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Prevalence And Diversity Of Babesia, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia, And Bartonella In Wild And Domestic Carnivores From Zambia, Africa, Brianna M. Williams, Are Berentsen, Barbara C. Shock, Maria Teixiera, Michael R. Dunbar, Matthew S. Becker, Michael J. Yabsley

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A molecular survey was conducted for several hemoparasites of domestic dogs and three species of wild carnivores from two sites in Zambia. Three Babesia spp. were detected including Babesia felis and Babesia leo in lions (Panthera leo) and a Babesia sp. (similar to Babesia lengau) in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and a single lion. All wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and domestic dogs were negative for Babesia. High prevalences for Hepatozoon were noted in all three wild carnivores (38–61 %) and in domestic dogs (13 %). Significantly higher prevalences were noted in hyenas and …

Synergistic Effect Of An Ultraviolet Feeding Cue For An Avianrepellent And Protection Of Agricultural Crops, Scott J. Werner, Shelagh T. Deliberto, Susan E. Pettit, Anna M. Mangan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Application strategies for avian repellents are needed to maintain efficacious repellentconcentrations throughout the period of needed crop protection. We investigated the repellency of an ultraviolet (UV) feeding cue in the absence of postingestive consequences, thecombination of the UV feeding cue and an UV-absorbent, postingestive repellent (i.e., arepellent that causes negative postingestive consequences), and a non-UV feeding cue com-bined with the UV-absorbent, postingestive repellent in red-winged blackbirds (Agelaiusphoeniceus). In the absence of negative postingestive consequences, 0.2% of the UV feed-ing cue (wt/wt) was not aversive relative to untreated food (i.e., baseline preference test; P = 0.1732). Relative to the …

Wintering Ecology Of Adult North American Ospreys, Brian E. Washburn, Mark S. Martell, Richard O. Bierregaard Jr., Charles J. Henny, Brian S. Dorr, Thomas J. Olexa

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

North American Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) typically migrate long distances to their wintering grounds in the tropics. Beyond the general distribution of their wintering range (i.e., the Caribbean, South America, and Central America), very little is known about the wintering ecology of these birds. We used satellite telemetry to determine the duration of wintering period, to examine the characteristics of wintering areas used by Ospreys, and to quantify space use and activity patterns of wintering Ospreys. Adult Ospreys migrated to wintering sites and exhibited high wintering site fidelity among years. Overall, Ospreys wintered on river systems (50.6%) more than …

Human–Osprey Conflicts: Industry, Utilities, Communication, And Transportation, Brian E. Washburn

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Although often perceived as a species of remote settings, Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are highly adaptable and currently are abundant in many urban and suburban landscapes. Living in close proximity to humans, Ospreys often come into conflict with people and several important issues require the attention of and management by natural resource professionals. These include effects on: (1) industry (e.g., foraging at aquaculture facilities), (2) utilities (e.g., nesting on electric utility power poles and transmission towers), (3) communication networks (e.g., nesting on cellular towers), and (4) transportation systems (e.g., risks posed to human health and safety due to Osprey–aircraft …

The Chemical Senses In Birds, Larry Clark, Julie Hagelin, Scott J. Werner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

7.1 CHEMICAL SENSES

The chemical senses generally fall into three categories: chemesthesis (irritation and pain), olfaction (smell), and gustation (taste). Traditionally, the emphasis in describing responsiveness to chemical stimuli has been placed on taste and smell. The reality is more complex. For example, the sensory afferents for chemesthetic perception are in close proximity with olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity and with gustatory receptors in the oral cavity. Because external chemical stimuli can be processed by multiple sensory systems, there has been a great deal of confusion in the literature on the importance of individual sensory modalities. Generally, the principal …

Disease Risks ·Posed By Wild Birds Associated With Agricultural Landscapes, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

There are over 1,400 cataloged human pathogens, with approximately 62% classified as zoonotic (Taylor et aI., 2001). While most evidence of direct transmission of pathogens to humans involves domestic and companion animals, the reservoir for most zoonoses is wildlife, yet there are relatively few well-documented cases for the direct involvement of transmission from wildlife to humans (Kruse et aI., 2004). In part, this absence of evidence reflects the mobility of wildlife, the difficulty in accessing relevant samples, and the smaller number of studies focused on characterizing wildlife pathogens relative to the human and veterinary literature (McDiarmid, 1969; Davies et aI., …

Memory-Based Quantity Discrimination In Coyotes (Canis Latrans), Salif Mahamane, Kevin L. Grunig, Joseph Baker, Julie K. Young, Kerry E. Jordan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Previous research has shown that the ratio between competing quantities of food significantly mediates coyotes‘ (Canis latrans) ability to choose the larger of two food options. These previous findings are consistent with predictions made by Weber‘s Law and indicate that coyotes possess quantity discrimination abilities that are similar to other species. Importantly, coyotes‘ discrimination abilities are similar to domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), indicating that quantitative discrimination may remain stable throughout certain species‘ evolution. However, while previously shown in two domestic dogs, it is unknown whether coyotes possess the ability to discriminate visual quantities from memory. …

Genetic Analysis Of A Bison Bison Herd Derived From The Yellowstone National Park Population, Julia A. Herman, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Natalie D. Halbert, Jack C. Rhyan, M. D. Salman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The objective of this study is to inventory the current genetic diversity of the bison quarantine feasibility study (BQFS) herd originating from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) using previously described microsatellite, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers with the aim to determine the degree, if any, of cattle DNA introgression in this herd. This work can provide an important tool in monitoring and managing bison genetic diversity as brucellosis-free reintroduced herds are re-established throughout the US for conservation purposes. The BQFS composed of 89 Bison bison from YNP that were quarantined and tested to qualify as free of brucellosis in 2006 – …

Environmental Salmonella In Agricultural Fair Poultry Exhibits In Colorado, K. L. Pabilonia, K. J. Cadmus, T. M. Lingus, D. S. Bolte, M. M. Russell, D. C. Van Metre, M. M. Erdman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Salmonella enterica is a common zoonotic pathogen in humans. Transmission typically occurs through consumption of contaminated food products or contact with infected animals, including poultry or their environment. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of Salmonella contamination in the environment in poultry exhibits at agricultural fairs. Samples were collected from cages, feed, floors and tables in the exhibit and cultured for Salmonella. At least one environmental sample was positive for Salmonella in 10 of 11 fairs (91%), and Salmonella was isolated from 28 of 55 environmental samples (50.9%). Eleven different serotypes were detected. Results of …

Finding A Fox: An Evaluation Of Survey Methods To Estimate Abundance Of A Small Desert Carnivore, Steven J. Dempsey, Eric M. Gese, Bryan M. Kluever

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The status of many carnivore species is a growing concern for wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, and the general public. Historically, kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) were classified as abundant and distributed in the desert and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, but is now considered rare throughout its range. Survey methods have been evaluated for kit foxes, but often in populations where abundance is high and there is little consensus on which technique is best to monitor abundance. We conducted a 2-year study to evaluate four survey methods (scat deposition surveys, scent station surveys, spotlight survey, and trapping) for …

Review Of Wildlife Damage Management: Prevention, Problem Solving And Conflict Resolution, Travis L. Devault

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife damage management (WDM) is more challenging than it might seem to the uninitiated. As any reader of Human–Wildlife Interactions knows, there is much more to WDM than trapping nuisance raccoons from attics and applying chemicals to ward off deer from ornamental plants. Although these issues are important (especially if it is your attic or landscaping), WDM also encompasses global problems, such as invasive species, wildlife diseases and zoonoses, wildlife–vehicle collisions, and conservation of rare species in human-dominated landscapes. Further, WDM rests on principles from ecology, physiology, animal behavior, human psychology, and economics, all of which must be understood and …

Effects Of Gonacon Immunocontraceptive Vaccine In Free-Ranging Female Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni), Jenny G. Powers, Ryan J. Monello, Margaret A. Wild, Terry R. Spraker, James P. Gionfriddo, Terry M. Nett, Dan L. Baker

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Duration of efficacy and prevalence of side-effects associated with GonaCon Immunocontraceptive Vaccine (GonaCon) in free-ranging female elk (Cervus elaphus) are unknown. In January 2008, we captured 120 mature female elk in Rocky Mountain National Park (CO, USA), determined pregnancy status, and randomly assigned them to treated (n=60; 1.5 mL of GonaCon) or control (n=60; 1.5 mL of saline) groups. During the following 3 winters we recaptured, collected blood for antibody concentrations, and euthanized 10–20 elk in each group. At necropsy, we determined pregnancy and collected tissues from organs associated with the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. We …

Report To The Chicago Park District On Conflicts With Ring-Billed Gulls And The 2014 Integrated Ring-Billed Gull Damage Management Project, M. L. Bloomquist, J.W. Hartmann, T.G. Guerrant, S. F. Beckerman, R. M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The large ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) population in the City of Chicago has caused various conflicts including general nuisance, property damage, economic losses, and threats to human health and safety. Several studies have shown a relationship between ring-billed gulls and increased levels of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) in nearshore waters. Results of tests for E. coli have led to the issuance of swim advisories at Chicago beaches.

The objectives of the Chicago Ring-billed Gull Damage Management Project were to (1) reduce the local production of ring-billed gulls, (2) reduce the …

Impacts Of Invasive Species On Ecosystem Energy Flow On The Big Island Of Hawai'i: Excuse Me, But Are You Going To Eat That Cane Toad?, Erin F. Abernethy, Kelsey L. Turner, James C. Beasley, Travis L. Devault, William C. Pitt, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Worldwide, it has been estimated that invasive species have negative economic impacts in the billions of dollars, with impacts to island ecosystems being among the most devastating. While it is estimated that the most costly and destabilizing impacts are upon ecosystem functions, such impacts are difficult to quantify monetarily, and exact mechanisms are poorly understood. In particular, the role invasive species play in altering energy flow through ecosystems, specifically regarding the recycling of nutrients associated with carrion, is poorly elucidated for most invasive vertebrates. How invasive amphibians and reptiles, which comprise the majority of the invasive species biomass in island …

Predicted Wildlife Disease-Related Climate Change Impacts Of Specific Concern To Usda Aphis Wildlife Services, Timothy P. Algeo, Richard B. Chipman, Dennis Slate, Jerome E. Freier, Thomas J. Deliberto

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

USDA APHISWildlife Services plans for and responds to a variety of exigencies such as wildlife hazards to aircraft, disease emergence from wildlife translocations, oral rabies vaccine barrier compromises, and extreme weather events. These are often collaborative efforts with state and federal agencies and others. Climate change based in part on fossil fuel use and methane gas emissions has predictable as well as unknown consequences. As a federal leader in wildlife disease research and management, it is incumbent upon Wildlife Services to be current with the scientific literature; assess potential impacts and wildlife disease management intervention needs from predicted climate change …

Comparative Responses To Endocrine Disrupting Compounds In Earlylife Stages Of Atlantic Salmon, Salmo Salar, T. A. Duffy, L. R. Iwanowics, S. D. Mccormick

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are endangered an adromous fish that may be exposed to feminizing endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) during early development, potentially altering physiological capacities, survival and fitness. To assess differential life stage sensitivity to common EDCs, we carried out short-term (4 day) exposures using three doses each of 17 α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17 β-estradiol(E2), and nonylphenol (NP) on four early life stages; embryos, yolk-sac larvae, feeding fry and 1 year old smolts. Differential response was compared using vitellogenin (Vtg, a precursor egg protein) gene transcription. Smolts were also examined for impacts on plasma Vtg, cortisol, thyroid hormones (T_{4 …}

Economic Impact Of The Potential Spread Of Vampire Bats Into South Texas, Aaron M. Anderson, Steven S. Shwiff, Stephanie A. Shwiff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rabies transmitted by the common vampire bat is a major public health concern in subtropical and tropical areas of Latin America, and there is some concern that the species will eventually spread into south Texas. The objective of this study was to estimate the total economic impact of the potential spread of vampire bats into south Texas. Data on livestock populations and values in the relevant counties was combined with expected mortality rates to calculate livestock losses. An IMPLAN model of the regional economy was then used to estimate the secondary impacts experienced by other businesses in the region. These …

Detection And Removal Of Invasive Burmese Pythons: Methods Development Update, Michael L. Avery, John S. Humphrey, Kandy L. Keacher, W. Eddie Bruce

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The invasive Burmese python is a large constrictor snake that is now well established in south Florida. This invasive predator could have major detrimental impacts to native wildlife populations and is a perceived threat to human health and safety. Finding and removing this elusive predator in vast Everglades habitats of wet sawgrass prairies with interspersed hardwood hammocks poses many challenges for biologists and land managers in south Florida, and no single solution is likely to prevail. In ongoing research, we are exploring opportunities to improve detection of this cryptic species using such diverse approaches as environmental DNA, trained detector dogs, …

Blocking And Guiding Adult Sea Lamprey With Pulsed Direct Currentfrom Vertical Electrodes, Nicholas Johnson, Henry Thompson, Christopher Holbrook, John Tix

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

tControlling the invasion front of aquatic nuisance species is of high importance to resource managers. Wetested the hypothesis that adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a destructive invasive species in theLaurentian Great Lakes, would exhibit behavioral avoidance to dual-frequency pulsed direct current gen-erated by vertical electrodes and that the electric field would not injure or kill sea lamprey or non-targetfish. Laboratory and in-stream experiments demonstrated that the electric field blocked sea lampreymigration and directed sea lamprey into traps. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and white sucker(Catostomus commersoni), species that migrate sympatrically with sea lamprey, avoided the electric fieldand had minimal injuries when …

Regulation Of A Putative Corticosteroid, 17,21-Dihydroxypregn-4-Ene,3, 20-One, In Sea Lamprey, Petromyzon Marinus, Sang-Seon Yun, David Close, Brent Roberts, Wes Didier, Satbir Rai, Nicholas Johnson, Scot Libants

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

In higher vertebrates, in response to stress, the hypothalamus produces corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates cells in the anterior pituitary to produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates production of either cortisol (F) or corticosterone (B) by the adrenal tissues. In lampreys, however, neither of these steroids is present. Instead, it has been proposed that the stress steroid is actually 17,21-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (11-deoxycortisol; S). However, there have been no studies yet to determine its mechanism of regulation or site of production. Here we demonstrate that (1) intraperitoneal injections of lamprey-CRH increase plasma S in a dose dependent manner, (2) intraperitoneal …

Husbandry Reports Hand‐Rearing, Growth, And Development Of Common Loon (Gavia Immer) Chicks, Kevin P. Kenow, Melissa S. Meier, Laurie E. Mccoll, Randy K. Hines, Jimmy Pichner, Laura Johnson, James Lyon, Kellie Kroc Scharold, Michael Meyer

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Common loon chicks were reared in captivity in association with studies to evaluate the effects of radiotransmitter implants and to assess the ecological risk of dietary methylmercury. Here we report on hatching and rearing methods used to successfully raise chicks to 105 days of age. We experienced a 91.5% hatch rate, and 89.6% of loon chicks survived to the end of the study at 105 days. Baseline information on observed rates of fish consumption, behavioral development, and growth patterns are provided. Husbandry techniques are provided that should prove valuable to wildlife rehabilitators caring for abandoned or injured loons, and biologists …

Wildlife Damage Management: Changes Over The Last 40 Years And A Look At The Future, Kathleen A. Fagerstone

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Since becoming a wildlife biologist 40 years ago, I have seen many changes. Yet some things have remained the same, like the economic impact of wildlife damage, which was high in 1974 and even higher now. In 2014, the worldwide cost of damage by vertebrate pests to agriculture will exceed $1 billion. The world’s human population has increased at an unprecedented rate, while some wildlife populations have also burgeoned over the past 40 years due to land-use changes and effective management programs. These simultaneous human and wildlife population increases have led to increasing conflicts between humans and wildlife. Nor has …

A Bayesian Network Model For Assessing Natural Estrogen Fate And Transport In A Swine Waste Lagoon, Boknam Lee, Seth W. Kullman, Erin Yost, Michael T. Meyer, Lynn Worley-Davis, C. Michael Williams, Kenneth H. Reckhow

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Commercial swine waste lagoons are regarded as a major reservoir of natural estrogens, which have the potential to produce adverse physiological effects on exposed aquatic organisms and wildlife. However, there remains limited understanding of the complex mechanisms of physical, chemical, and biological processes that govern the fate and transport of natural estrogens within an anaerobic swine lagoon. To improve lagoon management and ultimately help control the offsite transport of these compounds from swine operations, a probabilistic Bayesian network model was developed to assess natural estrogen fate and budget and then compared against data collected from a commercial swine field site. …

Invasive Vertebrate Species And The Challenges Of Management, William C. Pitt, Gary W. Witmer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive vertebrates have had significant effects on native species, ecosystem processes, human health and economies around the world for more than 200 years. However, in the last 30 years, the breadth and impact of invasive species has accelerated with the growth and integration of high speed transportation networks. The effects of many non-native species are often difficult to predict prior to establishment. Current efforts to manage invasive species can be broken into the areas of prevention of introduction and detection of incipient populations, documentation of impacts, and development and implementation of management tools. We address various aspects of these areas …

Prevention And Control Of Wildlife Damage, 5th Edition, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Robert M. Timm, Paul D. Curtis, Dale L. Nolte, Mark E. Tobin, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The book Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage (PCWD) is the award-winning and leading reference in the field. Over 13,000 copies of the 4th edition were sold, and we conservatively estimate that it saves $210 million in resources and $220 million in labor annually. Emerging issues and changes in the field, however, have precipitated the need for a new 5th edition of PCWD. Six editors and over 120 authors are working to create the next edition, which will include 36 new and 77 revised chapters. We anticipate that the 5th edition of PCWD and derivative products will be available as …

Habitat Coupling In A Large Lake System: Delivery Of An Energy Subsidy By An Offshore Planktivore To The Nearshore Zone Of Lake Superior, Jason Stockwell, Daniel Yule, Thomas Hrabik, Michael Sierszen, Edmund Isaac

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

1. We hypothesised that the autumn spawning migration of Lake Superior cisco (Coregonus artedi) provides a resource subsidy, in the form of energy-rich cisco eggs, from the offshore pelagic to the nearshore benthic community over winter, when alternate prey production is likely to be low.

2. We tested this hypothesis using fish and macroinvertebrate surveys, fish population demographics, diet and stable isotope analyses, and bioenergetics modelling.

3. The benthic, congeneric lake whitefish (C. clupeaformis) was a clear beneficiary of cisco spawning. Cisco eggs represented 16% of lake whitefish annual consumption in terms of biomass, but 34% of energy (because of …

Invasive Rodent Ecology, Impacts, And Management With An Emphasis On The United States, Gary W. Witmer, William C. Pitt, Gregg Howald

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Many invasive rodent species have become established in the United States and its territories, both on the mainland and on islands. While most were introduced accidently, some were introduced for food or fur. These rodents have caused serious impacts to native flora and fauna, agriculture, and other resources. They have caused the extinction of many species of birds in insular ecosystems. Although many methods are used to control or eradicate introduced rodents, rodenticides and traps are the main tools. Since the early 1990s, agencies have been eradicating rodents from various islands, primarily for conservation purposes. There have been numerous eradication …

Rat Density On Diego Garcia: Implications For Eradication Feasibility, Scott Vogt, Daniel S. Vice, William C. Pitt, Antenor Nestor Guzman, Ernesto J. Necessario, Are R. Berentsen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Introduced black rats are among the most invasive species to islands worldwide. In addition to agricultural impacts, rats are vectors of disease, cause damage to native flora and fauna, and negatively impact threatened/endangered species. Eradication efforts have met with mixed success. Success or failure of an eradication effort can depend on the population density of the target species, which can influence rodenticide sowing rates. We used snap trapping grids to estimate black rat densities in two different forest types on Diego Garcia: coconut forest and mixed species forest. Individual snap traps baited with fresh coconut were placed every 10 m …

Maintaining Resilience In The Face Of Climate Change, Alejandro E. Camacho, T. Douglas Beard

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Climate change, when combined with more conventional stress from human exploitation, calls into question the capacity of both existing ecological communities and resource management institutions to experience disturbances while substantially retaining their same functions and identities (Zellmer and Gunderson 2009; Ruhl 2011). In other words, the physical and biological effects of climate change raise fundamental challenges to the resilience of natural ecosystems (Gunderson and Holling 2002). Perhaps more importantly, the projected scope of ecological shifts from global climate change-and uncertainty about such changes-significantly stresses the capacity of legal institutions to manage ecosystem change (Camacho 2009). Existing governmental institutions lack the …

Estimating The Total Economic Impact Of Black Bear Peeling In Western Oregon Using Gis And Remi, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii, Anita Morzillo, Aaron M. Anderson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In parts of the Pacific Northwest, black bears emerge from winter dens with depleted fat reserves and feed on mature conifers by stripping bark and consuming sugar-rich sapwood. Peeling by bears affects commercial conifers through direct loss of the tree or degraded log quality at stand harvest. Bears generally peel trees from 15-30 years old in intensively managed forests until preferred foods such as fruits and berries are available, and a single bear can peel several trees per day. Dying trees have a signature red canopy and are detected in annual aerial forest health surveys; however, trees that scar over …