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State Funded Wildlife Damage Programs: The Wisconsin Experience, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Scott R. Craven

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Wisconsin has a long tradition of involvement with wildlife damage and wildlife damage programs. It is one of less than a dozen states that presently has a program for wildlife damage. From 1931 to 1980, Wisconsin paid landowners for damage to crops caused by wildlife. Now the focus of Wisconsin's wildlife damage program is on damage control and prevention through appropriate abatement techniques and wildlife population control. This paper will detail Wisconsin's experience with these approaches and will offer insight into improving state funded wildlife damage programs.

Landowner Tolerance Of Beavers: Implications For Damage Management And Control, Ken G. Purdy, Daniel J. Decker, Richard A. Malecki, John C. Proud

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Management of beaver (Castor canadensis) populations can be an effective way to create wetlands while at the same time producing a valued recreational and furbearer resource. Optimizing beaver populations for such a dual objective, however, requires careful integration of biological and sociological considerations in management planning. Knowledge of beaver population dynamics by itself is insufficient for sound management; human tolerance data also must be included in management decisions to reduce the potential of encountering problems that could impede the attainment of beaver-wetlands management objectives. Expansion of beaver into new areas often may be constrained by managers' perceptions of …

Current Status Of Deer Fencing In The Northeast, Mark R. Ellingwood, Jay B. Mcaninch, Michael J. Fargione

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The recent development of high tensile electric fencing for controlling deer damage has led to the installation of these fence designs throughout the Northeast. In May 1984, 55 surveys were sent to individuals in 10 states who were known to have recently constructed deer fences. Sixty-seven percent of the surveys were returned and a variety of fence-related data were generated. These include information on deer damage, a general description of fence designs being utilized, information concerning fence voltage, data on fence maintenance and several questions on fence performance, owner satisfaction and the cost/benefits of deer damage control. The majority of …

Dispersal Of A Heron-Egret Rookery, Douglas I. Hall

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

A rookery composed of an estimated 10,000 herons and egrets (family: Ardeidae) located in Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas was successfully dispersed in the Spring of 1983. A diversified scaring program was planned and initiated prior to the onset of courtship display and nest building. The roost relocation was subsequently followed by habitat alteration procedures to make the 5-acre stand of primarily Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) unattractive as a future roosting site. Although no nesting occurred at the site in 1983, the lack of an early scaring program in the Spring of 1984 resulted in the uncleared …

Wildlife Damage Control And The Wildlife Society, Thomas M. Franklin

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Wildlife damage control is recognized by The Wildlife Society as an essential and responsible segment of the wildlife profession. At least since 1959, Society committees have addressed elements of wildlife damage control (although wildlife damage control was not always the specific term used).

The Wildlife Society Council first approved an "Animal Damage Control" position statement in 1968. In March 1985, Council updated and renamed it "Wildlife Damage Control" to emphasize our positive approach to this important segment of wildlife management. The official position statement was published in The Wildlifer (May-June 1985) and is reprinted below.

The Effects Of Canada Goose Grazing On Winter Wheat: An Experimental Approach, Hubert A. Allen Jr., David Sammons, Russell Brinsfield, Roland Limpert

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The effects of grazing winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) by Canada geese (Branta canadensis) was assessed in 3 fields during 2 years of experimentation at the Wye Research and Education Center, Queenstown, Maryland. Randomly placed wire enclosures prevented goose grazing on 11.1 m sq. control plots. Grazed plots were marked in each field soon after the geese migrated in March. Grazed plots had consistently lower yields than ungrazed plots with mean differences ranging from 0-13%. The differences were related to the intensity of grazing. Other parameters, including mean weight per seed, mean number of seeds per spike, …

Apparent Efficacy Of Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Programs At Four Naval Air Stations, Thomas C. Walker, C. Willard Bennett

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Department of the Navy implemented its present mandatory bird-aircraft strike reporting system in 1981. Reported bird-aircraft strikes have increased each year presumably due to increased awareness and compliance with regulations. Four Naval air stations implementing bird-aircraft strike hazard reduction programs in 1984 reported 57-78% fewer strikes in 1984 than in 1983.

Minimum Effective Level Of Methiocarb For Protecting Sprouting Rice In Louisiana From Blackbird Damage, N. R. Holler, P. W. Lefebvre, A. Wilson, R. E. Matteson, G. R. Gutknecht

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Blackbirds cause locally serious losses to rice. The Denver Wildlife Research Center, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Rice Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center have been cooperating in tests to determine the efficacy of methiocarb seed treatments for protecting sprouting rice in Louisiana from blackbird damage. Results from four field tests (1980, 1982, 1983, and 1984) have shown that methiocarb provides good protection when applied to rice seed at the rate of 2.4 g and 1.25 g active ingredient (a.i.)/kg of rice seed (0.25 and 0.125%). Seed treated at 0.6 g a.i ./kg appeared to be …

Future Of Wildlife Damage Control And The Cooperative Extension Service, Peter T. Bromley

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The driving forces which determine the role of the Cooperative Extension Service in wildlife damage control are (1) the demand for information by the public, (2) the degree of support for programs at the national level, and (3) the level of professionalism exhibited by Cooperative Extension Agents and subject matter Specialists. Analysis of several trends suggests that the Cooperative Extension Service role in Wildlife Damage Control will increase in coming years. The movement of urban people into rural settings will create greater demands for wildlife damage control information. Likewise, the expansion of wildlife population into urban and suburban environments due …

Animal Damage Control And The Endangered Species Act, Warren T. Parker

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The premise of the Endangered Species Act is that all wildlife are valuable natural resources and the extinction of species in the name of progress must be halted. To achieve this end, Congress requires all Federal agencies to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service when any of their programs or projects affect a listed endangered or threatened species. Problems of special interest to this conference are those that project an endangered or threatened species in direct conflict with man.

What You Wanted To Know About All You Ever Heard Concerning Snake Repellents, Gary J. San Julian, David K. Woodward

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Have you ever heard about a way to keep snakes away from your house? Many people in North Carolina have been told by their elders of various ways to repel snakes. When we first started working on this problem in North Carolina, we were amazed at the number of "home remedies" that people believed would protect their property from snakes; and we began to keep a record of these remedies. In 1981, a grant from the Pesticide Impact Assessment Program allowed us to begin to test some of these remedies to determine their value.

An Investigation Of Techniques Used To Discourage Rebuilding Of Beaver Dams Demolished By Explosives, James M. Dyer, Charles E. Rowell

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

One hundred seventeen beaver dams were partially or wholly demolished with explosives from April through August between 1982 and 1984. These dams were of two types; shallow water dams found in areas of flat terrain, and deep water dams found in major creek channels or in areas of hilly terrain. Following demolition, various treatments were applied to the dam sites to try to retard rebuilding. Our conclusions are that deep water dams can be removed more effectively than shallow water dams and that late summer removals were rebuilt less frequently than early and midsummer removals. Also, certain types of repellents …

Utilizing A Computerized Fish And Wildlife Information System To Solve Animal Damage Control Problems, Jefferson L. Waldon, Charles T. Cushwa, Peter T. Bromley

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Animal damage control professionals are faced with the monumental task of absorbing an enormous amount of literature about animal species. For example, one person cannot become an expert on all facets of dozens of species, much less the 1000 or more fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds that fall under the wildlifer's jurisdiction. An important new aid to the wildlife damage control specialist is the computerized fish and wildlife information system (CFWIS). A CFWIS is a tool for systematically compiling and managing information about animal species which reside in a state. Cushwa and Kopf (1984) summarized the development of state …

Computer Assisted Extension Program On Ground Squirrel Control, Terrell P. Salmon, Donald L. Lancaster, Leanne Lasarow

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Computers have become common place in virtually all phases of agriculture. Most individuals have access to micro-computers and the once apparent intimidation about using them is rapidly disappearing. Because of increased availability and public acceptance, it's no surprise that many Extension programs are using computers as an important component of their educational package. Recently, several computer models have been developed to assist Extension personnel and others in demonstrating proper wildlife damage control decision-making. We have developed such a model which is used to: 1) present ground squirrel control information to the grower, 2) take user (grower) input on production, yields, …

Birds In Hangars- A Messy Problem, Albert E. Bivings Iv

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Pest birds in hangars and similar man-made structures pose specific health hazards as well as nuisance and corrosion problems. While lethal control or a scaring program may be the best technique for some locations, neither address the long-term problem of the basic attractiveness of these structures to birds. The best long-term solution usually is to exclude the birds with permanently installed plastic or nylon netting. Several methods to accomplish this are discussed.

Management Of Nuisance Canada Goose Flocks, Michael R. Conover

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In recent years, non-migratory flocks of Canada Geese have become established in some urban and suburban areas. These birds often become a serious nuisance when they litter backyards, parks and beaches with fecal material, creating a potential health hazard especially for young children. To determine the scope of the problem, I surveyed golf course managers in the eastern U.S. to see if they were experiencing a problem with geese. This survey showed that this problem was widespread, occurring throughout the eastern U.S., and appeared to be increasing. Twenty-six percent of all respondents reported nuisance goose problems and were willing to …

Role And Responsibilities Of State Cooperative Extension Services For Wildlife Damage Control, James L. Byford

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Cooperative Extension Service was established by the Smith-Lever Act in 1914. It was designed to improve the lives of people, through education in: agriculture, natural resources, home economics and community development. Its audiences include both adult and youth. 4-H is the primary youth audience. The Cooperative Extension Service is an "extension" of the Land employees include university faculty (specialists) and professional agents in every county, in every state in the country. Extension's primary mission is to conduct an educational program, using research-based information. Research results are condensed into a form that the average person can understand. The role of …

Wildlife Damage Control - The Role And Responsibilities Of The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service, Leroy W. Sowl

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

No abstract provided.

Air Force Problems With Birds In Hangars, Timothy J. Will

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Air Force's Bird - Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Team has been dealing with bird hazards to aircraft for over ten years, primarily through awareness programs, direct assistance to military bases, and through R&D aimed at world-wide BASH reduction. As with any problem where a biological system (in this case, birds) is involved, diversification is important in developing solutions. The BASH Team has recommended a variety of methods for working with hazards from birds. One area of particular concern is the nuisance of pest birds in hangars. These structures are extremely alluring to birds, which seek the roof-supporting I-beams and …

The Role Of The Indiana Division Of Fish And Wildlife In Wildlife Damage Control, Glenn Lange

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

As defined by state statue, the Division of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for the protection, reproduction, care, management, survival, and regulation of all wildlife populations. By law, the Division must take a leading role in solving wildlife damage problems when they occur.

Assessing Deer Damage In Young Fruit Orchards, Jay B. Mcaninch, Mark R. Ellingwood, Michael J. Fargione, Peter Picone

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Evaluations of systematic damage assessments of 5, 10 and 20 percent of all apple trees in 12 orchards were compared. The 10% assessment technique was selected as the most accurate and efficient in estimating summer and fall damage. Analysis of several parameters of tree vigor found significant differences between browsed and unbrowsed trees for tree basal diameter and central leader diameter over 2 successive years. These subtle yet important differences in tree development were felt to severely limit the possibilities of relating browsing to growth and later, yields. Methods and considerations for making control decisions on a per acre basis …

Role And Responsibilities Of Agencies For Wildlife Damage Control - An Overview, James E. Miller

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

"A well balanced wildlife management program includes research, the acquisition of land, the development of habitat, the careful regulation of hunting or harvest, the protection of certain species, the enforcement of laws -- and -- the control of animal depredations. Though necessary, this is among the least popular and most controversial of the wildlife management functions. It is, nevertheless, one of the activities which a responsible agency must undertake." This statement is a direct quote from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' (IAFWA) Position Paper on Animal Damage Control (1981).

Management Implications Derived From Bird Damage Assessments In North Dakota Sunflower, Joseph L. Guarino, John L. Cummings

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The most recent estimate of blackbird damage to ripening sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in North Dakota in 1980 exceeded $6 million. Although less than 5% of the sunflower fields in the state received greater than 10% damage in each of four past survey years, as much as 50% of the total state-wide damage occurred in these fields. This loss can be combated with cost-effective control. Successful control requires timely action when blackbirds are in large concentrations. Frightening blackbirds from fields early in the damage season disperses damage and this can result in compensatory growth by sunflower, whereby yields at …

Reformulated 4-Aminopyridine Baits Cost-Effectively Reduce Blackbird Damage To Ripening Cornfields, Jerome F. Besser, John W. De Grazio

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In 1984 4-aminopyridine baits, stabilized with hydrochloric acid, were appraised in ripening cornfields being attacked by blackbirds on the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota. In 1982, it had been discovered that 4-aminopyridine, the active agent in commercial Avitrol^® baits for crop protection rapidly vaporized at summer storage and field baiting temperatures.

In July, baiting lanes were created in 12 cornfields by destroying every 55th row. In August after a 3-day pretreatment period, fields were baited with Avitrol^® FC Corn Chops-99 for a 2-week period when corn was most vulnerable to damage. Bait was applied from baiting …

Role Of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency In Wildlife Damage Control, William W. Jacobs

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the Federal agency in charge of pesticide registration. Therefore, EPA has ultimate regulatory authority over the pesticide compounds used for wildlife damage control.

Preventive Control Of Pest Rodents, Walter E. Howard

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

With "preventive control" of pest rodents, by using rodent bait boxes (stations) on a permanent basis, there is no longer any biological, ecological, or economic reason for rodent pests or health problems to occur in villages, cities, and intensively cultivated agricultural areas, but not pastures or forests. Such pest rodents can usually be eliminated without endangering nontarget species, quite inexpensively, simply, and in a more environmentally desirable manner than most current practices, where the pest rodents are not controlled until populations have built up, which requires large amounts of rodenticides. With preventive control, once the pest rodents have been controlled …

Histoplasmosis And Its Impact On Blackbird/Starling Roost Management, A. R. Stickley Jr., R. J. Weeks

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Histoplasrnosis is a common and sometimes serious fungal disease that primarily affects the lungs, but can also involve other parts of the human body. The disease is characterized by 3 major forms: acute pulmonary, chronic cavitary, and disseminated histoplasmosis.Two fungicides are effective in treatment of the disease, but serious side effects often result. The occurrence of the fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum, is associated with large quantities of bird and bat excreta that have come in contact with soil. Roost sites must generally be occupied by birds for at least 3 years before soil conditions are conducive to its growth. Once established, …

Preparation And Analysis Of Alternative 4-Ap Baits For Blackbirds, J. E. Davis, D. J. Cunningham, J. L. Cummings

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) acceptance of corn as a bait for use in ripening sunflower has been questioned. This study demonstrated that sunflower meats, sunflower achenes, and pearled barley all have potential as alternative bait carriers for 4-AP. Each can be treated with 4-AP so that individual bait particles carry dosages equivalent to those of cracked corn in the registered product, Avitrol FC Corn Chops 99S. Treated baits produced a distress response in redwings in times ranging from 21.7 min (sunflower meats) to 64.5 min (sunflower achenes). The time to distress elicited by sunflower meats coated with 4-AP …

Removal Of Nesting Starlings With Drc-1339, Douglas I. Hall

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

DRC-1339-treated crickets (Gryllus sp.) were utilized in an attempt to remove starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) nesting and rearing young in the aircraft hangars at the Little Rock Air Center, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Bait ratio of 1 treated to 5 untreated crickets was used. They were placed under airport night lights where foraging birds naturally gathered to feed on insects attracted to these lights. Adult starlings consumed the crickets as well as fed them to their young. Lethal control was achieved on both age classes of bird. Field test results show promise for the development of …

Usda Forest Service Role In Wildlife Damage Control, Hugh C. Black

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Wildlife damage control is an important objective of resource management on the 191 million acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands administered by the USDA Forest Service. Policy on wildlife damage control is based on the USDA Policy on Fish and Wildlife (Secretary's Memorandum 9500-3, July 1983). The objective of wildlife damage control is to reduce damage and loss by wildlife on all NFS lands to levels consistent with management objectives. Control measures are only undertaken when and where necessary to realize wildlife management objectives and to prevent serious damage to public or private property and natural resources. Because of …