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Shrews, Robert H. Schmidt

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The shrew (Sorex cinereus) is a small, mouse-sized mammal with an elongated snout, a dense fur of uniform color, small eyes, and five clawed toes on each foot. Shrews are broadly distributed throughout the world and North America. Shrews vary widely in habitat preferences throughout North America. Shrews are in the taxonomic order Insectivora. Shrews are among the world’s smallest mammals. Most species of shrews do not have significant negative impacts and are not abundant enough to be considered pests.

Birds At Airports, Alfred J. Godin

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Birds are a serious hazard to aviation. A bird or a flock of birds that suddenly rises from a runway or surrounding area may collide with incoming or departing aircraft and cause the aircraft to crash, possibly resulting in the loss of human life. Bird collision with aircraft is commonly known as “bird strike.” Damage caused to aircraft usually results from collision of one or more birds with the engines and/or fuselage. Although most bird strikes do not result in crashes, they do involve expensive structural and mechanical damage to aircraft. The incidence of this problem worldwide makes bird strike …

Eagles, Bart W. O'Gara

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus and Aquila chrysaetos) are the largest bird of prey in North America. Golden eagles in North America occur in greatest numbers from Alaska southward throughout the mountain and intermountain regions of the West and into Mexico. Eagles frequent a wide variety of habitats. Although regional and seasonal differences in food habits exist, golden eagle prey consists mostly of small mammals such as jackrabbits, cottontails, prairie dogs, and ground squirrels. Eagle courtship displays consist of a series of “roller coaster” dives and other aerial maneuvers. Juvenile golden eagles leave the nesting territory as early as May …

Hawks And Owls, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Scott R. Craven

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Hawks and owls are birds of prey and are frequently referred to as raptors— a term that includes the falcons, eagles, vultures, kites, ospreys, northern harriers, and crested caracaras. There are two main groups of hawks: accipiters and buteos. Accipiters are the forest-dwelling hawks. North American species include the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Cooper’s hawk (A. cooperii), and sharpshinned hawk (A. striatus). The buteos are known as the broadwinged or soaring hawks. They are the most commonly observed raptors in North America. Typical species include the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), …

House Finches (Linnets), Jerry P. Clark, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

House finches (Carpodacus mexicanus), also known as linnets, are about the same size as house sparrows. House finches are abundant residents throughout the western United States and Mexico. The house finch is most abundant in the warm valleys of California near cultivated lands. House finches are primarily seed eaters, and before the introduction of cultivated fruits, they probably lived largely on weed seeds. House finches nest in a great variety of places. House finches peck and feed on practically all deciduous fruits, berries, grains, vegetable seed, and flower seed. House finches are classified as migratory nongame birds in …

Scrub (Or California) Jay, Jerry P. Clark, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The scrub (or California) jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) is distinguished by its crestless head, olive-gray back, and white throat, outlined in blue. Scrub jays are found in the western United States, parts of Mexico, and in central Florida. Scrub jays commonly inhabit the oak and brush-covered foothills of the mountains, timbered canyons, river bottoms, oak-lined sloughs and creeks, as well as the shade trees and dense shrubbery of residential areas. Beal (1910) reported that the diet of the scrub jay consisted of 73% plant and 27% animal matter. The plant matter was about one-third fruits and berries, and two-thirds …

Pigeons (Rock Doves), David E. Williams, Robert M. Corrigan

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Pigeons (Columbia livia) typically have a gray body with a whitish rump, two black bars on the secondary wing feathers, a broad black band on the tail, and red feet. Pigeons are found throughout the United States (including Hawaii), southern Canada, and Mexico. Pigeons are highly dependent on humans to provide them with food and sites for roosting, loafing, and nesting. Pigeons are primarily grain and seed eaters and will subsist on spilled or improperly stored grain. The common pigeon was introduced into the United States as a domesticated bird, but many escaped and formed feral populations. Pigeon …

Crowned Sparrows, Jerry Clark, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

White-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) are distinguished by their pink or yellowish bill, erect posture, gray throat and breast, and prominent crown streaked with black and white. Geographic races, including the mountain (Z. l. oriantha), Gambel’s (Z. l. gambelii), Nuttall’s (Z. l. nuttalli), and Puget Sound white-crowned sparrow (Z. l. pugetensis) show minor differences in head pattern, bill color, and song. Their songs vary geographically, but consist primarily of clear whistles. White-crowned sparrows are abundant in the western United States. They breed primarily …

House Sparrows, William D. Fitzwater

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The house or English sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a brown, chunky bird about 5 3/4 inches (15 cm) long, and very common in human-made habitats. The house sparrow was first introduced in Brooklyn, New York, from England in 1850 and has spread throughout the continent. The house sparrow is found in nearly every habitat except dense forest, alpine, and desert environments. House sparrows are primarily granivorous. Breeding can occur in any month but is most common from March through August. House sparrows consume grains in fields and in storage. The house sparrow is afforded no legal protection by …

Crayfish, James F. Fowler, Wendell Lorio, Greg Lutz

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Crayfish, also called crawfish, crawcrab, crab, stonecrab, crawdad, creekcrab, and other local names, are native to fresh waters on all continents except Africa, where they have been widely introduced. Most damage associated with crayfish is the result of crayfish burrowing in home lawns. Crayfish may be protected by law in some states.

Frogs And Toads, Paul E. Moler

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Frogs and toads are amphibians with four legs and no tail. At least 85 species of frogs are native to the United States, and there are three well-established exotic species. Frogs occur in almost all nonmarine habitats. Most frogs have a two-phased life cycle, including an aquatic larval form (tadpole) and a terrestrial or semiaquatic adult form. Although some species spend most of their adult lives away from water, most frogs native to North America must return to water to lay eggs. The greatest potential for economic damage is at fish farms and hatcheries. Laws pertaining to frogs vary from …

Nonpoisonous Snakes, James L. Byford

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Of the many kinds of snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) found in the United States, only the following are harmful: rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, coral snakes, and sea snakes. Some species of nonpoisonous snakes occur throughout several states, but the majority have only limited ranges. Snakes are not very mobile, and even though some are fairly adaptable, most have specific habitat requirements. All snakes are predators, and the different species eat many different kinds of food. Snakes are specialized animals, having elongated bodies and no legs. A nonpoisonous snake bite has no venom and can do no more harm than frighten …

Horned Larks, Jerry P. Clark, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Horned larks (Eremophila alpestris) are ground-dwelling birds that are slightly larger than house sparrows. They are brown, with a yellowish face, black breast, black “whiskers,” and two small black “horns.” Horned larks breed widely throughout North America, from northern Alaska to southern Mexico. In certain parts of California the horned lark is a serious crop pest. The food of the horned lark consists largely of seeds picked up from the ground. Vegetable crops damaged by horned larks include beets, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, peas, spinach, and tomatoes. Other field and truck crops damaged are alfalfa, grain, sugar beets, cantaloupes, …

Mississippi Kites, William F. Andelt

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The Mississippi kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) is a member of the family Accipitridae, a group of diurnal birds of prey. Mississippi kites nest in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, southeastern Colorado, southern Kansas, and the eastern states from southern Missouri to South Carolina. Mississippi kites are primarily insectivorous. Most Mississippi kites probably winter in Argentina and Brazil. Some Mississippi kites create problems by diving at and frightening people who venture near their nests. Mississippi kites are fully protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918) and state regulations.

Serologic And Genetic Identification Of Peromyscus Maniculatus As The Primary Rodent Reservoir For A New Hantavirus In The Southwestern United States, James E. Childs, Thomas G. Ksiazek, Christina F. Spiropoulou, John W. Krebs, Sergey Morzunov, Gary O. Maupin, Kenneth L. Gage, Pierre E. Rollin, John Sarisky, Russell E. Enscore, Jennifer K. Frey, C. J. Peters, Stuart T. Nichol

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

An outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome(H PS) in the southwestern United States was etiologically linked to a newly recognized hantavirus. Knowledge that hantaviruses are maintained in rodent reservoirs stimulated a field and laboratory investigation of 1696 small mammals of 31 species. The most commonly captured rodent, the deer mouse( Peromyscus maniculatus), had the highest antibody prevalence(3 %)to four hantavirus antigens. Antibody also was detected in 10 other species of rodent and in 1 species of rabbit. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction( RT-PCR)products of hantavirus from rodent tissues were indistinguishable from those from human H PS patients. More than 96% of …

White-Tailed Deer As A Potential Reseroir Of Ehrlichia Spp., Jacqueline E. Dawson, James E. Childs, Kristine L. Biggie, Charla Moore, David Stalknecht, John Shaddock, John Bouseman, Erik Hofmeister, James G. Olson

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

We determined the antibody prevalence to Ehrlichia spp., in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and the geographic distribution of seropositive animals in 84 counties in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia (USA). Using an indirect fluorescent antibody test we detected antibodies (≥ 1:128) to this bacterium in 544 (43%) of 1269 deer. Presence of antibodies to Ehrlichia spp. was related to a southerly latitude, low elevation, and resulting milder climatic conditions. It appears that whitetailed deer were naturally infected with Ehrlichia spp.; the infection …

Expression Of Functional Protease And Subviral Particles By Vaccinia Virus Containing Equine Infectious Anaemia Virus Gag And 5' Pol Genes, Travis C. Mcguire, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Timothy V. Baszler, Steven R. Leib, Alberta L. Brassfield, William C. Davis

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

Cells infected with vaccinia viruses expressing the equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) gag gene (VGag) or gag plus the 5' pol encoding protease (VGag/PR) were evaluated with monoclonal antibody to a p26 capsid protein linear epitope (QEISKFLTD). Both recombinant viruses expressed Gag precursor protein (55K) whereas only VGag/PR expressed a detectable Gag-Pol fusion protein (82K) with a functional protease, shown by subviral particles containing processed p26. Horses inoculated with VGag/PR produced antibodies reactive with EIAV Gag proteins.

Scid Mouse Spleen Does Not Support Scrapie Agent Replication, Katherine I. O'Rourke, T. P. Huff, C. W. Leathers, M. M. Robinson, J. R. Gorham

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

BALB/c and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice were inoculated intracerebrally or intraperitoneally with scrapie agent strain ME7 to examine the role of functional lymphocytes and follicular dendritic cells in splenic infectivity and PrP^sc accumulation. Intracerebrally inoculated BALB/c and SCID mice developed the clinical signs and microscopic lesions characteristic of scrapie. Spleens from terminally affected BALB/c mice contained PrP^sc which was detectable by immunoblot analysis; SCID mouse spleens did not contain detectable PrP so. SCID mouse spleens collected during the first 90 days after intraperitoneal infection contained neither infectivity nor PrP^sc.

Major Histocompatibility Complex-Restricted Cd8+ Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes From Horses With Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Recognize Env And Gag/Pr Proteins, Travis C. Mcguire, Daniel B. Tumas, Katherine M. Byrne, Melissa T. Hines, Steven R. Leib, Alberta L. Brassfield, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Lance E. Perryman

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can control some viral infections and may be important in the control of lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Since there is limited evidence for an in vivo role of CTL in control of lentiviruses, dissection of immune mechanisms in animal lentiviral infections may provide needed information. Horses infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a lentivirus, have acute plasma viremia which is terminated in immunocompetent horses. Viremic episodes may recur, but most horses ultimately control infection and become asymptomatic carriers. To begin dissection of the immune mechanisms involved in EIAV control, peripheral blood mononuclear …

Highly Reactive Forms Of Zinc And Reagents Thereof, Reuben D. Rieke

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

A novel zerovalent zinc species and an organozinc reagent are disclosed. The zerovalent zinc species is directly produced by reaction of a reducing agent on a zinc salt, preferably Zn(CN)₂. The organozinc reagent results from the reaction of the zerovalent zinc species and an organic compound having one or more stable anionic leaving groups. These organozinc reagents include a wide spectrum of functional groups in the organic radical, and are useful in a variety of reactions schemes.

Ec94-1766 Windbreaks For Livestock Operations, James R. Brandle, Vernon Quam, Ladon Johnson, Bruce Wight

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Windbreaks play an important role in the protection of livestock, particularly in young animals and in areas with cold northerly winds during the winter and early spring. Properly placed windbreaks can provide benefits to feedlots, livestock pastures, and calving areas. Reducing wind speed in winter lowers animal stress, improves animal health, and increases feeding efficiency. Livestock windbreaks provide significant amounts of wildlife habitat, protect the working environment in and around the livestock area, and screen noise and odors associated with livestock operations.

Specific needs of animals dictate that special attention be given to access, snow storage, and drainage when planning …

State-Level Drought Planning In The United States: Factors Influencing Plan Development, Donald A. Wilhite, Steven L. Rhodes

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Drought is a recurrent feature of the American landscape. Almost without exception, the occurrence of widespread severe drought in the United States has illustrated the low level of drought preparedness that has existed in federal and state governments. Many state governments, however, have developed formal drought contingency plans since 1982. The primary purpose of this article is to explore some factors that may have influenced the drought planning process at the state level in the United States during the past decade. First, an overview of state drought planning is presented, followed by an exploration of the possible policy influence of …

Nf94-174 Time Management Suggestions For Getting Home/Yard/Car Work Done, Kathy Prochaska-Cue

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact discusses getting home/yard/car work done.

G94-1234 Should You Consider Expanding Your Dairy Herd?, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses both the benefits and possible drawbacks from expanding an existing dairy operation.

Nebraska's dairy industry is going through a transition. Producers are beginning to ask the question, "Should I expand, and if so, how large should my herd become?" Before considering this issue, the producer should first ask, "Do I really want to expand?" Expansion can be, and in many cases is, a traumatic experience, not only to the producer, but also to the producer's family. Every segment of the dairy enterprise should be consulted before making a decision. Call a family gathering and discuss this question …

G94-1219 Worker Protection Standard For Agricultural Pesticides (Revised May 1997), Clyde Ogg, Larry D. Schulze

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes the Worker Protection Standard, helps you determine if you are covered or exempt from it, and provides information on how to comply.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) to protect employees on farms and in forests, nurseries, and greenhouses from exposure to agricultural pesticides (general or restricted use). The standard covers workers in areas treated with pesticides and employees who handle pesticides in the production of agricultural plants or commodities. It requires employers to protect two types of agricultural employees: agricultural workers and pesticide handlers (see definitions). The standard is …

Ec94-805 Existing Business Retention And Expansion Handbook, Duane A. Olsen, Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Since the mid 1980s more than a dozen communities in Nebraska have carried out the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program that is outlined in this handbook. Without exception both the communities and the businesses involved have reported positive results. The BRE program is a stuctured, locally implemented, action oriented economic development project aimed at stimulating local economic development ard growth by helping existing business. This handbook is designed as a guide for community leaders planning to carry out a Business Retention and Expansion program. Due to variations in local needs and resources, communities are encouraged to customize these tools.

Ec94-811 Older Nebraskans: Patterns And Changes In Nebraska, 1970-1990, John C. Allen, Jian Wu

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The number of Americans 65 and older increased rapidly in the last 20 years. Nationwide, the growth rate was 27 percent between 1970 and 1980 and 22 percent between 1980 and 1990. In each decade the number of older adults grew more than twice as fast as the general population.

This circular discusses this population increase of the older Nebraska generation by county, towns, and cities.

G94-1206 Biosecurity And Disease Prevention For The Ratite Grower, Eva Wallner-Pendleton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide acquaints the ratite grower with management techniques that can help reduce the likelihood of disease introduction and spread on the farm.

Introduction

Infectious diseases always concern people who raise animals, including ratite and poultry producers. In general, the larger the number of animals concentrated in a given area, the more potential there is for diseases to occur. This potential is greatly increased if new animals are frequently introduced. Other ways diseases are spread include allowing visitors near the animals, raising multiple ages close to each other or allowing contact with other species.

As the ratite industry matures, farms …

Sprinkler Irrigaton: A Voc Remediation Alternative, Roy F. Spalding, Mark E. Burbach, Mary Exner Spalding, Leyla Parra-Vicary, Dennis R. Alexander

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

A sprinkler irrigation system was tested to assess its efficacy for volatilizing organic chemicals in pumped ground water. In field tests involving the analysis of more than 250 samples collected from beneath a spray irrigation system, removal rates of ethylene dibromide (EDB), 1,1,2-trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), and carbon tetrachloride (CT) in samplers placed 0.5 m above the ground exceeded 95% in the vast majority of cases, and approached 100% for the more volatile chemicals. As predicted by Henry’s Law, CT, TCA, and TCE were significantly more volatile than EDB. Removal efficiencies of conventionally designed sprinkler irrigation systems were enhanced by …

1993-94 Unopa Annual Report

UNOPA: Annual Reports

No abstract provided.