and very opportunistic, a characteristic typical of other corvids. Magpies, like other corvids, are intelligent birds. Magpies have come into conflict with humans in North America for quite some time. Magpies are protected as migratory nongame birds under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

European Starlings, Ron J. Johnson, James F. Glahn

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are robin-sized birds weighing about 3.2 ounces (90g). Since their introduction into New York in the 1890s, starlings have spread across the continental United States, northward to Alaska and the southern half of Canada, and southward into northern Mexico. Starlings are found in a wide variety of habitats including cities, towns, farms, ranches, open woodlands, fields, and lawns. Starlings consume a variety of foods, including fruits and seeds of both wild and cultivated varieties. European starlings were brought into the United States from Europe. Starlings are frequently considered pests because of the problems they cause, …

Environmental Attitudes And Knowledge: An International Comparison Among Business Students, Raymond Benton Jr., G. Ray Funkhouser

School of Business: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This article investigates international differences in environmental knowledge and attitudes among business administration students. The Environmental Knowledge and Attitude Scale, developed by Maloney, Ward, and Braucht (1975) and used by Synodinos (1990), was administered to 85 upperdivision business administration students at Loyola University Chicago and 111 upperdivision business students at the National University of Singapore. No significant differences were found between the two samples on the Knowledge, Concern, or Willingness to Act subscales. The United States students' higher mean score on the Actual Behavior subscale was significant but may only reflect relative possibilities for participation in environmental activities. Overall, the …

How Sustainable Is Grazing Sheep On Annual Pastures In The Woolbelt?, Don Mcfarlane, Richard George

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Low wool prices have reduced the profitability of producing wool from clover-based annual pastures in the south-western woo/belt. The heavy reliance on one commodity is economically unsustainable for many farmers. But we should also consider how ecologically sustainable the practice is.

Shallow-rooted annual pastures contribute to widespread salinity in the area, annual legumes are acidifying the soils and making them water repellent, and bare, detached soils from heavy grazing cause sheet and rill erosion during autumn storms. In addition, stock are degrading remnant vegetation and destroying the soil's structure.

To counteract this degradation, the woo/belt needs more perennial pastures and …

Red Mud : Cutting Pollution And Boosting Yields, Rob Summers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A by-product from the refining of bauxite ore in the South-West is proving a bonus for agriculture.

When spread over the land, not only is it improving soil quality, but it is helping to prevent leaching of phosphorus and the consequent massive algal blooms in the waterways.

Bauxite residue is also showing considerable promise in human and animal effluent disposal systems, composting urban refuse, sewage treatments and as a road base.

Western Australia is now in the forefront of this research which is attracting world-wide interest.

1994 File Geodatabase Containing Photo Point Locations, Aerial Photos, And Flight Maps, City Of Tampa Department Of Sanitary Sewers Bay Study Group, Pete Reehling, Richard Mckenzie

Data Sets

The Bay Study Group was created by the City of Tampa in 1976 to monitor the effects of pollution abatement that occurred in Hillsborough Bay when the city’s wastewater treatment plant was upgraded from primary to advanced treatment in 1979. The Bay Study Group documented a remarkable restoration of water quality parameters and biological indicators in Hillsborough Bay from the mid 1980s until 2009, when it was disbanded. This zip Geodatabase file contains the photo point locations, aerial photos, and flight maps for the year 1994.

1994 File Geodatabase Containing Aerial Photos, Pete Reehling, Richard Mckenzie, City Of Tampa Department Of Sanitary Sewers Bay Study Group

Images

The Bay Study Group was created by the City of Tampa in 1976 to monitor the effects of pollution abatement that occurred in Hillsborough Bay when the city’s wastewater treatment plant was upgraded from primary to advanced treatment in 1979. The Bay Study Group documented a remarkable restoration of water quality parameters and biological indicators in Hillsborough Bay from the mid 1980s until 2009, when it was disbanded. This zip Geodatabase file contains the aerial photos for the year 1994.

Speciation Of Heteroatoms In Coal By Sulfur- And Nitrogen-Selective Techniquestrogen-Selective Techniques, Stephen R. Palmer, Michael A. Kruge, Edwin J. Hippo, John C. Crelling

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The peroxyacetic acid oxidation products from a series of coals of organic sulfur content 0.5-9.8 wt% were examined. The distributions of organic S and N compounds were determined by gas chromatography with sulfur-selective flame photometric and nitrogen-selective thermionic specific detection respectively. A selected sample was also examined in greater detail using low-voltage high-resolution mass spectrometry. The distribution of organic sulfur compounds in the oxidation products was remarkably similar for all the coals. The number of sulfur compounds detected was small compared with that of organic nitrogen compounds detected. This suggests that the sulfur chemistry of coal is considerably simpler than …

Dietary Comparisons Of Adult Male Common Grackles, Red-Winged Blackbirds, And Yellow-Headed Blackbirds In North Central North Dakota, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier, Robert B. Carlson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We compared the esophageal contents of adult male common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus),and yellow-headed blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) collected in north central North Dakota from July through October 1989. Temporal variation in the diets of all species was related to food availabilities, which were heavily influenced by crop phenology. Depending on species, mean percent dry weight of sunflower achenes during August increased 2-6 times over July. Yellow-headed blackbirds migrated from north central North Dakota by early September, but substantial numbers of common grackles and red-winged blackbirds remained until mid-October. Sunflower was an …

Application Of Time Series Models To Sets Of Environmental Data, Saarah Ahmed Farag

Theses : Honours

In environmental studies, many programs have been implemented for the purpose of examining the influence of factors on the natural environment from various sources. In the past, predictions have been obtained from a simple regression model of the data from these programs to aid in deciding whether an intervention is required in the program or policy. However, most environmental time series involve correlated dependent variables which makes it difficult to apply conventional regression analysis. This thesis compares the application of the class of transfer function models, where high correlation between dependent variables is allowed, to that of conventional regression analysis. …

Kentucky Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge Survey, J. Keeling, Paul M. Mcginley

KWRRI Research Reports

A survey of solids removal from municipal wastewater treatment plants in Kentucky was conducted by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Kentucky. The survey was made using both a mailed form and a followed up phone communication through a period from June, 1993 to April, 1994. The results of that survey were compiled using a spreadsheet program and are available on diskette from the authors. The results of the survey are also presented in the eight Tables herein.

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, Volume 3-1, Winter 1994/1995

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre: Newsletters and Publications

Ecology of Waterfowl Botulism
Responses to the Questionnaire to Readers
Mycoplasma gallisepticum in House Finches in the Eastern United States
Unusual observations of harp and hooded seals
Morbillivirus infection (canine distemper) in a bobcat
Cerebral nematodiasis in a bobcat
Stranding of two bottlenose whales in the St. Lawrence estuary
Prevalence of parasitic cataracts in St. Lawrence River fish
Rupture of a dissecting aneurysm of the pulmonary trunk in a beluga whale from the St. Lawrence Estuary
Tularemia in beavers
Ring-billed gulls - False Duck Island
Lead poisoning in loons
Salmonella and Campylobacter in gulls
Other observations
Mortality patterns in orphaned …

Identification And Assessment Of Wildlife Damage: An Overview, Richard A. Dolbeer, Nicholas R. Holler, Donald W. Hawthorne

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Wildlife management is often thought of in terms of protecting, enhancing, and nurturing wildlife populations and the habitat needed for their wellbeing. However, many species at one time or another require management actions to reduce conflicts with people or with other wildlife species. Examples include an airport manager modifying habitats to reduce gull activity near runways, a forester poisoning pocket gophers to increase tree seedling survival in a reforestation project, or a biologist trapping an abundant predator or competing species to enhance survival of an endangered species.

Wildlife damage control is an increasingly important part of the wildlife management profession …

Raccoons (Procyon Lotor), Edward K. Boggess

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is found throughout the United States, with the exception of the higher elevations of mountainous regions and some areas of the arid Southwest. Raccoons prefer hardwood forest areas near water. Raccoons are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal foods. Raccoons may cause damage or nuisance problems in a variety of ways, and their distinctive tracks often provide evidence of their involvement in damage situations. Raccoons are protected furbearers in most states, with seasons established for running, hunting, or trapping.

River Otters (Lutra Canadensis), Edward P. Hill

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

River otters (Lutra canadensis) are best known for their continuous and playful behavior, their aesthetic value, and the value of their durable, high-quality fur. River otters occur throughout North America except the arctic slopes, the arid portions of the Southwest, and the intensive agricultural and industrialized areas of the midwestern United States. The diet of the river otter throughout its range is primarily fish. The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. The presence of river otter(s) around or in a fish hatchery, aquaculture, or fish …

Skunks, James E. Knight

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The skunk (Mephitis mephitis and Spilogale putorius), a member of the weasel family, is represented by four species in North America. The skunk has short, stocky legs and proportionately large feet equipped with well-developed claws that enable it to be very adept at digging. The striped skunk is common throughout the United States and Canada. Adult skunks begin breeding in late February. Skunks inhabit clearings, pastures, and open lands bordering forests. Skunks eat plant and animal foods in about equal amounts during fall and winter. Skunks become a nuisance when their burrowing and feeding habits conflict with humans. …

Wolves (Canis Lupus), William J. Paul, Philip S. Gibson

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Two species of wolves occur in North America, gray wolves (Canis lupus) and red wolves (Canis rufus). During the 1800s, gray wolves ranged over the North American continent as far south as central Mexico. Gray wolves occupy boreal forests and forest/agricultural edge communities in Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. Mech reported that gray wolves prey mainly on large animals including white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, caribou, elk, Dall sheep, bighorn sheep, and beaver. Gray wolves are highly social, often living in packs of two to eight or more individuals. The ability of wolves to kill …

Bats (Myotis Lucifugus), Arthur M. Greenhall, Stephen C. Frantz

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Despite their ecological value, bats (Myotis lucifugus) are relentlessly and unjustifiably persecuted. Bats, the only mammals that truly fly, belong to the order Chiroptera. Bats in North America are virtually all insectivorous, feeding on a variety of flying insects (exceptions among house bats were noted previously). Most North American bats emit high frequency sounds (ultrasound) inaudible to humans and similar to sonar, in order to avoid obstacles, locate and capture insect prey, and to communicate. Bats often fly about swimming pools, from which they drink or catch insects. Bats use roosting niches that are indoors (human dwellings, outbuildings, …

Deer, Scott R. Craven, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are probably the most widely distributed and best-recognized large mammals in North America. Deer are even-toed ungulates of the family Cervidae. The white-tailed deer is found in every state in the United States except perhaps Alaska and Utah. Deer are creatures of the forest edge rather than the dense, old-growth forest. Browse (leaves, stems, and buds of woody plants) is generally available all year and is a staple food for deer. Breeding occurs from October to January depending on latitude. Deer damage a wide variety of row crops, forage crops, vegetables, fruit trees, nursery stock, …

Elk, David S. Decalesta, Gary W. Witmer

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The elk is a large, powerful animal with an adult weight averaging over 400 pounds (180 kg). The Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) is found in the Rocky Mountain states and in scattered locations in the Midwest and East. Although elk once roamed freely into lower elevation grasslands, they are now found primarily close to heavily forested areas that are dotted with natural or human-made (clear-cut) openings. Elk graze on grasses and forbs, and browse on shrubs, tree seedlings, and saplings. Weather and human activities influence elk activity. Elk commonly impact agricultural resources by competing with domestic …

Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra Americana), Sanford D. Schemnitz

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is not a true antelope but in a family by itself (Antilocapridae). It is native only to North America. Pronghorns currently have a scattered but widespread distribution throughout western North America. Pronghorns thrive in short and mixed grasslands and sagebrush grasslands. Pronghorns eat a variety of plants, mostly forbs and browse. Pronghorns depend on their eyesight and speed to escape enemies. Pronghorns sometimes cause damage to grain fields, alfalfa, and haystacks during the winter. Pronghorns have game-animal status in all of the western states.

Cottontail Rabbits, Scott R. Craven

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) usually can be accepted as interesting additions to the backyard or rural landscape if control techniques are applied correctly. Under some unusual circumstances, control of damage may be difficult. There are 13 species of cottontail rabbits (genus Sylvilagus), nine of which are found in various sections of North America north of Mexico. The eastern cottontail’s range includes the entire United States east of the Rocky Mountains and introductions further west. Cottontails do not distribute themselves evenly across the landscape. Rabbits live only 12 to 15 months, and probably only one rabbit in 100 lives …

American Crows, Ron J. Johnson

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is one of America’s best-known birds. American crows are widely distributed over much of North America. American crows do best in a mixture of open fields where food can be found and woodlots where there are trees for nesting and roosting. Crows are omnivorous, eating almost anything, and they readily adapt food habits to changing seasons and available food supply. Crows are among the most intelligent of birds. Experiments indicate that American crows can count to three or four, are good at solving puzzles, have good memories, employ a diverse and behaviorally complex …

Gulls, Victor E. F. Solman

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The term gull refers to members of a group of 23 North American bird species that belong to the family Laridae, subfamily Larinae. The herring (Larus argentatus) and ringbilled (L. delawarensis) gulls are the most common and widespread of the species. Most gulls nest in colonies on sand and gravel-covered shorelines and islands. Gulls feed on land or water on aquatic animals, terrestrial invertebrates and small vertebrates, plant remains, carrion, and refuse. Increasing gull populations in North America during the past century have led to a variety of problems for different segments of society.

Swallows, W. Paul Gorenzel, Terrell P. Salmon

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Eight members of the swallow family Hirundinidae breed in North America: the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), violet-green swallow (T. thalassina), purple martin (Progne subis), bank swallow (Riparia riparia), northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), cave swallow (Hirundo fulva), and the cliff swallow (H. pyrrhonota). Cliff and barn swallows are found throughout most of North America. Four basic conditions are found near most cliff and barn swallow nest sites: (1) an open habitat for foraging, (2) a suitable surface for …

Waterfowl, Edward C. Cleary

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The term waterfowl is properly applied only to ducks, geese, and swans. In North America, most waterfowl are migratory, flying long distances in the spring and fall between the summer breeding grounds and wintering areas. Waterfowl, as their name implies, are most often found near water. The food of individual waterfowl species ranges from fish to insects to plants in various combinations, depending on availability. Waterfowl are normally monogamous and solitary nesters. Goose problems in urban and suburban areas are primarily caused by giant Canada geese, which are probably the most adaptable of all waterfowl. In the United States, migratory …