Digital Commons Network^™

Mid-Atlantic States Raccoon Rabies Outbreak, Suzanne R. Jenkins, William G. Winkler

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In the mid-1950s, an outbreak of raccoon rabies was recognized in South Florida and marked the beginning of epizootic/enzootic rabies in raccoons in this country. It spread at a rate of about 25 miles per year and currently includes eastern Alabama and most of Georgia and South Carolina. Up until the recent mid-Atlantic outbreak, the southern focus accounted for about 85 to 90% of the approximately 400 confirmed rabid raccoons reported in the United States each year.

Senegal's Trade In Cage Birds, 1979-81, Philippe Ruelle

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Senegal is one of the world's principal exporters of cage birds. The estimated value to Senegal of this trade is equivalent to U.S. $500,000 annually. Between 1979 and 1981, over 1 million birds were exported annually to at least 26 countries. During this period, the Government of Senegal proposed some policy guide-lines and legislative changes to manage this important industry rationally. The present report updates the exportation figures for these years and indicates some of the proposed legislation.

Parasites Of Wildlife Transmissible To Domestic Animals And Humans, Jay R. Georgi

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Parasites of wild animals are of great importance to the health of humans and their domestic animals. Wild birds serve as reservoirs of various forms of viral encephalitis that are transmitted to humans and domestic animals through the bites of mosquitoes. Wild rodents serve as reservoirs of plague and tularemia and feed the ticks that transmit rickettsial dis-eases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These are familiar examples that do not require further elaboration here. The objective of the following out-line is to review several less notorious but nevertheless important parasitisms that are communicable from wildlife to domestic animals and …

Bird Hazards At Airports, Richard L. Thompson

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

This is a 137-slide audio-visual presentation of approximately 21 minutes duration produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide an awareness of bird hazards to aircraft in the airport environment and some procedures to reduce the hazard. The audio-visual is a semi-technical orientation and training program for airport/airfield managers, aircraft controllers, airline managers. pilots, and other airport users.

Keeping Unwanted Gulls Away - A Progress Report, Victor E. F. Solmon, Hans Blokpoel, W. John Richardson, George W. J. Laidlaw

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Nearly 50 years ago, wires were strung over fish ponds to discourage fish-eating birds from taking fish destined for other uses (McAtee and Piper 1936). Twenty years ago, overwiring of open ditches began on airports to keep ducks from using them and causing hazards to aircraft (Solman 1973). Both techniques used coarse wires spaced closely enough to form a physical barrier to prevent ducks and herons from landing on or taking off from the water.

Summary Comments, Merrill L. Petoskey

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Thank you for asking me to participate in this conference, the first of its kind in the eastern United States. We are glad that some funding from the Renewable Resources Extension Act has helped to make this conference possible. Jim Miller, National Pro-gram Leader for Fish and Wildlife, Extension Service-USDA, provided early impetus in planning the program, and as a member of the conference committee, served as chairman of publicity and encouraged wide participation. We are pleased that, along with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the Extension Service, USDA, could …

Nuisance Bird Control In Virginia, Jim Hartlage, Bob Thomas, Joe May, Phil Eggborn

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In the mid-1960s, State officials of Virginia recognized an increasing bird damage problem, yet no legislation existed that allowed any state agency the authority to initiate a nuisance bird control program. In 1968, with bird damage estimated at 25 million dollars, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Nuisance Bird Law. This law provided the basic legislation for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Commerce (VDAC) to allow its personnel to investigate complaints, conduct surveys, and initiate bird control programs when necessary. Administration of the law is by the Plant Pest Control Section of the VDAC along with a cooperative agreement …

The Role Of New York State's Division Of Fish And Wildlife In Deer Damage Control, Louis T. Berchielli

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) spells out the responsibilities and authorities of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Section 1-0101, subdivision 3 of the ECL declares a State policy which includes the fostering, promoting, creating and maintaining of conditions under which humans and nature can thrive in harmony. Section 11-0303, subdivision 1 of the ECL vests in the department the efficient management of the wildlife resources of the State. The department is further directed by subdivision 2 of this section to include regard to the compatibility of production and harvesting of wildlife crops with other necessary or desirable land uses …

An Evaluation Of The Cost And Effectiveness Of Repellent Applications In Protecting Fruit Orchards, Mark R. Ellingwood, Jay B. Mcaninch, Raymond J. Winchcombe

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

A summer repellent spray program was devised and implemented on a total of 110 acres (9 orchard blocks) of 1- to 3-year-old semi-dwarf apple trees. Cooperating growers were supplied with repellent (Hinder or Clearepel) as required, to allow them to adhere to a flexible 3-to 6-application schedule from May through August. Spraying costs, including labor, equipment, and spray materials, were estimated based on data provided by each cooperating grower for each application completed.

New Directions In Deer Damage Management In Wisconsin, Scott R. Craven

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The question of responsibility for wildlife damage is a difficult one to answer, especially for damage caused by white-tailed deer. Some states have chosen, or been forced by political pressures, to assume the responsibility for wildlife damage, with or without some responsibility on the part of the agricultural producer who is sustaining the damage. According to a 1980 survey by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, only 10 states were bound by law to make payments for damage done by game species. Only Wisconsin included a nongame species (sandhill cranes) in their payment program. Other states offer abatement assistance, while …

Population Status Of Blackbirds And Starlings In North America, 1966-81, Richard A. Dolbeer, Robert A. Stehn

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In the early 1800s, the Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was the most abundant bird in North America (and perhaps the world) with a population size of at least 3 billion (Schorger 1955). With the clearing of the forests in the East and Great Lakes Region, food supplies and cover were depleted and the Pigeon population declined rapidly. Undoubtedly, large scale market hunting accelerated the inevitable decline. The population was extinct in the wild in 1900 and the last individual died in captivity in 1914.

Structural Bird Control - An Overview, Charles W. Areson

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Structural pest bird control is probably the most environmentally sensitive area of all pest control. The potential hazards associated with bird control are far greater and far more open to public scrutiny than in any other type of pest control. One error in judgment may bring the wrath of an entire community on you, as well as involve you with legal repercussions from both federal and state agencies. Hazards to non-target species are always a threat when using any type of program with toxics, and potential secondary hazards to protected and endangered species must always be considered. There is no …

Wildlife Damage Control: A Current Perspective, Jack H. Berryman

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

I attach special importance to this responsibility and appreciate the opportunity to deliver these keynote comments. We are here to discuss a very important and always controversial subject. The first Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference provides a unique opportunity for all of us to constructively influence the future direction as well as the professional and public perception of this important wildlife management activity.

Will Mammalian Pheromones Be Useful In Wildlife Damage Control?, Dietland Müller-Schwarze

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Rodents, lagomorphs and cervids are the most important herbivorous mammals that cause economic damage in North America. Farmers, foresters, trappers and gardeners have since time immemorial used various concoctions to attract wild mammals or repel them from certain sites or crops. The chemical industry has often used food odors in their animal control products. Currently no pheromone is being used in wildlife damage control.

Rodenticide Selection And Bait Composition To Minimize Potential Primary Hazard To Nontarget Species When Baiting Field Rodents, Rex E. Marsh

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

A wide variety of methods is used to reduce potential hazards to non target species when baiting out-of-doors for rodents. The principles involved in making rodent baits highly selective hinge on the biology, particularly the feeding habits and food preferences of the target species. The differences or uniqueness of both the at-risk nontarget animals and the target animals should be assessed and then capitalized upon where possible in terms of susceptibility to toxicant, kind, size and shape of bait, etc. Generally only a few nontarget species are at risk in any particular situation, and the degree of this risk also …

The Use Of Eurasian Dogs To Protect Sheep From Predators In North America: A Summary Of Research At The U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, Jeffrey S. Green, Roger A. Woodruff

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The authors thank the sheep producers who cooperated in the study. R. Harman, R. VanHorn, S. Ecret, K. Havelock, J. Geiser, W. Bowers, G. Pendleton, D. Johnson, and C. Schwartz helped with the care and evaluation of the dogs.

In the search for methods to reduce coyote (Canis latrans) predation on sheep, livestock guarding dogs have been found to be a relatively successful technique in a variety of conditions including open rangeland (Green and Woodruff in press) and fenced pastures (Linhart et al. 1979, McGrew and Bakesley 1982, Pfeifer and Goos 1982, Green et al. In Press a). …

Ultrasonics: Technology Vs. Tools, Tej Tanden

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Food and material losses to rodents are as old as the knowledge of humans to store food for future use. Humans have had to share their food supplies and learn to live with the unwelcome guests since time immemorial. Even to this day rodents continue to claim a significant share of human food supply on this earth. They have inflicted epidemics that have destroyed large segments of human populations in various parts of our world, throughout history.

Humans Versus Animals, William D. Fitzwater

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In the beginning, humans and the so-called "lower animals" would meet cautiously and fleetingly, both intent on the basic goals of survival - food and water for the belly and shelter or other escape from more powerful enemies who regarded them as dinner entrees. This situation prevailed until puny man threw the first stone or swung a heavy club and realized that he could catch fleeter animals and kill larger ones than himself with his new tools. Thus instead of a grubby existence on plants, fruits, and insects, humans with their new toys eventually became efficient predators. Most of the …

Managing Coyote Damage Problems With Nonlethal Techniques: Recent Advances In Research, Samuel B. Linhart

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In 1972 President Nixon issued Executive Order 11643 prohibiting further federal use of toxicants for controlling predators; EPA subsequently withdrew all chemical registrations for this purpose. These actions stimulated research efforts to develop alternate nonlethal means of reducing livestock losses to coyotes and other predators. Some of these studies, focused primarily on barrier fencing, guarding dogs, chemical repellents and aversive agents, "frightening" devices, and modification of leg-hold traps, have resulted in new ways to alleviate the problem.

Canada Goose Numbers And Goose Damage In Northeastern Indiana, Ed Cleary, Ken Reynolds

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Any wild animal can be both hero and villain, and Canada geese are no exception. They can and do cause damage. Goose numbers are increasing and present data indicate a positive relationship between goose numbers and goose damage. In Northeastern Indiana, Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima and B. c. interior) damage agricultural crops and cause esthetic damage to lawns, boats, docks and beaches. Indiana is not the only midwestern state with a goose damage problem. During the last year, Wisconsin registered 235 goose damage complaints, Ohio 160, Michigan over 100, Minnesota 46 and Illinois 31 (personal communications with …

Bird Repellent Seed Corn Treatment: Efficacy Evaluations And Current Registration Status, Jon F. Heisterberg

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Bird damage to sprouting corn can be a serious problem for some farmers. Questionnaire surveys returned by 337 wildlife and agricultural specialists in 25 States indicated that losses of corn sprouts to birds in 1971 could amount to as much as $49 million (Stone and Mott 1973). Objective surveys in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1978 and 1979, respectively, set annual sprout losses to blackbirds (mainly common grackles [Quiscalus quiscula]) and crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) at $1.8 million (Heisterberg, in press). Although losses in both states averaged < 1%, 32 (7%) of the 485 fields surveyed received > 1% losses accounting for 82% of the total damage.

Phenology Of Red-Winged Blackbird Use Of Field Corn In Central New York, Eric K. Bollinger

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Crop depredations by red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) have been a problem since colonial times (Cardinell and Hayne 1945, Weatherhead and Bider 1979, Dolbeer 1980). Today, tens of millions of dollars worth of corn are consumed yearly by blackbirds (Stone et al. 1972, Dolbeer 1980, Tyler and Kannenberg 1980) and the problem appears to be increasing. Most of the initial efforts to reduce blackbird damage to corn and other crops focused on techniques to reduce redwing populations or on chemical and mechanical repellents and frightening devices (Dyer and Ward 1977). The inconsistent effectiveness of these techniques, however, has indicated …

An Update On Pesticides Registered For Control Of Vertebrate Pests, William W. Jacobs

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Federal registration certifies that it is legal to market and use the produce in question in the United States, subject to the conditions and restrictions stipulated on the approved label. Federal registration does not guarantee that a particular chemical or product will be available throughout the country or even that the product will actually be marketed at all. If a particular product cannot be found in a local outlet, the manufacturer should be contacted. If the name of the manufacturer is not known, this information can be obtained from the extension specialist or from Product Management Team 16, Registration Division …

The Effects Of Soil Texture And Related Soil Properties On The Distribution And Control Of Pine Voles (Microtus Pinetorum) In New York State Apple Orchards, John R. Whitney

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The semifossorial microtine rodent Microtus pinetorum or the pine vole is well known as a destructive pest in fruit orchards (Hamilton 1935; Benton 1955; Burt 1957). The subterranean burrows of the pine vole often parallel the roots of apple trees, and damage occurs when the rodent gnaws the bark and cambial layers of large roots and severs smaller roots, occasionally even girdling the tree to more than a foot below the surface (Benton 1955; Pearson and Forshey 1978).

Shrew Damage And Control: A Review, Robert H. Schmidt

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Shrews (Insectivora:Soricidae) occasionally come into conflict with human interests. This review covers the general biology of shrews, situations in which shrews can be considered pests (as defined by Howard 1962), and control methods.

Deer Damage Control In Pennsylvania Agriculture, W. L. Palmer, R. G. Wingard, J. L. George

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Deer damage to crops has been and continues to be a serious problem for many Pennsylvania farmers. In 1978 wildlife scientists at Penn State began a 4-year study on deer damage to Pennsylvania agriculture. The research project was funded by the PA Department of Agriculture. The objectives were to determine the extent and distribution of the damage, and to evaluate methods of damage control.

An Effective Program In Coyote Damage Control, F. Robert Henderson

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Kansas is a prairie state where about 2 million people live. In Kansas there are around 75,000 farms and ranches. Sheep are raised on approximately 1500 farms, either under farm-flock or feeder lamb systems. In January of 1983 there were approximately 200 thousand sheep and 1.7 million calves in Kansas. Kansas ranks 7th in the nation in swine production.

Use Of Electric Fencing To Prevent Deer Browsing In Allegheny Hardwood Forests, Ronnie Brenneman

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In many areas of Pennsylvania, even-aged management of Allegheny hardwood forests is being impacted by excessive browsing of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which makes it difficult to secure adequate natural seedling and sprout regeneration for successful reforestation (Marquis and Brenneman 1981). Marquis (1981) estimated the average value of timber production lost due to deer browsing in northern Pennsylvania at $1,075 per acre, about half the total stand value. Chemical repellents, individual seedling protectors, area fencing and other techniques have been used to attempt to protect forest regeneration; most are either ineffective in preventing deer browsing or economically unfeasable.

Deer Control Using 5 Strand Vertical Fence, Darel Smith

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Many fences have been tried over the years with various amounts of deer control. The 5 strand vertical fence is working very well and is cost effective. Small areas, 5 acres or less are $.60 ft. to $.33 ft. on larger areas 100 acres or more for materials. Costs may vary from site to site.

A Wire Mesh Culvert For Use In Controlling Water Levels At Nuisance Beaver Sites, Kenneth J. Roblee

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Trial testing of corrugated plastic drainage tubing and wire mesh culverts has been conducted since 1978 in Region 9 of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Plastic tubing was successfully used in streams with drainages less than 1 square mile. However, in drainages larger than 1 square mile or where longer than 10-inch diameter tubing was required, 19-inch diameter wire mesh culverts were tried. By 1983 more than 11 wire mesh culverts had been installed success fully in the Region.