Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Utah State University's Academic Program In Wildlife Damage Management, Michael R. Conover, Raymond D. Dueser, Frederick F. Knowlton, Joseph A. Chapman

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Every wildlife species has positive values or benefits it provides to society. Some people enjoy hunting, while others enjoy watching and hearing wildlife; still other people derive pleasure simply knowing animals exist free from human dependency (King 1947, Ehrenfeld 1976, Steinhoff 1978). Each species also has negative values (Decker and Purdy 1988) associated with adverse impacts, such as property damage, damage to agricultural crops, predation on other valuable species, or simply being a nuisance. For any location and point in time, the net value of any wildlife resource is the sum of all its positive and negative values. The goal …

Wildlife Damage Management In The 90s—Does The Professional Fit The Profession?, Jay B. Mcaninch

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

A recurring theme at animal damage conferences has been the lack of interest in, and recognition of, animal damage management or problem wildlife manage-ment as an important topic in the wildlife profession (Timm 1982; Berryman 1983, 1989; Jones 1983; Miller 1987; San Julian 1989; Schmidt 1989a). This concern has been raised by Animal Damage Control (ADC) workers in urban, suburban, agri-cultural and forested systems and, in fact, can be heard in nearly any landscape in which wildlife are in conflict with people's use of the land. While the scope of these issues involves the largest potential constitu-ency the wildlife profession …

What's In A Name?, Robert S. Cook

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Communication is a vital part of this complex world in which we live. Even with the vast vocabulary that has evolved throughout recorded history, we still often find difficulty in expressing ourselves. As receivers of information, we struggle to grasp what the other person is trying to say. Also, when we speak to others, we struggle for the right words to use so that we can convey to that person exactly what we mean. The words we use and how we use them are very important to us as we communicate with each other. We have all experienced a time …

Social, Political, Legal, And Ethical Aspects Of Wildlife Damage Management, Robert H. Schmidt, Terrell P. Salmon

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Wildlife damage management practices are more influenced by our social environ-ment today than in any other period during history. Change is clearly in the wind, and the scope and range of that change will be defined by the social, legal, political, and ethical constraints determined by all seg-ments of society. By defining the decision-making environment, however, management decisions can be made with a clearer under-standing of potential ramifications and, hopefully, a refinement of uncertain princi-ples that influence management decisions affecting natural resource use (Holling 1978).

Workshop Summary, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The Tenth Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop (GPWDCW) was held 15-18 April 1991 at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska. The goal was to provide a forum for individuals involved in the field of wildlife damage management to discuss new ideas and recent advances in ecology, technology, public education, and policy. The format allowed for interaction and exchange on damage control strategies, priority areas for research, and public information and extension activities. The GPWDCW is 1 of 3 national conferences (including the Vertebrate Pest Conference and the Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference) that deal specifically with wildlife damage management.

Welcome, Irvin T. Omtvedt

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The University of Nebraska is pleased to serve as a co-host for this 10th Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop. We congratulate the planning committee for arranging an excellent program that covers a wide range of important issues and problems relative to wildlife damage management. During the past three years, the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been actively involved in an intensive strategic planning process and this workshop is symbolic of several of our goals. First of all, we are relying on developing new linkages to better serve our clientele and fulfill our role and …

Seasonal And Site Differences In Food Consumed By Double-Crested Cormorants In Arkansas, Albert E. Bivings

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Double-crested cormorants (Phalacro-corax auritus) are a common migrant in Arkansas in the fall and spring. In most years, many linger until freeze-up prior to moving south. In south Arkansas, they may overwinter if climactic conditions are not too severe. Although they were formally year-round residents, there are no current reports of substantial breeding flocks in the state. According to band returns, most cormorants found in Arkansas come from North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba (James and Neal 1986).

Previous investigations by Bivings et al. (1989) and Campo et al. (1988) reported that gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) comprised the …

Consumption Of Zinc Phosphide-Treated, Bromethalin-Treated, And Untreated Oats By Prairie Dogs At Bait Stations, Dallas R. Virchow, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Currently, zinc phosphide is the only toxicant registered in bait formulations for controlling prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.). Zinc phosphide-treated oats has been registered as a rodenticide for control of black-tailed prairie dogs (C. ludovicianus) for decades. However, its efficacy and weatherability have been questioned in recent years (Marsh 1987). In contrast, bromethalin is a relatively new acute rodenticide that has been used as an alternative method of control for anticoagulant-resistant commensal rodents (Spaulding and Jackson 1982). Its activity involves the uncoupling of the oxidative phosphorylation process in the central nervous system mitochondria (Van Lier and Ottosen 1981). Both acute and …

Home Ranges And Movements Of Coyotes In The Northern Chihuahuan Desert, V. W. Howard Jr., Gino G. Delfrate

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The coyote (Canis latrans) is among the most studied animals in North America. Because of its adaptability and success as a predator, the coyote has flourished and is still expanding its range. Coyotes can now be found throughout most of North America and south into Central America (Voight and Berg 1987). Studies in recent years have been extensive to understand the interrelationships of prey and coyotes (Shelton and Klindt 1974, Beckoff and Wells 1981), as well as demographic relationships (Davis et al. 1975, Knowlton and Stoddart 1978, Mitchell 1979, Bowen 1981) and feeding strategies (Todd and Keith 1976, Andelt et …

Vertebrate Impacts On Oak Regeneration In California: A Review Of Management Options, Robert H. Schmidt, Robert M. Timm

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Hardwoods occupy about 25% of the total forest area in California (Bolsinger 1988). Predominant among the hardwoods are oaks (Table 1). Over the past 10 years, concerns have been raised about the ability of some oak woodland stands to replace themselves. These concerns have focused on 2 distinct management dilemmas. The first involves the gradual loss of oak woodland acreage due to human activities. These activities often involve some type of conversion, such as the clearing of trees for rangeland improvement, production agriculture, or residential development (Schmidt and Tietje 1987). The rapid increase in California's population means more pressure on …

The Denver Wildlife Research Center: An Update, Richard D. Curnow

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The Denver Wildlife Research Center (DWRC) has progressed as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in its capability to support the APHIS Animal Damage Control (ADC) program and provide the agency and the public with expanded knowledge and new or alternative tools to reduce wildlife conflicts with agriculture and other human endeavors. As a result of this increased capability, the DWRC conducts research and provides data that conform to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Good Laboratory Practice Standards for pesticide registration and reregistration and to the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Act …

Burrow-Building Strategies And Habitat Use Of Voles In Pacific Northwest Orchards, Leonard R. Askham, James Sipes

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Seidel and Booth (1960) wrote that the "life histories of the genus Microtus are not numerous in the literature." In support of his observation he cited 6 publications, all dated between 1891 and 1953. Since then the literature has exploded with a proliferation of publications. An international literature review recently revealed over 3,500 citations for the genus. When Pitymys and Clethrionomys are included another 350 and 1,880, respectively, were found. Over the last 10 years approximately 3 new publications on voles appeared every 4 days; a significant output for what some would consider such an insignificant species. Most of the …

Implications Of The Animal Rights Movement For Wildlife Damage Management, Alice P. Wywialowski

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Animal rights advocates are a vocal and active segment of the public who are likely to protest the killing of animals to reduce wildlife-caused damage. Wildlife damage management frequently involves killing damage-causing animals. Most media portrayals of wildlife damage management programs emphasize the killing of wildlife, and so inherently evoke a negative response from the public. The goals of this paper are to help wildlife damage managers better understand animal rights advocates and to suggest possible means to reduce conflicts. To meet these goals, the animal rights movement is placed in a historical perspective with regard to the animal welfare …

The Future Of Extension Education Programs In Wildlife Damage Management, James E. Miller

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Almost 10 years ago in October 1981, at the Fifth Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop here in Lincoln, I presented the keynote address to those in attendance entitled, "Wildlife Damage Control and the Cooperative Extension Service" (Miller 1981a). Although a great deal of change has occurred within the Extension System and within other agencies responsible for animal damage control since 1981, the role and responsibility for Extension educational programs in the prevention and control of wildlife damage has not changed significantly. There have been some changes in the audiences requesting assistance and in the manner, delivery mechanisms, and methodologies …

Environmentalism And Animal Welfare: Cornerstones Of Wildlife Damage Management, Rick D. Owens

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

There are two issues which each of us, personally and as professional wildlife biologists, share a belief in, and which are essential to the conduct of our day-to-day wildlife management activities. Unfortunately, because of associated negative implications, we have failed to appropriately acknowledge and receive credit for our concerns regarding these issues. These are the issues of environmentalism and animal welfare. This discussion will serve to clarify what these terms should mean to us, why they should be considered cornerstones of wildlife damage management, and the actions we must take in addressing these issues. It is imperative that we become …

Using Livestock Protection Collars, Dale Rollins

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The Livestock Protection (LP) Collar is the most selective, specific control technique available for removing problem coyotes that are actually attacking livestock. Since its registration several years ago, adoption of this tool has been fairly slow by ranchers in Texas. To facilitate the adoption of this control technology, a broadcast-quality educational videotape was produced to outline common mistakes made by users and to develop better methods for applying the collars. Collar inventor Roy McBride shares his expertise relative to common mistakes and hints for ensuring success with collars. Also, the rationale behind the development of "county collar pools" is discussed. …

Comparison Of Handmade And Molded Rubber Tranquilizer Tabs For Delivering Tranquilizing Materials To Coyotes Captured In Leg-Hold Traps, Doris E. Zemlicka, Kevin J. Bruce

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Leg-hold traps are an important tool in selectively capturing coyotes (Canis latrans) causing agricultural depredations. Because animals captured in leg-hold traps may incur injury and trauma to their feet and legs, there has been growing opposition to use of such traps. Each year, state or federal legislation is proposed to restrict the use of traps and considerable research effort has been devoted to the examination of trap improvements or alternatives. A variety of trap modifications have been suggested to reduce foot injuries and make the technique more generally acceptable, including use of padded jaws (Linhart et al. 1986, Olsen et …

House Sparrow Response To Monofilament Lines At Nest Boxes, Patricia A. Pochop, Ron J. Johnson, Kent M. Eskridge

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

House sparrow (Passer domesti-cus) nesting activities cause problems in and around structures and in nest boxes intended for other species. Previous studies have shown that house sparrows are selectively repelled from feeding sites by monofilament lines spaced 30 or 60 cm apart. The purpose of this study was to determine house spar-row response to lines spaced about 37 cm apart around nest boxes. One hundred forty-six nest boxes were installed, with lines randomly assigned to 73 boxes. All nest boxes were checked approximately every 5 days for nest materials, eggs, nestlings, and fledglings. Successful clutches were record-ed for nests that …

Damage Due To Scent Marking By Eastern Gray And Fox Squirrels, John L. Koprowski

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The stripping of bark by eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) is a serious problem in England with 50 to 100% of the trees damaged in some locations (Shorten 1957). The economic consequences of such damage have resulted in much research (Kenward 1982, 1983; Kenward and Parish 1986); squirrel-induced damage to trees also occurs in North America (Allen 1943, Brenneman 1954) but is rarely of the magnitude observed in England. At least 10 hypotheses (reviewed by Kenward 1983) have been suggested to account for bark-stripping damage including: 1) reduction of tooth wear; 2) uncontrolled gnawing reflex; 3) source of nesting material; …

Efficacy Of Strychnine Eggs For Controlling Franklin Ground Squirrels, George H. Matschke, Paul L. Hegdal, Keith J. Andrews, Richard N. Engeman

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

In February 1985, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established standards for reregistering strychnine for controlling ground squirrels. One standard required efficacy data on strychnine concentrations below those presently registered with the EPA. The 8.0 mg of strychnine per treated egg currently registered in North Dakota (ND820001) for controlling Franklin ground squirrels (Spermophilus franklinii) on waterfowl production areas (WPA's) was included in this standard. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) decided to maintain the strychnine egg registration because this is the only method available for controlling this species on WPA's. In 1986, the Denver Wildlife Research Center (DWRC) conducted laboratory …

Landscape Plants, Forest Trees, And Crops Most Resistant To Mammal Damage: An Overview, Rex E. Marsh

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

To capitalize on mammal-resistant plants, several approaches may be taken. The most common is to select crops not highly prone to mammal damage (i.e., resistant crops). If a generally susceptible crop is to be grown, the more resistant varieties or cultivars of that crop can be selected, if known. An approach that has not received the attention it warrants is the selection of parent stock with resistant characteristics and the selective breeding of useful species to develop strains, hybrids, or cultivars with improved mammal resistance. For several reasons, this latter approach shows the most promise for forest tree species. It …

Adc Program Compliance With The National Environmental Policy Act, Guy E. Connolly

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts a national, cooperative Animal Damage Control (ADC) program for the protection of American agriculture and other resources from wildlife damage. Like all Federal governmental activities, APHIS-ADC must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. This law directs Federal agencies to analyze the environmental impacts of major Federal actions, incorporate environmental considerations into decision making, and generally to mitigate adverse environmental impacts due to governmental activities. NEPA also established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to promulgate regulations for implementing the procedural …

Opening Address:, Kenneth R. Bolen

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Nebraska is a major agricultural state. Nebraska ranks first in the nation in number of cattle on feed and fed cattle marketed, second in cash receipts from all livestock marketing, first in production of Great Northern beans, popcorn and alfalfa meal, and third in corn production. Agriculture is important to the state's economy. Some economists project that one-half of Nebraska workers depend on agriculture and the many related industries for their employment. The annual value of agricultural production in Nebraska is more than 8 billion dollars. Agriculture and wildlife damage problems often go hand-in-hand. We have problems in agricultural situations …

Educating People About Wildlife Damage, Jeffrey S. Green

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Managing the damage that species of wildlife cause to human-owned resources is a legitimate area of specialization in the field of wildlife management. In recent years, wildlife damage management, particularly the Federal government's Animal Damage Control (ADC) program, has come under increased scrutiny and opposition. Reasons for the increased focus on ADC are varied but no doubt center on the fact that some of ADC's activities involve killing animals. Groups opposed to ADC have used the media to gain a following, but the glimpses of ADC they have shown to the public are rarely balanced or objective. Stories usually focus …

Attitudes Of Nebraska Sheep Producers Toward Predators, Dale J. Hafer, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The economy of the State of Nebraska is highly dependent on the agricultural industry. When factors arise that complicate and threaten facets of the industry, those involved, particularly producers, often express a high degree of concern toward those threatening factors. The sheep producers of Nebraska experience this situation with predation. Predators can often cause economic and emotional losses for producers. In 1987, Johnson and Timm estimated that coyotes (Canis latrans) cause $630,000 in damage annually to the sheep industry in Nebraska. Nationally, losses of sheep and lambs to predation is estimated at $21.7 million with coyotes responsible for 63.7% of …

A Matter Of Perspective, Dale Rollins

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Abstract: One's views regarding the relative or absolute merits of predators are largely a matter of individual perspective. Surveys have documented that rural and urban residents differ greatly on the scope of predator problems and methods for predator management. In order to educate the urban public, a broadcast quality videotape was produced that outlines the controversy surrounding predator control in general, and coyote control in particular. This video examines the coyote from the perspective of a sheep rancher, an "environmentalist," and an ecologist. The intent of the program is to neither praise nor condemn the coyote, but to provide the …

Prairie Dog Control: A Computer Model For Prairie Dog Management On Rangelands, Mike K. Cox, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) share rangeland with other wildlife and livestock. The use of public grasslands and private pastures continues to intensify because of multiple-use and economic concerns. Countless prairie dog control programs have been conducted to reduce potential conflicts between livestock grazing and black-tailed prairie dogs. There are many questions regarding prairie dog control on rangeland, such as how prairie dog complexes effect livestock grazing, how quickly or slowly complexes expand and contract, and the cost-effectiveness of prairie dog control when associated with livestock grazing. An interactive computer model was written in BASIC for IBM-compatible personal computers to …

Burrowing Owl Ecology And Suggestions For Minimizing Impacts Of Prairie Dog Control, Martha J. Desmond, Julie A. Savidge

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) are declining throughout much of their range. They were placed on the Audubon Society's Blue List in 1971 and were listed as a Species of Special Concern in 1986. Little information exists on burrowing owl population sizes and causes of population declines appear to be mostly speculation. Although considerable research has been done on burrowing owls in the Western United States, relatively little is known of the burrowing owl population in the Great Plains. In the Great Plains, burrowing owls will nest in abandoned badger (Taxidea taxus) burrows but are most commonly associated with black-tailed prairie …

Effects Of A Visual Barrier Fence On The Behavior And Movements Of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs, Nancy S. Foster-Mcdonald, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Prairie dogs prefer an open view of their surroundings and may abandon an area with visual obstructions. We examined the effects of a visual barrier fence, which had a see-through visibility of 60%, on the foraging, vigilance, and aggressive behaviors of adult female black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in central Nebraska. We expected animals near a visual barrier to spend more time in vigilance and less time foraging. Adult female prairie dogs exposed to a visual barrier spent a greater amount of time foraging and less time in a headbob position than those not exposed to a fence (P = …

Developing A Coordinated Statewide Wildlife Damage Management Research And Extension Education Program, Paul D. Curtis, Daniel J. Decker

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Dealing with the negative side of human-wildlife interactions has become an increasingly important part of wildlife man-agement. This situation is due to a combina-tion of factors: human population growth and urbanization, patterns of land use associ-ated with human activities, and the increase in abundance of some wildlife species that cause problems for people. A broad consen-sus exists among state wildlife agency staff, state agricultural department staff, wildlife extension specialists, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal Damage Control agents, and state Farm Bureau officials that wildlife damage on agricultural lands has increased during the past 30 years, and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) currently …