Digital Commons Network^™

Sociological Studies Of The Alpine Vegetation On Long Peak, Walter Kiener

University Studies (University of Nebraska) (1888–1984)

General. On this continent no investigation is on record that had for its purpose the structural study of a whole unit complex of alpine vegetation. From Colorado several works are available that treat of the problem in part only. There was very little in the available literature on the biology, structure, and floristic composition of the complete vegetation when the writer, as a ranger for the United States National Park Service, was stationed for five summers on a ranger station located in the alpine zone facing Longs Peak. A desire to increase the knowledge of alpine vegetation led to this …

A Consideration Of Infraspecific Categories In The Genus Echinococcus Rudolphi, 1801 (Cestoda: Taeniidae), Robert L. Rausch

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786) and E. multilocularis Leuckart, 1863, have been considered polytypic species, nine and three subspecies, respectively, having been recognized mainly on typological grounds. However, limits of taxonomically significant morphological and physiological variation have not been defined, nor do we know the degree to which such variation is influenced by species of host. With the probable exception of E. g. canadensis Cameron, 1960, the recognized subspecies of E. granulosus occur sympatrically with the nominate subspecies, E. g. granulosus, of European origin. Because there are no well-defined predator-prey relationships which would ensure their ecological isolation, seven of these …

Notes On The Oaxacan Vole, Microtus Oaxacensis Goodwin, 1966, J. Knox Jones Jr., Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Goodwin (American Museum Novitates, 2243: 1-4, 1966) named Microtus oaxacensis on the basis of a single male taken in "evergreen rain forest at Tarahundi, a ranch near the village of Vista Hermosa," at an altitude of "about 5,000 feet" in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. On June 25, 1964, members of a field party from the Museum of Natural History, The University of Kansas, obtained two adult voles referable to oaxacensis in "dense cloud forest" southwest of Vista Hermosa (approximately 25 kilometers to the south of the type locality) as follows: male (KU 100046) from 6% miles SSW Vista Hermosa, …

A New Subspecies Of The Fringe-Tailed Bat, Myotis Thysanodes, From The Black Hills Of South Dakota And Wyoming, J. Knox Jones Jr., Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

A new subspecies of Myotis thysanodes, possibly representing a disjunct population, is described from the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. The new race is compared with M. t. thysanodes and also with Myotis evotis evotis, which it superficially resembles.

Notes On Some Mammals From Nebraska, Jerry R. Choate, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

In the course of field studies in Nebraska, several noteworthy records of mammals have been obtained that add significantly to their known distribution, as shown by Jones (1964) in his "Distribution and taxonomy of mammals of Nebraska." In the following accounts all catalogue numbers refer to specimens deposited in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. Parenthetical page references refer to Jones (1964) unless otherwise indicated.

Second Record Of Myotis Volans From North Dakota, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

The first record of the long-legged myotis, Myotis volans interior, in North Dakota was reported by Jones and Genoways (Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 69:89, 1966) on the basis of a single male from 1 mi. S and 1 mi. W Medora, Billings County. On 25 May 1966, nine adult females (KU 106932-40) of this bat were obtained by Donald R. Johnson in Granville, McHenry County. These specimens extend the known geographic distribution of M. v. interior approximately 160 miles to the northeast from the previously reported North Dakotan locality and represent the northeastern most locality of record for the …

Taxonomic Status Of The Brush Mouse, Peromyscus Boylii Cansensis Long, 1961, Jerry R. Choate, Carleton J. Phillips, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

In the course of a study of mammals from southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma, the authors have collected specimens of the brush mouse, Peromyscus boylii cansensis Long, from its type locality and also from a place about 16 miles southwest of the type locality. The results of studies of these specimens, and of the holotype and paratypes of the subspecies, are presented and discussed herein.

First Classification Score And Length Of Herd Life, L. W. Specht, H. W. Carter, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The relationship of first score and length of life in the herd was measured in Holstein females two or three years of age at first classification. The regression of herd life (number of times classified) on the first over-all type score (nearly all values were between 65 and 90 points) was 1.7 months. Correlation between first classification score and herd life was approximately 0.2, indicating that less than 5% of the variation in herd life could be attributed to the relationship between first score and herd life.

Differences among herds accounted for about 10% of the total variance in overall …

Whole Issue Nebraska Bird Review (April 1967) 35(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Nesting of Great Horned Owls in Nebraska.....................26

The 1966 Nesting Season.....................29

1966 Christmas Count.....................38

Red-headed Woodpecker Predation on Starlings.....................43

Notes.....................44

Book Reviews.....................45

Nest Parasitism between Duck and Pheasants.....................47

Treasurer's Report.....................48

Opening Remarks - Third Vertebrate Pest Conference, Maynard W. Cummings

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

To open this Third Vertebrate Pest Conference is a real privilege. It is a pleasure to welcome all of you in attendance, and I know there are others who would like to be meeting with us, but, for one reason or another cannot be. However, we can serve them by taking back the results of discussion and by making available the printed transactions of what is said here. It has been the interest and demand for the proceedings of the two previous conferen- ces which, along with personal contacts many of you have with the sponsoring committee, have gauged the …

Proceedings: Third Vertebrate Pest Conference -- Frontmatter & Contents

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

Sponsored by the California Vertebrate Pest Technical Committee

Maynard W. Cummings - Chairman

Richard H. Dana - Vice Chairman

Rex E. Marsh - Secretary-Treasurer

GENERAL CHAIRMAN OF CONFERENCE - Maynard W. Cummings, Assistant State Director, Agricultural Extension Service, University of California, Davis, California. VICE-CHAIRMAN OF CONFERENCE - Richard H. Dana, Vertebrate Pest Control Specialist, California Department of Agriculture, Sacramento, California. PROGRAM CHAIRMAN - Charles C. Siebe, Vertebrate Pest Control Specialist, California Department of Agriculture, Sacramento, California. PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN - Rex E. Marsh, Associate Specialist, Department of Animal Physiology, University of California, Davis, California. ARRANGEMENTS CHAIRMAN - Jerry P. Clark, Agricultural …

Aircraft As A Means Of Baiting Ground Squirrels, Rex E. Marsh

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

Aircraft might soon become an important tool for baiting ground squirrels (Citellus beecheyi beecheyi and C. b. fisheri) on California rangeland. Until recently, almost all squirrel control has been conducted by the hand-baiting method, with grain bait scattered from horseback in spoon-size amounts near squirrel burrows. Ground squirrels are considered a major pest of rangeland in many parts of the West. They not only compete with livestock for forage but also are responsible for substantial losses to cereal and other crops. The magnitude of the problem is exemplified by the fact that, in California alone, over 6,000,000 gross acres of …

The Current Status Of Plague In California, Keith F. Murray

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

At the first Vertebrate Pest Control Conference in 1964, I traced the history of plague control in California and outlined a revised approach, based on newer concepts of plague ecology. In our state of relative ignorance, this required a number of unproved assumptions about plague occurrence in California that verged on crystal ball gazing. These were principally that (1) plague persists in relatively resistant rodent species in certain favorable locations, (2) ground squirrels and chipmunks experience periodic epizootics, but are not permanent reservoirs, (3) plague "foci" of the past were merely sites of conspicuous epizootics, they did not necessarily correspond …

The Current Status Of Wild Animal Rabies In California, George L. Humphrey

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

During the 15-years 1952-1966, a total of 3504 cases of animal rabies were reported in California, an average of over 230 cases annually (Table 1). Of these 3504 cases, 2255 or nearly 65 percent were reported in wildlife species. An estimate sometimes used is that for every reported or recognized case of wild animal rabies, 10 cases probably occurred without recognition. Using the foregoing "rule-of-thumb", it can be hypothesized that during the 15-years 1952-1966, an estimated 22,600 or more cases of wildlife rabies occurred in California. The addition of the over 1200 cases of rabies reported in domestic animals during …

Good Practice In Vertebrate Pest Control, Philip J. Spear

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

Good practice in pest control is a responsibility of several elements in our democratic, free-enterprise society. Most notably, these are: (1) the general public, (2) responsible government agencies and (3) industry. Before I comment about the responsibilities of each of these three groups, let me tell you about the work of structural pest control operators and their interests in vertebrate pest control. The pest control industry which I discussed in detail at the Second Vertebrate Pest Control Conference (1) continues to grow and expand its fields of activity. At the present time, it is our estimate (2) that 26,700 persons …

Review Of Animal Repellents, Jack F. Welch

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

A review of the literature on this subject reveals there is considerable confusion regarding the meaning of the word "repellent" as it relates to animal control. Some people make a liberal interpretation and include any material or device that will alter the pattern of activity of an animal through response to sight, sound, taste, odor, or touch. Although such an interpretation may be valid, for this paper I would like to confine my discussion to "chemical repellents" -- materials that, when applied to seeds, plants, or other materials being damaged by animals, will reduce depredation through taste, odor, or possibly …

Animal Control - Progress, Problems And Professionalism, Robert M. Sutton Jr.

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

I want to take some liberty with my title as it is rather general. Specifically, I want to discuss some matters of mutual concern, and I will touch lightly upon our Division's activities and the status of our reorganization and redirection. In so doing, I do not propose to rehash the several talks that have been previously given and the papers written on what's new in animal control. Rather, I shall use this opportunity to examine a few problems that confront our Division, and in many cases, that confront everyone concerned with vertebrate pest control. We are now, in a …

Rats, Bombs, And Paradise - The Story At Eniwetok, William B. Jackson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

At Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands, rats have been involved in an intriguing story. Polynesian rats were probably the only rodents present until after World War 11 when roof rats were brought in along with supplies and equipment for the atomic test program in the late 40's or early 50's. Some islets of the atoll, originally covered with coconut plantations, were denuded by heat, shock, and tidal waves following the detonation of devices. Initially radiation levels were high, but radioactive decay and dilution reduced the radiation hazard, and today the background radiation is well within the safe range. Many …

Blackbirds - Depredation, Research And Control In Ohio And The Midwest, Thomas M. Stockdale

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

The earliest settlers in Ohio and the Midwest suffered losses to birds. First it was animal losses to birds of prey, then crop losses to passenger pigeons. Today it is blackbirds! In 1900, F. E. L. Beal conducted an analysis of the digestive tracts of blackbirds collected in the Midwest and found that the preferred food in the summer months was soft seeds. A similar study which I conducted on redwinged blackbirds in 1959 showed that 90% of their diet was composed of soft seeds, primarily milk and dough stage corn during the late summer and early fall. Presently we …

Measuring Bird Damage To Corn, John T. Linehan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

When corn is damaged by birds, kernels are eaten or "milked" and the affected ears are left with fewer intact kernels. The resulting damage, or loss, can be expressed in terms of the number, weight, volume, or value of the kernels that were removed or pecked. Assessment of loss thus frequently entails measuring, counting, or estimating from evidence of kernels lost. Estimates of loss resulting from the activity of birds should express the difference in value between a crop grown under the conditions that prevail and the value under the hypothetical condition of no adverse bird activity. To offset the …

Blackbird Behavior, Gordon W. Boudreau

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

A knowledge and understanding of a bird's habits and behavior patterns is prerequisite to any intelligent approach toward solving problems created by that species. This also applies to associated species commonly observed with it. Since my subject today is blackbirds I will confine my observations to species in this group, particularly red-winged blackbirds. The Red-Winged Blackbird, (Agelaius phoeniceus) is numerically and economically the most important. Several sub-species or races are recognized and in California the most important of these is the Bi-colored Blackbird, (A. p. californica). The ranges of subspecies commonly overlap, particularly in the Southeast, and field identification is …

Control Of Nuisance Pests In Suburbia, Howard A. Merrill

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

To a rancher or high-rise apartment dweller, problems with vertebrate pests in suburbia may seem insignificant. But when one stops to consider that last year over 2 million acres of farmland were converted into urban and industrial use, then it takes a different perspective. Some mammals are protected—game animals and fur bearers are usually protected by Fish and Game Departments. Cottontail rabbits, deer, and tree squirrels are examples of game animals, and muskrats, foxes, badgers, and raccoons are examples of fur bearers. In California a number of birds and mammals have no protection; these are English sparrows, American or black-billed …

Starling Control In Livestock Feeding Areas, Richard R. West, Jerome F. Besser, John W. Degrazio

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

The Denver Wildlife Research Center has been investigating methods to combat starling (Sturnus vulgaris) problems at livestock feeding areas since 1960. A variety of chemicals, baits, and methods of bait placement have been tested. This paper summarizes these investigations.

CHEMICALS TESTED About 500 chemicals have been screened for toxic and stupefacient effects on starlings. Although several chemicals have been found that immobilize starlings in the laboratory, they have been largely ineffective in the field; most starlings regurgitate the treated baits, and seldom have substantial numbers been affected. Of the toxicants screened, four compounds, TEPP, DRC-632, DRC-1327, and DRC-1339, have shown …

Winter Starling Control In Idaho, Nevada, And Oregon, Homer S. Ford

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

This paper is intended to bring you up-to-date on the progress of various winter starling control projects conducted by our Bureau on feedlots in Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon. This report briefly covers the field work accomplished since that reported by the late Mr. H. Nelson Elliott in his paper delivered to the second meeting of your conference held in Anaheim, California, in March 1964. Prior to the winter of 1960-61 we experienced a tremendous build-up of starling populations in feedlot situations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The expanding livestock feeding industry was receiving great economic losses from starlings eating livestock feed …

A Method Of Controlling Jack Rabbits On A Range Rehabilitation Project In California, Frank A. Wetherbee

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

In recent years the Bureau of Land Management's range rehabilitation program in the high sagebrush areas of northeastern California has included control of sagebrush preceded by the seeding of drought resistant grasses such as crested wheatgrass. Jack rabbit browsing and uprooting of young seedling plants has in many instances severely retarded the establishment of these grasses. Because of this it has become apparent that rabbit reduction in many of these areas is essential if a grass stand is to become established. A comparison of Figures 6 and 7 illustrates the problems jack rabbits can cause to range rehabilitation projects where …

Biotelemetry — Its Use In Vertebrate Control Studies, Wendell E. Dodge

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

Accurate evaluation of rodent control techniques has always been a laborious undertaking. It generally involves tedious pre- and post-treatment censusing by trapping, marking, track counts, reduction of activity, etc., and results, at best, must necessarily contain a significant amount of speculation by the investigator. The biologist conducting such studies has been constantly harassed by uncontrollable parameters such as trap response, immigration, emigration, predation, disease, and many others. Thus, there has been a pressing need of a more definitive technique for evaluating rodent control trials. During the last decade, a new tool called biotelemetry has become available to the wildlife biologist. …

Rodent Problems On Private Forest Lands In Northwestern California, Jarrold B. Cone

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

Rodents damage is important to forest management and is adequately described in the literature (Kverno, 1964; Hooven, 1958, 1959; Lawrence, 1958; Isaac, 1943; Kangur, 1954; Tevis, 1956a). It is not the intent of this paper to reiterate the types of damage or the rodents involved; the reader who is interested in this topic is particularly directed to the work of Lawrence, Kverno, and Hartwell (1361). This paper is concerned with the major forest rodent control efforts currently being employed in northwestern California. It will describe the background of literature and investigation from which present practices evolved, the implications that these …

The Status And Use Of Gophacide, Voit B. Richens

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

Toxicants have been widely used for several decades to reduce numbers of problem animals. The utility of these substances, however, has been limited by hazards to other animals and man, inadequate effectiveness against the target species, and restrictions on use. The ecological complexity of most habitats in which animal control is undertaken requires utilization of new poisons that are less hazardous, more effective, and more specific. Gophacide1, Bayer 38819, 0_, 0-bis(p-chlorophenyl) acetimidoylphosphoramidothioate, is generally favorable in these respects. Tests with Gophacide were initiated at the Denver Wildlife Research Center in late 1961; and more recently, this chemical has also been …

Biological Control Of Vertebrate Pests, Walter E. Howard

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

This paper briefly introduces the subject of vertebrate pest control, integrates and interprets some important ecological principles of control methodology, and intercalates these discussions with analysis of the biological backlashes and other ecological interactions that may be created whenever troublesome species of vertebrates are controlled by biological means. Insight in this area must be deepened if we are to fulfill our primary objective of learning how to manage a healthy environment in perpetuity. One important merit of biocontrol is that most people accept carefully planned ecological dislocations in nature more readily than they do the repugnant and hazardous aspects of …

Recent Developments In The Control Of Vertebrate Problem Animals In The Province Of The Cape Of Good Hope, Republic Of South Africa, Douglas Hey

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 3rd (1967)

In an earlier paper (Hey, 1964 an account was given of the topography and climate of the Cape Province, a description of the vertebrate animals and birds which might be considered to fall in the category of problem animals and the control methods used. The present paper will, therefore, deal with advances in control techniques which have since been made. At this juncture, it would be appropriate to record our sincere appreciation to the Director and Staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and particularly to the Senior Officers of the Denver Research Center, District Agents Malcolm Allison and …