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Grizzly Bears And Humans At Alpine Moth Sites In Wyoming, Usa, Erika A. Nunlist, Dan Tyers, Andrew Pils, Bok F. Sowell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Army cutworm moths (Euxoa auxiliaris; moths) are an important seasonal higher elevational food source for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis; bears) in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, USA). Increased human interaction with bears at moth sites is an important management issue because of the potential for displacing bears and the concern for human safety. Managers will need better information regarding human–bear interactions at high-density moth sites that are also accessible to humans to mitigate potential conflicts. In the summers of 2017 and 2018, we studied human–bear interactions at 2 of the most human …

Habituated, Tolerant, Or Salt-Conditioned Mountain Goats And Human Safety, Richard B. Harris, Kurt Aluzas, Laura Balyx, Jami Belt, Joel Berger, Mark Biel, Tonya Chilton-Radandt, Steeve D. Côté, Julie Cunningham, Adam Ford, Patti Happe, Chad P. Lehman, Kim Poole, Clifford G. Rice, Kirk Safford, Wesley Sarmento, Laura Wolf

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Interactions between humans and wildlife include a number of consumptive and non-consumptive forms. In some cases, the increased demand for wildlife viewing can precipitate new human–wildlife conflicts. Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus; goats) are native to a number of North American mountain ranges from southeastern Alaska to southwestern Montana, USA. Goat habitat typically consists of steep terrain and cold weather habitats, which has left them particularly vulnerable to climate change. Their alpine environments also make them vulnerable to disturbance by aircraft and land-based motorized human activity. We reviewed and characterized situations in which goats in close proximity to humans …

A Critical Look At Wild Pig Elimination: Myths And Facts, Kim M. Pepin, Travis L. Guerrant, Jeremiah L. Psiropoulos, Jeanine T. Neskey, John M. Tomeček, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Janean L. Romines

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are abundant and widely distributed in the United States. They damage crops and pastures, predate livestock and sensitive species, impact ecosystem functions, and damage personal property. To address these issues, some states in the United States are seeking complete elimination. A frequently asked question by stakeholders is: “What portion of the population needs to be removed annually to reach elimination?” The number 70% is widely touted as the answer. There is little scientific evidence to support that this percent annual removal would be needed to achieve elimination, yet 70% has now become a standard …

Conflict Animals, Or Conflict People—That Is The Question, Vincenzo Penteriani

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Managing conflictual sce­narios involving large carnivores is generally addressed from an animal-centric perspective. This is rather contradic­tory because such conflicts are mostly triggered by human conduct that acts on animal’s instinc­tive behaviors. Shifting conflict miti­gation perspectives to human behaviors may thus provide a more consistent management strategy than focusing only on animals. For example, human habituation and anthropogenic food conditioning are 2 main conflict drivers that mostly depend on human behavior. Thus, an approach that addresses the human dimension aspects of these conflicts needs to be reinforced. I offer 6 points to consider in prioritizing management to mitigate human–bear conflicts …

The Importance Of Highlighting Wildlife Conservation Success In Urban Areas, Jonathon D. Cepek

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wildlife professionals in urban areas face many challenges balancing wildlife conservation and managing human–wildlife conflicts. The urban public is often more influenced by news and social media of wildlife than they are by firsthand experiences. The information they hear is typically about high-density urban species in conflict situations. Therefore, it is important to find ways to engage the public through these outlets about wildlife conservation. Recently, Cleveland Metroparks (Ohio, USA) highlighted the return of extirpated wildlife species through news and social media. This offered opportunities to capture media and public attention and share information about wildlife conservation, the value of …

Cover, Editorial Staff, Journal Information

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This includes the cover, editorial staff, and journal information.

The Ground Baiting Component Of The Gough Island House Mouse Eradication Attempt In 2021, Araceli Samaniego, Andrew Callender, Pete Mcclelland

Human–Wildlife Interactions

House mice (Mus musculus; mice) are among the most widespread invasive species. On Gough Island (6,500 ha), mice preying on at least 19 bird species triggered a mouse eradication attempt. Gough Island is a volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean and part of Tristan da Cunha, a UK Overseas Territory. From June to August 2021, an expert team applied an anticoagulant rodenticide (active ingredient brodifacoum at a concentration 20 ppm) island-wide, predominantly via aerial broadcast using helicopters, as the island is mainly uninhabited. However, hand-baiting was also required because of the presence of a staffed meteorological station. …

An Introduction To The Special Issue: Island Invaders, Aaron B. Shiels, Shane R. Siers, S. Nicole Frey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This is the introductory letter from the associate editors of the special issue on Island Invaders.

Rat Biosecurity Surveillance And Response Following Eradication On A Tropical Atoll, David Ringler, Richard Griffiths, Frank Murphy, Baudouin Des Monstiers, James C. Russell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Biosecurity is a key element following any eradication operation, employing tools that allow both the identification and elimination of survivors or the early detection of new invaders. Eradication managers must ensure the surveillance strategy is correctly adapted to the spatial context and that the potential causes of a pest’s presence are understood to optimize their operational plans. We used the case of the eradication of black (Rattus rattus) and Pacific rats (Rattus exulans) from Honuea and Onetahi islets (Tetiaroa Atoll, French Polynesia) in 2020 to test an approach that combines rapid eradication assessment modelling and genetic …

An Assessment Of The Potential Hazards Of Anticoagulant Rodenticides To Plethodontid Salamanders, Gary W. Witmer, Steven F. Volker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We assessed the hazards of the anticoagulants diphacinone and brodifacoum to salamanders of the family Plethodontidae or lungless salamanders. We completed this research in anticipation of an attempt to eradicate the invasive house mouse (Mus musculus) from the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, California, USA, where the endemic subspecies Farallon arboreal salamander (Aneides lugubris farallonensis) occurs. We exposed live-captured salamanders of 3 species (Aneides lugubris, Ensatina eschscholzii xanthoptica, and Batrachoseps attenuatus) to anticoagulant rodenticides by both oral and dermal exposure routes in laboratories at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health …

The Path To U.S. National Registration Of A Toxic Bait For The Control Of The Small Indian Mongoose, Carmen C. Antaky, Steven C. Hess, Emily W. Ruell, Israel L. Leinbach, Shane R. Siers, Robert T. Sugihara

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata [syn. Herpestes auropunctatus]; mongoose) is a highly invasive species in its introduced range that negatively impacts ecosystems. Mongooses depredate native species, serve as a vector of disease posing a risk to human health, and cause sanitation issues in food processing facilities and public areas. Introduced for biocontrol in the late 1800s in Hawaiʻi and the Caribbean, mongooses currently have well-established populations across multiple islands in both island archipelagos and have invaded numerous other locations throughout the world. The concern of accidental introduction to mongoose-free islands, the difficulty in species detection, and the …

An Automatic System To Evaluate Bait Station Visitation By Brown Treesnakes And Mongooses, Robert T. Sugihara, William C. Pitt, Are R. Berentsen, Francis L. Benevides Jr.

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Understanding the temporal, spatial, and behavioral patterns of the free-ranging target species in response to candidate baits and baiting strategies is important to ensure control success. This information can also assist in the development and deployment of feeding stations and can exclude non-target species while constituting effective bait delivery and control strategies for certain invasive animals, especially at environmentally sensitive sites. We used passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in conjunction with very-high frequency radio-telemetry to remotely record bait station visitations and evaluate bait attractiveness in separate field research studies of brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Andersen Air Force …

Pilot Study For Invasive Brown Treesnake Baiting In Residential Areas, Shane R. Siers, Juan-Carlos Mungaray, Jordan I. S. Barcinas, Jeried E. Calaor, Rachel M. Volsteadt, Martin Kastner, Scott M. Goetz, Melia G. Nafus, Thomas C. Hall

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The nocturnal brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis; BTS) was accidentally introduced to the island of Guam, USA, in the Western Pacific in 1945. The BTS has spread throughout all terrestrial habitats, causing wildlife loss and economic damage. Several tools and techniques have been developed to locally reduce BTS numbers and prevent their spread to other islands. The common analgesic acetaminophen has been registered as a low-risk pesticide to manage BTS in non-residential areas. Prior to a more intensive toxic baiting campaign on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, as part of a larger study to evaluate the effects of BTS …

The Impact Of Feral Honey Bees On Endangered Seabirds In The Hawaiian Islands, André Francis Raine, Scott Driskill, Stephen Rossiter, Jennifer Rothe, Kyle Pias, Rachel Sprague, Alex Dutcher

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The ʻaʻo (Puffinus newellii; Newell’s shearwater) and ʻuaʻu (Pterodroma sandwichensis; Hawaiian petrel) are both endangered seabirds endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago. For the last decade, multiple colonies on the islands of Kauaʻi and Lānaʻi have been the focus of intensive management (particularly predator control) and monitoring programs. Management has been effective at reducing the number of introduced mammalian predators recorded within colonies with a resultant increase in reproductive success rates for both seabird species. However, in recent years a new threat has emerged—feral honey bees (Apis mellifera; bees)—which were deliberately introduced to the Hawaiian …

A Look To The Future: New And Innovative Invasive Wildlife Management And Eradication Technologies, Aaron B. Shiels, Katherine E. Horak

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Certain wildlife tools and discoveries have been true “game changers” for invasive species management and eradications on islands. This article provides an overview of 3 cutting-edge technologies that are being eagerly pursued, but are not yet operational, for invasive wildlife management to build efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and/or improve animal welfare practices.

Cover, Editorial Staff, Journal Information

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This includes the cover, editorial staff, and journal information.

Merging Lanes, S. Nicole Frey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This is the letter from the editor-in-chief of Volume 17, Issue 3.

Economic Impacts Of Wild Pigs On Livestock Producers In 13 States, Sophie C. Mckee, Ryan S. Miller, Jeremiah L. Psiropoulos, Stephanie A. Shwiff

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species in the mainland United States, where they are responsible for a wide range of negative impacts including damage to crops, livestock depredation as well as disease transmission, destruction of property and ecosystems, and depredation of wildlife. This manuscript summarizes a recent survey-based effort to estimate wild pig damage and control costs incurred by livestock producers by state and livestock type. The survey was distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistical Service in the summer of 2021 to a sample of livestock producers in the 13-state region. Findings …

Raccoon Selection For Anthropogenic Resources Provides Challenges For Wildlife Management In Yosemite Valley, Erika L. Anderson, Sean M. Matthews, David S. Green, E. Binta Wold, Katie Patrick, Rachel Mazur

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Managing human–wildlife incidents dominates the attention and resources of many wildlife management programs. National parks in the United States have a long history with human–wildlife interactions and conflicts. Improvements in communication with visitors, food-storage infrastructure, regulation enforcement, and the management of habituated and food-conditioned animals have decreased human–wildlife conflicts. Yosemite National Park, California, USA, is well known for its history of human–bear (Ursus spp.) conflicts. However, in the Yosemite Valley portion of Yosemite National Park, conflicts with raccoons (Procyon lotor) now outnumber those with black bears (U. americanus). Like bears, raccoons pose a risk of …

Falconer Perceptions Of, And Support For, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Biosecurity Actions, Hannah G. Shapiro, Elizabeth F. Pienaar

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious virus that primarily infects wild and domestic rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). In the United States, state wildlife agencies rely on stakeholders to report RHDV2-related mortalities and engage in voluntary biosecurity actions to prevent the spread of RHDV2. However, stakeholder perceptions of RHDV2 and relevant biosecurity actions have not been evaluated. We conducted the first study in the United States on how falconers’ risk perceptions, knowledge, trust in state wildlife agencies to manage RHDV2, hunting behaviors, and demographic characteristics influenced their willingness to engage in voluntary biosecurity actions and support potential …

Asiatic Black Bear Microsite Selection In A Human-Dominated Landscape In The Central Alps, Japan: Implications For Mitigating Human–Bear Conflicts, Tomoki Mori, Shigeyuki Izumiyama

Human–Wildlife Interactions

With the rapid expansion of human development and associated changes in landscape use, opportunities for human land sharing with large mammalian carnivores, such as those belong to the family Ursidae is increasing, especially in human-dominated landscapes. Consequently, this increased coexistence has also led to an increase in human–bear (Ursus spp.) interactions. It is important to understand the spatial and temporal reactions (e.g., interactions between cover, time, and humans) of bears to mitigate human–bear conflicts and facilitate coexistence. However, managers often need better information regarding bear microsite habitat selection in areas with higher levels of human–bear encounter risks. We explored …

Effectiveness Of Citizen Engagement In A State Agency Egg-Oiling Program To Reduce Urban Canada Goose Populations And Conflicts, Charles H. Cope, Tom F. Bidrowski, Jon P. Beckmann

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In many cases, urban environments create high-quality habitat for wildlife that may allow species to form commensal relationships with humans. Positive impacts of urban environments (e.g., high-quality nesting habitat) may enhance survival and/or increased fecundity. One species that has shown the ability to form commensal relationships with humans in urban environments is Canada geese (Branta canadensis). Canada goose populations have continued to rebound in Kansas, USA, and across the Great Plains, such that the estimated resident population in Wichita, Kansas, grew from 0 to >5,000 resident geese and the over-winter population increased from 1,600 in 1997 to >18,000 …

Human–Alligator Incidents In The United States: Risky Human Behaviors Cause Most “Attacks”, Mark S. Teshera, Azar Kordbacheh, Frank J. Mazzotti

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Interactions between humans and American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), often resulting in negative outcomes for both participants, have occurred for centuries in the United States. As both populations increased over time, contact and conflict with one another became inevitable. Although human–alligator conflicts have been well documented, there has been no detailed classification of risk factors associated with human activities immediately preceding, and in most cases precipitating, an encounter. Herein, we provide a ranking system to categorize different human activities, based on risk levels, immediately preceding an encounter with an alligator. To complete our review in 2021, we initially gleaned …

An Unmanned Aircraft System For Marking Live Power Lines To Prevent Bird Collisions, Mattheuns D. Pretorius, Lourens Leeuwner, Kaajial Durgapersad, Constant Hoogstad, Peter Beckedahl, Michael D. Michael, Kishaylin Chetty

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Collisions with overhead power lines represent a significant cause of mortality for a number of large bird species worldwide. Certain threatened species are severely impacted by power line collisions, particularly those for which there are no other known significant threats. In South Africa, bird collisions with overhead power line cables, including collisions with phase conductors and shield wires, contribute significantly to annual threatened bird species mortalities associated with Eskom power lines. The most practical mitigation measure is to attach bird anti-collision devices as markers on the cables. Current marking methods involve installations by hand, where linemen are hoisted up to …

Variation In Space Use And Movements Of Individual Mule Deer And Bighorn Sheep In Response To Shed Antler Hunting, Steven B. Bates, Jericho C. Whiting, Brock R Mcmillan, Steven L. Petersen, Randy T. Larsen

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Shed antler hunting can affect the movements and space use of ungulates. We evaluated space use and movements of 12 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and 25 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) during shed antler hunting for up to 4 years. Twenty-five percent of mule deer and 44% of bighorn sheep changed space use in relation to their home range in response to shed antler hunters across 2 years. Four deer were tracked for 3 or 4 consecutive years and responded differently to shed antler hunting across years. Mean distance moved by mule deer in response to shed …

Optimal Spacecraft Guidance, Matthew W. Harris, M. Benjamin Rose

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This book is designed for a one-semester course at Utah State University titled MAE 6570 Optimal Spacecraft Guidance. The class meets for 75 minutes, twice per week, for 14 weeks. There are no prerequisites other than graduate standing in engineering. Proficiency in calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and computer programming is required. Students find that previous experience in space dynamics, linear multivariable control, or optimal control is helpful.

The goal of the book and course is for students to develop fundamental skills needed to do professional work in the area of spacecraft guidance. After working through the book, students should …

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, January 5, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes – December 1, 2022
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews: https://usu.curriculog.com/
• Other Business QCNR CIP Code Changes
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Pests Of Hemp In Utah, Marion Murray, Macahl Evans, Claudia Nischwitz, Austin Taylor, Cody Zesiger

All Current Publications

This guide includes information on insect and disease pests of hemp, organized by pest group. Much of the content is a result of a two-year arthropod and plant disease survey of field-grown hemp operations in northern Utah. Some pests included in this guide were not found in that survey but may be likely to occur in the future. Beneficials and natural enemies are also covered, and information on pesticides is included.

Thermal Tolerance And Physiology Of Eleutherodactylus Coqui Along An Elevational Gradient In Hawai‘I, Karen H. Beard, Susannah S. French, Jack Marchetti

Browse all Datasets

The purpose of this study was to determine if the thermal tolerance and physiology of the coqui frog changed along HawaiÔiÕs elevation gradient. A short acclimation experiment was used to test the baseline thermal tolerance and physiology, and an extended acclimation experiment to test the acclimation ability of the thermal tolerance and physiology metrics of the coqui frogs collected from low (m), medium (350-550 m) and high elevations (>750 m).

Elevation Influences The Microhabitat Use And Baseline Physiology Of Coqui Frogs In Hawai‘I, Karen H. Beard, Susannah S. French, Jack Marchetti

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The purpose of this study was to determine whether elevation in HawaiÔi affects the coquiÕs microhabitat use such as substrate choice and height off the forest floor and physiological metrics such as osmolality, oxidative status, and energy metabolites (glucose, free glycerol, and triglycerides).