Animal Sciences Commons^™

The National Wildlife Control Training Program, Stephen M. Vantassel, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Paul D. Curtis, Raj Smith

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Although state wildlife agencies allow private individuals to perform wildlife control services, only 14 have meaningful and appropriate training requirements for licensing wildlife control operators (WCOs). We developed a training program called the National Wildlife Control Training Program (NWCTP) to cover the fundamental skills and knowledge required by WCOs. This article explains the development of the NWCTP, its content, and the opportunity it provides for states and federal agencies, private companies, and individuals to train WCOs.

Characterization Of Habitat Attributes Associated With Wild Pig-Vehicle Collision Locations, James C. Beasley, Tracy E. Grazia, Paul E. Johns, John J. Mayer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Over the past decade, the frequency of wild pig (Sus scrofa)-vehicle collisions (WPVCs) and number of human fatalities associated with these accidents in the United States has increased concurrent with the expanding populations of this invasive species. To better understand this widespread and growing human safety threat, we quantified habitat attributes associated with 311WPVC locations involving 370 wild pigs that occurred between 1983 and 2012 at the Savannah River Site in west-central South Carolina. At each collision site we measured the distance to the nearest wetland and stream, as well as the composition of habitats both immediately surrounding …

Efficacy Of Predator Control: Importance Of Space, Time, And Predator Diversity, L. M. Conner, Gail Morris, Lora L. Smith

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Despite having been used for centuries to protect livestock and manage game populations, lethal predator control remains controversial. Several recent reviews of effects of predator control on prey populations concluded that in most cases predator reduction benefited prey populations (e.g., increased prey survival, abundance, or reproduction). However, each review reported a number of cases in which predator reduction had no discernible impact on monitored prey. We suggest that most predator removal efforts can be considered as a spatially structured harvest with non-harvested areas surrounding the predator removal area. As a result, immigration from non-harvested areas permits rapid recovery of predator …

Bird Use Of Solar Arrays At Airports, Travis L. Devault, Thomas W. Seamans, Jason A. Schmidt, Bradley F. Blackwell, Laura A. Tyson, Jerrold L. Belant, Nicole Mooers, Lolita Van Pelt

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recently published guidelines for new solar array installations at airports and several airports have installed solar arrays on their properties. Although an increased reliance on solar energy will likely benefit airports from environmental and economic perspectives, it is unclear how solar arrays, which provide perches and shade, might affect bird use of airport properties. Before wide-scale establishment of solar arrays at airports, they should be studied to determine whether such changes in land use adversely affect aviation safety by increasing risk of bird-aircraft collisions. We studied bird use of five pairs of solar arrays and …

Initial Evidence For The Effectiveness Of Subsonic .308 Ammunition For Use In Wildlife Damage Management, Joe N. Caudell, Michael W. Courtney, Clinton T. Turnage

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The resurgence in popularity of subsonic .30 caliber bullets in 300 Whisper and 300 Blackout has led to the development of bullets that will expand at subsonic velocities. The availability of these bullets has led to questions about the applicability of this caliber for wildlife damage management. We conducted a preliminary investigation to determine the potential of subsonic .30 caliber bullets to quickly incapacitate medium-sized game animals, such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and feral swine (Sus scrofa). We tested several bullets, including Lehigh Defense Maximum Expansion (LDME) bullets, reported to expand at 878 ft/s (268 …

Tactical To Practical: The Human Component Of Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution, George R. Gallagher, Susan Logsdon-Conradsen

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Often the greatest challenge in wildlife management is not the management of the animals themselves, but rather the human component of human-wildlife conflict. Persuasive and emotional dialogue is extensively used by private organizations and groups to promote specific agendas. In contrast, a persuasive educational format is often used by science-based groups to promote an agenda. We investigated the effects and importance of word choice using surveys involving wildlife and environmental issues. While topics were identical, survey questions were written to be Persuasive Educational or Persuasive Emotional in structure and were administered to students and to faculty-staff of Berry College. Based …

Trends In Wildlife Strike Reporting At The New York City Airports After Flight 1549, Jeffrey Kolodzinski, Laura Francoeur

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The number of wildlife strikes reported to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Wildlife Strike Database has significantly increased since US Airways Flight 1549 ditched into the Hudson River after striking a flock of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) while departing from LaGuardia Airport in New York City on January 15, 2009. This event made headlines around the world and had a profound effect on wildlife management at airports. Following the 2009 Miracle on the Hudson, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates five airports in the New York City region, implemented several initiatives to enhance …

The Avma And The Panel On Euthanasia: Key Updates, David S. Miller, Gail C. Golab, Steven L. Leary

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Committees, councils, task forces and similar groups guide the development of policy for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and comprise volunteers with topic- and species specific expertise. The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) oversees the Panel on Euthanasia (POE), which creates the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals (Guidelines).

Although the Guidelines are intended as a reference for veterinarians in the United States, they are recognized as a gold standard by organizations around the world and are prominent in state and federal regulatory frameworks. The Guidelines undergo a major update at least every decade. Recognizing that science and social …

Investing In Wildlife Damage Management Research: Taking The Long View, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Having been both a university researcher and an administrator for a methods development laboratory focused on creating solutions to address human wildlife conflicts, I have acquired an appreciation for multiple perspectives on the role of research in the field of wildlife damage management and have first-hand experience with the never-ending debate over whether to utilize some of our limited resources to invest in wildlife research or to fully use those resources to address the most pressing wildlife issues of the day. This debate is particularly relevant nowadays, for in times of budgetary stress, research of any type often is viewed …

Habitat Use Of Monk Parakeets In Dallas And Tarrant Counties, Texas, Janet E. Reed, Nova J. Silvy, Robert A. Mccleery, Fred E. Smeins, Donald J. Brightsmith

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) are native to South America and were exported as popular caged birds during the legal pet bird trade. Due to accidental and intentional releases, monk parakeets established naturalized, self-sustaining populations in the United States (US). This species is the only member of the parrot family (Psittacidae) that builds large, communal twig nests and uses them for both breeding and roosting year-round. In the US, monk parakeets often construct their nests on anthropogenic structures, most notably electric utility structures. This nesting behavior causes economic damage and management strategies have been unsuccessful addressing this persistent problem. …

Efficacy Of Two Raccoon Eviction Fluids, Stephen M. Vantassel, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Tim L. Hiller

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

According to surveys of wildlife control operators (WCO), problems with raccoons (Procyon lotor) consistently rank among the top complaints for property owners. Among the more serious behaviors of female raccoons is their propensity to invade human-occupied structures to raise young. Distressed property owners frequently respond using lethal means, either on their own or through hiring WCOs. Even if live-captured and legally released, the handling of raccoons may result in injuries and potentially cause females to abandon young. Eviction fluids, developed in the early 1990s, are designed to smell like a male raccoon and therefore cause a nursing raccoon …

Avian Survey Methods For Use On Airports, Bradley F. Blackwell, Paige M. Schmidt, James A. Martin

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Management of wildlife, whether to mitigate damage, enhance safety, or effect conservation goals, requires identification of hazards posed by or to members of a particular species population or guild, and prioritization of management goals. We examined the special problem of managing birds to reduce hazards to aviation, particularly those species known to cause structural damage to aircraft when struck, as well as posing problems to airport facilities. Our objectives were to synthesize sampling theory and methods to provide airport biologists with 1) means to design and implement an avian survey on an airport that will maximize accuracy in quantifying avian …

Field Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Diazacon™ On Reducing Gray Squirrel Reproduction And Population, Kristina M. Dunn, Greg K. Yarrow, Wayne Chao, Brett Quattlebaum

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) (EGS) is a common wildlife species in urban and suburban communities within the eastern United States. Due to their relative adaptability and limited predation in urban environments, their numbers have increased in communities across their natural range resulting in an increase in human-squirrel conflicts. DiazaCon™ is on oral contraceptive that ultimately interferes with production of necessary reproductive steroids. The objectives of this multiyear study are to determine the efficacy of DiazaCon™ in reducing EGS reproduction and monitor potential effects of consumption of treated EGS primarily by Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) on the Clemson University …

Prairie Dog Management And Conservation Benefits, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Thomas D. Halstead, Michael A. Yeary

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Prairie dog management has evolved over the decades and present control efforts are often directed at management zones in support of prairie dog or black-footed ferret conservation. The availability of prairie dog management tools has also evolved. We present the efficacy and practicality of specific methods and provide examples of the conservation benefits of prairie dog management. Potential conflicts between conservation efforts and regulatory efforts of multiple agencies are also discussed.

Why Did The Terrapin Cross The Runway?, Laura Francoeur, Alexandra Kanonik, Russell L. Burke

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) have been nesting at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for decades. In 2009, the airport experienced a surge in terrapin activity that led to closing a portion of a runway. Runway closures may delay aircraft traffic at JFK which in turn can cause a ripple effect with delays at airports across the country. During the months of June and July, the terrapin nesting season coincides with peak travel for aircraft passengers with about 1,200-1,300 aircraft movements per day. The airport began collecting data on terrapins in 2010 to help understand the dynamics. From …

Regulated Commercial Harvest To Manage Overabundant White-Tailed Deer: An Idea To Consider?, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Stephen M. Vantassel, Timothy R. Van Deelen, David Drake

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Dramatic growth in numbers of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and declines in hunter recruitment have challenged our ability to manage deer populations through traditional methods. We surveyed all state wildlife agencies and estimate the current abundance of white-tailed deer in North America exceeds 30 million. States currently are issuing record numbers of permits to hunters to increase harvest of white-tailed deer. Unfortunately, hunter participation has been declining in North America during the past two decades. Traditional methods of population management have been ineffective in reducing numbers of deer sufficiently in some environments. Regulated commercial harvest would help state wildlife agencies …

The Efficacy Of Milorganite® As A Repellent For Ground Hogs, Suzannah Forbes, Alan T. Mulder, Mary Patsimas, George R. Gallagher

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of Milorganite^® as a repellent to mitigate damage on impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) by free-ranging ground hogs (Marmota monax). This biosolid byproduct of an activated sludge processing technique has been suggested as a repellent for a number of species. Three plots were established within 5 m of verified ground hog burrows at a feed and livestock working facility. Each plot consisted of three plastic containers with six impatiens plants per container. At each plot, containers were secured in drainage trays 2 m apart and received a …

Benefits Of Rhodamine B In Monitoring Mammal Populations, Taylor Fraychak

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

When used in non-lethal doses the biomarker Rhodamine B may offer distinct benefits in monitoring and studying animal populations. This orally delivered fluorescent dye has been shown to persist for several months in hair and can be detected by exposing fur samples to specific wavelengths of light. The dye has recently been used to determine consumption of baits for efforts such as vaccination and contraceptive administration. In a project being conducted on the Clemson University campus, Rhodamine B is being used as a biomarker to assess the effectiveness of DiazaCon™ as a contraceptive in gray squirrels. Future research with Rhodamine …

Deer-Activated Bio-Acoustic Frightening Device Deters White-Tailed Deer, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Aaron M. Hildreth, Kurt C. Vercauteren

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) damage urban and suburban plantings as well as crops and stored feed. Public demand for non-lethal control methods is high. Several frightening devices are available for deer, but problems exist with most, including: ease of application, cost, acclimation by animals, and public acceptance. Frightening devices that have the greatest likelihood of being effective incorporate mechanisms triggered by animal activation or bioacoustic alarm or distress calls. We tested the efficacy of a frightening device that played pre-recorded distress calls of adult female white-tailed deer when activated by an infrared motion sensor. Potential benefits of the …

The Efficacy Of Milorganite® As A Repellent For Rabbits, Alan T. Mulder, Mary Patsimas, Suzannah Forbes, George R. Gallagher

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of Milorganite^® as a repellent to mitigate damage on impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) by domestic New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). This biosolid byproduct of an activated sludge processing technique has been suggested as a repellent for a number of species. Three, 4 m square pens were constructed with steel walls and subterranean wire to prevent escape. Two female and one male (2-3 kg) were housed in each pen and provided with shelter, water and 170 g per animal of a complete pellet ration daily. Three …

Effects Of Opportunistic Shooting On Trap Visitation By Wild Pigs, Lindsey M. Phillips, Mark D. Smith, Dana K. Johnson

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a non-native, invasive species that cause in excess of $1.5 billion of damage annually in the United States. Although lethal removal by trapping is oftentimes the most cost- and time-effective means for managing local wild pig populations, many landowners and natural resource professionals implement additional non-trapping techniques such as opportunistic daytime shooting, night shooting, hunting with dogs, and shooting over bait to further enhance removal rates. However, these non-trapping techniques may significantly alter the behavior of wild pigs and subsequently reduce trapping success. Our objective was to provide a preliminary assessment of the …

Operational Field Trial Of A Retrofitted Fence To Mitigate Deer-Vehicle Collisions, James H. Stickles, David A. Osborn, Karl V. Miller, Robert J. Warren

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) are a safety hazard and a significant financial burden for motorists. Ungulate-proof fencing used in combination with safe crossing structures have proven to be effective at mitigating DVCs. Although a 2.4-m fence has been the standard for ungulate-proof fencing, a 1.2-m fence with a 0.6-m outrigger angled at 45^o away from the road and strung with high tensile wire may be a more cost-effective barrier. This design has the additional benefit of working as a one-way barrier, allowing deer to escape the highway if they should become trapped within the fenced right-of-way (ROW). The objective of …

Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus Ater) Response To Pyrotechnics And Lethal Removal In A Controlled Setting, Thomas W. Seamans, Bradley F. Blackwell, Travis L. Devault

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Pyrotechnics have long been used to frighten birds from specific areas but birds might habituate to them. Anecdotal and limited published reports suggest that killing a flock member can reduce habituation. However, little behavioral work has been conducted in this area. We exposed brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) to noise from either 0.22 caliber blanks or 15-mm pyrotechnics in a series of controlled, cage experiments to determine if killing a flock member increased the time that cowbirds respond to pyrotechnics. Cowbirds responded no differently to pyrotechnics following the death of a flock member either before or after habituation to …

Parasites Of Culled Resident And Migratory Double-Crested Cormorants, Kate L. Sheehan, Ron J. Johnson, Greg K. Yarrow

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus: DCCO) is lethally managed in many states because of damage to farmed and recreational fisheries. Because a majority of birds culled in the U.S. are migratory cormorants, parasite assemblages may differ from resident birds, due to the diversity of feeding habitats and prey community assemblages encountered over their geographic range. We used multivariate techniques to identify if distinct assemblages and/or proportions of parasites could be identified at the genus level, among geographically different colonies of DCCO. Additionally, we assess the efficacy of models to predict the foraging location of a cormorant based on …

A Collaborative Integrated Approach To Feral Swine Management In Illinois, Bradley E. Wilson, Timothy S. White, Scott F. Beckerman, Gary E. Potts

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species that now occur throughout much of the United States and cause significant damage to property, agricultural crops, and natural resources. Damages to agricultural crops and natural resources result from their wallowing, rooting, and feeding behaviors. Feral swine also act as vectors for numerous diseases and parasites that pose serious implications for livestock, people, pets, and wildlife. Since 2010, federal and state wildlife management agencies have confirmed the presence of feral swine in a number of counties in Illinois. In an attempt to protect both agricultural interests and natural resources from …

New Rodenticides: An Update On Recent Research Trials, Gary Witmer, Katherine Horak, Rachel Moulton, Roger A. Baldwin

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Rodents cause substantial amounts of damage and losses of foodstuffs around the world. While various methods are used to reduce damage and losses to rodents, rodenticides remain the most important tool in the toolbox. However, like all tools, rodenticides have advantages and disadvantages. Several considerations are shaping the future of rodenticide use. These include manufacturing and registration costs, concern about toxicity levels and non-target animal hazards, potential hazards to children, reduced effectiveness of some formulations, and humaneness to the targeted rodents. While there have been very few new developments in rodenticides in the last several decades, new formulations and active …

Blackbird Population Management To Protect Sunflower: A History, George M. Linz

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) growers in North Dakota and South Dakota harvested 593,522 ha in 2012, valued at $US600 million. Blackbirds, numbering about 75 million, annually damage 2 to 3% of the crop. Damage tends to be clumped around cattail (Typha spp.) dominated wetlands with standing water. In an attempt to reduce sunflower damage, three general population management strategies have been tested over the past three decades. One potential strategy was to reduce blackbird numbers during winter in the southern U.S. A second strategy was to use an avicide at spring roost sites in eastern South Dakota. A …

Management And Attitudes Towards Predators On Quail Plantations In The Southeastern United States, Olivia Souther, Cady Etheredge, Greg K. Yarrow

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Loss of habitat and predation are two of the primary reasons given for recent bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) population declines in the southeastern United States. However, the bobwhite quail remains a favored game species of many hunters throughout the southeastern states, a fact that is reflected in the many private and commercial quail plantations advertising quail hunts. A survey of private and commercial landowners in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida was conducted to determine the significance of predator control programs in the respondents’ management plans. Survey questions aimed to assess the respondents’ attitudes towards predators of bobwhite quail, the …

Lack Of Support For Coyote Control Of Raccoon Populations Predicted By The Mesopredator Release Hypothesis, Cady Etheredge, Greg K. Yarrow

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Predator control programs are often highly criticized for treating predator species in isolation without considering the potential indirect effects of manipulating individual segments of the predator guild. The mesopredator release hypothesis (MRH) in particular predicts strong indirect effects of predator control where mid-sized predators are released from pressure when large-bodied predators are removed from a system. Recent coyote (Canis latrans) colonization of the southeastern United States has prompted speculation on the top-down effects of a new top predator on systems which have gone without a strong predator presence since the extirpation of the red wolf (Canis rufus …

Physiological Level Production Of Antigen-Specific Human Immunoglobulin In Cloned Transchromosomic Cattle, A. Sano, H. Matsushita, H. Wu, J. Jiao, P. Kasinathan, E. J. Sullivan, Z. Wang, Y. Kuroiwa

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Therapeutic human polyclonal antibodies (hpAbs) derived from pooled plasma from human donors are Food and Drug Administration approved biologics used in the treatment of a variety of human diseases. Powered by the natural diversity of immune response, hpAbs are effective in treating diseases caused by complex or quickly-evolving antigens such as viruses. We previously showed that transchromosomic (Tc) cattle carrying a human artificial chromosome (HAC) comprising the entire unrearranged human immunoglobulin heavy-chain (hIGH) and kappa-chain (hIGK) germline loci (named as κHAC) are capable of producing functional hpAbs when both of the bovine immunoglobulin mu heavy-chains, bIGHM and bIGHML1, are homozygously …