Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Research And Field Applications Of Contraceptives In White-Tailed Deer, Feral Horses, And Mountain Goats, Robert J. Warren, Richard A. Fayrer-Hosken, Lisa I. Muller, L. Paige Willis, Robin B. Goodloe

Contraception in Wildlife Management

This paper reviews our applications of long-acting implantable steroids and immunocontraceptives in selected wild ungulates. We implanted captive white-tailed deer does with levonorgestrel but did not successfully prevent conception. We also evaluated antisperm immunocontraceptives delivered remotely via biobullet. Does immunized with plasma membrane proteins isolated from deer or porcine sperm showed persistence of antisperm antibody titers for 5 months, but these titers did not cause infertility. Our research also has included applications via biobullet or antigonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), antisperm, and antiporcine zona pellucida (ZP) vaccines in female horses. Although the biobullet was effective in delivering immunocontraceptives at distances of ≤ …