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Molecular Assessment Of Translocation And Management Of An Endangered Subspecies Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus), Matthew W. Hopken, Tod M. Lum, Paul M. Meyers, Antoinette J. Piaggio

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Translocations are an effectual management strategy for the reestablishment and reconnection of endangered populations and species. However, knowledge about the evolution and ecology of the populations and species of interest are critical so that informed decisions can be made about source populations and reestablishment areas. We employed 614 base pairs of the mitochondrial control region and 15 microsatellite loci to investigate genetic variation, contemporary connectivity, and interspecific hybridization in the two remaining populations of the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus leucurus) through comparisons with the closest subspecies, O. v. ochrourus. Our data revealed the dubious taxonomic …

Capillaria Hepatica Infection In Black Rats (Rattus Rattus) On Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Are R. Berentsen, Scott Vogt, Antenor N. Guzman, Daniel S. Vice, William C. Pitt, Aaron B. Shiels, Terry R. Spraker

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rats (Rattus spp.) are among the most damaging invasive species worldwide. The accidental introduction of rats has caused significant detriment to native flora and fauna, crops, structures, and human livelihoods. Rats are vectors of disease and carriers of various zoonotic parasites. Capillaria hepatica (syn. Callodium hepaticum) is a parasitic nematode found primarily in rodents but is known to infect over 140 mammal species, including human beings and several species of domestic animals. In this case study, the presence of C. hepatica infection in black rats on Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, is reported. Liver samples from …

Shifting Perceptions Of Risk And Reward: Dynamic Selection For Human Development By Black Bears In The Western United States, H. E. Johnson, S. W. Breck, S. Baruch-Mordo, D. L. Lewis, C. W. Lackey, K. R. Wilson, J. Broderick, J. S. Mao, J. P. Beckmann

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

As landscapes across the globe experience increasing human development, it is critical to identify the behavioral responses of wildlife to this change given associated shifts in resource availability and risk from human activity. This is particularly important for large carnivores as their interactions with people are often a source of conflict, which can impede conservation efforts and require extensive management. To examine the adaptations of a large carnivore to benefits and risks associated with human development we investigated black bear behavior in three systems in the western United States. Our objectives were to (1) identify temporal patterns of selection for …

Potential For Great Egrets (Ardea Alba) To Transmit A Virulent Strain Of Aeromonas Hydrophila Among Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) Culture Ponds, Madison M. Jubirt, Larry A. Hanson, Katie C. Hanson-Dorr, Lorelei Ford, Scott Lemmons, Paul Fioranelli, Fred L. Cunningham

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Aeromonas hydrophila is a gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultative, anaerobic bacterium that is ubiquitous in freshwater and slightly brackish aquatic environments and infects fish, humans, reptiles, and birds. Recent severe outbreaks of disease in commercial channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) aquaculture ponds have been associated with a highly virulent A. hydrophila strain (VAH), which is genetically distinct from less-virulent strains. The epidemiology of this disease has not been determined. Given that A. hydrophila infects birds, we hypothesized that fish-eating birds may serve as a reservoir for VAH and spread the pathogen by flying to uninfected ponds. Great Egrets (Ardea alba …

Influenza A Virus H5–Specific Antibodies In Mute Swans (Cygnus Olor) In The Usa, Whitney M. Kistler, David E. Stallknecht, Camille Lebarbenchon, Kerri Pedersen, David R. Marks, Randy Mickley, Thomas J. Deliberto, Michael J. Yabsley

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The use of serologic assays for influenza A virus (IAV) surveillance in wild birds has increased because of the availability of commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Recently, an H5-specific blocking ELISA (bELISA) was shown to reliably detect H5-specific antibodies to low- and highpathogenic H5 viruses in experimentally infected waterfowl. Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) were frequently associated with highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreaks in Europe and may have a similar role if highly pathogenic H5N1 is introduced into North America. We measured the prevalence of antibodies to the nucleoprotein and H5 protein in Mute Swans using three serologic assays. We …

Chemical Repellents Appear Non-Useful For Eliciting Exit Of Brown Tree Snakes From Cargo, Fred Kraus, Randal S. Stahl, William Pitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) is invasive in Guam, has imposed ecological and economic problems there, and threatens to be dispersed via cargo and vehicles to other islands in the Pacific, where it could be expected to inflict similar damages. Prevention of inadvertent snake export currently relies on cargo inspection and suppression of snake populations around ports, which are expensive and incompletely reliable. Hence, there has long been interest in developing additional tools to preclude snakes leaving in cargo, and fumigation with essential oils has been suggested for this role. We tested gaseous or aerosol deliveries of …

Deer Response To Exclusion From Stored Cattle Feed In Michigan, Usa, Michael J. Lavelle, Henry Campa Iii, Kyle Ledoux, Patrick J. Ryan, Justin W. Fischer, Kim M. Pepin, Chad R. Blass, Michael P. Glow, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Disease and damage from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) continually threaten the livelihood of agricultural producers and the economy in the United States, as well as challenge state and federal wildlife managers. Threats can be partially addressed by excluding free-ranging deer from livestock-related resources. Throughout the year, use of stored livestock feed by deer in northern Lower Michigan (MI), USA fluctuates, though their presence is relatively consistent. Since 2008, use of livestock areas and resources by deer has been reduced through intensive efforts by livestock producers in cooperation with state and federal agencies. These efforts focused on excluding deer …

Limitations Of Population Suppression For Protecting Crops From Bird Depredation: A Review, George M. Linz, Enrique H. Bucher, Sonia B. Canavelli, Ethel Rodriguez, Michael L. Avery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Blackbirds (Icterinae) in North America, and dickcissels (Spiza americana Gmelin), eared doves (Zenaida auriculata Des Murs), and monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus Boddaert) in South America can cause serious economic damage to grain crops. Farmers frequently advocate lethal bird damage abatement measures based on the perceived need to take immediate action to avoid serious economic losses. In comparison, wildlife managers must make informed decisions based on a multitude of factors, including local, state, and national environmental laws, administrative restrictions, logistics, costs, expected outcome, and cultural considerations related to wildlife stewardship. In this paper, we focus on practicality, environmental …

West Nile Virus Antibody Decay Rate In Free-Ranging Birds, Eileen M. Mckee, Edward D. Walker, Tavis K. Anderson, Uriel D. Kitron, Jeffrey D. Brawn, Bethany L. Krebs, Christina Newman, Marilyn O. Ruiz, Rebecca S. Levine, Mary E. Carrington, Robert G. Mclean, Tony L. Goldberg, Gabriel L. Hamer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Antibody duration, following a humoral immune response to West Nile virus (WNV) infection, is poorly understood in free-ranging avian hosts. Quantifying antibody decay rate is important for interpreting serologic results and for understanding the potential for birds to serorevert and become susceptible again. We sampled free-ranging birds in Chicago, Illinois, US, from 2005 to 2011 and Atlanta, Georgia, US, from 2010 to 2012 to examine the dynamics of antibody decay following natural WNV infection. Using serial dilutions in a blocking enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, we quantified WNV antibody titer in repeated blood samples from individual birds over time. We quantified a …

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Regarding Rabies And Exposure To Bats In Two Rural Communities In Guatemala, David Moran, Patricia Juliao, Danilo Alvarez, Kim A. Lindblade, James A. Ellison, Amy T. Gilbert, Brett Petersen, Charles Rupprecht, Sergio Recuenco

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: Rabies is a fatal encephalitis caused by rabies virus, of the genus Lyssavirus. The principal reservoir for rabies in Latin America is the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), which feeds routinely on the blood of cattle, and when livestock are scarce, may prey on other mammals, including humans. Although rabies is endemic in common vampire bat populations in Guatemala, there is limited research on the extent of exposure to bats among human populations living near bat refuges.

Results: A random sample of 270 of 473 households (57%) in two communities located within 2 Km of …

Novel Paramyxoviruses In Bats From Sub-Saharan Africa, 2007–2012, Marinda Mortlock, Ivan V. Kuzmin, Jacqueline Weyer, Amy T. Gilbert, Bernard Agwanda, Charles E. Rupprecht, Louis H. Nel, Teresa Kearney, Jean M. Malekani, Wanda Markotter

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

As part of a larger survey for detection of pathogens among wildlife in sub-Saharan Africa conducted during 2007–2012, multiple diverse paramyxovirus sequences were detected in renal tissues of bats. Phylogenetic analysis supports the presence of at least 2 major viral lineages and suggests that paramyxoviruses are strongly associated with several bat genera.

Modeling The Economic Impacts Of Double-Crested Cormorant Damage To A Recreational Fishery, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Katy N. Kirkpatrick, Travis L. Devault, Steven S. Shwiff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) has undergone a significant range expansion in the Great Lakes area of the United States since the 1970s, negatively impacting native fish populations and sport fisheries. Effective management of wildlife requires policies and practices that quantify their economic impacts, which is often complicated by multiplier effects in the regional economy. This analysis estimates the potential direct and regional economic impacts of the cormorant to a recreational fishery. We estimated that the potential economic loss was on average $5 million to $66 million annually, as well as 66 to 929 job-years in the region …

Progressive Accumulation Of The Abnormal Conformer Of The Prion Protein And Spongiform Encephalopathy In The Obex Of Nonsymptomatic And Symptomatic Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni) With Chronic Wasting Disease, Terry R. Spraker, Thomas Gidlewski, Jenny G. Powers, Tracy Nichols, Aru Balachandran, Bruce Cummings, Margaret A. Wild, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Katherine I. O’Rourke

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The purpose of our study was to describe the progressive accumulation of the abnormal conformer of the prion protein (PrP^CWD) and spongiform degeneration in a single section of brain stem in Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) with chronic wasting disease (CWD). A section of obex from 85 CWD-positive elk was scored using the presence and abundance of PrP^CWD immunoreactivity and spongiform degeneration in 10 nuclear regions and the presence and abundance of PrP^CWD in 10 axonal tracts, the subependymal area of the fourth ventricle, and the thin subpial astrocytic layer (glial limitans). Data …

Leptodeira Septentrionalis (Northern Cat-Eyed Snake), Richard M. Engeman, Carrie Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Beginning at 1838 h on 30 May 2014 at the Caves Branch Jungle Lodge in Belize, we observed an encounter between a Leptodeira septentrionalis and an Incilius valliceps that appeared to have initiated as a predation attempt by the toad on the snake. The toad (SVL ca. 9 cm) had the dorsal portion of the snake’s head in its mouth (Fig. 1); however, the toad was motionless and the snake (with its head in the toad’s mouth) was retracting backwards up a stone wall into a crevice, pulling the toad with it. The snake’s lower jaw was beneath the lower …

Anthraquinone-Based Repellent For Horned Larks, Great-Tailed Grackles, American Crows And The Protection Of California's Specialty Crops, Scott J. Werner, Shelagh T. Deliberto, Anna M. Mangan, Susan E. Pettit, Jeremy W. Ellis, James C. Carlson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Specialty crops include fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and horticultural and nursery crops. California accounts for 28% of the specialty crop acreage in the United States of America, including 72% of U.S. lettuce production (Lactuca sativa L.), 27% of U.S. melon production and 100% of U.S. almond production (Prunus dulcis L.). We conducted controlled feeding experiments to evaluate an anthraquinonebased repellent for horned larks (Eremophila alpestris L.), great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus Gmelin) and American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm) associated with the depredation of California's lettuce, melon and almond crops, respectively.We observed 38-100% feeding …

Threats To Humans And Beasts, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The transmission of pathogens from wildlife to livestock and humans is an increasing concern across the globe. Dr Kurt VerCauteren and colleagues are performing multifaceted research into wildlife diseases and looking for new and practical means of reducing their occurrence and burden.

Evaluation Of Resident Canada Goose Movements To Reduce The Risk Of Goose- Aircraft Collisions At Suburban Airports, M. Elizabeth Rutledge, Christopher E. Moorman, Brian E. Washburn, Christopher S. Deperno

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Resident (non-migratory) Canada goose (Branta canadensis) populations in suburban

environments pose risks to human health and safety. Specifically, the relatively large size and gregarious

behavior of geese combined with an overlap in aircraft flight space pose substantial risk of property damage and human fatalities from goose-aircraft collisions. We estimated home range and core use areas of resident Canada geese and evaluated goose movements to better define the risk of goose-aircraft collisions around Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.We placed satellite transmitters on 16 of 763 neck- and leg-banded geese to identify and track individuals over an 18-month …

Barriers To Seed And Seedling Survival Of Once-Common Hawaiian Palms: The Role Of Invasive Rats And Ungulates, Aaron B. Shiels, Donald R. Drake

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Mammalian herbivores can limit plant recruitment and affect forest composition. Loulu palms (Pritchardia spp.) once dominated many lowland ecosystems in Hawai‘i, and non-native rats (Rattus spp.), ungulates (e.g. pigs Sus scrofa, goats Capra hircus) and humans have been proposed asmajor causes of their decline. In lowland wet forest, we experimentally determined the vulnerability of seeds and seedlings of two species of Pritchardia, P. maideniana and P. hillebrandii, by measuring their removal by introduced vertebrates; we also used motion-sensing cameras to identify the animals responsible for Pritchardia removal. We assessed potential seed dispersal of P. maideniana by spool-andline tracking, and conducted …

Dynamics Of Virus Shedding And Antibody Responses In Influenza A Virus-Infected Feral Swine, Hailiang Sun, Fred L. Cunningham, Jillian Harris, Yifei Xu, Li-Ping Long, Katie Hanson-Dorr, John A. Baroch, Paul Fioranelli, Mark W. Lutman, Tao Li, Kerri Pedersen, Brandon S. Schmit, Jim Cooley, Xiaoxu Lin, Richard G. Jarman, Thomas J. Deliberto, Xiu-Feng Wan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Given their free-ranging habits, feral swine could serve as reservoirs or spatially dynamic ‘mixing vessels’ for influenza A virus (IAV). To better understand virus shedding patterns and antibody response dynamics in the context of IAV surveillance amongst feral swine, we used IAV of feral swine origin to perform infection experiments. The virus was highly infectious and transmissible in feral swine, and virus shedding patterns and antibody response dynamics were similar to those in domestic swine. In the virus-inoculated and sentinel groups, virus shedding lasteddays, respectively. Antibody titres in inoculated swine peaked at 1 : 840 on day 11 post-inoculation (p.i.), …

Exposure To Rabies In Small Indian Mongooses (Herpestes Auropunctatus) From Two Regions In Puerto Rico, Are R. Berentsen, Shylo R. Johnson, Amy T. Gilbert, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) was introduced to several Caribbean Islands to control rat (Rattus spp.) damage to sugarcane plantations. Mongooses failed at suppressing rat populations and are now considered pests throughout most of their introduced range. Importantly, mongooses are rabies reservoirs on several Caribbean Islands. In Puerto Rico, mongooses have been implicated in up to 70%of reported animal rabies cases. There is no rabies vaccination program for wildlife in Puerto Rico, and data on rabies in mongooses are limited. We conducted a serosurvey of mongooses in two different ecologic environments in Puerto Rico: El Yunque National Forest and …

Rabies Surveillance Among Bats In Tennessee, Usa, 1996–2010, Amy T. Gilbert, Gary F. Mccracken, Lorinda L. Sheeler, Lisa I. Muller, Dorcas O'Rourke, William J. Kelch, John C. New Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rabies virus (RABV) infects multiple bat species in the Americas, and enzootic foci perpetuate in bats principally via intraspecific transmission. In recent years, bats have been implicated in over 90% of human rabies cases in the US. In Tennessee, two human cases of rabies have occurred since 1960: one case in 1994 associated with a tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) RABV variant and another in 2002 associated with the tricolored/silver-haired bat (P. subflavus/ Lasionycteris noctivagans) RABV variant. From 1996 to 2010, 2,039 bats were submitted for rabies testing in Tennessee. Among 1,943 bats in satisfactory condition for testing and with a …

Mechanisms Of Antimicrobial Resistant Salmonella Enterica Transmission Associated With Starling–Livestock Interactions, James C. Carlson, Doreene R. Hyatt, Jeremy W. Ellis, David R. Pipkin, Anna M. Mangan, Michael Russell, Denise S. Bolte, Richard M. Engeman, Thomas J. Deliberto, George M. Linz

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bird–livestock interactions have been implicated as potential sources for bacteria within concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO). European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in particular are known to contaminate cattle feed and water with Salmonella enterica through their fecal waste.We propose that fecal waste is not the only mechanisms through which starlings introduce S. enterica to CAFO. The goal of this study was to assess if starlings can mechanically move S. enterica. We define mechanical movement as the transportation of media containing S. enterica, on the exterior of starlings within CAFO.We collected 100 starlings and obtained external wash and gastrointestinal tract (GI) samples. …

Network Analysis Of Host–Virus Communities In Bats And Rodents Reveals Determinants Of Cross-Species Transmission, Angela D. Luis, Thomas J. O'Shea, David T.S. Hayman, James L.N. Wood, Andrew A. Cunningham, Amy T. Gilbert, James N. Mills, Colleen T. Webb

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bats are natural reservoirs of several important emerging viruses. Cross-species transmission appears to be quite common among bats, which may contribute to their unique reservoir potential. Therefore, understanding the importance of bats as reservoirs requires examining them in a community context rather than concentrating on individual species. Here, we use a network approach to identify ecological and biological correlates of cross-species virus transmission in bats and rodents, another important host group. We show that given our current knowledge the bat viral sharing network is more connected than the rodent network, suggesting viruses may pass more easily between bat species. We …

Modeling And Mapping The Probability Of Occurrence Of Invasive Wild Pigs Across The Contiguous United States, Meredith L. Mcclure, Christopher L. Burdett, Matthew L. Farnsworth, Mark W. Lutman, David M. Theobald, Philip D. Riggs, Daniel A. Grear, Ryan S. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa), also known as wild swine, feral pigs, or feral hogs, are one of the most widespread and successful invasive species around the world. Wild pigs have been linked to extensive and costly agricultural damage and present a serious threat to plant and animal communities due to their rooting behavior and omnivorous diet. We modeled the current distribution of wild pigs in the United States to better understand the physiological and ecological factors that may determine their invasive potential and to guide future study and eradication efforts. Using national-scale wild pig occurrence data reported between 1982 and …

Efficacy Of Potential Chemical Control Compounds For Removing Invasive American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana), Gary W. Witmer, Nathan P. Snow, Rachael S. Moulton

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive American bullfrogs [Rana catesbeiana (Lithobates catesbeianus)] are outcompeting and predating on native biota and contributing to reductions in biodiversity worldwide. Current methods for controlling American bullfrogs are incapable of stopping their expansion, thus more cost-effective and broadly applicable methods are needed. Although chemical control compounds have been identified as effective for removing other invasive amphibians, none have been tested for American bullfrogs. Our objective was to expand on previous research and test the efficacy of 10 potential chemical control compounds for removing invasive American bullfrogs. After a dermal spray-application of 4 ml, we found 3 compounds (i.e., chloroxylenol, rotenone …

Novel Eurasian Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A H5 Viruses In Wild Birds, Washington, Usa, 2014, Hon S. Ip, Mia Kim Torchetti, Rocio Crespo, Paul Kohrs, Paul Debruyn, Kristin G. Mansfield, Timothy Baszler, Lyndon Badcoe, Barbara Bodenstein, Valerie Shearn-Bochsler, Mary Lea Killian, Janice C. Pedersen, Nichole Hines, Thomas Gidlewski, Thomas J. Deliberto, Jonathan M. Sleeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The novel Eurasian lineage clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) virus (http://www.who.int/influenza/gisrs_laboratory/h5_nomenclature_clade2344/en/) spread rapidly and globally during 2014, substantially affecting poultry populations. The first outbreaks were reported during January 2014 in chickens and domestic ducks in South Korea and subsequently in China and Japan (1–4), reaching Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom by November 2014 and Italy in early December 2014 (5). Also in November 2014, a novel HPAI H5N2 virus was reported in outbreaks on chicken and turkey farms in Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada (5). This H5N2 influenza virus is a reassortant that contains the …

Human–Carnivore Interactions: Lessons Learned From Communities In The American West, Julie K. Young, Zhao Ma, Ann Laudati, Joel Berger

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Types, causes, and intensity of human–carnivore interactions are related to historical context, management policy, and human perception. We used four rural communities in the American West with varying histories and management policies to assess the complexities of human–carnivore interactions and to determine factors influencing individual willingness to coexist with carnivores. By analyzing focus group and interview data from 49 community members, we found that human perceptions towards carnivores and their management were influenced by self-perceived knowledge about carnivores, ability to be heard and have a voice in management decisions, and economic concerns rather than ecological factors. Willingness to coexist with …

Cascading Effects Of Canopy Opening And Debris Deposition From A Large-Scale Hurricane Experiment In A Tropical Rain Forest, Aaron B. Shiels, Grizelle Gonzalez, D. Jean Lodge, Michael R. Willig, Jess K. Zimmerman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Intense hurricanes disturb many tropical forests, but the key mechanisms driving post-hurricane forest changes are not fully understood. In Puerto Rico, we used a replicated factorial experiment to determine the mechanisms of forest change associated with canopy openness and organic matter (debris) addition. Cascading effects from canopy openness accounted for most of the shifts in the forest biota and biotic processes, which included increased plant recruitment and richness, as well as the decreased abundance and diversity of several animal groups. Canopy opening decreased litterfall and litter moisture, thereby inhibiting lignin-degrading fungi, which slowed decomposition. Debris addition temporarily increased tree basal …

Evaluation Of Rhodamine B As A Biomarker For Assessing Bait Acceptance In Wild Pigs, James Beasley, Sarah C. Webster, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., Fred L. Cunningham

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Worldwide, there is growing interest in the use of pharmaceutical baits to control populations of wild pigs (Sus scrofa). In this study we evaluated the utility of Rhodamine B (RB), a chemical marker commonly used in wildlife research and management, as a potential biomarker for quantifying bait uptake in wild pigs. Thirty wild pigs were live-trapped, transported to a captive facility on the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site located in South Carolina, USA, during autumn 2013, and administered RB orally at a dosage of 30mg/kg. Eight vibrissae and guard hairs were collected pre- and post-RB exposure (7 …

Evaluation Of 9,10 Anthraquinone Application To Pre-Seed Set Sunflowers For Repelling Blackbirds, Megan D. Niner, George M. Linz, Mark E. Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Most nonlethal methods available for reducing blackbird (Icteridae) damage to sunflowers rely on fright responses (e.g., propane cannons, distress calls, pyrotechnics, raptor silhouettes) that birds quickly learn to ignore. Chemicals that cause taste or feeding aversions have potential to overcome the spatial and behavioral limitations of frightening methods. Anthraquinone (AQ) is an effective feeding repellent as a seed treatment to deter birds from eating freshly planted grains. In the United States, foliar application of AQ is not permitted on food crops except on small experimental plots. In August 2013, we applied 37.4 L/ha of an aqueous mix consisting of 15.1 …