Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Simulation Model For Determining Cost-Effectiveness Of Fences For Reducing Deer Damage, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Michael J. Lavelle, Scott E. Hygnstrom

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The installation of fences to protect agricultural products, natural resources, or other areas from deer (Odocoileus spp.) can be expensive and potential benefits of fencing are difficult to quantify. A rational method is needed to help evaluate whether fencing can be cost-effective and which fence designs will be optimal for particular applications. We describe an interactive, dynamic simulation model that conducts economic analyses and predicts economic benefit associated with fences for crops relative to area and perimeter of protected plot, value of crop, percentage of crop damaged by deer annually prior to fencing, efficacy of fence, and costs of fence …

Oxidative Damage Caused By Iron Loading Into Ferritin, Talina Christensen Watts

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Ferritin is the iron storage protein found in humans, animals, plants, fungi and bacteria. We are interested in how iron is loaded and stored in mammalian ferritin. Ferrous iron must be oxidized to ferric iron in order to be stored in ferritin. It is generally believed that ferritin does the loading itself, dependant upon a "ferroxidase activity." Oxidation of iron can result in the production of the hydroxyl radical which can cause oxidative damage to surrounding proteins and other biomolecules. An indicator of oxidative damage to proteins is the formation of carbonyl groups. Using only the H subunit of human …

Height Distribution Of Birds Recorded By Collisions With Civil Aircraft, Richard A. Dolbeer

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The National Wildlife Strike Database for Civil Aviation in the United States contained 38,961 reports of aircraft collisions with birds (bird strikes) from 1990–2004 in which the report indicated the height above ground level (AGL). I analyzed these strike reports to determine the distribution of all strikes and those strikes causing substantial damage to aircraft by height. For the 26% of strikes above 500 feet (152 m) AGL (n=10,143), a simple negative exponential model, with height as the independent variable, explained 99% of the variation in number of bird strikes per 1,000-foot (305-m) interval. Strikes declined consistently by 32% every …

High Speed Flight At Low Altitude: Hazard To Commercial Aviation ?, Paul F. Eschenfelder , Capt.

2005 Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada 7th Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC

Commercial aircraft are capable of, and in fact, do, operate at high speed (>250 knots indicated airspeed [KIAS]) at low altitude (below 10,000’ above ground level) worldwide. Design, construction and certification standards for these aircraft were developed over 40 years ago. Since the development of these standards populations of large flocking birds have increased dramatically in many parts of the world. Yet neither design/construction standards nor operational practice have changed to reflect the new threat. Subsequent serious damage resulting from recent collisions indicates change is necessary. Since 2003, flight rules in Canada and the United States have been amended, …

The Effects Of Lactation On Seedling Damage By Mountain Beaver, Wendy M. Arjo, Dale L. Nolte, Julie L. Harper, Bruce A. Kimball

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The mountain beaver is a semi-fossorial rodent of the Pacific Northwest and is among a variety of herbivores that retard plant growth and cause tree seedling deformities and mortality. Douglas-61 seedlings are planted in the Pacific Northwest from February through March, a period coinciding with mountain beaver parturition. Previous research suggested that in spring, lactating females depend more on conifers than do non-lactating females and males. We conducted experiments to determine if female reproductive condition influenced seedling damage, and if physiological stage of the seedling affected damage. Dormant and flushing trees were offered to 6 pregnant and 6 non-pregnant females …

Nontarget Bird Use Of Drc-1339 Bait Sites During Operational Baiting Programs In Louisiana And Texas, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, John D. Eisemann, Richard M. Engeman

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Nontarget bird use of DRC-1339 bait sites was assessed during operational baiting programs from 2000-2002 in Louisiana and from 2001-2002 in Texas. DRC-1339 is an avicide registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to manage blackbirds causing damage to agriculture. It was used in Louisiana between 15 February to 15 March and in Texas from January though March to protect newly planted rice. In Louisiana, there were 55 bait sites observed during 316 observation periods (158 observation hours) and 312 flush-counts conducted from 2000-2002. In Texas, there were 26 bait sites observed during 182 observation periods (91 observation hours) and …

Development Of A Synthetic Materials Mimic For Vulture Olfaction Research, Richard E. Mauldin, Bruce A. Kimball, John J. Johnston, Jerome C. Hurley, Michael L. Avery

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Since the early 1990's, an increase in damage associated with the activities of black (Coragyps atratus) and turkey (Cathartes aura) vultures has been observed. These activities include extensive damage to real and personal property. Vultures display an affinity for objects made of synthetic materials such as vinyl or plastic, and frequently damage items such as seat cushions, roof shingles, and caulking sealant. To explore whether this behavior in vultures is olfactorily driven, volatile compounds emitted by 21 vulture-damaged objects were collected and analyzed using purge-and-trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results from these analyses were tabulated and the …

Effectiveness Of Frightening Devices For Reducing Deer Damage In Cornfields, Jason M. Gilsdorf

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

No abstract provided.

Damage Liability And Compensation In Case Of Bird Strike, Ante Matijaca

2001 Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada, Third Joint Annual Meeting, Calgary, AB

Most frequently, a bird strike cause damage to aircraft, and, in certain number of cases, a bird strike may have some considerably serious consequences (injuries and death of passengers, crew or third persons on a ground). In the circumstances of damage occurred, one side is entitled to demand a repair or a financial compensation, and the other side is obliged to realise the repair or the payment of the stated sum. The right to file a demand for repair or compensation depends on the result of determination of someone’s liability. In case of bird strike (either with Croatian or foreign …

Dealing With Nuisance And Depredating Black Bears, Gary W. Witmer, Donald G. Whittaker

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are a valued resource in North America but pose many challenges to resource managers. They may be managed in 1 or more ways, including sustained yield harvests, nuisance animal control, or conservation management. Many black bear populations are stable or increasing, and combine with expanding human populations, increased development, and recreational activities, are leading to an increase in human-bear conflicts. Historically, methods such as relocation, general hunting seasons, or special hunts have been used in an effort to reduce bear density and damage, or to target individual offending animals. Many resource managers now operate …

Turkey Damage Survey: A Wildlife Success Story Becoming Another Wildlife Damage Problem, James E. Miller, Brain C. Tefft, Robert E. Eriksen, Mike Gregonis

Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations have been restored and enhanced through introductions and reintroductions in 49 of the 50 states to huntable populations within the last 30 years. Populations are presently estimated to exceed 4 million birds within the United States. In many states, wild turkey habitat includes woodlots interspersed with agricultural lands, and some of the highest known population densities of wild turkeys are found in such areas. This paper will report on existing research, examining perceived versus actual damage caused by wild turkeys. It will also provide information based on a recent survey of biologists from the State …

Suburban Goose Management: Insights From New York State, Bryan L. Swift

Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducted studies in suburban Rockland County, New York during 1993-2000 to help local officials develop strategies to alleviate conflicts associated with local-nesting or "resident" Canada geese {Branta canadensis). Annual counts indicated a relatively stable population of approximately 2,500-3,000 resident geese in the county, far fewer than anecdotal reports suggested. Counts tended to increase in towns where there was little or no goose management, whereas numbers declined in towns with active goose management efforts (i.e., egg-addling, capture and removal, or use of border collies). Egg-addling programs did not result in immediate reduction of …

Damage Abatement And Compensation Programs As Incentives For Wildlife Management On Private Land, Jonathan K. Yoder

Human Conflicts with Wildlife: 2002 Symposium

Public damage abatement and compensation programs may be used to alter private incentives for damage abatement and habitat provision. A model is developed that explains the economic logic behind prevalent characteristics of public wildlife damage programs. The model is supported with an examination of a broad cross-section of wildlife agency policy and law. The model can be used by wildlife managers and policy makers as a conceptual framework for understanding the incentive effects of compensation and abatement policy.

Impacts Of House Mice On Crops In Australia - Costs And Damage, Peter R. Brown, Grant R. Singleton

Human Conflicts with Wildlife: 2002 Symposium

Rodents cause serious losses to crops in many different parts of the world. The house mouse (Mus domesticus, Schwarz and Schwarz 1943) is a serious pest to agriculture in Australia. The impacts of house mouse damage to crops in Australia were examined. Plagues of mice (>1,000 mice/ha) cause enormous economic and social stress to rural communities in Australia. The mouse plague in 1993/94 caused about US$60 million in damage to crops, intensive livestock industries, and rural communities. The impact of mouse plagues is generally well understood, but there is a dearth of knowledge about the relationship between …

Development Of A Model To Assess Rodent Control In Swine Facilities, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Robert M. Timm, Robert M. Corrigan, John Beller, Larry L. Bitney, Michael C. Brumm, Daniel Meyer, Dallas R. Virchow, Robert W. Wills

Human Conflicts with Wildlife: 2002 Symposium

At the request, and with the support, of the National Pork Producers Council we are conducting a comprehensive economic analysis of rodent control in swine production facilities. The authors represent an interdisciplinary working group that has been assembled to identify all necessary input variables and values associated with rodent damage and control. The working group consists of specialists in swine production, facilities management, agricultural economics, swine health, rodent control, the pest management industry, systems modeling, and distance education. We incorporated data from the scientific literature and personal experience into an interactive STELLA systems model. The model generates benefit-cost analyses and …

The Economics Of Managing Belding’S Ground Squirrels In Alfalfa In Northeastern California, Desley A. Whisson, Steve B. Orloff, Donald L. Lancaster

Human Conflicts with Wildlife: 2002 Symposium

We used estimates of yield loss from 1995 to 1999 and the reported costs and effectiveness of available control methods to provide a basis for developing a cost-effective management strategy for Belding’s ground squirrels in alfalfa in northern California. Mean annual losses varied between US$110/ha and US$300/ha of alfalfa. Growers usually spend less than US$25/ha on control methods that are implemented haphazardly and provide poor control. We suggest that growers can afford to spend more on control methods such as burrow fumigation or exclusion fencing that previously have been viewed as being too expensive. Control efforts should be focused on …

Wildlife Impacts On Forest Resources, Dale L. Nolte, Mike Dykzeul

Human Conflicts with Wildlife: 2002 Symposium

The negative impacts of wildlife on forest resources can be extensive. This paper provides some insight into the economic and environmental consequences of wildlife damage to forest resources and a brief overview of the damage inflicted by select wildlife species. Probably the most thorough measure of wildlife damage to forests in the Pacific Northwest was initiated in 1963 and 1964 by the Committee on Animal Damage Survey of the Western Forestry and Conservation Association. This study estimated that 30% of the tree seedlings planted would be damaged if no preventive practices were implemented; stocking rates on unprotected sites were 75% …

The Impact Of Timber Management On The Phytochemicals Associated With Black Bear Damage, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Georg J. Ziegltrum

Proceedings of the Eighteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference (1998)

Black bears forage on Douglas-fir vascular tissue in the spring, and this behavior can be severely detrimental to the health and economic value of a timber stand. Foraging is selective in that not all stands are damaged and, within a stand, one tree may be stripped while its neighbor is ignored or minimally sampled. A series of studies was conducted to assess whether bear selectivity is affected by chemical constituents within vascular tissue, and whether these constituents are affected by silvicultural practices. The results are interpreted to identify forest practices that may alleviate damage, or at least predict where damage …

Bird Abundance At Accomack County Southern Landfill, Melfa, Virginia, In Relation To Various Management Activities, Laura Francoeur, Martin Lowney

Eighth Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference (1997)

Birds, especially gulls (Larus spp.), are attracted to landfills, and when landfills are close to airports, birds can pose a threat to aircraft safety. We conducted a 1-year ecological study to address concerns of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Accomack County, Virginia, officials over potential wildlife hazards caused by the Accomack County Southern Landfill. During 48 surveys conducted from December 1995 to December 1996, we observed 112,693 birds at the landfill ( x =503). Nine species represented 97% of all observations. Bird numbers varied during the year, increasing during winter and declining during summer. Bird abundance appeared unaffected …

Wildlife-Caused Losses Of Agricultural Commodities In 1994 With Emphasis On The Great Plains, A.P. Wywialowski

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) surveyed 16,000 agricultural producers in January 1995. Of 10,144 respondents nationwide, 58% reported wildlife-caused losses of their commodities, an increase from 55% in 1989. Based on the median value of all producers' estimates of their losses, wildlife-caused losses cost producers approximately $591 million in 1994, $130 million more than in 1989. Losses presented are based on median producer estimates which have been shown to be consistent with field-measured estimates of damage. Because the dollar value of losses are based on median estimates, extremes of reported losses do not affect these results. If all …

Technical Publication Of Wildlife Damage Research, Michael W. Fall, William B. Jackson

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The growth of the subdiscipline of wildlife damage research is producing a wealth of scientific information about methods of resolving conflicts between animals and people. Scientists working on these problems have, for many years, found difficulty in publishing the results of their applied research investigations in traditional scientific journal outlets, leading to a diverse information base that encompasses a variety of technical journals and a large “gray” literature in non-refereed publications. Although a number of current scientific journals welcome papers reporting the results of wildlife damage research, the identification of suitable primary outlets for such work, particularly for studies conducted …

Recent Studies On Flavor Aversion Learning In Wildlife Damage Management, Russell F. Reidinger Jr.

National Wildlife Research Center Repellents Conference 1995

Flavor aversion learning (FAL) occurs experimentally when a mammal is presented with a distinctive-flavored food followed by a postingestional illness. Birds may learn aversions to visual cues. Aversions follow a single pairing and may be robust. During the past decade, at least four directions were followed in evaluating FAL for managing wildlife damage: compounds already registered for use on crops such as herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides were tested for their abilities to also repel birds and small mammals from crops; naturally occurring compounds such as sucrose or charcoal were similarly evaluated; eggs were treated with different compounds in attempts to …

An Integrated Strategy To Decrease Eared Dove Damage In Sunflower Crops, Ethel N. Rodriguez, Richard L. Bruggers, Roger W. Bullard, Robert Cook

National Wildlife Research Center Repellents Conference 1995

Eared doves (Zenaida auriculata) damage mature sunflowers in Uruguay. Although repellents might be useful as a control method, durability and expense have discouraged their use. In the present report, we describe laboratory, aviary, and field research designed to evaluate methiocarb and calcium carbonate as durable, economical repellents. Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) was as effective as CaCO₃ /methiocarb in combination in deterring consumption of sunflowers. Moreover, treating field borders with CaCO₃ or the CaCO₃ /methiocarb combination was as effective as treating the entire field for at least 12 days. This period is sufficiently long to …

Ripening Field Corn Lost To Wildlife In 1993, Alice P. Wywialowski

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Ripening field corn lost to wildlife was measured in fall 1993 in 10 midwestern states that have produced 83% of the field corn in the United States over the past 10 years. Sampling of damage was stratified by producer expectation of likely wildlife damage or unlikely wildlife damage. Damage was assessed immediately before harvest. Two plots that measured 4.5 m x 2 rows were assessed in each selected field. Of assessed fields, wildlife damage was present in 340 of 1,259 (27.0%) likely damaged fields and 108 of 1,243 (8.7%) unlikely damaged fields. As a percentage of harvested production, birds (Aves) …

Livestock Herding Dogs: A Unique Application For Wildlife Damage Management, Roger A. Woodruff, Jeffrey S. Green

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have caused increasing problems for people both in urban and agricultural environments. In many instances, traditional methods of resolving conflicts caused by these species have proven ineffective or impractical. Some property owners and others have begun to use livestock herding dogs to haze geese and other wildlife from areas where they are not wanted. We report on the applications and effectiveness of this technique as employed on golf courses, farms, and other areas. The use of trained herding dogs appears to be a feasible and effective method …

Environmental Assessment Animal Damage Control On Public Lands Administered By The U.S. Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management, Casper District, Wyoming, United States Department Of The Interior Bureau Of Land Management

Environmental Assessments (WY)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recognize that native animals are resources of value and interest to the American people. Animal damage control (ADC) management may be required to minimize depredations to livestock and wildlife species; to protect threatened and endangered species; to maintain viable populations of native wildlife species; to preserve ecologically unique areas; to minimize rodent and other wildlife damage to cropland, grassland, and forestland; and, to suppress animal-borne diseases. ADC functions as a supplement to, not a substitute for, standard husbandry practices and techniques.

Decision Record And Finding Of No Significant Impact For The Environmental Assessment Predatory Animal Damage Control On Public Lands Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, Johnson, Natrona, Niobrara, Platte, Sheridan, And Weston Counties, Wyoming, United States Department Of The Interior Bureau Of Land Management

Record of Decisions (WY)

The enclosed Decision Record/Finding of No Significant Impact approves a Predatory Animal Damage Control Plan for the Casper District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The decision is based on the review comments from eight individuals and organizations on the Environmental Assessment (EA) released in February 1994. As a result of those comments the EA has been rewritten and a copy of the revised EA is attached.

Canyonlands National Park And Orange Cliffs Unit Of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Environmental Assessment For Backcountry Management Plan, Canyonlands National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

Whether on foot. bicycle. horseback. or in vehicles, most visitors come to Canyonlands National

Park (Canyonlands) to experience solitude or to "get away from people." Yet visitation to

Canyonlands has risen exponentially over the past five years (Figures I and 2). Visitation is expected to continue to rise. As a function of this increase in number of visitors, adverse impacts to Canyonlands' resources have increased and the visitors' ability to find solitude has decreased. Since the mandate of the National Park Service (NPS) is to balance visitor access

to the parks with preservation and protection of natural and cultural resources, …

Advancing Deer Repellent Performance: Fine-Tuning Hinder Applications And Potential Uses For Insecticidal Soaps, Michael J. Fargione, Milo E. Richmond

Sixth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (1993)

Deer feed on buds, shoots, leaves and fruit (Scott and Townsend 1985), and cause substantial economic losses for many apple producers (Purdy et al. 1987). A variety of mitigation techniques are used to control such damage including deer population reduction via hunting, exclusion fencing and scare devices. However, most commercial apple producers rely on home-made or commercial repellents to control deer damage (Purdy et al. 1987). Despite their popularity, repellents have often provided only limited or highly-variable control (Conover 1984, 1987, Hygnstrom and Craven 1988). There is considerable need to improve the performance of existing repellents, or to identify new …

Status And Management Of Vole Damage To Horticultural Plantings In North Carolina, Peter T. Bromley, William T. Sullivan Jr.

Sixth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (1993)

A trapping study in 1979 indicated that voles (Microtus pinetorum and M. pinetorum) were distributed widely in North Carolina. In 1991, Extension Agents with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service were surveyed to determine the distribution, nature and severity of vole damage to horticultural plantings, home orchards, and other plantings. Data from the statewide trapping survey and the poll of agents coincided to indicate that voles, particularly pine voles, caused damage from the mountains to the coast. Existing, legal control methods were judged grossly inadequate by agents. Pursuant to the surveys, the North Carolina Pesticide Board and the North Carolina …