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Challenges Of Invasive Reptiles And Amphibians, William C. Pitt, Daniel S. Vice, Mike E. Pitzler May 2005

Challenges Of Invasive Reptiles And Amphibians, William C. Pitt, Daniel S. Vice, Mike E. Pitzler

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Although worldwide distributions of many amphibians and reptiles are declining, a handful of species are spreading rapidly throughout tropical regions of the world. The species that have the greatest effect tend to be generalist feeders, have high reproductive rates, attain large population sizes, and often due to their behavior and or small size, are easily transported or are difficult to detect. The most notable of these species include the coqui frog, cane toad, bullfrog, brown tree snake, and Burmese pythons. The effect of a few individuals typically is small but the combined effect of large populations can be devastating to …

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Effectiveness Of A White-Tailed Deer Exclusion Fence Based On Traction Limitations Of The Hoof: The Slipper Fence, George R. Gallagher, Heidi A. Keen, Robert H. Prince May 2005

Effectiveness Of A White-Tailed Deer Exclusion Fence Based On Traction Limitations Of The Hoof: The Slipper Fence, George R. Gallagher, Heidi A. Keen, Robert H. Prince

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

We hypothesized that an exclusion fence could be devised to capitalize on traction limitations of the hooves of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Hexagonal plots (9.8 m wide) enclosed by a 2.4 m field fence with two openings (4.9 m) were established. Data were collected daily on consumption of corn provided (2.27 kg) and events recorded by infrared monitors (IR) for treatment and control sites. Five-day treatment periods consisted of test panels (4.9 m x 2.4 m) placed in plot openings at 0°, 5° and 10° slopes, and lubricant applied at the 10° slope. Deer consumed all corn provided …

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Dogs For Reducing Wildlife Damage To Organic Crops: A Case Study, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Nathan W. Seward, Daniel L. Hirchert, Michael L. Jones, Scott F. Beckerman May 2005

Dogs For Reducing Wildlife Damage To Organic Crops: A Case Study, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Nathan W. Seward, Daniel L. Hirchert, Michael L. Jones, Scott F. Beckerman

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Deer (Odocoileus spp.) damage millions of dollars in agricultural crops each year in the United States. A variety of frightening devices and repellants have been developed to reduce crop depredation, however most are effective temporarily (< 6 months). Several types of fences are available, but the most effective are expensive, time consuming to install, and may be considered aesthetically displeasing. Additional means to control wildlife damage to agriculture are needed. We evaluated the efficacy of dogs (Canis familiaris) over a several year period for preventing crop damage caused by white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) and other wildlife at an organic fruit and vegetable farm in south-central Wisconsin. Annual losses at the farm before the introduction of dogs were estimated at $3,177 in 1997 and $4,391 in 1999. One field was protected with 2 crop protection …

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Wildlife Master Volunteers: A Multi-County Approach To Resolving Human-Wildlife Conflicts, Daniel L. Einarsen, Tom Mason, Deryl E. Waldren, Ray T. Sterner May 2005

Wildlife Master Volunteers: A Multi-County Approach To Resolving Human-Wildlife Conflicts, Daniel L. Einarsen, Tom Mason, Deryl E. Waldren, Ray T. Sterner

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Wildlife Master (WM) Program in Colorado was modeled after the highly successful Master Gardener volunteer program. In 10 highly populated suburban counties with large rural areas surrounding the Denver Metro Area, Colorado State University (CSU) Cooperative Extension Natural Resources agents train, supervise and manage these volunteers in the identification, referral, and resolution of wildlife damage issues. High quality, research-based training is provided by university faculty and other professionals in public health, animal damage control, wildlife management and animal behavior. Inquiries are responded to mainly via telephone. Calls by concerned residents are forwarded to WMs who provide general information about …

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Situational And Driver Characteristics Associated With Deer-Vehicle Collisions In Southeastern Michigan, Alix Marcoux, Graham J. Hickling, Shawn J. Riley, Scott R. Winterstein May 2005

Situational And Driver Characteristics Associated With Deer-Vehicle Collisions In Southeastern Michigan, Alix Marcoux, Graham J. Hickling, Shawn J. Riley, Scott R. Winterstein

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) create societal impacts throughout the range of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus). In Michigan reported DVCs increased by nearly 60% between 1992-2003, with current estimates at more than 65,000 DVCs per year and a mean of $2,300 vehicle damage. To better understand where to direct education and information programs, we used Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) data, 2001-2003, to profile driver characteristics and accident situations of DVCs in Washtenaw, Oakland, and Monroe Counties in Michigan. Each county varies in intensity of land use, human and deer densities, and available deer habitat. Deer density in Washtenaw, …

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In-Burrow Application Of Rozol To Manage Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs, Charles D. Lee, Philip S. Gipson, Jeff J. Wilson May 2005

In-Burrow Application Of Rozol To Manage Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs, Charles D. Lee, Philip S. Gipson, Jeff J. Wilson

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Our experiment demonstrated that black-tailed prairie dogs(Cynomys ludovicianus) will consume rodenticide underground in their burrows. We demonstrated the efficacy of Rozol Pocket Gopher Bait containing the active ingredient chlorophacione (0.005%) 21 days post treatment for managing black-tailed prairie dogs in their burrows in Kansas. Active prairie dog burrows were reduced 90% when 54 grams of Rozol was placed in the burrow without prebaiting. Results indicate use of this toxicant when placed in the burrow can be an effective means of managing prairie dogs. In-burrow application of rodenticides for black-tailed prairie dog management should markedly reduce exposure of birds …

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Effects Of Decoy Gender And Wing Clipping On Capture Success Of Brown-Headed Cowbirds, Scott C. Barras, Thomas W. Seamans, Jonathan D. Cepek May 2005

Effects Of Decoy Gender And Wing Clipping On Capture Success Of Brown-Headed Cowbirds, Scott C. Barras, Thomas W. Seamans, Jonathan D. Cepek

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Due to the risks that nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) pose to breeding Kirtland's Warblers (Dendroica kirtlandii) and other songbirds, refinement of existing cowbird trapping techniques and development of new techniques are needed to improve the efficiency of cowbird removal. We conducted experiments during 1999-2002 to determine if the use of male and female decoys affected capture rates of cowbirds, and to determine if clipping primaries on one wing of female decoys to prevent escapes affected cowbird capture success. These experiments were conducted using 6 permanently placed modified Australian crow traps (decoy traps) measuring …

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Decoy Cropping Methods For Luring Blackbirds Away From Commercial Sunflower: Usda Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots, Heath M. Hagy, Jonathan M. Raetzman, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier May 2005

Decoy Cropping Methods For Luring Blackbirds Away From Commercial Sunflower: Usda Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots, Heath M. Hagy, Jonathan M. Raetzman, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In an effort to reduce blackbird damage to commercial sunflower, which can range from $4-11 million annually in North Dakota and South Dakota, we evaluated Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots (WCSP) for efficacy and wildlife benefits. Blackbird depredation has caused some producers to reduce sunflower acreages and seek alternative crops in this optimal sunflower growing region. USDA 's Wildlife Services funded 8-ha units of oil sunflower (WCSP) to lure migrating blackbirds away from commercial sunflower fields. Vegetative data, habitat variables, GIS-analyzed land-use data, weekly blackbird surveys, sunflower damage surveys, and avian point counts will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of …

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Economic Impacts Of Blackbird Damage To The Rice Industry, John L. Cummings, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Shelagh K. Tupper May 2005

Economic Impacts Of Blackbird Damage To The Rice Industry, John L. Cummings, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Shelagh K. Tupper

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In cooperation with the Louisiana Rice Research Board, the Louisiana State University Rice Research Station and the USA Rice Federation, we conducted a questionnaire survey in 2002 to estimate the economic impacts of blackbirds on the rice industry in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, California, and Missouri. Survey areas in rice producing states were identified based on the 2001 National Agricultural Statistic Service's rice harvest records. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in each state provided a mailing list of farm operators growing rice and approximately one third of the rice farm operators were randomly selected to be surveyed. The questionnaire was …

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Management Of Wolf-Livestock Conflicts Of Minnesota, William J. Paul May 2005

Management Of Wolf-Livestock Conflicts Of Minnesota, William J. Paul

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In 1975, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) population in Minnesota was protected by the federal Endangered Species Act (USA). At that time, there were 500-750 wolves. By 2004, the population had grown to an estimated 3,020 wolves. Over time, conflicts between wolves and livestock increased. Wolf depredation control programs have been conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1975-1986) and by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program (1986 to present). In 1978, Minnesota's wolves were reclassified from endangered to threatened which allowed authorized federal agents to lethally remove wolves that had depredated on livestock or …

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Estimating Drc-1339 Mortality Using Bioenergetics: A Case Study Of European Starlings, H. Jeffery Homan, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Johnston, George M. Linz May 2005

Estimating Drc-1339 Mortality Using Bioenergetics: A Case Study Of European Starlings, H. Jeffery Homan, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Johnston, George M. Linz

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

We developed a bioenergetics model for European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) that estimated mortality from baitings with CU Bird Carrier pellets treated with 1% DRC-1339 Concentrate and diluted 5:1 (untreated:treated pellets). A bioenergetic analysis of heat and radiative energy exchanges between the starling body surface and surrounding environment was converted to daily caloric demand based on a steady-state energy balance. The amount of Bird Carrier eaten per starling was governed by subroutines in the model that used probability distributions to simulate variability in dietary intake at the bait site. Mortality was estimated through dose-response regression analysis. Compared to onsite …

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Nutria: An Invasive Rodent Pest Or Valued Resource?, Susan M. Jojola, Gary Witmer, Dale Nolte May 2005

Nutria: An Invasive Rodent Pest Or Valued Resource?, Susan M. Jojola, Gary Witmer, Dale Nolte

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Nutria or coypu (Myocastor coypus), semi-aquatic rodents native to southern South America, are an invasive species having detrimental impacts mainly in the southern and eastern United States. Nutria were introduced into the U.S. in 1899 for fur farming and became established in several states. Nutria dispersals resulted primarily from releases by fur farmers, escapes during hurricanes or rising floodwaters, or as translocations in an attempt to control nuisance aquatic vegetation. The ravenous appetite of these herbivores can cause damage to agricultural crops and aquatic vegetation, and can alter aquatic ecosystems. Their burrowing habits can weaken irrigation structures and …

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The Use Of Digital Motion-Sensor Cameras To Capture Coyote Presence In Western Georgia, Lauren Billodeaux, Jim Armstrong May 2005

The Use Of Digital Motion-Sensor Cameras To Capture Coyote Presence In Western Georgia, Lauren Billodeaux, Jim Armstrong

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Because of their learned avoidance of humans and the dense cover provided by forested areas, observation of coyote activity is often very limited in the Southeast. In this study we used digital motion-sensor cameras to detect activity among coyote populations in various urban and rural habitats. Camera stations were placed adjacent to regenerating clear cuts, forest trails and roads, agriculture fields, residential areas, and within city parks to determine activity and presence of coyotes in these various areas. Cameras were successful in detecting coyotes in all study sites throughout the year. Coyotes appear to show no avoidance of camera stations. …

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Use Of Confined Dogs For Reducing Deer Damage To Apple Orchards, Paul D. Curtis, Regina Rieckenberg May 2005

Use Of Confined Dogs For Reducing Deer Damage To Apple Orchards, Paul D. Curtis, Regina Rieckenberg

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

We assessed the efficacy of free-ranging dogs, confined by buried fences and electronic collars, for reducing deer damage to apple trees in three commercial apple orchards in Oswego County, New York State. During 1995 and 1996, we monitored paired dog-protected and control plots in each orchard. Within dog-protected areas, the percentage of damaged buds was lower, and fruit yield was higher in both 1995 and 1996 than for control plots. Gross economic returns were higher from dog-protected than control plots in both 1995 (by 51%) and 1996 (by 184%). After two seasons of growth, trees planted in May 1995 had …

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Hunters----Can They Do The Job?, Paul D. Curtis, David Drake, Jody Enck, Gary J. San Julian, David Taylor May 2005

Hunters----Can They Do The Job?, Paul D. Curtis, David Drake, Jody Enck, Gary J. San Julian, David Taylor

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Management of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herds at the landscape scale is increasingly difficult. The future of eastern hardwood forests is threatened by inadequate regeneration of valuable timber species, due in large measure to deer browsing. In the northeast, deer damage to crops, landscaping, and vehicles costs more than 640 million dollars annually. Nationally, hunter ranks are decreasing. In the east, white-tailed deer numbers are increasing; state wildlife agencies have expanded season lengths, and increased deer bag limits. While venison is still a highly prized meat, the average hunting family wants to use about 2 deer per year. …

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Wildlife Damage To Seedlings In Reforested In Hardwood Sites In Mississippi, Amy E. Barras, Jeanne C. Jones, Dale L. Nolte, Curtis G. Culpepper, Lawrence H. Shearer, Jarrod H. Fogarty May 2005

Wildlife Damage To Seedlings In Reforested In Hardwood Sites In Mississippi, Amy E. Barras, Jeanne C. Jones, Dale L. Nolte, Curtis G. Culpepper, Lawrence H. Shearer, Jarrod H. Fogarty

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Herbivory assessments were conducted on seven reforested sites that were less than one year old in the following Mississippi counties: Bolivar, Leflore, and Attala. At each site, 100ft. x 100 ft. plots were established and randomly selected seedlings were marked and measured to determine seedling species, height, condition, survival, and type and extent of animal feeding sign. Surveys were conducted in March/April, May, and August 2004. Herbivory rates were highest during May with approximately 47% of seedlings showing signs of herbivory. In March/ April and August, the percentage of seedlings exhibiting signs of herbivory was 37% and 30%, respectively. Foraging …

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Demographic And Spatial Responses Of Coyotes To Changes In Food And Exploitation, Eric M. Gese May 2005

Demographic And Spatial Responses Of Coyotes To Changes In Food And Exploitation, Eric M. Gese

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Lethal control for reducing carnivore populations is a contentious issue throughout the world. While computer simulations have been developed modeling the effects of population reduction on coyote (Canis latrans) population parameters, testing these hypotheses with empirical data from the field is lacking. We documented the demographic and spatial responses of coyotes to changes in the levels of food resources and human exploitation on the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, southeastern Colorado. We captured, radio-collared, and tracked 92 (53 M: 39 F) coyotes from March 1983 to April 1989. Of these, 74 animals were residents from 32 packs, plus 12 …

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Evaluations Of Livestock Protection Dogs For Deterring Deer And Cattle Interactions, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Gregory E. Phillips, Robert L. Pooler, Michael J. Lavelle May 2005

Evaluations Of Livestock Protection Dogs For Deterring Deer And Cattle Interactions, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Gregory E. Phillips, Robert L. Pooler, Michael J. Lavelle

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Bovine Tuberculosis (bovine TB) in northern Michigan has proven a dilemma necessitating aggressive measures including depopulation of livestock operations, culling of wildlife, banning the feeding of wildlife, and fencing livestock feed with high fences. Bovine TB is believed to be transmitted from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to domestic cattle through feces, urine, saliva, and nasal secretions on contaminated feed (indirect transmission) and from animal to animal (direct transmission). Effective methods for excluding deer from cattle enclosures would minimize the potential for indirect and direct transmission of bovine TB between infected deer and cattle. We combined an idea used …

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Modifying Fences To Prevent Ungulate Use Of Cropland And High-Value Pastures, James E. Knight, Roy Fenster, Carolyn Nistler May 2005

Modifying Fences To Prevent Ungulate Use Of Cropland And High-Value Pastures, James E. Knight, Roy Fenster, Carolyn Nistler

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Big game can damage crops and compete with livestock for valuable forage. Ranchers have reported their tolerance for big game would increase if the animals could be prevented from using key areas critical for spring livestock use. Likewise, some farmers have high value areas that must be protected. Fences provide the most consistent long term control compared to other deterrent methods, but are costly to erect. Many designs of woven wire and electric fences are currently used. Costs of erecting deer proof fencing could be greatly reduced if an existing fence could be modified instead of being replaced entirely. This …

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Effectiveness Of Milorganite® As A Repellent To Protect Ornamental And Agronomic Plants From Deer Over-Browsing, Odin L. Stephens, Michael T. Mengak, George R. Gallagher, David A. Osborn, Karl V. Miller May 2005

Effectiveness Of Milorganite® As A Repellent To Protect Ornamental And Agronomic Plants From Deer Over-Browsing, Odin L. Stephens, Michael T. Mengak, George R. Gallagher, David A. Osborn, Karl V. Miller

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

When deer populations become locally overabundant, browsing of ornamental and agronomic plants negatively affects plant establishment, survival, and productivity. Milorganite® is a slow-release, organic fertilizer produced from human sewage. We tested Milorganite® as a deer repellent on chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemums morifolium) in an urban/suburban environment, and soybeans (Gycine max) in a rural agriculture environment. Six beds of chrysanthemums at two sites were monitored for 28 to 35 days. Treatment plants received a top dressing of 104 grams of Milorganite® (1120.9 kg/ha). Milorganite® treated plants had more (P < 0.001) terminal buds and achieved greater height (P < 0.002) compared to controls at one site, however damage observed was similar at the second site. In a second experiment, 0.2-ha plots of soybeans (Glycine max) were planted on five rural properties in …

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Fence-Line Interactions Among Farmed And Free-Ranging Cervids: Preliminary Results, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Justin W. Fischer, Robert Pooler, Michael J. Lavelle, Greg Phillips May 2005

Fence-Line Interactions Among Farmed And Free-Ranging Cervids: Preliminary Results, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Justin W. Fischer, Robert Pooler, Michael J. Lavelle, Greg Phillips

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Occurrences of disease outbreaks within and near captive cervid (mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni)) farms have recently drawn attention to these facilities. Some state wildlife and agricultural agencies have pondered making double fencing mandatory or otherwise increasing regulation of captive operations. Diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Bovine Tuberculosis (bovine TB) are a threat to captive and free-ranging cervid populations. Concerns over these and other diseases being transmitted from captive to wild cervids, and vice versa, have increased. In most cases, captive …

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Use Of Natural Vegetative Barriers To Limit Expansion Of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Towns., David F. Terrall, Jonathan A. Jenks, Arthur E. Smith May 2005

Use Of Natural Vegetative Barriers To Limit Expansion Of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Towns., David F. Terrall, Jonathan A. Jenks, Arthur E. Smith

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) control has historically consisted of lethal methods to maintain, reduce, or eliminate populations in South Dakota and throughout the species range. Non-lethal methods of control are desired to meet changing management objectives for the black-tailed prairie dog. The use of naturally occurring buffer strips as vegetative barriers may be effective in limiting prairie dog town expansion. The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate effective width of vegetative barriers in limiting prairie dog towns expansion in western South Dakota; and 2) to document effect native vegetation height on expansion of prairie dog towns …

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Assessment Of Texas Medical Providers Concerning Rabies Vaccines, Denise M. Ruffino, Scott E. Henke May 2005

Assessment Of Texas Medical Providers Concerning Rabies Vaccines, Denise M. Ruffino, Scott E. Henke

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Rabies is an important zoonotic disease in Texas and thousands of people each year either request or require rabies prophylaxis because they have 'high risk ' jobs or are exposed to the disease. After experiencing difficulty in receiving rabies prophylaxis from physicians, we conducted a survey of Texas medical providers to assess their knowledge of rabies vaccine procedures and their experience with rabies vaccines. Most providers in Texas (>95% of 297) rarely saw patients for rabies prophylaxis; therefore, providers have minimal, if any, experience with the procedures of acquiring and administering the vaccine. Providers varied greatly in their responses …

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Monitoring Racoon Rabies In Alabama: The Potential Effects Of Habitat And Demographics, Wendy M. Arjo, Christine E. Fisher, James Armstrong, Dana Johnson, Frank Boyd May 2005

Monitoring Racoon Rabies In Alabama: The Potential Effects Of Habitat And Demographics, Wendy M. Arjo, Christine E. Fisher, James Armstrong, Dana Johnson, Frank Boyd

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Density, morphometrics, and disease prevalence of raccoon populations were determined in 4 habitats (agriculture, riverine, managed, and forested) in central Alabama. In addition we monitored 71 collared raccoons to determine survival. Density estimates were similar in the agriculture (ag) and riverine habitats in central Alabama with 8 raccoons/km2, and lower in the forested habitat at 5 raccoons/ km2. Retention of juveniles did not appear to contribute to observed higher populations in the riverine and ag habitat. Although the riverine and ag, possibly due to supplemental resources, likely provide better habitat for raccoons, we found only body …

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Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colony Dynamics In South Dakota Over A 10-Year Period, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Howard P. Tietjen, James F. Glahn, Greg L. Schenbeck, Jean Bourassa May 2005

Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colony Dynamics In South Dakota Over A 10-Year Period, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Howard P. Tietjen, James F. Glahn, Greg L. Schenbeck, Jean Bourassa

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Between 1968 and 1978, aerial photography was used to monitor distribution of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies on a 400-square mile area in South Dakota, including parts of Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and Badlands National Monument (now Badlands National Park). Aerial photographs were taken of the study area in 1968 and annually from 1974 through 1978 at a scale of 1:20,000 (1968) and 1:15,840 (1974-1978). Prairie dog colonies were identified on the photographs, outlined, and the outline transferred to USGS topographic maps for colony size measurements. This technique reliably detected changes in prairie …

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The Role Of Raccoons In The Ecology Of Bovine Tuberculosis, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Holy J. Smith, Justin S. Stevenson May 2005

The Role Of Raccoons In The Ecology Of Bovine Tuberculosis, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Holy J. Smith, Justin S. Stevenson

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial disease that has had significant socioeconomic impacts on the region of northern lower Michigan. The role raccoons may play in the ecology and maintenance of the disease on farms in the core disease is unknown. Preliminary results of 61 radio collared raccoons have yielded a better understanding of raccoon movement and habitat use within an agricultural complex. Preliminary analysis of raccoons suggests annual home range sizes of .824km2 and .608km2 for males and females, respectively. Additionally raccoons and cattle have been documented at resource interfaces, further illustrating the potential for indirect disease …

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Evaluation Of A New Strategy For Control Of Bovine Tuberculosis In Michigan White-Tailed Deer: Year 1 Progress Report, Stephen Schmitt, Daniel O'Brien, Elaine Carlson, David Smith, Zachary Cooley, Brent Rudolph, Graham Hickling, Graham Nugent, Peter Butchko May 2005

Evaluation Of A New Strategy For Control Of Bovine Tuberculosis In Michigan White-Tailed Deer: Year 1 Progress Report, Stephen Schmitt, Daniel O'Brien, Elaine Carlson, David Smith, Zachary Cooley, Brent Rudolph, Graham Hickling, Graham Nugent, Peter Butchko

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The State of Michigan is striving to eliminate bovine tuberculosis (Tb) infection among free-ranging white-tailed deer in the northeastern Lower Peninsula of the state. Aggressive reduction in the overall deer population abundance may help to further reduce TB prevalence, but this course of action is unacceptable to many hunters and landowners. Targeted culling of sick deer would likely be far more acceptable to these stakeholders, so in the winter of 2003 the Michigan Department of Natural Resources pilot-trialed a new strategy based on live-trapping and Tb-testing of wild deer. The field study was conducted in a township with relatively high …

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Conditioning Beaver To Avoid Desirable Plants, Julie L. Harper, Dale L. Nolte, Thomas J. Deliberto, David L. Bergman May 2005

Conditioning Beaver To Avoid Desirable Plants, Julie L. Harper, Dale L. Nolte, Thomas J. Deliberto, David L. Bergman

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Conditioned food aversion can be used to train animals to avoid select foods. Generally, aversive conditioning is best applied when animals first encounter a food item. However, almost by definition damage is inflicted to desirable plants very familiar to the culprit. We assessed the potential for training beaver to avoid a known preferred food. During a 5 day day treatment period beavers were offered only corn at 1600 hours. Six hours later, animals that had ingested corn were injected with 150 mg/kg lithium chloride (LiCl), with a control group receiving sodium chloride (NaCl). Alternate foods were then offered with corn …

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The Eradication Of Bovine Tuberculosis From Infected Wildlife Populations: A New Zealand Scenario, Garry J.E. Knowles, Mark Hunter, Amy Rush May 2005

The Eradication Of Bovine Tuberculosis From Infected Wildlife Populations: A New Zealand Scenario, Garry J.E. Knowles, Mark Hunter, Amy Rush

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Animal Health Board (AHB) is the agency responsible for controlling bovine tuberculosis (Tb) in New Zealand. In 2000, the AHB embarked on a strategy designed to reduce the annual period prevalence of Tb infected cattle and farmed deer herds from 1.67% to 0.2% by 2012/13. Under current rules of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) this would allow New Zealand to claim freedom from Tb. The epidemiology of Tb in New Zealand is largely influenced by wildlife reservoirs of infection and control of Tb vector populations is central to the elimination of Tb from New Zealand's cattle and deer …

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Preliminary Serologic Survey Of Selected Diseases And Movements Of Feral Swine In Texas, A. Christy Wyckoff, Scott E. Henke, Tyler Campbell, David G. Hewitt, Kurt Vercauteren May 2005

Preliminary Serologic Survey Of Selected Diseases And Movements Of Feral Swine In Texas, A. Christy Wyckoff, Scott E. Henke, Tyler Campbell, David G. Hewitt, Kurt Vercauteren

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) populations occur throughout eastern, central, and southern Texas, and their populations appear to be increasing. Despite their abundance and wide distribution, little is known about their range and interaction with domestic animals. In the last decade the national pork production industry has enforced an eradication program for economically detrimental swine diseases such as pseudorabies and brucellosis. It is hypothesized that feral hogs can be reservoirs that could reintroduce diseases to disease-free domestic swine herds. The objectives of this on-going project are to determine the prevalence of selected swine diseases that exist within feral hog …

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