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United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Innovative Solutions To Human–Wildlife Conflicts Feb 2005

Innovative Solutions To Human–Wildlife Conflicts

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services (WS) Program is to provide Federal leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) functions as the research arm of WS by providing scientific information on the development of socially acceptable methods for wildlife damage management. As part of WS’ strategic plan to improve the coexistence of people and wildlife, NWRC has identified four strategic program goals: (1) developing methods, (2) providing wildlife services, (3) valuing and investing in people, and (4) enhancing information and communication. WS is dedicated to helping meet the wildlife …

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Research Strategies Of The National Wildlife Research Center To Control Bovine Tuberculosis In Wildlife In Michigan, Usa, A. R. Berentsen, M. R. Dunbar, R. G. Mclean Feb 2005

Research Strategies Of The National Wildlife Research Center To Control Bovine Tuberculosis In Wildlife In Michigan, Usa, A. R. Berentsen, M. R. Dunbar, R. G. Mclean

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobaterium bovis and is transmissible to humans, wildlife, and domestic livestock. In the United Kingdom, the suspected wildlife reservoir of bTB is the badger (Meles meles) (HUTCHINGS and HARRIS, 1 997), and in New Zealand, the culprit is the brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) (MORRIS et al., 1994). In northern Michigan, USA, bovine tuberculosis is endemic in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). In 1975 a hunter-killed white-tailed deer in Alpena County, Michigan, USA, was tested positive for bTB. Subsequent surveillance by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources …

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Serologic Evidence Of Exposure Of Wild Mammals To Flavivirusesin The Central And Eastern United States , J. Jeffrey Root, Jeffrey S. Hall, Robert G. Mclean, Nicole L. Marlenee, Barry J. Beaty, Justin Gansowski, Larry Clark Jan 2005

Serologic Evidence Of Exposure Of Wild Mammals To Flavivirusesin The Central And Eastern United States , J. Jeffrey Root, Jeffrey S. Hall, Robert G. Mclean, Nicole L. Marlenee, Barry J. Beaty, Justin Gansowski, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Serosurveys were conducted to obtain flavivirus and West Nile virus (WNV) seroprevalence data from mammals. Sera from 513 small- and medium-sized mammals collected during late summer and fall 2003 from Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were screened for flavivirus-specific antibodies. Sera samples containing antibody to flaviviruses were screened for WNV-specific antibodies by epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and confirmed with plaque reduction neutralization tests. Prevalence of WNV antibodies among study sites ranged from 0% to 42.8% among the mammal communities sampled. High prevalence rates for WNV were noted among raccoons (100%, with a very small sample size, N 2), …

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Spatial Ecology Of Swift Fox Social Groups: From Group Formation To Mate Loss, Ann M. Kitchen, Erik M. Gese, Seija M. Karki, Edward R. Schauster Jan 2005

Spatial Ecology Of Swift Fox Social Groups: From Group Formation To Mate Loss, Ann M. Kitchen, Erik M. Gese, Seija M. Karki, Edward R. Schauster

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We examined social group formation, movements and denning relative to other group members, home-range use, and the response to social group disruption among 188 radiocollared swift foxes (Vulpes velox) in Colorado. We found that during the initial stages of pair formation mated foxes shared dens more frequently than during the remainder of their pair-bond. The average distance between mated pairs was influenced by season and time of day, with the greatest proximity in the breeding season (727.2 m 6 42.3 SE), and during diurnal hours (463.7 6 34.7 m). Female foxes spent more time in the core area of the …

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Evaluation Of Bird Shield As A Blackbird Repellent In Ripening Rice And Sunflower Fields, Scott J. Werner, H. Jeffrey Homan, Michael L. Avery, George M. Linz, Eric A. Tillman, Anthony A. Slowik, Robert J. Byrd, Thomas M. Primus, Margaret J. Goodall Jan 2005

Evaluation Of Bird Shield As A Blackbird Repellent In Ripening Rice And Sunflower Fields, Scott J. Werner, H. Jeffrey Homan, Michael L. Avery, George M. Linz, Eric A. Tillman, Anthony A. Slowik, Robert J. Byrd, Thomas M. Primus, Margaret J. Goodall

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chemical repellents sometimes can provide a nonlethal alternative for reducing wildlife impacts to agricultural production. In late summer and autumn 2002, we evaluated Bird Shield™ (active ingredient: methyl anthranilate, Bird Shield Repellent Corporation, Spokane, Wash.) as a blackbird (Icteridae) repellent in Missouri rice fields and North Dakota sunflower fields. We selected 5 pairs of ripening rice fields in southeastern Missouri and randomly allocated treatments (treated and control) within pairs. The repellent was aerially applied by fixed-winged aircraft at the recommended label rate and volume (1.17 L Bird Shield/ha and 46.7 L/ha, respectively); 1 field received 2X the label rate. We …

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Evaluation Of Cocoa- And Coffee-Derived Methylxanthines As Toxicants For The Control Of Pest Coyotes, John J. Johnston Jan 2005

Evaluation Of Cocoa- And Coffee-Derived Methylxanthines As Toxicants For The Control Of Pest Coyotes, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Methylxanthines were quantified in coffee, tea, and chocolate products. Tarajuilie tea from India, cocoa powder, and cocoa nibs contained the highest levels of methylxanthines. Theobromine, caffeine, and theophylline combined in the ratios observed in tea and chocolate were ingested by coyotes. Although both mixtures induced acute toxicity, the symptoms accompanying the chocolate methylxanthine mimic were preferable. Manipulation of the ratios of methylxanthines in the chocolate mimic led to the identification of a 5:1 theobromine/caffeine mixture as a promising coyote toxicant. This mixture was then administered to coyotes using the coyote lure operative device (CLOD). Mortality occurred in every coyote that …

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Probabilistic Model For Estimating Field Mortality Of Target And Non-Target Bird Populations When Simultaneously Exposed To Avicide Bait, John J. Johnston, Melvin J. Holmes, Andy Hart, Dennis J. Kohler, Randal S. Stahl Jan 2005

Probabilistic Model For Estimating Field Mortality Of Target And Non-Target Bird Populations When Simultaneously Exposed To Avicide Bait, John J. Johnston, Melvin J. Holmes, Andy Hart, Dennis J. Kohler, Randal S. Stahl

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A probabilisticmodel was developed to estimate target and non-target avian mortality associated with the application of the avicide CPTH (3-chloro-p-toluidine hydrochloride) to minimize sprouting rice damage in the southern USA. CPTH exposures for individual birds were predicted by random sampling from species-specific non-parametric distributions of bait seed consumption and CPTH residues detected on individual bait seeds. Mortality was predicted from the species-specific exposure versus mortality relationship. Individual variations in this response were captured in the model by Monte Carlo sampling from species-specific distributions of slopes and median toxicity values (LD50) for each bird. The model was used to simultaneously predict …

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Population Dynamics Of A Diverse Rodent Assemblage In Mixed Grass-Shrub Habitat, Southeastern Colorado, 1995–2000, Charles H. Calisher, James N. Mills, William P. Sweeney, J. Jeffrey Root, Serena A. Reeder, Emily S. Jentes, Kent Wagoner, Barry J. Beaty Jan 2005

Population Dynamics Of A Diverse Rodent Assemblage In Mixed Grass-Shrub Habitat, Southeastern Colorado, 1995–2000, Charles H. Calisher, James N. Mills, William P. Sweeney, J. Jeffrey Root, Serena A. Reeder, Emily S. Jentes, Kent Wagoner, Barry J. Beaty

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We followed seasonal and year-to-year population dynamics for a diverse rodent assemblage in a short-grass prairie ecosystem in southeastern Colorado (USA) for 6 yr. We captured 2,798 individual rodents (range, one to 812 individuals per species) belonging to 19 species. The two most common species, deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), generally had population peaks in winter and nadirs in summer; several other murid species demonstrated autumn peaks and spring nadirs; heteromyids were infrequently captured in winter, and populations generally peaked in summer or autumn. Interannual trends indicated an interactive effect between …

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Comparison Of Nicarbazin Absorption In Chickens, Mallards, And Canada Geese, C. A. Yoder, L. A. Miller, K. S. Bynum Jan 2005

Comparison Of Nicarbazin Absorption In Chickens, Mallards, And Canada Geese, C. A. Yoder, L. A. Miller, K. S. Bynum

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Nicarbazin (NCZ), a coccidiostat commonly used in the poultry industry, causes reduced hatchability and egg quality in layer hens at a concentration of 125 ppm (8.4 mg/kg) in the feed. Although this effect is undesirable in the poultry industry, NCZ could provide a useful wildlife contraception tool for waterfowl, particularly urban geese. We tested the absorption of NCZ in chickens (Gallus gallus), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and Canada geese (Branta canadensis) gavaged with 8.4 mg of NCZ/kg per bird each day for 8 d. Plasma levels of 4,4′-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) differed significantly among species. Peak plasma …

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Serologic Evidence Of Exposure Of Wild Mammals To Flaviviruses In The Central And Eastern United States, J. Jeffrey Root, Jeffrey S. Hall, Robert G. Mclean, Nicole L. Marlenee, Barry J. Beaty, Justin Gansowski, Larry Clark Jan 2005

Serologic Evidence Of Exposure Of Wild Mammals To Flaviviruses In The Central And Eastern United States, J. Jeffrey Root, Jeffrey S. Hall, Robert G. Mclean, Nicole L. Marlenee, Barry J. Beaty, Justin Gansowski, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Serosurveys were conducted to obtain flavivirus and West Nile virus (WNV) seroprevalence data from mammals. Sera from 513 small- and medium-sized mammals collected during late summer and fall 2003 from Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were screened for flavivirus-specific antibodies. Sera samples containing antibody to flaviviruses were screened for WNV-specific antibodies by epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and confirmed with plaque reduction neutralization tests. Prevalence of WNV antibodies among study sites ranged from 0% to 42.8% among the mammal communities sampled. High prevalence rates for WNV were noted among raccoons (100%, with a very small sample size, N = …

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Maternal Yolk Steroids: A Potential Compensatory Mechanism For Red-Winged Blackbirds (Agelaius Phoeniceus) In North Dakota, Rachel M. Bush, Mark E. Clark, Wendy L. Reed, George M. Linz Jan 2005

Maternal Yolk Steroids: A Potential Compensatory Mechanism For Red-Winged Blackbirds (Agelaius Phoeniceus) In North Dakota, Rachel M. Bush, Mark E. Clark, Wendy L. Reed, George M. Linz

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Many of the suggested management techniques directed at reducing blackbird breeding populations fail to incorporate the underlying mechanisms regulating populations. Theoretically, removal of individuals from the breeding population should lower the breeding densities and presumably reduce recruitment. However, compensatory responses might occur with decreased breeding densities, but no empirical data are available to test this hypothesis. Much of the underlying compensatory theory is based on differential allocation of resources to reproduction vs. self maintenance at different breeding densities, mainly in the form of depensatory effects of resource limitation on growth and survival. However, as the breeding density in an area …

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Developing Relative Abundance Techniques (Rats) For Monitoring Rodent Populations, Desely A. Whisson, Richard M. Engeman, Kellie Collins Jan 2005

Developing Relative Abundance Techniques (Rats) For Monitoring Rodent Populations, Desely A. Whisson, Richard M. Engeman, Kellie Collins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Accurate density estimates of rodents are frequently difficult or cost-prohibitive to determine. Thus, a number of techniques (track plates, monitoring blocks, chew cards/sticks, apple slice index, trapping) are often used to index rodent populations. Theoretically, the sensitivity of these indexing techniques could be improved if they applied continuous measurements rather than simple binary measurements (presence/absence). Development of a relative abundance technique that is simple to apply and sensitive to changes in population density is critical for the operational management of rodent pests. In addition to providing a quantitative measure of abundance with statistical parameters, an indexing technique that does not …

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Husbandry Of Wild-Caught Greater Sage-Grouse, Paul Oesterle, Robert Mclean, Michael Dunbar, Larry Clark Jan 2005

Husbandry Of Wild-Caught Greater Sage-Grouse, Paul Oesterle, Robert Mclean, Michael Dunbar, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

This study reports the first successful husbandry and breeding in captivity of wild-caught greater sage-grouse (Ccntroccrcus urophasianus). In October 2003, 2 1 hatch-year greater sage-grouse were trapped in northwestern Nevada and transported to Fort Collins, Colorado. We held grouse in pens at the United States Department of Agriculture's National Wildlife Research Center for 8 months. We offered a varied diet, including native food items such as sagebrush (Arternisia tridentata and A. tripartita) and yarrow (Achilles millefolium). We housed grouse in a large flight pen and allowed to them freerange as one flock. Mortdlity rate was 16.7%. Several of the grouse …

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Stability Of The Tranquilizer Drug Propionylpromazine Hydrochloride In Formulated Products, Thomas M. Primus, Bruce A. Kimball, Jerome Hurley, John J. Johnston, Sherm Blom, Peter J. Savarie Jan 2005

Stability Of The Tranquilizer Drug Propionylpromazine Hydrochloride In Formulated Products, Thomas M. Primus, Bruce A. Kimball, Jerome Hurley, John J. Johnston, Sherm Blom, Peter J. Savarie

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

An analytical method to evaluate propionylpromazine hydrochloride (PPZHCl) in tranquilizer formulations was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). During analysis of aged quality-control samples, a previously unreported chromatographic response was observed at a shorter retention time than PPZHCl. Further investigation of formulations stored in trap tap devices at temperatures ranging from 5 to 40 ◦C during field trials at four different locations confirmed the degradation of the active ingredient. Further investigation using HPLC/tandem mass spectrometry revealed two to five degradates, with the major degradates being oxidation products of the active ingredient, PPZHCl. As PPZHCl formulations must be stable when stored …

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West Nile Virus Infection In Farmed American Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis) In Florida, Elliott R. Jacobson, Pamela E. Ginn, J. Mitchell Troutman, Lisa Farina, Lillian Stark, Kaci Klenk, Kristen L. Burkhalter, Nicholas Komar Jan 2005

West Nile Virus Infection In Farmed American Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis) In Florida, Elliott R. Jacobson, Pamela E. Ginn, J. Mitchell Troutman, Lisa Farina, Lillian Stark, Kaci Klenk, Kristen L. Burkhalter, Nicholas Komar

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

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Interactions Between The American White Pelican And Aquaculture In The Southeastern United States: An Overview, D. Tommy King Jan 2005

Interactions Between The American White Pelican And Aquaculture In The Southeastern United States: An Overview, D. Tommy King

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The eastern metapopulation of the American White Pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) breeds mainly in the Northern Great Plains, migrates through the Great Plains and along the Mississippi River and winters in the lower Mississippi River Valley and along the Gulf of Mexico. The production of farm-raised Channel Catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) in the southeastern United States has increased dramatically in the last 25 years. In 1990, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services offices in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi began receiving complaints concerning the foraging of pelicans in commercial Channel Catfish ponds. Because of the relatively shallow depth and …

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Epizootiology Of Sin Nombre And El Moro Canyon Hantaviruses, Southeastern Colorado, 1995–2000, Charles H. Calisher, J. Jeffrey Root, James N. Mills, Joan E. Rowe, Serena A. Reeder, Emily S. Jentes, Kent Wagoner, Barry J. Beaty Jan 2005

Epizootiology Of Sin Nombre And El Moro Canyon Hantaviruses, Southeastern Colorado, 1995–2000, Charles H. Calisher, J. Jeffrey Root, James N. Mills, Joan E. Rowe, Serena A. Reeder, Emily S. Jentes, Kent Wagoner, Barry J. Beaty

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Sin Nombre virus (SNV) is an etiologic agent of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. To better understand the natural history of this virus we studied population dynamics and temporal pattern of infection of its rodent hosts in southeastern Colorado (USA) from 1995 to 2000. We present evidence for the presence of two hantaviruses, SNV in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and El Moro Canyon virus in western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), at our study sites. Sin Nombre virus appeared only sporadically in deer mouse populations; overall prevalence of antibody to SNV was 2.6%. El Moro Canyon virus was enzootic: …

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Uterine Mast Cells And Immunoglobulin-E Antibody Responses During Clearance Of Tritrichomonas Foetus, L. B. Corbeil, C. M. Campero, J. C. Rhyan, M. L. Anderson, L. J. Gershwin, D. W. Agnew, L. Munson, R. H. Bondurant Jan 2005

Uterine Mast Cells And Immunoglobulin-E Antibody Responses During Clearance Of Tritrichomonas Foetus, L. B. Corbeil, C. M. Campero, J. C. Rhyan, M. L. Anderson, L. J. Gershwin, D. W. Agnew, L. Munson, R. H. Bondurant

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We showed earlier that Tritrichomonas foetus–specific bovine immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 and IgA antibodies in uterine and vaginal secretions are correlated with clearance of this sexually transmitted infection. Eosinophils have been noted in previous studies of bovine trichomoniasis but the role of mast cells and IgE responses have not been reported. The hypothesis that IgE and mast cell degranulation play a role in clearance was tested in 25 virgin heifers inseminated experimentally and infected intravaginally with T. foetus strain D1 at estrus and cultured weekly. Groups were euthanatized at 3, 6, 9, or 12 weeks, when tissues were fixed and secretions …

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The Use Of Culmen Length To Determine Sex Of The American White Pelican, Brian S. Dorr, D. Tommy King, Patrick Gerard, Marilyn G. Spalding Jan 2005

The Use Of Culmen Length To Determine Sex Of The American White Pelican, Brian S. Dorr, D. Tommy King, Patrick Gerard, Marilyn G. Spalding

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Culmnen length has been suggested as being diagnostic for sex in the American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). However, the literature on the use of culmen length to determine sex is inconsistent, with reported overlap in culmen lengths for males and females ranging from 1 mm to >120 mm. Morphological measurements from 188 American White Pelicans collected in Mississippi and Louisiana whose sex was determined by dissection and gonadal inspection were measured. The use of culmen length alone was used to determine gender for this sample by establishing the minimum obsewed culmen length for males and the maximum observed …

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The Geographically Contiguous And Expanding Coastal Range Of The Northern Curlytail Lizard (Leiocephalus Carinatus Armouri ) In Florida, Walter E. Meshaka Jr., Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman, Christopher L. Dean, Jon A. Moore, William E. O'Brien Jan 2005

The Geographically Contiguous And Expanding Coastal Range Of The Northern Curlytail Lizard (Leiocephalus Carinatus Armouri ) In Florida, Walter E. Meshaka Jr., Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman, Christopher L. Dean, Jon A. Moore, William E. O'Brien

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We surveyed for the presence of the Northern Curlytail Lizard, Leiocephalus carinatus armouri, from Port Salerno, Martin County, FL, northward to the Indian River-Brevard county line to determine the extent to which this species occurs along the Florida East Coast. The geographic range of L. c. armouri appears to be uninterrupted along the coast from northern Broward County through Palm Beach County. The heavily modified coastal habitat provided this species with the open sunny conditions and cement analogues to the rocky substratum to which it is adapted. Its ubiquity, rate of geographic expansion, combined with its carnivorous habits and large …

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Blackbird Use And Damage Of Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots, Jonathan M. Raetzman, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier Jan 2005

Blackbird Use And Damage Of Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots, Jonathan M. Raetzman, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Annual blackbird damage to sunflower is valued at $5 to $10 million. Perhaps more importantly, the National Sunflower Association has identified blackbirds as the key reason for growers to abandon sunflower in areas of prime production. North Dakota and South Dakota together produce approximately 70% of sunflower grown in the United States. This crop adds $906 million to the regional economy. To date, cost effective and environmentally safe methods to reduce bird damage to sunflower remain elusive. In the 1980’s, scientists from the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) showed that “decoy” sunflower plots can greatly reduce bird damage to local …

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Evaluation Of Lorsban®-4e Aerially Sprayed On Sunflower Plots For Bird Repellency, George M. Linz, Anthony A. Slowik, Linda B. Penry, Jeffrey Homan Jan 2005

Evaluation Of Lorsban®-4e Aerially Sprayed On Sunflower Plots For Bird Repellency, George M. Linz, Anthony A. Slowik, Linda B. Penry, Jeffrey Homan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Ripening sunflower fields in the northern Great Plains provide blackbirds with easily accessible sources of high-energy food. As many growers can attest, blackbirds can be nearly impossible to discourage from foraging in favored fields. To date, no single management method has been especially effective at consistently discouraging blackbirds.

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Avian Use Of Commercial Sunflower And Grain Crops Compared To Usda Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots In North Dakota., Heath M. Hagy, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier Jan 2005

Avian Use Of Commercial Sunflower And Grain Crops Compared To Usda Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots In North Dakota., Heath M. Hagy, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

North Dakota and South Dakota produce about 70% of the sunflower grown in the United States. Blackbird depredation, particularly in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), can be a major problem that results in some producers abandoning sunflower. Reduced acreage of an otherwise profitable crop is important economically and might harm migratory bird populations relying on the shrub-like habitat in sunflower fields for food and cover. In 2004 in an effort to reduce blackbird damage, USDA Wildlife Services provided funds to growers to plant Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots (WCSP). Growers were instructed to plant 8-ha units of oilseed sunflower near shelterbelts …

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Wildlife Disease Research At The Aphis National Wildlife Research Center, R. G. Mclean, L. Clark, M. R. Dunbar, K. C. Vercauteren, T. A. Campbell Jan 2005

Wildlife Disease Research At The Aphis National Wildlife Research Center, R. G. Mclean, L. Clark, M. R. Dunbar, K. C. Vercauteren, T. A. Campbell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Research on wildlife diseases at the newly formed Wildlife Disease Program (WDP) at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife Services (WS), National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) concentrates on wildlife diseases of importance to domestic animal and human health. We are conducting studies on wildlife rabies, bovine tuberculosis (TB), chronic wasting disease (CWD), West Nile virus (WNV), pathogenic bacteria of birds, and pseudorabies (PR). The goal of the research is to develop innovative methods for surveillance, intervention, prevention, and control of these diseases.

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Historic And Current Status Of The American White Pelican Breeding At Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota, Marsha A. Sovada, D. Tommy King, Michael Erickson, Cheryl Gray Jan 2005

Historic And Current Status Of The American White Pelican Breeding At Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota, Marsha A. Sovada, D. Tommy King, Michael Erickson, Cheryl Gray

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge currently supports the largest breeding colony of the American White Pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) in North America. The first written account of the colony’s status was in 1905, when approximately 500 pelicans nested on two islands in Chase Lake. The colony grew to nearly 34,000 breeding birds by 2002. Surveys of breeding pelicans in the colony were sporadic from 1905 until 1972. Because the availability of foraging areas affects recruitment, pond counts from south-central North Dakota were used as an index of the relative availability of foraging areas. Pond counts varied widely in the …

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Recent Population Status Of The American White Pelican: A Continental Perspective, D. Tommy King, Daniel W. Anderson Jan 2005

Recent Population Status Of The American White Pelican: A Continental Perspective, D. Tommy King, Daniel W. Anderson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Breeding bird surveys were conducted at most American White Pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) colonies in North America from 1979-81 and the number of American White Pelicans was estimated at >109,000 breeding individuals in 55 colonies. Although many pelican colonies have not been surveyed since the early 1980s, we present the most current survey numbers available for North American colonies. Using available data (1998-2001) and the North American Continental Divide to delineate eastern from western metapopulations, 27 colonies and 48,240 nests in the East and 15 colonies and 18,790 nests in the West were documented, giving a total of about …

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Introduction: Biology And Conservation Of The American White Pelican, Daniel W. Anderson, D. Tommy King Jan 2005

Introduction: Biology And Conservation Of The American White Pelican, Daniel W. Anderson, D. Tommy King

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Two separate, large-scale management units for the American White Pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) in North America are proposed: the eastern and western metapopulations, separated by the North American Continental Divide. The populations on either side of this barrier are subject to contrasting ecological conditions, movement patterns suggest strong geographic separation and each is likely demographically distinct. Subdivisions within these demographic units need to be more precisely defined in the future. Yet, because of the highly colonial nesting habits of the American White Pelican, conservation can still be effective if directed toward separate breeding colonies. Our intent is to provide …

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A Comparison Of Three Trap Designs For Capturing Brown Treesnakes On Guam, Daniel S. Vice, Richard M. Engeman, Diane L. Vice Jan 2005

A Comparison Of Three Trap Designs For Capturing Brown Treesnakes On Guam, Daniel S. Vice, Richard M. Engeman, Diane L. Vice

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The accidental introduction of the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) to Guam has resulted in the extirpation of most native terrestrial vertebrates on the island, thousands of power outages, and significant ecological changes. In addition, Guam now serves as a source population for the dispersal of snakes to other islands. Control of the brown treesnake is dependent upon the use of traps in a variety of settings, including port environments and in forested habitat A variety of snake traps have been used on Guam; most consist of a modified crawfish or minnow trap, housing a live mouse that serves as a …

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Preface [To Special Issue Of Wildlife Research: ‘Use Of Indices To Monitor Wildlife Population’], Richard M. Engeman Jan 2005

Preface [To Special Issue Of Wildlife Research: ‘Use Of Indices To Monitor Wildlife Population’], Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

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Indexing Principles And A Widely Applicable Paradigm For Indexing Animal Populations, Richard M. Engeman Jan 2005

Indexing Principles And A Widely Applicable Paradigm For Indexing Animal Populations, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Monitoring animal populations is an essential component of wildlife research and management. Population indices can be efficient methods for monitoring populations when more labour-intensive densityestimation procedures are impractical or invalid to apply, and many monitoring objectives can be couched in an indexing framework. Indexing procedures obtain maximal utility if they exhibit key characteristics, including being practical to apply, being sensitive to changes or differences in the target species' population, having an inherent variance formula and allowing for precision in index values, and relying on as few assumptions as possible. Additional useful characteristics include being able simultaneously to monitor multiple animal …

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