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United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

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Food Habits Of Lesser Scaup (Aythya Affinis) Occupying Baitfish Aquaculture Facilities In Arkansas, David E. Wooten, Scott J. Werner Mar 2004

Food Habits Of Lesser Scaup (Aythya Affinis) Occupying Baitfish Aquaculture Facilities In Arkansas, David E. Wooten, Scott J. Werner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), medium-sized black and white diving ducks, were collected at Arkansas baitfish farms during November-December 1999 (N = 33), January-February 2000 (N = 39), and March-April 2000 (N = 22) to determine seasonal differences in their diet and their relative impact to baitfish production. The mass of gastrointestinal contents was used to determine the proportion of each diet item relative to all items recovered during stomach analyses. Chironomids were the primary food item recovered. Ten of 94 (10.6%) scaup contained identifiable fish biomass. Fish bones and otoliths were found in an additional …

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Habitat Associations Of Gopher Tortoise Burrows On Industrial Timberlands, Jeanne C. Jones, Brian S. Dorr Feb 2004

Habitat Associations Of Gopher Tortoise Burrows On Industrial Timberlands, Jeanne C. Jones, Brian S. Dorr

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The western population of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1987 due to extensive population declines. Declines have been linked to site conversion of native pine (Pinus spp.) forests for urban development, agriculture, and commercial forest management. We conducted surveys to detect tortoise burrows on corporate timberlands in southern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama during summer 1994. We surveyed 2,759 0.5-ha strip transects on soil types of 9 different suitability categories for gopher tortoises. We found 460 active and 264 abandoned burrows on the 1,380 ha surveyed. Edaphic and …

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Biology And Culture Of Channel Catfish, James F. Glahn, D. Tommy King Feb 2004

Biology And Culture Of Channel Catfish, James F. Glahn, D. Tommy King

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A survey of catfish producers by the United States Department of Agriculture. Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) in 1996 indicated that the two primary sources of catfish losses in commercial operations were disease (45%) and wildlife (37%) (CEAH 1997a) . A variety of avian and mammalian predators are attracted to aquaculture facilities in the United States (Parkhurst et a1 . 1992) because ponds and open raceways provide a constant and readily accessible food supply for these animals . However. the mere presence of these predators around aquaculture facilities does not necessarily mean that significant depredation problems are occurring …

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Coyotes In Yellowstone National Park: The Influence Of Dominance On Foraging, Territoriality, And Fitness, Eric M. Gese Feb 2004

Coyotes In Yellowstone National Park: The Influence Of Dominance On Foraging, Territoriality, And Fitness, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The coyote, is an opportunistic, generalist predator that has expanded its distribution to most of North America and is probably one of the most widely researched canids. Yet, its typically nocturnal, secretive behavior mean there have been only two studies-both in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming-based on direct observation of wild coyotes (Camenzind 1978b; Bekoff and Wells 1986). The coyote population in YNP has not been persecuted for several decades, and thus is tolerant of humans to an extent that has facilitated our studies of how coyotes deal with fluctuations in temperature, snow depth, snow-pack hardness, and food availability (e.g. …

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Avoidance Of Plant Secondary Compounds By European Starlings: Citronellyls, Arla G. Hile Feb 2004

Avoidance Of Plant Secondary Compounds By European Starlings: Citronellyls, Arla G. Hile

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

There is an ongoing need for nonlethal and environmentally safe vertebrate repellents for a variety of uses. One promising source of candidate repellents is plant secondary compounds, many of which have evolved to defend against invertebrate herbivory. In this study I tested six citronellyl compounds that are used in the human flavor and fragrance industry. Testing was conducted with an invasive and exotic avian pest species in North America, the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). All six compounds tested were highly repellent to the birds and repellency was similar across treatment days. A dose–response experiment revealed that two of …

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Leptospirosis In The Azores: The Rodent Connection, Gary W. Witmer, Hernani Martins, Lidia Flor Feb 2004

Leptospirosis In The Azores: The Rodent Connection, Gary W. Witmer, Hernani Martins, Lidia Flor

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Azores are Portuguese islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. The culture is very agrarian with a large cattle industry. Unfortunately, there is a chronic leptospirosis problem within the people, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife of the Azores. Introduced rodents play a significant role as maintenance hosts of this disease. We review the situation and make recommendations for reducing the occurrence and hazard of leptospirosis in the Azores. Areas addressed include the need for a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease and the role of rodents, development of an effective rodent control program, improvements in farm practices and …

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Non-Target Hazard To Ring-Necked Pheasants From Zinc Phosphide Use In Northern California Agricultural Areas, Craig A. Ramey, Jean B. Bourassa, Michael S. Furuta Feb 2004

Non-Target Hazard To Ring-Necked Pheasants From Zinc Phosphide Use In Northern California Agricultural Areas, Craig A. Ramey, Jean B. Bourassa, Michael S. Furuta

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) conducted a field study to determine hazards to non-target gallinaceous birds following the use of 2.0% zinc phosphide (Zn,P2) baits for vole control in fall alfalfa. Consultation among the NWRC, USDA Wildlife Services, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the California Department of Fish and Game produced a 3-phased study. Free-ranging ring-necked pheasants and California quail were studied in alfalfa during the concurrent harvest of other agricultural crops. These data would be used by CDFA to support the re registration of their label "Rodent Bait Zinc …

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West Nile Virus: Impact On Crow Populations In The United States, Robert G. Mclean Feb 2004

West Nile Virus: Impact On Crow Populations In The United States, Robert G. Mclean

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Since the introduction of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus (WNV) into New York City (NYC) in 1999, it has expanded westward across the North American continent in an unprecedented fashion, taking in its wake hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of native and exotic birds. Corvid species, particularly the American crow, are particularly susceptible to this virulent strain of virus and have died dramatically during the summer virus transmission season. Experimental studies have shown that the fatality rate from WNV infection in American crows is nearly 100%. This mortality in crows and other corvids was used as a sensitive sentinel …

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Operational Field Evaluation Of A Plastic Bulb Reservoir As A Tranquilizer Trap Device For Delivering Propiopromazine Hydrochloride To Feral Dogs, Coyotes, And Gray Wolves, Peter J. Savarie, Daniel S. Vice, Layne Bangerter, Kevin Dustin, William J. Paul, Thomas M. Primus, F. Sherman Blom Feb 2004

Operational Field Evaluation Of A Plastic Bulb Reservoir As A Tranquilizer Trap Device For Delivering Propiopromazine Hydrochloride To Feral Dogs, Coyotes, And Gray Wolves, Peter J. Savarie, Daniel S. Vice, Layne Bangerter, Kevin Dustin, William J. Paul, Thomas M. Primus, F. Sherman Blom

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We evaluated a polyethylene bulb reservoir fabricated at the Pocatello Supply Depot, Pocatello, Idaho, as a potential cost savings replacement for the McBride lubber device that is used as a tranquilizer trap device (TTD). The polyethylene devices, also called pipette TTDs, were formulated with 0.6 g of propiopromazine hydrochloride (PPZH) and 0.4 g of ascorbic acid, an antioxidant. The pipette bulb was secured to a 1.6 mm-diameter cable and the cable was attached to the trap jaw. TTD testing was conducted during routine operational control under an Investigational New Animal Drug application (INAD 9528) from the U.S. Food and Drug …

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Potential Flotation Devices For Aerial Delivery Of Baits To Brown Treesnakes, Peter J. Savarie, Kenneth L. Tope Feb 2004

Potential Flotation Devices For Aerial Delivery Of Baits To Brown Treesnakes, Peter J. Savarie, Kenneth L. Tope

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Brown treesnakes are exotic invasive predators that have extirpated native forest birds and caused drastic reductions of lizards on Guam. Operational management control methods to contain the snake on Guam include the use of live traps, hand capture from fences, and canine detection. Live traps are also used to depopulate small forest plots. Toxicants offer an additional means for reducing snake populations on small plots. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipe bait stations containing dead neonatal mice (DNM) treated with 80 mg acetaminophen are placed about 1.5 m above the ground in vegetation to reduce exposure to terrestrial scavengers such as …

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Evaluation Of Three Contraceptive Approaches For Population Control In Wild Horses, Gary Killian, Lowell A. Miller, Nancy K. Diehl, Jack Rhyan, David Thain Feb 2004

Evaluation Of Three Contraceptive Approaches For Population Control In Wild Horses, Gary Killian, Lowell A. Miller, Nancy K. Diehl, Jack Rhyan, David Thain

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Overpopulation of feral horses in several western states is an unquestioned problem. Current management strategies of removal and adoption are expensive, logistically challenging, and ineffective as a means of population control. We are testing three long-acting contraceptive approaches on feral Nevada mares. Modified reversible immunocontraceptive vaccines for gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and porcine zona pellucida (F'ZP) (SpayVac), and intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs), are being evaluated to determine: I) their safety and efficacy for preventing pregnancy for multiple years, 2) whether the effects are reversible, and 3) whether there are notable contraindications. Preliminary data after 1 year suggest that IUD- and …

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Eastern Phoebe Uses Elk Hair As A Nesting Material, Nathan W. Seward, John J. Cox, Joshua H. Brown, Jeffery L. Larkin Feb 2004

Eastern Phoebe Uses Elk Hair As A Nesting Material, Nathan W. Seward, John J. Cox, Joshua H. Brown, Jeffery L. Larkin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

On 20 April 2003, we found an active Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) nest located under a capstone rock ledge on a reclaimed mine in Breathitt County, Kentucky. The capstone was one of several clustered together on top of a southwestern slope at 420 m in elevation and was located approximately 100 m from the forest-reclaimed grassland edge. The nest was positioned 2 m off the ground near the ceiling-vertical wall interface. The nest contained three eggs and was comprised of a mosaic of moss, mud, and grasses. The lining of the nest was a mixture of grass and …

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Weight And Age Of Coyotes Captured In Virginia, John M. Houben, J. Russell Mason Feb 2004

Weight And Age Of Coyotes Captured In Virginia, John M. Houben, J. Russell Mason

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We recorded the weight and age of 70 coyotes collected during depredation control efforts in western Virginia. Mean masses for adult male and female coyotes were 16.2 and 13.4 kg, respectively. Juvenile male and female coyotes weighed 14.0 and 13.0 kg, respectively. Regardless of sex, mean mass was greatest between November and January and comparable to that reported for coyotes throughout the eastern United States. Cementum aging indicated that 71% of the coyotes captured were greater than 1 year of age. Numerical trends suggest that age and sex may influence vulnerability to capture.

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GonaconTm, A Versatile Gnrh Contraceptive For A Large Variety Of Pest Animal Problems, Lowell A. Miller, Jack Rhyan, Gary Killian Feb 2004

GonaconTm, A Versatile Gnrh Contraceptive For A Large Variety Of Pest Animal Problems, Lowell A. Miller, Jack Rhyan, Gary Killian

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

As part of the program to develop contraceptive tools to control populations of over-abundant wildlife species, the NWRC has developed a single-injection gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive vaccine, GonaConTM. GonaConTM has been tested and shown to provide contraceptive effects lasting 1-3 years in many pest species including white-tailed deer, domestic and feral pigs, bison, wild horses, cats, dogs, and California ground squirrels. GonaCon contains a GnRH peptide conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin combined with AduVacTM ,an adjuvant also developed at the USDA National Wildlife Research Center. Immunization against GnRH prevents the circulating GnRH from stimulating the release …

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Relative Factor Costs Of Wildlife Rabies Impacts In The U.S., Ray T. Sterner, Ben Sun Feb 2004

Relative Factor Costs Of Wildlife Rabies Impacts In The U.S., Ray T. Sterner, Ben Sun

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A comprehensive cost model of wildlife rabies is presented. A total of 11 factors were viewed to comprise the diverse agricultural, insurance, medical, and veterinary expenses associated with rabies (i.e., pet vaccinations, livestock vaccinations, pet replacements, livestock replacements, pre-exposure prophylaxis for humans, post-exposure prophylaxis for humans, adverse medical reactions, animal control activities, public health charges, quarantine costs, and human death settlements). These factor costs form the basis of potential savings to be gained from rabies control activities. Irrespective of incidence, per unit costs and ranges were found to be greatest for livestock replacement, post-exposure prophylaxis, adverse medical reactions, and human …

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Keynote Address: Breathing Lessons, J. Russell Mason Feb 2004

Keynote Address: Breathing Lessons, J. Russell Mason

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Current issues in wildlife damage management and the protection of human health and safety arise from the successful application of traditional methods by state and federal managers. The paradox is that these same methods are increasingly controversial. Within this constraint, management strategies may be difficult to implement. In California, for example, protecting state-threatened foxes could mean killing federally protected golden eagles. In Utah, restoring Gunnison sage grouse may require the sustained lethal suppression of predator populations unless or until habitat can be restored. The obvious fact is that these are unpopular choices, and special interest groups frequently oppose selective intervention, …

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Contraception Of Bison By Gnrh Vaccine: A Possible Means Of Decreasing Transmission Of Brucellosis In Bison, Lowell A. Miller, Jack C. Rhyan, Mark Drew Feb 2004

Contraception Of Bison By Gnrh Vaccine: A Possible Means Of Decreasing Transmission Of Brucellosis In Bison, Lowell A. Miller, Jack C. Rhyan, Mark Drew

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Preventing pregnancy in brucellosis-infected bison (Bison bison) provides a potential means of preventing transmission of disease. To determine whether a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine was effective in reducing pregnancy in bison and to study the safety of injecting GnRH in pregnant bison, a study was conducted at the Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Health Laboratory in Caldwell, Idaho (USA). Four pregnant and two non-pregnant female bison were given a single injection of GnRH vaccine, and five pregnant adult females were given a sham injection that contained only adjuvant. Three of the GnRH-vaccinated bison that were pregnant at the …

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Fertility Control Of California Ground Squirrels Using Gnrh Immunocontraception, Paul B. Nash, David K. James, Lucia T. Hui, Lowell A. Miller Feb 2004

Fertility Control Of California Ground Squirrels Using Gnrh Immunocontraception, Paul B. Nash, David K. James, Lucia T. Hui, Lowell A. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Population of wildlife, such as California ground squirrels, can grow to the extent that they come in conflict with humans. Contraception is a method of population management under investigation that may be useful in situations where neither leaving the animals uncontrolled nor lethal control are apropos. In this study, we tested the use of a single-injection gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive vaccine in urban California ground squirrels. We monitored the effects of treatment for two breeding seasons. Immunization reduced the proportion of females lactating by 91% the first year and 96% in the second year. Testicular development was inhibited 35% …

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Effects Of Forage Nutritional Quality (Energy And Protein) On Deer Acceptance Of Foods Containing Secondary Metabolites, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Kelly R. Perry, Juan J. Villalba, Frederick D. Provenza Feb 2004

Effects Of Forage Nutritional Quality (Energy And Protein) On Deer Acceptance Of Foods Containing Secondary Metabolites, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Kelly R. Perry, Juan J. Villalba, Frederick D. Provenza

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications


Deer foraging on tree seedlings is recognized as the most widespread detriment to reforestation efforts. Non-lethal approaches to reduce deer damage to seedlings are highly desirable. Avoidance of natural secondary metabolites contained in conifers may provide feasible means to develop non-lethal measures. Other studies have demonstrated that sheep and goats fed diets with high protein-to-energy ratios, or allowed to select between concentrates high in either energy or protein, ate much more of a high-terpene diet and of a high-tannin diet than when they were fed diets high in energy-to-protein ratios. Thus, manipulating foraging options for deer may impact their ability …

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The Role Of Bait Manipulation In The Delivery Of Oral Rabies Vaccine To Skunks, Stacie J. Robinson, Susan M. Jojola, Kurt C. Vercauteren Feb 2004

The Role Of Bait Manipulation In The Delivery Of Oral Rabies Vaccine To Skunks, Stacie J. Robinson, Susan M. Jojola, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control each year occur in wildlife including skunks, raccoons, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Currently, oral rabies vaccination campaigns are employed to immunize coyotes, foxes, and raccoons. Though skunks are vectors of 6 rabies strains, there is currently no effective oral vaccine or delivery system for skunks. More information is needed to determine if baits currently used are sufficiently attractive to skunks, or if the baits are difficult for skunks to handle and consume. We observed bait manipulation by skunks in penned/feeding trials to determine the bait type most conducive …

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Economics In Wildlife Damage Management Studies: Common Problems And Some Solutions, Stephanie A. Shwiff Feb 2004

Economics In Wildlife Damage Management Studies: Common Problems And Some Solutions, Stephanie A. Shwiff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Benefit-cost analysis (BCA) has become a highly useful economic tool to evaluate research and operational efforts in wildlife damage management. At the same time, common problems with BCA can be noted in these studies. These problems include: the absence of present value calculations, the misuse of market vs. non-market valuations, and the improper accounting of benefits and costs. Solutions to these problems are relatively simple but are imperative to the accuracy of the results. This paper outlines a number of common errors in BCA and offers solutions that enhance the use of economics in wildlife damage management studies.

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Using Fatty Acid Profiles To Assess Dietary Intake Of Sunflower In Red-Winged Blackbirds , Randal S. Stahl, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, John J. Johnston Feb 2004

Using Fatty Acid Profiles To Assess Dietary Intake Of Sunflower In Red-Winged Blackbirds , Randal S. Stahl, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In late summer, red-winged blackbirds forage heavily on ripening sunflower crops in the Dakotas. Sunflower achenes have a distinct fatty acid profile that should influence the fatty acid composition in tissues of these buds. To determine if fatty acid composition in tissue could be used as a biomarker indicating dietary history, we fed 18 red-winged blackbirds a sunflower diet for 2 weeks and compared fatty acid profiles in their muscle and liver tissues to a control group of red-winged blackbirds (n = 15) fed a birdseed mix supplemented with safflower seed. Three subjects from each treatment group were sacrificed at …

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Bird Depredations In Uruguayan Vineyards, Ethel N. Rodriguez, Guadalupe Tiscornia, Mark E. Tobin Feb 2004

Bird Depredations In Uruguayan Vineyards, Ethel N. Rodriguez, Guadalupe Tiscornia, Mark E. Tobin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Many species of birds in Uruguay frequent vineyards and damage grapes, both species that are considered crop pests and species that are protected by law because their conservation and protection are desirable. We surveyed 70 farmers in the Department of Canalones, the main grape growing region in Uruguay, to determine their perceptions about the nature and severity of bud depredations and the methods being employed to reduce such damage. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported receiving damage from birds. Bird depredations were considered a serious problem by 58% of respondents, a moderate problem by 19% of respondents, and a minor problem …

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Cervid Disease Research At The National Wildlife Research Center, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Mike Lavelle, Dale L. Nolte, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Jason Gilsdorf Feb 2004

Cervid Disease Research At The National Wildlife Research Center, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Mike Lavelle, Dale L. Nolte, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Jason Gilsdorf

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The realized and perceived threats of cervid diseases have immense implications for federal and state wildlife management agencies, captive cervid ranchers, hunters, and businesses and economies that rely on recreation associated with deer and elk. Therefore, the spread of diseases, primarily chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis, in wild and captive cervids is of great concern. Research is paramount to closing information gaps associated with all aspects of cervid diseases. The Wildlife Disease Research Program of the USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center is engaged in considerable research on cervid diseases. Efforts focus on disease epidemiology, cervid ecology, and …

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Spring Dispersal Patterns Of Red-Winged Blackbirds, Agelaius Phoeniceus, Staging In Eastern South Dakota, H.J. Homan, G. M. Linz, Richard M. Engeman, L.B. Penry Feb 2004

Spring Dispersal Patterns Of Red-Winged Blackbirds, Agelaius Phoeniceus, Staging In Eastern South Dakota, H.J. Homan, G. M. Linz, Richard M. Engeman, L.B. Penry

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are very abundant summer residents throughout the Prairie Pothole Region of central Norht America. In late summer they assemble in post-breeding flocks that cause significant amounts of agricultural damage, particularly in sunflower fields near natal sites. In April 2001, we aerially color-marked ~370,000 Red-winged Blackbirds near Badger, South Dakota (44°48'N, 97°21'W), to determine if migrants staging here were summer residents in sunflower production areas ~350 km to the northwest. We measured patterns of migratory dispersal by collecting birds in 54 randomly selected blocks in the north central U.S. and the Prairie Provinces of Canada. …

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Oral Rabies Vaccine (Orv) Bait Uptake By Striped Skunks: Preliminary Results, Susan M. Jojola, Stacie J. Robinson, Kurt C. Vercauteren Feb 2004

Oral Rabies Vaccine (Orv) Bait Uptake By Striped Skunks: Preliminary Results, Susan M. Jojola, Stacie J. Robinson, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Aerial delivery of rabies vaccine-laden bait is effective and efficient for large-scale vaccination of wildlife. Oral rabies vaccine (ORV) contained in a sachet (or blister pack) inside baits that serve as the mode of delivery currently are used for orally immunizing foxes, raccoons, and coyotes. The technique remains in the vaccine-development stage for oral immunization of skunks. Since skunks are a major vector of the rabies virus, concurrent development of a bait that is sufficiently attractive to skunks would facilitate an immediate mode of delivery once a vaccine is developed. We ran a palatability experiment with different shapes and flavors …

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Could Blackbird Mortality From Avicide Drc-1339 Contribute To Avian Botulism Outbreaks In North Dakota?, Diana R. Goldberg, Michael D. Samuel, Tonie E. Rocke, Kevin M. Johnson, George M. Linz Feb 2004

Could Blackbird Mortality From Avicide Drc-1339 Contribute To Avian Botulism Outbreaks In North Dakota?, Diana R. Goldberg, Michael D. Samuel, Tonie E. Rocke, Kevin M. Johnson, George M. Linz

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Blackbird (family Icteridae) depredation on sunflower (Helianthus annuus) crops in the prairie states of the United States has motivated the proposed use of an avicide, DRC-1339 (3-chloro-4-methylaniline), to decrease their numbers. The resulting mortality of blackbirds at wetland roosts could increase the potential of avian botulism occurring in affected marshes. To assess this possibility, we seeded (artificially placed) blackbird carcasses in selected wetlands in Stutsman County, North Dakota, during August–September 2000 and July–September 2001 to evaluate their rate of decomposition and role in initiating avian botulism outbreaks. We monitored carcasses to determine their persistence, the frequency and amount …

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Dispersal Characteristics Of Swift Foxes, J.F. Kamler, Warren B. Ballard, Eric M. Gese, R.L. Harrison, Seija M. Karki Feb 2004

Dispersal Characteristics Of Swift Foxes, J.F. Kamler, Warren B. Ballard, Eric M. Gese, R.L. Harrison, Seija M. Karki

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

From 1997 to 2001, we monitored movements of 109 adult and 114 juvenile swift foxes, Vulpes velox (Say, 1823), at study sites in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas to determine patterns of dispersal. Significantly more male (93%) than female (58%) juveniles dispersed, and both sexes had similar bimodal dispersal patterns with peaks in September–October and January–February. Adult dispersal occurred more evenly throughout the year, and significantly more male (32%) than female (5%) adults dispersed. Adult males tended to disperse after the death of their mate. Of dispersing foxes with known fates, settlement percentages in new territories were similar between juvenile …

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Cheloniidae (Marine Turtle) Nest Predation, John Woolard, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, John Griner Feb 2004

Cheloniidae (Marine Turtle) Nest Predation, John Woolard, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, John Griner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

On 19 June 2003 at 0217 h, an opossum (Didelphis virginiana) was observed for 10 min while digging into a marine turtle nest and eating 4 eggs on the beach at St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park (SLIPSP) on Jupiter Island, Florida. The predation event was observed using night vision equipment as part of nightly patrols to protect turtle nests from raccoon (Procyon lotor) and armadillo (Dasypus noverncinctus) predation during the nesting season. After verification of an ongoing predation event, the opossum was euthanized and removed. Prior to implementing predator removal on this beach, …

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Vulture-Cattle Interactions At A Central Florida Ranch, John S. Humphrey, Eric A. Tillman, Michael L. Avery Feb 2004

Vulture-Cattle Interactions At A Central Florida Ranch, John S. Humphrey, Eric A. Tillman, Michael L. Avery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Black vulture depredations to newborn livestock, poultry, and other captive animals have been reported from at least 15 states, and during the 1990s, reports of depredations increased annually by an average of 18%. In response to this issue, we initiated a study at Buck Island Ranch of the MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center in central Florida to examine interactions between cattle and vultures. Based on previous reports, we hypothesized that vulture predation selectively targets calves of young, inexperienced cows. To document vulture activity, we conducted point counts of vultures in pastures throughout the ranch from January 2000 to March 2001. During …

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