Digital Commons Network^™

Weasels, F. Robert Henderson

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Weasels (Mustela nivalis and M. erminea) belong to the Mustelidae family, which also includes mink, martens, fishers, wolverines, badgers, river otters, black-footed ferrets, and four species of skunks. Three species of weasels live in North America. Some authors report finding weasels only in places with abundant water, although small rodents, suitable as food, were more abundant in surrounding habitat. The weasel family belongs to the order Carnivora. Weasels are active in both winter and summer; they do not hibernate. Occasionally weasels raid poultry houses at night and kill or injure domestic fowl.

Moles, F. Robert Henderson

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Yates and Pedersen (1982) list seven North American species of moles. They are the eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus), hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri), star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata), broad-footed mole (Scapanus latimanus), Townsend’s mole (Scapanus townsendii), coast mole (Scapanus orarius), and shrew mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii). Out of the seven species that occur in North America, three inhabit lands east of the Rocky Mountains (Yates and Pedersen 1982). The mole lives in the seclusion of underground burrows, coming to the surface only rarely, and then often by accident. The …

Opossums, Jeffrey J. Jackson

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

An opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a whitish or grayish mammal about the size of a house cat. Opossums are found in eastern, central, and west coast states. Habitats are diverse, ranging from arid to moist, wooded to open fields. Foods preferred by opossums are animal matter, mainly insects or carrion. Opossums usually live alone, having a home range of 10 to 50 acres (4 to 20 ha). Although opossums may be considered desirable as game animals, certain individuals may be a nuisance near homes where they may get into garbage, bird feeders, or pet food. Laws protecting opossums …

Wild Pigs, Reginald H. Barrett, Grant H. Birmingham

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) include both feral hogs (domestic swine that have escaped captivity) and wild boar, native to Eurasia but introduced to North America to interbreed with feral hogs. Christopher Columbus first introduced members of the family Suidae into North America in 1493 in the West Indies. A variety of habitats, from tidal marshes to mountain ranges, are suitable for wild pigs. Types of food vary greatly depending on the location and time of year. Wild pigs are intelligent animals and readily adapt to changing conditions. Wild pigs can cause a variety of damage. Wild pigs are …

Jackrabbits And Other Hares, James E. Knight

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Three major species of jackrabbits occur in North America: Blacktail jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), whitetail jackrabbits (L. townsendii), and showshoe hare (L. americanus). The whitetail jackrabbit is found mainly in the north central and northwestern United States and no further south than the extreme north central part of New Mexico and southern Kansas. Members of the genus Lepus are born well-furred and able to move about. Hares consume 1/2 to 1 pound (1.1 to 2.2 kg) of green vegetation each day. Jackrabbits are considered nongame animals in most states and are not protected …

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.

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.

Recombination Between Defective Tombusvirus Rnas Generates Functional Hybrid Genomes, K. Andrew White, Thomas Jack Morris

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

The tombusviruses represent a group of small Icosahedral plant viruses that contain monopartite positive-sense RNA genome. Tombusviruses are able to generate small replicating deletion mutants of their genomes (i.e., defective interfering RNAs) during infections via RNA recombination and/or rearrangment. To further study the process of RNA recombination and to determine whether tombusviruses were capable of tran-recombination, protoplasts were coinoculated with in vitro-generated transcripts of a nonreplicating 3'- truncated genomic RNA of cucumber necrosis tombusvirus and either replicative or replication-defective DI RNAs of tomato bushy stunt tombusvirus. After a 48-hr incubation, two dominant replicative chimeric recombinant viral RNA populations were …

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 …

Heterogeneity Of Gonadotropins And Levels Of Uncombined Luteinizing Hormone Subunits In Pituitaries Of Cryptorchid Rams, B. A. Keel, D. D. Zalesky, I. Sohaili, B. D. Schancacher, H. E. Grotjan

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Pituitaries were collected from intact rams and rams that had been rendered bilaterally cryptorchid by surgery to examine the effects of cryptorchidism on gonadotropin heterogeneity, levels of uncombined luteinizing hormone (LH) subunits, and the apparent molecular sizes of LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Cryptorchid rams had higher pituitary contents of LH and FSH as well as reduced testicular weights. The levels of uncombined LH subunits, their apparent molecular weights, and the apparent molecular weights of intrapituitary LH were similar in control and cryptorchid rams. However, the apparent molecular weight of intrapituitary FSH was slightly larger in cryptorchid rams. Cryptorchidism altered …

Light, Chlorophyll, Carboxylase Activity And Co2 Fixation At Various Depths In The Chlorenchyma Of Opuntia Ficus-Indica (L.) Miller Under Current And Elevated Co2, Park S. Nobel, Muyi Cui, Alvaro A. Israel

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Mature cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller have a thick chlorenchyma (about 4 mm) with a relatively high chlorophyll content (0-65 g m^-2), suggesting that light may be greatly attenuated and hence CO₂ fixation negligible in the inner part of this tissue. Indeed, blue light (400-470 nm) and red light (670-685 nm) were 99% attenuated in the outer 2 mm of the chlorenchyma when the cladodes developed under both current and elevated CO₂ concentrations. Nevertheless, the nocturnal acidity increase and ¹⁴C accumulation following a brief exposure to ¹⁴CO₂ at night decreased only 22 …

A Novel Protein, Csg2p, Is Required For Ca2+ Regulation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Troy Beeler, Kenneth Gable, Chun Zhao, Teresa Dunn

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Nineteen mutants that lost the ability to grow in 100 mM Ca²⁺ (but remained insensitive to 50 mM Sr²⁺) were identified in a screen of approximately 60,000 mutagenized yeast colonies. Cells carrying mutations in the CSG2 gene grow normally in low Ca²⁺ medium but have decreased growth rates when the Ca²⁺ concentration is above 10 mM. The csg2 mutant cells accumulate much higher levels of Ca²⁺ in a compartment that is exchangeable with extracellular Ca²⁺ but the nonexchangeable Ca²⁺ pool which predominates in wild-type cells is not influenced. Sr²⁺ influx is …

Regulation Of Cellular Ca2+ By Yeast Vacuoles, Teresa Dunn, Kenneth Gable, Troy Beeler

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

The role of vacuolar Ca²⁺ transport systems in regulating cellular Ca²⁺ was investigated by measuring the vacuolar Ca²⁺ transport rate, the free energy available to drive vacuolar Ca²⁺ transport, the ability of the vacuole to buffer lumenal Ca²⁺, and the vacuolar Ca²⁺ efflux rate. The magnitude of the Ca²⁺ gradient generated by the vacuolar H⁺gradient best supports a 1 Ca²⁺:2 H⁺ coupling ratio for the vacuolar Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchanger. This coupling ratio along with a cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration of 125 nM would give a …

A Metapopulation Approach To Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium Pitcheri) Recovery In Southern Lake Michigan Dunes, A. Kathryn Mceachern, Marlin L. Bowles, Noel B. Pavlovic

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Successful recovery planning for a rare species relies upon knowledge of its life history and ecology, as well as an understanding of its habitat requirements and disturbance regime (Gilpin & Soule 1986, Lande 1988a). Species that depend upon early-successional or transient habitats in landscape mosaics present unique recovery challenges (Menges 1990). They require perpetuation of multiple populations within a shifting mosaic of local habitats. Recovery plans for these species must be formulated from an understanding of population demography within the context of community and landscape dynamics. Processes that maintain landscape mosaics must be given long-term protection if recovery is to …

Issue Review Document January 1994, Southeast Research & Extension Center

Southeast Research and Extension Center: Reports and Administration

The reports contained in this review document contain ambitious plans for extension in the district. Each faculty member views their particular specialty as important to the overall effectiveness of extension and desires to see resources committed to it. In an effort to aid the review team in their recommendations, overarching consensuses and personnel recommendations from each report have been gathered in an executive summary.

Contents

Review Team Schedule

Review Team Members

Introduction

Executive Summary

Organizational Culture

Initiative Team Reports
Children, Youth and Families at Risk
Nutrition, Food Safety, Food Quality
Solid Waste Management
Agricultural Sustainability and Profitability
Enhancing Water Quality …