Digital Commons Network^™

Porcupine Damage And Repellent Research In The Interior Pacific Northwest, Gary W. Witmer, Michael J. Pipas

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) rely on trees and shrubs for winter food and can cause serious, localized damage to conifers. Twenty-two percent of ponderosa trees (Pinus ponderosa) examined in southeastern Washington were damaged by porcupines. Most damage involved complete girdling of the mid- to upper boles of the larger trees (12 to 30 cm dbh) in the stand. Preliminary repellent trials with captive porcupines suggested that several materials might reduce tree damage, especially predator-associated odors. Field trials are needed to assess efficacy and duration of protection under ambient winter conditions.

Rat Management For Endangered Species Protection In The U.S. Virgin Islands, Gary W. Witmer, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Frank Boyd

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Introduced roof rats (Rartus rattus) pose a substantial threat to the fauna and flora of many tropical islands. In the Caribbean, there is concern about rat impacts to several endangered species, including the Atlantic hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the least tern (Sterna antillarum). The authors surveyed the rat population on Buck Island, Buck Island Reef National Monument, U .S. Virgin Islands in February 1998. Based on three nights of trapping, rats were of low to moderate abundance during the sampling period when compared to results from other Caribbean islands. The impact of …

Research And Management Of Bird Depredations At Catfish Farms, Mark E. Tobin

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Depredations by fish-eating birds are a major constraint on production at commercial catfish facilities in the southeastern United States. A recent survey of catfish farmers estimated total losses due to direct predation by birds and costs associated with employing preventive measures at $17 million, or 4% of national sales. In 1988, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) established a research station in Mississippi to develop more effective methods for reducing the impact of birds on southeastern aquaculture farms. This paper describes the impact of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus, DCCO) on the catfish industry, …

The Use Of Aerosol Repellents As An Avian Deterrent Strategy, Gwen R. Stevens, Larry Clark, Richard A. Weber

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Traditional protective measures to keep wildlife away from areas include exclusion by use of netting, hazing, and chemical repellents. The primary problem with most hazing systems is that wildlife quickly habituate to the devices if their use falls into a predictable pattern. Repellent substances cause wildlife species to avoid otherwise attractive or palatable resources by creating a disincentive to visit a specific area or consume a particular resource. Chemical repellents, both lethal and non-lethal, are typically used for agricultural and horticultural purposes, but in addition may provide a strategy to deter wildlife in other contexts. Aerosol delivery of chemical repellents …

Deer On Airports: An Accident Waiting To Happen, Sandra E. Wright, Richard A. Dolbeer, Andrew J. Montoney

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors analyzed data on civil aircraft strikes with wild ungulates (deer [Odocoileus spp.], elk [Cervus canadensis] and moose [Alces alces]) in the U.S. from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wildlife Strike Database and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Aviation Accident Database for 1983 to 1997. Prior to 1991, the FAA Form 5200-7 for reporting strikes was designated solely for bird strike data, thus, strike reports for non-avian species prior to 1991 are underrepresented. A total of 343 ungulate strikes was reported, 48 from 1983 to 1990 and 295 from 1991 to 1997. Forty-four …

Comparison Of White Mineral Oil And Corn Oil To Reduce Hatchability In Ring-Billed Gull Eggs, Patrica A. Pochop, John L. Cummings, Christi A. Yoder, John E. Steuber

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Oiling eggs is a potential management method for controlling nuisance or depredating populations of ring-billed gulls, Canada geese, and other bird species. However, no registration for an oiling compound currently exists with the Environmental Protection Agency. Efficacy data were collected for white mineral oil and corn oil to reduce the hatchability of ring-billed gull eggs. Egg failure was 99% in corn oil, 96% in white mineral oil, and 35% in control eggs. Most treated eggs that hatched were treated early in the incubation period, 1 to 8 days after clutch completion. A Wildlife Service Technical Note on the use of …

Fertility Control In Coyotes: Is It A Potential Management Tool?, Thomas J. De Liberto, Eric M. Gese, Frederick F. Knowlton, J. Russell Mason, Michael R. Conover, Lowell Miller, Robert H. Schmidt, Michael K. Holland

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Fertility control in wildlife is emerging as a potential management tool. Published research on feral horses, deer, rodents, and rabbits suggest an effective agent producing reversible infertility in these species could be developed. Furthermore, anecdotal reports suggest that infertility can be induced in a greater array of species. In this paper, the authors review methods of fertility control being studied for application in wildlife and focus on their studies designed to evaluate the effectiveness of fertility control agents in coyotes (Canis latrans). Immunocontraception using porcine zona pellucida (PZP) is currently the most promising method of fertility control in …

Tracing The History Of Blackbird Research Through An Industry's Looking Glass: The Sunflower Magazine, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The Sunflower magazine, the voice of the National Sunflower Organization, featured articles in January 1978 and December 1996 that began with these words, "If Old King Cole was a merry old soul, it was probably because he had only four and twenty blackbirds to contend with, and they were all out of commission!" This quotation captures the sentiments of sunflower growers, who have identified blackbirds as a major production problem since the 1960s. The National (formerly Denver) Wildlife Research Center, a unit within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, is charged with both …

The Impact Of Timber Management On The Phytochemicals Associated With Black Bear Damage, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Georg J. Ziegltrum

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Black bears forage on Douglas-fir vascular tissue in the spring, and this behavior can be severely detrimental to the health and economic value of a timber stand. Foraging is selective in that not all stands are damaged and, within a stand, one tree may be stripped while its neighbor is ignored or minimally sampled. A series of studies was conducted to assess whether bear selectivity is affected by chemical constituents within vascular tissue, and whether these constituents are affected by silvicultural practices. The results are interpreted to identify forest practices that may alleviate damage, or at least predict where damage …

Wildlife Information Sources And Search Methods On The Internet, Diana L. Dwyer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Vertebrate pest damage information is pulled from a variety of disciplines ranging from wildlife management to psychology. The Internet has opened the door to what seems to be an unending number of information sources. Researchers can become overwhelmed by the choices and different levels of information available. The correct use of search engines and a checklist of criteria to evaluate the quality of information obtained can help to eliminate the extraneous information and make the time spent on the Internet more productive. There are a large number of wildlife, biology, environmental, and other related sites that are especially useful to …

Potential Bird Repellents To Reduce Bird Damage To Lettuce Seed And Seedlings, John L. Cummings, Patricia A. Pochop, Christi A. Yoder, James E. Davis Jr.

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of ReJeX-iT® AG-145, Mesurol®, activated charcoal, lime, and fipronil to reduce homed lark damage to lettuce seeds and seedlings. In Experiment 1, homed larks consumed significantly more feed mixture (50:50 grains and lettuce seed) than untreated clay-coated lettuce seed in a three-day choice-test. In Experiment 2, where clay-coated lettuce seed was treated with ReJeX-iT® AG- 145, Mesurol®, activated charcoal, or lime, there was no significant difference in consumption of untreated clay-coated lettuce seed and treated clay-coated lettuce seed. Homed larks consumed insignificant amounts of all seed treatments including untreated coated lettuce seed. In this experiment …

Managing Island Biotas: Brown Treesnake Control Using Barrier Technology, Gad Perry, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Gordon H. Rodda, Thomas H. Fritts

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis), accidentally introduced to the previously snake-free U.S. island of Guam after World War 11, decimated the island's naive wildlife. Today, it periodically stows away on craft going to other islands where the ecological damage may be repeated. Barriers offer an effective tool for keeping the snakes out of areas from which they can disperse off-island, as well as sites identified as critical for the protection of human health, conduct of economic activity, or conservation of endangered species. The authors have developed a variety of barrier designs which repulse at least 95% of snake …

Effects Of Taste Stimuli (Quinine And Sucrose) In Pelleted Granulated, And Wax Block Baits On Feeding Preferences Of Northern Pocket Gophers (Thomomys Talpoides), Stephen A. Schumake, Geraldine R. Mccann

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

A two-choice, taste preference study was conducted using 18 northern pocket gophers to evaluate pelleted sorghum, granulated sorghum, and wax block baits containing either 0.01 to 0.05 % quinine or 0.10 to 5.0 % sucrose. Bait consumption was significantly higher across treatments (P≤.001) for granulated sorghum, followed by pelleted sorghum, and wax blocks. Gophers also showed a high frequency of moving the granulated bait in their cheek pouches to be deposited at alternate locations within their cages. Although increasing sucrose concentration did not produce significantly (P ≥.10) enhanced consumption for any of the baits, a trend toward increasing preference with …

Evaluation Of Acrolein As A Fumigant For Controlling Northern Pocket Gophers, George H. Matschke, Geraldine R. Mccann, Rebecca A. Doane

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Baker Performance Chemical Incorporated entered into a cooperative agreement with the National Wildlife Research Center to evaluate acrolein as a fumigant for controlling northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides). In October 1996, a 44.5 ha (110 acre) irrigated alfalfa hay field was selected as the study site in Franklin County, Washington. Eight treatment units (TUs), six fumigated and two control, were established on the study site. On the six fumigated TUs, 58.9% of the sample plots were inactive, whereas, all sample plots (100%) on the two control TUs were active. The 58.9% mean reduction in pocket gopher activity on …

Mammal Repellents: Options And Considerations For Development, J. Russell Mason

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Repellents include chemical substances, visual displays, and sonic and ultrasonic deterrent systems. The use of electric shock also can be considered as a repellent category. Each of these categories is discussed, together with their respective utilities, constraints on their usefulness, and possibilities for future development. Economic considerations that may impede or expedite the development of new strategies are presented. Repellent effectiveness depends upon a complex of variables, including the palatability of protected and alternative foods, weather conditions, and the number of animals causing problems. Invariably, repellents are most useful when used as components of integrated pest management strategies

Evaluation Of Electronic Frightening Devices As White-Tailed Deer Deterrents, Jerrold L. Belant, Thomas W. Seamans, Laura A. Tyson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of the motion-activated Usonic Sentry (with and without strobe), motion-activated Yard Gard, and Electronic Guard for deterring white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from preferred feeding areas from February to April 1996. Two four-week experiments were conducted, monitoring deer use (number of intrusions and corn consumption) at eight feeding stations in a 2,200 ha fenced facility in northern Ohio with high deer densities (≥ 38/km²). During these experiments, one of the devices was positioned at each of four sites. The mean (± SE, n = 4) daily number of deer intrusions at feeding …

Development Of Seed Treatments To Control Blackbirds, Michael L. Avery, David Decker, John S. Humphrey

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Bird repellents to protect seeds are a potentially important aspect of integrated vertebrate pest management strategies. Yet, there currently are no repellents registered for seed treatment uses. This is due not to lack of effective candidate compounds, but to monetary and regulatory constraints that inhibit commercialization of promising compounds. Two examples of this dilemma are methiocarb and anthraquinone, each of which has considerable potential for bird repellent uses and each of which faces considerable registration hurdles as prospective seed treatment compounds. A concerted, coordinated effort among private industry, producer groups, and state and federal agencies may be the best strategy …

The Bait Surcharge Program: Research Improves Zinc Phosphide Use For Vole Control In Alfalfa, Ray T. Sterner

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

This paper describes several unexpected benefits of rodenticide-registration research funded by The California Bait Surcharge Program. An enclosure-type study was conducted to determine efficacy of single, pre- and test-bait broadcasts (10 lb./ac.) of 0% and 2% zinc phosphide (Zn₃P₂, CAS #1314-84-7) steam-rolled-oat (SRO) groats to control voles (Microtus spp.) in alfalfa (Medicago sariva). Unexpected research spinoffs resulted from the use of: 1) eight randomly-located, sieved-dirt plots per enclosure to monitor bait distribution, bait removal, and rodent/avian (non-target) activity; 2) a bait-weathering plot and bait-sample analyses to monitor Zn₃P₂ biodeterioration; and …

The Development Of An Integrated Pest Management Plan For Roof Rats In Hawaiian Macadamia Orchards, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Ann E. Koehler, Robert T. Sugihara

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) damage an estimated 5 to 10% of the developing nut crop in Hawaiian macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) orchards. Relevant aspects of roof rat biology in macadamia orchards have and continue to be studied with the ultimate goal of developing an ecologically sound and cost-effective integrated pest management plan. The field component of a two-year study of roof rat populations in macadamia orchards has recently been completed. The goal of this study is to clarify the relationship between roof rat seasonal abundance, macadamia flowering, and nut production on five orchards in three regions on …

Population Dynamics: The Foundation Of Wildlife Damage Management For The 21st Century, Richard A. Dolbeer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

To justify and defend lethal or reproductive control programs to solve vertebrate pest problems, wildlife biologists must have a sound understanding of the population status and dynamics of the problem species. Models are essential to project how populations will respond to proposed management actions, providing a scientific foundation to counter the emotional debates that often arise. Four population models (PM1 to PM4) for predicting population responses are described. PM1 and PM2 explore the relative efficacy of reproductive and lethal control for vertebrate species over 10-year intervals. PM3 simulates population responses to actual management actions through 10-year intervals. PM4 simulates population …

Review Of Bird Repellents, Larry Clark

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Despite a general perception that there is an abundance of nonlethal control technologies, the fact remains that there are fewer registered products and active ingredients for repellents in the U.S. than there were 10 and 20 years ago. This review discusses the technical issues relating to the discovery, formulation, and delivery of chemical repellents, and suggests future avenues of research that would improve our ability to develop effective chemical repellents.

Validating A Health Questionnaire For Predicting Neuropathy In Patients With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Matthew J. Maurer

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Questionnaires are a cost-effective method for screening large numbers of people for health problems. More expensive clinical follow-up can focus on people whose responses to the questionnaire suggest they are most at risk. To my knowledge, no questionnaire has ever been developed to screen for neuropathy in diabetics. Using the questionnaire developed by Dr. Peter Cavanagh and Dr. Robert Van Deursen at the Center for Locomotion Studies (CELOS) at Penn State University, I was able to create a model from the questionnaire that predicts the presence of neuropathy.

1998-1999 Nova Southeastern University Center For Undergraduate Studies Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Fall 1998, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.

Investing In Tomorrow's Teachers: The Integral Role Of The Two-Year College In The Science And Mathematics Preparation Of Prospective Teachers: Steering Committee Report To The National Science Foundation

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

The Extent And Condition Of Us Coral Reefs, Steven Miller, Steven Miller, Michael Crosby

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

No abstract provided.

The Occurrence Of Pcbs And Chlorinated Pesticide Contaminants In Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) In A Resident Community: Comparison With Age, Gender And Birth Order, Kathleen M. Kuss

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Tissue samples from twenty bottlenose dolphins from a stable, residential community of coastal dolphins in the western Gulf of Mexico were analyzed for toxic PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides. The tissues analyzed (blubber and melon) were from known individuals in a long-term (27⁺ y) study that stranded and were recovered for necropsy. Substantial demographic data were available on these individuals and utilized in the analysis of maternal transfer of organochlorines to young.

The male dolphins in this study were shown to accumulate organochlorine contaminants with age. In female dolphins the organochlorine levels were found to decline with age. These …

Challis Resource Area Proposed Resource Management Plan And Final Environmental Impact Statement, United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

Resource Management Plans (ID)

The Challis Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS) describes the Bureau of Land Management's proposed plan for managing approximately 792,567 acres of public lands administered by the BLM within the Challis Resource Area. The PRMP/FEIS is based on the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) described in the Challis Draft RMP/EIS (BLM, May 1996), as modified in response to public and tribal comments and internal BLM recommendations. It describes changes from and corrections to the Challis Draft RMP/EIS, updates the discussion of the affected environment, provides an analysis of environmental consequences for the Proposed RMP, and records public comments and …

Bighorn National Forest Draft Noxious Weed Management Environmental Assessment, United States Forest Service

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The Forest Service proposes to implement a management plan to control noxious weeds on the Bighorn National Forest. This management plan would be in accordance with general direction in the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) to treat noxious farm weeds (Bighorn National Forest LRMP, III-45) to improve range conditions and manage undersirable plant species. Five additional Federal Laws also address this action: 1. The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (RPA, P.L. 93-378). 2. The Public Rangeland Improvement Act of 1978. 3. The Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 Section 2(b)(2) and Section 2 of (P.L. …

Adding Nutrients To Enhance The Growth Of Endangered Sockeye Salmon: Trophic Transfer In An Oligotrophic Lake, Phaedra E. Budy, Chris Luecke, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Snake River sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, listed under U.S. law as endangered in 1991 in response to a decline in anadromous adult numbers, spend their first 1–2 years in Redfish Lake, Idaho, before migrating to the sea. To determine how nutrient enhancement might influence phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish production, we performed fertilization experiments in large enclosures in this oligotrophic lake using juvenile kokanee (lacustrine O. nerka) as analogues for endangered sockeye salmon. Fertilization of the metalimnion substantially increased chlorophyll a (150%), phytoplankton biovolume (75%), primary productivity (250%), and zooplankton biomass (200%), and moderately increased fish growth (12%) over our control …