Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

So You Want To Work With Wolves?, John A. Shivik

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Growing up with three older sisters was a bit like being raised by wolves. One of their favorite games was called “stop hitting yourself.” To play, I was immobilized, and then with my arms overpowered, I was forced to repeatedly pummel my own noggin while they uttered the name of the game. Watching yourself hit yourself, feeling the pain and humiliation, yet being unable to stop is somewhat like being a federal biologist working with wolves. I’ve learned humility from my experiences but also formed the opinion that if you want to work with wolves, first consider medication; if that …

Chlorophacinone Residues In Rangeland Rodents: An Assessment Of The Potential Risk Of Secondary Toxicity To Scavengers, Thomas M. Primus, John D. Eisemann, George H. Matschke, Craig Ramey, John J. Johnston

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Field studies were conducted in California to assess efficacy of chlorophacinone-treated steam-rolled oats for controlling rangeland rodents. An objective of these studies was to assess the potential hazards of chlorophacinone residues in rangeland rodent carcasses and livers to mammalian and avian scavengers, especially raptors. Belding's ground squirrels, valley pocket gophers and Microtus spp. carcasses collected during the efficacy studies were analyzed for chlorophacinone residues. The method limit of detection (MLOD) for liver and carcass tissue samples averaged 0.036 μg/g and 0.034 μg/g, respectively. Chlorophacinone residues in Belding's ground squirrel (n=62) liver and carcass tissue ranged from Microtus sp. (n=3) tissue …

Introduction To Pesticides And Wildlife, John J. Johnston

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A pesticide is a substance intended for destroying, repelling or mitigating any animal, microorganism or plant pest. While pesticides are commonly chemical agents, biological or physical agents can also be pesticides. Many people equate the term pesticide with insecticide. However, there are a plethora of pesticides for which insects are not the target pest. Examples include herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, acaricides, larvacides, etc. Additionally, pesticides are not limited to toxicants, but also include repellents, attractants and growth regulators (1 ) .

Pesticides are nearly ubiquitous in today's world. In agriculture, insecticides, nematicides and herbicides are applied to plants and soil to …

"References" For Carnivore Conservation, John L. Gittleman, Stephan M. Funk, David Macdonald, Robert K. Wayne, Eric M. Gese

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

119-page bibliography of works cited in in CARNIVORE CONSERVATION, edited by John L. Gittleman, Stephan M. Funk, David Macdonald, and Robert K. Wayne, Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Includes approximately 2,000 items.

Non-Target Hazard Assessment Of Using Drc-1339 Avicide To Manage Blackbirds In Sunflower, John D. Eisemann, George M. Linz, John J. Johnston

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Terrestrial hazard assessments were conducted for the spring blackbird baiting program to protect sunflower crops. Risk Assessment methodology proposed by the Ecological Committee on FIFRA Risk Assessment Methods (ECOFRAM) and the method currently used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (LD₅₀s/ft²) were compared for their predictive strengths and for the ease of adapting the assessment to site specific conditions. While the ECOFRAM and LD₅₀s/ft² methods identified the same groups of organisms as being at risk, the flexibility of the ECOFRAM methodology allowed more latitude in adapting the assessment to unique behaviors of individual …

Design Of A Laboratory Secondary Hazard Study, David A. Goldade, Peter J. Savarie, Jerome C. Hurley, Stanley A. Gaddis, John J. Johnston

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Factors influencing the design and execution of a secondary hazard study are presented using the anticoagulant rodenticide, difethialone, as a model. Frequently, regulatory agencies require a determination of the potential hazard posed to non-target species by the application of pesticides. This hazard can occur through: 1) primary hazard, direct consumption of the bait or formulation containing the pesticide, or 2) secondary hazard, indirect consumption of the pesticide via ingestion of biological matrices such as animals or plants containing pesticide residues. In making this determination, the selection of appropriate test species as well as routes and level of exposure are critical. …

Serological Responses Of Coyotes To Two Commercial Rabies Vaccines, Frederick F. Knowlton, Marianna Roetto, Deborah Briggs

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Between August 1993 and September 1994 we documented serological responses of coyotes (Canis latrans) vaccinated with two commercial rabies vaccines licensed for use in domestic dogs. Serologic responses were documented by testing for rabies virus neutralizing antibodies with the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) at 30, 90, 180, 270, and 365 days post-vaccination. All coyotes vaccinated with Imrab 3^® (Rhone-Merieux, Inc.), and 75% of those vaccinated with Dura-Rab 3^® (Immunovet, Inc.) seroconverted, as evidenced by the presence of antirabies antibody titers ≥1:5 in one or more of the five post-vaccination samples. The percent of coyotes …