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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 …

Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis), Allan R. Woodward, Dennis N. David

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is the most common of two crocodilians native to the United States and is one of 22 crocodilian species worldwide. The American alligator is found in wetlands throughout the coastal plain of the southeastern United States. Alligators can be found in almost any type of fresh water, but population densities are greatest in wetlands with an abundant food supply and adjacent marsh habitat for nesting. Alligators are exclusively carnivorous and prey upon whatever creatures are most available. Alligators are ectothermic — they rely on external sources of heat to maintain body temperature. Damage …

Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Viridis Viridis), Walter E. Howard

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis viridis) are distinctly American serpents. There are 15 species of rattlesnakes in the United States and 25 in Mexico. Rattlesnakes are usually identified by their warning rattle—a hiss or buzz—made by the rattles at the tip of their tails. Rattlesnakes occur only in North and South America and range from sea level to perhaps 11,000 feet (over 3,000 m) in California and 14,000 feet (4,000 m) in Mexico, although they are not abundant at the higher elevations. Young or small species of rodents comprise the bulk of the food supply for most rattlesnakes. When a …

Turtles, James F. Fowler, Jimmy L. Avery

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Turtles (Terrapene carolina) occur on all continents except Antarctica. Any permanent body of water is a potential home for turtles. Turtles are seldom a pest to people. Most turtles are not protected by state laws.

G94-1199 Management To Maintain Stored Grain Quality, David D. Jones, David P. Shelton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes many of the management factors that influence the quality of stored grain.

Grain quality will not improve during storage. At best, the initial quality can only be maintained. When stored grain goes out of condition, it is usually the cumulative result of several interrelated management factors that include: 1) harvesting, handling, and storage equipment; 2) initial condition of the grain; 3) grain moisture content; 4) grain temperature; 5) aeration system management; 6) insect and mold control; and 7) monitoring grain condition. An effective management program greatly enhances the likelihood of maintaining top quality grain.

Nf94-172 Thirteen Timely Tips For More Effective Personal Time Management, Kathy Prochaska-Cue

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact discusses effective personal time management.

Impacts Of Biological Invasions On The Management And Recovery Of Rare Plants In Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaiian Islands, Lloyd Loope, Arthur Medeiros

United States National Park Service: Publications

Biological invasions assisted by humans are impoverishing biological diversity worldwide (MacDonald et al. 1989, Diamond 1989). Such invasions are particularly devestating to the biota of oceanic islands such as Hawaii (Williamson 1981, Brockie et al. 1988, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources et al. 1991). Ecosystems of the Hawaiian Islands are much more vulnerable to biological invasions than are continental ecosystems, because the organisms in them have evolved in isolation from many of the forces that have shaped continental organisms, including foraging and trampling by herbivorous mammals, predation by ants and mammals, virulent diseases, and fires (Loope & Mueller-Dombois …

Characterization Of Heterorhabditis Isolates By Pcr Amplification Of Segments Of Mtdna And Rdna Genes, Susan A. Joyce, Ann M. Burnell, Thomas O. Powers

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Restriction digests of amplified DNA from the mitochondrial genome and the nuclear ribosomal internally transcribed spacer region have been evaluated as genetic markers for species groups in Heterorhabditis. Six RFLP profiles have been identified. These profiles supported groupings determined by cross-breeding studies and were in agreement with less definitive groupings based on other biochemical and molecular methods. Digestion patterns of both amplification products provided strong evidence for the recognition of species groups, which include Irish, NW European, tropical, and a H. bacteriophora complex. The H. bacteriophora complex could be further resolved into three genotypes represented by H. zealandica, …

Research And Extension Needs For Integrated Pest Management For Arthropods Of Veterinary Importance, Christopher J. Geden, Jerome Hogsette

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

In April, 1994, a workshop was held in Lincoln, Nebraska, to update the IPM document that resulted from a similar workshop in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1979 (Anonymous 1979). The workshop was initiated by Dr. Ralph A. Bram, USDA National Program Leader, and organized by Drs. Gustav D. Thomas, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, and John B. Campbell, University of Nebraska, North Platte. Participants were charged with assessing the current status of IPM programs for pests of veterinary importance, identifying needs for program improvements, and recommending future research and extension priorities. Participants, invited from federal and state government research and extension organizations, and the …

Response Of Leafy Spurge To Date Of Burning, Robert A. Masters

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The research was conducted on remnant tallgrass prairie located in Lancaster County, Nebraska in 1990. Plots (5 by 10-m) were not burned or burned on either April 23, May 2, May 14, or May 26, 1990. Leafy spurge stem density and yield and yield of associated herbaceous vegetation were determined in July 1990 to assess response of the grassland community to prescribed burning treatments. Burning in late April through mid-May stimulated leafy spurge stem production. Density of leafy spurge stems in plots burned by mid-May significantly exceeded (P<0.04) the stem density in plots burned at the end of May. Leafy spurge stem density in plots burned the first week in May averaged 84 stems m^-2 as compared to only 27 stems m^-2 in plots burned …

A New Coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) In The Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys Talpoides) And A Comparison Of Oocyst Survival In Hosts From Radon-Rich And Radon-Poor Soils, P. G. Wilber, K. Mcbee, D. J. Hafner, Donald W. Duszynski

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Forty (93%) of 43 northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) from the Jemez Mountains, Sandoval County, New Mexico (USA), had coccidian oocysts in their feces when examined. We describe this parasite, Eimeria jemezi, n. sp. Sporulated oocysts were subspheroidal, 13.3 by 12.2 (10 to 17 by 9 to 15) ım, with sporocysts ellipsoidal, 7.1 by 4.4 (5 to 9 by 4 to 5) μm; micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent, but polar bodies, Stieda bodies and sporocyst residua were present. All gophers were collected from two sites of similar habitat 7 km apart. One site (R+) had a …

Patterns Among Host Plants Of Potato Leafhopper, Empoasca Fabae (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), William O. Lamp, Gary R. Nielsen, Stephen D. Danielson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Ecological characteristics of potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), including polyphagy, suggest that non-economic plant species in the landscape may be important to its population ecology. The objectives of this study were to compile a host list, to ascertain taxonomic and ecological patterns within the list, and to determine host utilization in non-crop habitats. The host plant list included 220 species in 100 genera and 26 families. Fabaceae represented 47% of the genera and 62% of the species. Yet, the list includes a diversity of taxonomic groups within the class Magnoliopsida, representing highly divergent chemistry and morphological types. Ecological classifications, based …

Posner's Pragmatist Jurisprudence, Peter F. Lake

Nebraska Law Review

I. Introduction

II. Overview: A Sketch of the Main Themes and Three Points of View of Posner's Pragmatism

III. Jurisprudence without Foundations?—The Jurisprudential Methodology of Posner's Pragmatism

IV. The Meta-ethical Posture of Posner's Pragmatism ... A. Thicker Epistemology ... B. Intuitionism and Objectivity ... 1. Intuition-Bedrock, Tacit Knowing, and the Faculty of Induction ... 2. The Redescription of Science for Lawyers ... 3. The Test of Time and Truth ... C. The Force of Rhetoric—Literature, the Test of Time, and Omnisignificance ... D. Posner's Meta-ethical Relativism ... 1. Posner's Approach Is Largely Relativist ... 2. Posner's Pragmatism Is Not Clearly …

Restoration Of Woodland Caribou To The Lake Superior Region, Peter J. P. Gogan, Jean Fitts Cochrane

United States National Park Service: Publications

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) historically occupied the boreal forest zone across the North American continent. The distribution and abundance of the species has declined in the past century. In particular, it has been extirpated from much of the southern limits of its historical range on both sides of the boundary between Canada and the United States (Bergerud 1974). Translocation of animals from extant populations may be used to reestablish populations in portions of the species' former range. Recently, wildlife biologists in Ontario have translocated woodland caribou to a number of sites in or adjacent to Lake Superior. …

Interactions Between Larval White Crappie And Gizzard Shad: Quantifying Mechanisms In Small Ponds, Kevin L. Pope, Dennis R. Devries

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

To test potential competitive interactions between larvae of white crappie Pomoxis annularis and of gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum. we added adult gizzard shad to eight of twelve 0.1-ha ponds that had been stocked with adult white crappies. Larval white crappies and larval gizzard shad appeared within 1 week of one another and larval white crappie density did not differ between treatments. Zooplankton density declined similarly between treatments, and zooplankton species composition and size did not differ. Although larval white crappie and larval gizzard shad had moderate diet overlap, prey selection by white crappie did not differ between treatments. During …

The Role Of A Wildlife Reservoir In The Epidemiology Of Bovine Tuberculosis, D. U. Pfeiffer

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Bibliography and Database

The objective of this project was to study the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis in the presence of a wildlife reservoir species. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of possum populations with endemic bovine tuberculosis infection were analyzed. The results were used to develop a computer simulation model of the dynamics of bovine tuberculosis infection in possum populations. A case-control study of breakdowns to tuberculosis infection in cattle herds in the Central North Island of New Zealand was conducted to identify risk factors other than exposure to tuberculosis in local possum populations.

Genetic Variation And Differentiation Of North American Waterfowl (Anatidae), David W. Oates, Joann Principato

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Staff Research Publications

This study examines the genetic variation in 45 taxa of all tribes and most species of North American waterfowl (Anatidae) with a starch-gel electrophoretic survey of protein variation at 25 loci. Relationships were estimated using the resulting data from the patterns of allozyme variation and summarized in both phenetic and cladistic branching diagrams. The branching diagrams (phylogenetic trees) are employed to help compare and contrast phylogenetic relationships relative to other hypothesis. Although results of this study generally concur with classic phylogenetic trees and the taxonomic designations of the current American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) Check-list, exceptions are noted. Genetic data strongly …

Marine Mammal Studies Supported By The Northeast Fisheries Science Center During 1980-89, Gordon T. Waring, Janeen M. Quintal, Tim D. Smith

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Marine mammal research supported by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center from 1980 to 1989 is described in the context of four research areas defined retrospectively: (1) ecological roles and habitat requirements, (2) human interactions, (3) optimum sustainable population size, and (4) research planning and archiving. Within each area, contract and in· house projects are grouped into a number of research topics which are based on actual projects completed. Research activities and results, along with the total amount of money spent, are summarized for each topic. The relationship of the research supported over the decade to the recommendations of a research …

The Specific Activities Of Shiga-Like Toxin Type Ii (Slt-Ii) And Slt-Ii-Related Toxins Of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli Differ When Measured By Vero Cell Cytotoxicity But Not By Mouse Lethality, Susanne W. Lindgren, James E. Samuel, Clare K. Schmitt, Alison D. O'Brien

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Characteristically, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains produce Shiga-like toxin type I (SLT-I), SLT-II, or both of these immunologically distinct cytotoxins. No antigenic or receptor-binding variants of SLT-I have been identified, but a number of SLT-II-related toxins have been described. Because EHEC 091:H21 strain B2F1, which produces two SLT-II-related toxins, is exquisitely virulent in an orally infected, streptomycin-treated mouse model (oral 50% lethal dose [LD₅₀], <10 >organisms), we asked whether the pathogenicity of strain B2F1 was a consequence of SLT-II-related toxin production. For this purpose, we compared the lethality of orally administered E. coli DH5α(Str^r) strains that produced …