Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Feral Mammal Damage And Control, Philip S. Gipson

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Feral populations of five domestic mammals, dogs (Canis familiaris), house cats (Felis catus), hogs (Sus scrofa), burros (Equus asinus) and horses (Equis caballus), presently occur in North America. At times these animals cause problems, damaging crops or livestock, or competing with livestock and native wildlife for food and living space. Free-living bands of a sixth species, cattle (Bos taurus), formerly occurred in the Southwest. Feral mammals are adaptable, and they have become a permanent part of the fauna in many states. Researchers generally ignored feral mammals in the past, although numerous reports have been published in the past 10 years. …

Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Summary, Philip S. Gipson

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The second Wildlife Damage Control Workshop was a success. Damage control authorities and conservationists shared knowledge and philosophies regarding control objectives, technology and laws. This workshop differed from the first Damage Control Workshop (Henderson 1973) by treating a variety of wildlife damage including problems with nuisance birds and commensal rodents to feral animals, coyotes, and cougars. The first workshop focused on damage caused by coyotes.

4-H And Youth Related Programs, Major L. Boddicker

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The value of a youth oriented wildlife management program is obvious. Youth is an audience with an open mind, often not committed to old errors. With a proper and intensive education program, a strong future impact can be made on the acceptance and success of animal damage control programs. Programs of quality can change a youth's outlook on problem wildlife from one of apathy or intolerance to one of positive management and high damage tolerance.

Table Of Contents, F. Robert Henderson

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Table of Contents

Control Of Wild Animals And Public Opinion, Charles H. Callison

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

In 1957 the noted ornithologist Robert Cushman Murphy and other landowners on Long Island went to court in an effort to enjoin the U.S. Department of Agriculture from the aerial spraying of DDT to "eradicate" the gypsy moth. This event was years before Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring. It may have been the first of the modern environmental law suits, although no one called it that. Certainly it was a forerunner of the modern environmental law organizations, because about ten years later the Environmental Defense Fund, was born, interestingly, in Dr. Murphy's neighborhood on Long Island. EDF's first great task …

Commensal Rodent Damage Control, Robert L. Carlton

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Commensal rats and mice are among the only animals about which no good can be said. Each year rats and mice are estimated to cost the American public over $1 billion. This loss is due to contamination of food stuff, structural damage, etc. To give an idea how these rodents can effect the economic picture, assume a rat will eat 25 pounds of chicken feed per year and foul another 25 pounds to such extent it cannot be used as feed (some estimates are as much as ten times greater). The house mouse will consume about 5 pounds per year. …

How To Handle Problem Skunks, F. Robert Henderson

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

There are two species of skunks in Kansas. The striped skunk is about the size of a large house cat, generally black in color with two white stripes running from the base of the skull to the large bushy tail. Solid black indivduals are known to occur, but only rarely. The spotted skunk is a smaller mammal about the size of a half-grown house cat. The spotted skunk is a more active, agile animal and a good tree climber.

Muskrat Damage Control, James E. Miller

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Muskrat control, like any type of vertebrate pest control, is not an easy task. It requires not only practical effective methods, but a diligent effort, as well. When speaking of muskrat control, we are not implying total eradiction, because, first of all, it would not be possible, and secondly, in most areas other than agricultural croplands, they are not considered a pest.

Sport Hunting As A Method Of Damage Control, L. Boddicker

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Predator damage control is an area of concern to the livestock producer. He is also often the most likely person to choose sport hunting of coyotes as a recreational activity. Sport hunting of problem coyotes can be an effective tool.

Agricultural producers want to know the skills to control depredating wildlife. A high powered rifle, traps, and various related equipment are standard for most livestock production operations.

Through the Extension effort we attempt to help the producer develop wildlife damage control skills. It is also our responsibility to help develop alternatives to aid the livestock producer with persistent wildlife damage …

Crayfish, Leech, And Snail Control

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

We have effective results in controlling crayfish in our ponds using Baytex. Baytex is a higly toxic compound that effects the nervous system of many organisms. Used in small concentrations it will kill crayfish without hurting fish. We use Baytex at 40 ppb. We normally dilute the required amount of chemical with water and then mix it thoroughly in the pond. Leeches can be controlled using Dylox. Masoten is another trade name for dylox. The recommended rate of application is 1/2 ppm. This should be applied in a manner so it is thoroughly mixed in the ground. Recommened treatment for …

Summary, Dan F. Dickneite

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

During this workshop we have heard from some of the leading animal damage control and livestock management specialists in the Great Plains and adjoining states. It appears that western states personnel will likely be involved in wild animal damage control to a greater extent than before as control activities are passed from federal to the separate state agencies--hopefully, with financial assistance for both implementation and research.

There is no widespread agreement on numbers or severity of damage, or on the best damage control techniques to use. What works in one area of the country will not necessarily work in another. …

How Important Are Livestock Management Methods To The Orevention And /Or Reduction Of Losses To Coyotes, Don Good

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Professor.E. K. Faulkner, Extension Sheep Specialist from the University of Wyoming, stated that fencing the range was too expensive to be practical. He indicated that flares, pop-guns, color painting on sheep, and dogs have been used to cut down losses to coyotes but these methods have not been nearly so effective as the use of cyanide guns and 1080. He also indicated that losses to coyotes along with labor problems are the number 1 and 2 reasons for 200 sheepmen going out of the business the past 5 years in the range country. He said that shed lambing or lambing …

Using Population Mechanics In Management Schemes, Frederick F. Knowlton

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

I. Why do we try to manage natural systems?

II. A Wildlife Management Perspective.

III. The challenge of managing carnivores.

IV. Does predation really occur?

V. Historically we have been faced with depredation problems and have been unable to resolve them when and where they arose.

VI. There have been vast changes in public sentiment and values.

VII. Let's look at some biological inputs ( coyotes).

VIII. Additional comments on meeting the problems when and where they occur.

IX. Selected readings.

Extension Wildlife Damage Control In Arkansas, Rocky Lynch

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

With the curtailment of a service type predator control program that existed in Arkansas for 29 years, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 1970 initiated a Nuisance Animal Control Section within the framework of the Commissions' Game Division. This extension - demonstration type wildlife control unit was named such because of the increase in rodent control (beaver and muskrat) within the state. Their numbers were spawned by the habitat inhancement in the delta and timber growing regions of Arkansas.

A Game Biologist visited the Missouri Department of Conservation and observed the technique of their predator control agent. With ideas …

Long Range Objectives Of The Federal Government In Coyote Management, James B. Ruch

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Introduction.

History.

Present Efforts to Change.

Research.

Interim Measures.

1973 Legislation.

State Actions Needed.

Conclusion.

Animal Damage Control In South Dakota, V. Van Ballenberghe

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

South Dakota, like virtually all other states, is subject to economic losses from wildlife depredations. We have been in the government sponsored, animal damage control business perhaps longer than some states - our history dates back to the time of Three-toes and the Custer Wolf. In 1973 we are still in that business, perhaps more intensively than ever before, and we regard animal damage control as one of the most pervasive and difficult to solve wildlife problems facing us.

The Missouri River bisects South Dakota into approximately equal "East River" and "West River" land areas. These differ ecologically, and to …

Extension Wildlife Damage Control In Iowa, Tom Berkley

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Introduction

History

Procedures

Results

Conclusion

Exposure To Media Alternatives, Jack Burke

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Media use should not be a half way activity done after everything else on your mind is taken care of. The key word is commitment--if you are not ready to give proper preparation which includes understand what each (newspaper, radio, TV, etc.) does best, then don't do anything. There is at least a certain minimum quality standard that must be met--anything less and media exposure can hurt you and your program rather than help you. Seek help. Then select the media to fit your time, money and inclination. Example: Even if you don't buy time--television properly done may cost much …

Proceedings Of The Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop- December 1973: Contents

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Cover Pages

Program Planning Committee

Registered Attendance

Preface

Table of Contents

A Brief History Of Extension Predator Control In Missouri, Dan F. Dickneite

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Missouri, like many of its neighbors, has long had to content with complaints of damage caused by predatory wildlife. Unlike some other states, however, in Missouri the control, management, restoration, etc. of all bird, fish and game and other wildlife resources of the state is vested in a Conservation Commission to an exclusive degree. Because of this Constitutional mandate, the Conservation Department in Missouri has been the agency primarily responsible for assisting farmers and ranchers with their various wild animal damage control problems. Poisons and explosive or chemical devices are not legal. This legal prohibition not withstanding, Missouri's relatively dense …

D.C. Background On Predator Control Legislation, Michael Frome

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The tragic fiasco of federal predator control as we have known it is finished. The American people will no longer tolerate it. In this age of environmental concern, the people will not allow their tax dollars to be diverted for such a destructive and wasteful war against living wild creatures for the exclusive benefit of the sheep industry. There is now no turning back to old ways.

Indiscriminate trapping, shooting and poisoning have reduced some of the rarest, most beautiful and superbly adapted species of our wildlife heritage to the brink of extinction, although they consitutue a resource that could …

Kansas Predator Damage Control Program, F. Robert Henderson

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The Extension Division is the off-campus arm of Kansas State University~ a land grant university functioning through 105 county Extension offices involving over 265 county Extension workers that are backed up by some 175 state and area subject matter specialists. Kansas is an agricultural state. The production of livestock in Kansas is an important industry to our state and nation.

Our predator damage control program is an educational effort directed at the goal of reducing livestock losses where possible on individual farms and ranches, in Kansas. Our program has been in existence since 1954. A very important aspect of our …

Preliminary Interpretations Of Coyote Population Mechanics With Some Management Implications, Frederick F. Knowlton

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The need for control of coyote (Canis latrans) depredations and a simultaneous demand for recognition of the aesthetic and ecologic values of the species create a conflict in resource utilization that should be resolved through more intensive management. A coyote population model is proposed from current estimates of density, reproduction, population structure, and mobility. Densities of 0.5 to 1.0 coyote per square mile are frequently suggested, with occasional estimates of 4.0 or more per square mile. Reproductive rates fluctuate as functions of the proportion of females that ovulate, the average number of ova shed, and in utero viabilities. …

The Sport Hunting Of Coyotes, Edward L. Kozicky

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

In an effort to gain some insight into the sport hunting of coyotes in Kansas, Bob Henderson circulated 586 detailed questionnaires and received 228 replies--an excellent voluntary response.

Time does not permit detailed comments on each question and reply. We shall only hit the highlights, and add some editorial comment where it seems appropriate.

It should be remembered that those who took the time to answer the 35 questions were devotees of the sport. This point is emphasized by the fact that of the 225 hunters who responded, 95 have been hunting coyotes for 20 years or more. The next …

Coyote Denning As A Method Of Damage Control, Walden C. Lemm

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The coyote denning operation is a useful method in coyote control, both to control populations and to eliminate problem animals, but a thorough knowledge of coyote behavior prior to and during the denning season is essential for productive results.

Coyotes do not dig their own dens, but enlarge existing holes dug by other animals, often those dug by badgers. Coyote den holes are not difficult to distinguish from holes dug by smaller animals. Being long-legged animals, their den entrances are elongated vertically instead of being round like those of badgers and other short-legged animals.

Coyote Trapping As A Method Of Damage Control, Robert A. Smith

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Purpose of Program

Method

Cost of Service

Conclusion

An Assessment Of The Coyote Problem In The Great Plains States, Dale A. Wade

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

It has now been 21 months since President Nixon's Executive Order #11643 was issued and there has been a complete annual reproductive cycle in the coyote population of the western states without any major influence by chemical controls. The use of mechanical controls, including non-lethal methods, and greater emphasis on removing only specific offending animals has been advocated during this time as a solution where coyotes prey on domestic animals. With this brief look back, what have been the results?

We do not have absolute data on coyote numbers and livestock depredations resulting from this change in coyote management programs. …

Extension Wildlife Damage Control In Colorado, Dale A. Wade

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Wildlife damage control in Colorado may be more varied and difficult than in some other states. Colorado has a widely diversified agricultural, industrial and recreational business base and a great range of human density from the Denver Metropolitan area containing approximately half of the state population to the semi-desert and mountain areas where the population density is extremely low.

Approximately 40 percent of the land is federally owned, much of this in large tracts in the western two-thirds of the state. Privately owned land in this western area is primarily distributed along the more accessible valleys of major drainages. It …