Animal Sciences Commons^™

In The News, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Brown Treesnakes: A Potential Invasive Species For The United States, Samantha Sue Kahl, Scott E. Henke, Marc A. Hall, David K. Britton

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Brown treesnakes (ˆ) are mildly venomous, exotic snakes that have the potential to become an invasive species in North America, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The snake is native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and other islands of northern and western Melanesia. The snakes were first found outside their native range on Guam in 1953. The exact date they reached the island is uncertain, but they are believed to have arrived on military cargo transport vessels some time during or just after World War II. During the years that followed, the population of brown …

Examining A Potential Brown Treesnake Transport Pathway: Shipments From Guam, Samantha Sue Kahl, Scott E. Henke, Marc A. Hall, Andrea R. Litt, Gad Perry, David K. Britton

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Shipments of cargo and household goods have been identified as pathways for brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) transport from Guam to other locations. We analyzed data regarding shipments of military household goods leaving Guam during 2006 to 2009 to identify the potential for human transport of brown treesnakes to the United States by determining when shipments most commonly occur and identifying primary receiving areas. We found that the number of shipments was highest during the months of May and June and that California receives more shipments (23% of total shipments) than any other location. Approximately 98% of shipments originated …

Efficacy Of Aerial Broadcast Baiting In Reducing Brown Treesnake Numbers, Larry Clark, Peter J. Savarie

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) is an invasive predator that was introduced on Guam as a stowaway in cargo after World War II. Since then, the population has exploded, attaining 50 to 100 snakes per ha in some areas. The snake has caused the extirpation of ten of the 12 native forest bird species on Guam. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, has a program to deter the spread of snakes from Guam to other islands. Hand capture from fences, trapping, toxic bait stations, and canine inspection of outbound cargo methods are used in the control program …

Factors Influencing Survival Of Desert Mule Deer In The Greater San Andres Mountains, New Mexico, Louis C. Bender, Brock D. Hoenes, Cristina L. Rodden

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Mule deer numbers have declined precipitously in the San Andres Mountains of southcentral New Mexico. To assess reasons for population declines, we monitored condition, survival, and causes of mortality for a range of 37 to 64 radio-collared, >1.5-year-old female mule deer annually, and a range of 14 to 31 radio-collared, >1.5-year-old male mule deer annually from 2003 to 2009, and modeled environmental factors affecting survival. We found annual survival rates of 0.74 to 0.86 for females and 0.74 to 0.92 for males, rates that were similar among years within sexes. Causes of mortality for 50 radio-collared females and 22 radio-collared …

A Model To Predict The Likelihood Of Cliff Swallow Nesting On Highway Structures In Northern California, Robert W. Coates, Michael Delwiche, W. Paul Gorenzel, Terrell P. Salmon

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) are colonially breeding migratory birds that frequently nest on highway structures. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, people cannot harm swallows or their active nests. This restriction causes problems and delays for construction and maintenance divisions of many departments of transportation. In planning future projects, it would be useful for these divisions to have a habitat selection model that can predict the likelihood of cliff swallow nesting on a particular highway structure. We used logistic regression on data collected from 206 highway structures and 2 different land cover data sets to develop …

Sterilization As An Alternative Deer Control Technique: A Review, Jason R. Boulanger, Paul D. Curtis, Evan G. Cooch, Anthony J. Denicola

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Burgeoning white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations in suburban landscapes continue to impact communities and challenge natural resource managers. Increased deer-related damage to vegetation, ecosystems, and automobiles can exceed the tolerance of local stakeholders. We provide an overview of the potential efficacy of using surgical sterilization to help manage populations and conflicts associated with locally overabundant white-tailed deer populations. We review theoretical and fi eld studies pertaining to deer sterilization, and provide research priorities to help guide future sterilization efforts. Recent fi eld studies suggest that sterilization of female deer remains expensive, at approximately $1,000 per surgery. Sterilization may …

Bird Consumption Of Sweet And Tart Cherries, Catherine A. Lindell, Rachael A. Eaton, Erin M. Lizotte, Nikki L. Rothwell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Identifying species responsible for crop damage is an important first step in developing management strategies. Previous studies have surveyed bird species flying through cherry orchards but have not documented which species were consuming cherries. We conducted traditional surveys and behavioral observations in orchards of sweet cherries (Prunus avium) and tart cherries (Prunus cerasus) in Michigan during 2010 to compare results from the 2 techniques. American robins (Turdus migratorius) were detected most frequently during sweet cherry surveys, while behavioral observations showed that cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) consumed more sweet cherries than did robins. …

An Investigation Into The Use Of Road Drainage Structures By Wildlife In Maryland, Usa, James L. Sparks Jr., J. Edward Gates

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Culverts have been installed beneath roadways for drainage or to contain existing streams; however, most of them have not been installed to facilitate the passage of wildlife. Prior studies of existing drainage structures used by wildlife have been narrow in scope, targeting a restricted number of culverts, time periods, or locales. Use of culverts by wildlife has been postulated to promote connectivity of fragmented populations and their habitats and to reduce roadkills. We monitored 265 culverts located throughout Maryland, USA, with game cameras in all seasons and in every physiographic province. Our objectives were to identify those species using culverts …

Mixed-Breed Guarding Dogs Reduce Conflict Between Goat Herders And Native Carnivores In Patagonia, Alejandro González, Andrés Novaro, Martín Funes, Oscar Pailacura, María Jose Bolgeri, Susan Walker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Goat husbandry is the main rural livelihood in the northern Patagonian steppe of Argentina, and herders kill any carnivore that they believe threatens their herds, including the endangered Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita). We evaluated the use of local, mediumsized, mixed-breed guarding dogs to reduce predation and retaliatory killing of carnivores. We interviewed 64 herders, and delivered 37 puppies to 25 herders. Most economic loss was attributed to cougars (Puma concolor) and culpeos (Lycalopex culpaeus). All herders with dogs that reached the working stage reported reduced rates of predation, and 88% reported that they no …

Commentary: Wildlife Management Professionals Need To Redefine The Terms: Lethal Control, Nonlethal Control, And Live Trap, Stephen M. Vantassel

Human–Wildlife Interactions

I argue that the terms lethal control, nonlethal control, and live trap are no longer sufficiently precise for continued use in the scientific community. Their continued use confuses the public and allows animal protectionists to use them as cudgels in political discourse. Alternative terms are recommended to resolve the semantic and subsequent political issues surrounding the traditional terms.

Effects Of Hikers And Boats On Tule Elk Behavior In A National Park Wilderness Area, Benjamin H. Becker, Christopher M. Moi, Thomas J. Maguire, Robert Atkinson, Natalie B. Gates

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human disturbance of wildlife may cause disruption of normal feeding, resting, reproduction, or care for juveniles. Such disturbance may be particularly undesirable in federally managed wilderness areas designed to minimize human influences on natural resources. We recorded tule elk (Cervus elephus nannodes) responses (standing, walking away, running) to off-trail hikers, off-shore boats, and other natural and anthropogenic factors in Point Reyes National Seashore in northern California during 2002 to 2008. Most disturbance behaviors were related to other elk exhibiting rutting behaviors, but off-trail hikers still explained a 100% increase and off-shore boats a 15% increase in baseline disturbance …

Chemical Defense In The Cave-Dwelling Millipede Brachydesmus Troglobius Daday, 1889 (Diplopoda, Polydesmidae), Slobodan E. Makarov, Ljubodrag V. Vujisić, Božidar P. M. Ćurčić, Bojan S. Ilić, Vele V. Tešević, Vlatka E. Vajs, Ivan M. Vučković, Bojan M. Mitić, Luka R. Lučić, Iris Ž. Đorđević

International Journal of Speleology

The troglomorphic millipede Brachydesmus troglobius Daday, 1889 (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae) secretes allomones from glands on both lateral surfaces of its body segments. The secretion was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis with electron and chemical ionization, and was shown to be composed of a mixture of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzoylnitrile, benzoic acid and mandelonitrile benzoate. Hydrogen cyanide was qualitatively identified by the picric acid test. This is the first identification of these compounds in a cave-dwelling polydesmid.

The World’S Deepest Subterranean Community - Krubera-Voronja Cave (Western Caucasus), Alberto Sendra, Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

International Journal of Speleology

Subsurface biota extends over a wide variety of habitats that can be spatially interconnected. The largest communities of this subsurface biota inhabit cavities and are well known mainly in caves where biologists are able to have access. Data about deep subterranean communities and arthropods living under one thousand meters was unknown.

An expedition to world’s deepest cave, Krubera-Voronja in Western Caucasus, revealed an interesting subterranean community, living below 2000 meters and represented by more than 12 species of arthropods, including several new species for science. This deep cave biota is composed of troglobionts and also epigean species, that can penetrate …