Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 61 - 90 of 136

Full-Text Articles in Environmental Health and Protection

Book Review: The Double-Crested Cormorant: Issues And Management, Valerie M. Burton Jan 2008

Book Review: The Double-Crested Cormorant: Issues And Management, Valerie M. Burton

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Fish-eating birds and their interactions with fisheries cause mixed feelings for many people. Avian and human fisheries are perceived to be in conflict throughout the world, particularly in areas where piscivorous bird populations are increasing numerically and expanding geographically. These interactions have long been the subject of research, with papers dating back to at least the 1930s. Not only are the conflicts of fish-eating birds of scientific concern, the birds also cause political, biological, ecological, and socioeconomic issues throughout the country.


Sharpshooting Suburban White-Tailed Deer Reduces Deer–Vehicle Collisions, Anthony J. Denicola, Scott C. Williams Jan 2008

Sharpshooting Suburban White-Tailed Deer Reduces Deer–Vehicle Collisions, Anthony J. Denicola, Scott C. Williams

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Too many deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs) are one of the primary reasons local governments implement lethal deer management programs. However, there are limited data to demonstrate that a reduction in deer (Odocoileus spp.) densities will result in a decline in DVCs. We conducted sharpshooting programs in 3 suburban communities to reduce deer numbers and to address rising DVCs. Annual or periodic population estimates were conducted using both helicopter snow counts and aerial infrared counts to assess population trends. Management efforts were conducted from 3 to 7 years. Local deer herds were reduced by 54%, 72%, and 76%, with resulting reductions …


Factors Affecting Road Mortality Of Whitetailed Deer In Eastern South Dakota, Troy W. Grovenburg, Jonathan A. Jenks, Robert W. Klaver, Kevin L. Monteith, Dwight H. Galster, Ron J. Shauer, Wilbert W. Morlock, Joshua A. Delger Jan 2008

Factors Affecting Road Mortality Of Whitetailed Deer In Eastern South Dakota, Troy W. Grovenburg, Jonathan A. Jenks, Robert W. Klaver, Kevin L. Monteith, Dwight H. Galster, Ron J. Shauer, Wilbert W. Morlock, Joshua A. Delger

Human–Wildlife Interactions

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mortalities (n = 4,433) caused by collisions with automobiles during 2003 were modeled in 35 counties in eastern South Dakota. Seventeen independent variables and 5 independent variable interactions were evaluated to explain deer mortalities.


Demographics Of Non-Hunted White-Tailed Deer Populations In Suburban Areas, Anthony J. Denicola, Dwayne R. Etter, Thomas Almendinger Jan 2008

Demographics Of Non-Hunted White-Tailed Deer Populations In Suburban Areas, Anthony J. Denicola, Dwayne R. Etter, Thomas Almendinger

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Burgeoning deer populations in urban and suburban areas, along with the inherent problems stemming from this increase, are becoming increasingly widespread. To address these problems, wildlife biologists need quality baseline data of herd composition for harvest and treatment forecasts for management and fertility control research programs. In this study, we provide white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population data from 4 areas where localized suburban white-tailed deer populations were substantially reduced utilizing sharpshooting as a management tool. In each area, legal hunting was nonexistent for >10 years preceding the sharpshooting program. The areas ranged in size from 300 ha to …


Book Review: Urban Wildlife Management, Jennifer Lynch Jan 2008

Book Review: Urban Wildlife Management, Jennifer Lynch

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The ever-growing field of human–wildlife conflicts has lacked a comprehensive textbook that addresses wildlife management in the urban landscape. Professors teaching urban wildlife classes have drawn on peer-reviewed and popular articles to support the subject matter. Enter wildlife professors Clark Adams, Sara Ash, and Kieran Lindsey. Together, they have brought to us the first comprehensive book on urban wildlife management, titled (you guessed it) Urban Wildlife Management.


Safe Driving Suggestions For Deer Country, Michael R. Conover Jan 2008

Safe Driving Suggestions For Deer Country, Michael R. Conover

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This issue of Human–Wildlife Conflicts is dedicated to the topic of deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs). Within these pages, you will find numerous peer-reviewed articles and columns that provide valuable information about where, when, and why DVCs occur (Bissonette et al. 2008), their economic impact (Bissonette and Kasser 2008), their relationship to deer densities, and methods to reduce their frequency (Mastro et al. 2008). While we can never totally prevent DVCs from occurring, the information contained herein can help reduce their frequency (Curtis et al. 2008, DeNicola and Williams 2008, Miller et al. 2008, Rutberg and Naugle 2008).


Deer–Vehicle Collision Prevention Techniques, Lauren L. Mastro, Michael R. Conover, S. Nicole Frey Jan 2008

Deer–Vehicle Collision Prevention Techniques, Lauren L. Mastro, Michael R. Conover, S. Nicole Frey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Every year in the United States approximately 1.5 million deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs) occur resulting in >29,000 human injuries, >200 human fatalities, 1.3 million deer fatalities, and >1 billion dollars worth of property damage. Despite the magnitude of this problem, there are relatively few well-designed studies that have evaluated techniques that can be used to reduce DVCs. Techniques to reduce DVCs fall into 4 categories: reducing the number of deer (Odocoileus spp.), reducing the number of vehicles, modifying deer behavior, and changing motorist behavior. Techniques to reduce the number of deer include decreasing the deer population or excluding deer from …


Deer–Vehicle Collision Statistics And Mitigation Information: Online Sources, Terry A. Messmer, Destiny R. Messmer Jan 2008

Deer–Vehicle Collision Statistics And Mitigation Information: Online Sources, Terry A. Messmer, Destiny R. Messmer

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Although good data are lacking, published estimates suggest that >1.5 million deer– vehicle collisions (DVCs) occur annually in the United States. The estimated losses exceed 1 billion dollars. In some states, DVCs are a major cause of reportable accidents. Federal, state, and private partners have cooperated in monitoring trends in DVCs and implementing mitigation measures. Most of this information about such measures is readily available via the Internet. The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with a broad overview of and a guide to the information currently available online to mitigate DVCs.


Gnrh Immunocontraception Of Male And Female White-Tailed Deer Fawns, Lowell A. Miller, James P. Gionfriddo, Jack C. Rhyan, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Donald C. Wagner, Gary J. Killian Jan 2008

Gnrh Immunocontraception Of Male And Female White-Tailed Deer Fawns, Lowell A. Miller, James P. Gionfriddo, Jack C. Rhyan, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Donald C. Wagner, Gary J. Killian

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Immunocontraceptive vaccines based on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have been tested in adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), but their effects on fawns are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if early immunization against GnRH would induce a long-lasting immune response in fawns, and if it would delay or prevent sexual development. We gave primary and subsequent booster injections of a KLH-GnRH/Freund’s vaccine to 6 male and 6 female fawns. This vaccine contained the same active ingredients as GonaCon™ vaccine, but it contained Freund’s adjuvant instead of AdjuVac™ adjuvant. Two 450-μg injections were given 1 month apart …


Landscape And Traffic Factors Influencing Deer–Vehicle Collisions In An Urban Enviroment, Janet W. Ng, Charlene Nielson, Colleen Cassady St. Clair Jan 2008

Landscape And Traffic Factors Influencing Deer–Vehicle Collisions In An Urban Enviroment, Janet W. Ng, Charlene Nielson, Colleen Cassady St. Clair

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs) are steadily increasing across North America. The increase is particularly pronounced in urban green spaces where deer (Odocoileus spp.) populations and road densities are high. In the greater city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 333 DVCs occurred from 2002 to 2004. To identify landscape and traffic correlates of these collisions, we built 3 statistical models. The first model assessed the importance of local variables and was based on a spatial precision of the nearest intersection to which collisions were referenced. The second model was based on landscape characteristics and used the nearest township intersection to aggregate collisions. …


Deer–Vehicle Collision Trends At A Suburban Immunocontraception Site, Allen T. Rutberg, Ricky E. Naugle Jan 2008

Deer–Vehicle Collision Trends At A Suburban Immunocontraception Site, Allen T. Rutberg, Ricky E. Naugle

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Observations of extended estrus seasons in female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) vaccinated with porcine zona pellucida (PZP) immunocontraceptives have led to speculation that management use of PZP would, perversely, increase the rate of deer–vehicle collisions. To test this hypothesis, we studied PZP-treated female deer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland. PZP-treated female deer did not differ from untreated female deer in risk of death by vehicle collision, and the number of deer killed in vehicle collisions was uncorrelated with the number of deer treated with PZP, whether or not population size was controlled for. …


Hunting Helps Maintain Deer As A Valued Public Resource, Robert Southwick Jan 2008

Hunting Helps Maintain Deer As A Valued Public Resource, Robert Southwick

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Deer are a precious natural resource. They spellbind us with their grace. Their freedom to roam wild without boundaries reaches into our soul. But deer can spring without warning into the paths of oncoming vehicles, causing accidents that result in >1 billion dollars in damages annually. They extend their grazing into suburban yards, garden nurseries, orchards, and farms. They harbor the ticks that transmit pathogens that cause illnesses such as Lyme disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 23,763 cases of Lyme disease during 2002. Deer will even overeat their own food supply, causing them to face …


Yosemite National Park: The Continuous Evolution Of Human–Black Bear Conflict Management, Joseph S. Madison Jan 2008

Yosemite National Park: The Continuous Evolution Of Human–Black Bear Conflict Management, Joseph S. Madison

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–bear conflicts are all too common throughout much of the United States (Ziegltrum 2008) and the world (Lemelin 2008, Worthy and Foggin 2008). Typically, they are a result of the availability of human food and garbage to bears (Beckmann and Lackey 2008, Thiemann et al. 2008). As people continue to build homes farther into the wildland–urban interface, the level of conflicts with bears can be expected only to increase (Conover 2008). Despite the widespread range of human–bear conflict, there is no place with quite the same problem as the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, particularly in Yosemite National Park.


Modeling Wildlife Damage To Crops In Northern Indiana, Mónica I. Retamosa, Lee A. Humberg, James C. Beasley, Olin E. Rhodes Jr. Jan 2008

Modeling Wildlife Damage To Crops In Northern Indiana, Mónica I. Retamosa, Lee A. Humberg, James C. Beasley, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Comprehensive information on crop damage by wildlife species is critical if effective strategies for controlling wildlife damage are to be formulated. Discriminating how landscape composition and configuration attributes influence crop damage is important for implementing landscape management techniques to resolve human–wildlife conflicts. We analyzed crop damage data from 100 corn fields and 60 soybean fields located in the Upper Wabash River Basin of northern Indiana during 2003 and 2004. We used negative binomial regression to model the rate of damage to corn and soybean crops in response to local and landscape variables. Rate of crop damage was best predicted by …


Trans Fatty Acids Provide Evidence Of Anthropogenic Feeding By Black Bears, Gregory W. Thiemann, Randal S. Stahl, Sharon Baruch-Mordo, Stewart W. Breck Jan 2008

Trans Fatty Acids Provide Evidence Of Anthropogenic Feeding By Black Bears, Gregory W. Thiemann, Randal S. Stahl, Sharon Baruch-Mordo, Stewart W. Breck

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Bears (Ursus spp.) that become conditioned to anthropogenic food sources pose a risk to human safety and generally need to be relocated, rehabilitated, or destroyed. Identifying food-conditioned bears may be difficult if the animal is not captured or killed while immediately engaged in the nuisance behavior. Fatty acid signature analysis has been used to examine the dietary habits of bears and other carnivores and is based on the predictable incorporation of ingested fatty acids into the consumer’s fat stores. Unusual fatty acids that are available in only a few food types may be particularly useful dietary markers. In this …


In The News, Spring 2008, Joe N. Caudell, Rob Mcilvan Jan 2008

In The News, Spring 2008, Joe N. Caudell, Rob Mcilvan

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The Daily Globe of Ironwood, Michigan, reported on a new Wisconsin regulation that went into effect on October 1, 2007. People who feed deer for non-hunting purposes are required to stop doing so for at least 30 days if bear or elk begin using the site. Deer-feeding currently is banned in 26 Wisconsin counties. The amount and location where bait or feed may be distributed is regulated in all of the other counties in the state. This new regulation is aimed at protecting homeowners, motorists, and the small but growing elk herd by reducing disease transmission, automobile collisions, and other …


Avoiding The Blame Game In Managing Problem Black Bears, Michael L. Wolfe Jan 2008

Avoiding The Blame Game In Managing Problem Black Bears, Michael L. Wolfe

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In June 2007 a black bear (Ursus americanus) took an 11-year-old boy from the tent in which he was sleeping at a semi-wilderness campsite in the Uinta National Forest in Utah and killed him. The off ending bear, a 381-pound adult male, subsequently was destroyed by personnel of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services. The tragic incident, raises the number of recorded human fatalities caused by black bears during the period 1900–2007 to about 52. Although deaths caused by large carnivores are rare, the media attention associated with them focuses public concern for the responsibility …


How People Should Respond When Encountering A Large Carnivore: Opinions Of Wildlife Professionals, Dylan E. Brown, Michael R. Conover Jan 2008

How People Should Respond When Encountering A Large Carnivore: Opinions Of Wildlife Professionals, Dylan E. Brown, Michael R. Conover

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We conducted telephone surveys of wildlife professionals who work with large carnivores to ask their opinions about how people should respond to avoid being injured when confronted by a black bear (Ursus americana), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), mountain lion (Puma concolor), or gray wolf (Canis lupus). The respondents agreed that the most appropriate response was to try to increase the distance between a person and the carnivore. In the event of an attack by a black bear, mountain lion, or wolf, most respondents said to fight back. Opinion was divided over the …


Effects Of Aversive Conditioning On Behavior Of Nuisance Louisiana Black Bears, Jennifer Leigh, Michael J. Chamberlain Jan 2008

Effects Of Aversive Conditioning On Behavior Of Nuisance Louisiana Black Bears, Jennifer Leigh, Michael J. Chamberlain

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Complaints associated with nuisance activity by Louisiana black bears (Ursus americanus luteolus) in south Louisiana have steadily increased since 2000, demanding intervention by state and federal agencies. As a federally threatened species, Louisiana black bears that are a nuisance require nonlethal management, referred to as aversive conditioning. We used rubber buckshot and dogs to test the effectiveness of management techniques used by the state of Louisiana to deter nuisance bear activity. We captured 11 bears in residential and industrial areas where nuisance bear activity was reported. We fitted bears with radio-transmitting collars and released them within 2 km …


Learning Never Ends, And Neither Should Teaching, Jacob Blasi Jan 2008

Learning Never Ends, And Neither Should Teaching, Jacob Blasi

Human–Wildlife Interactions

There has been a large push to integrate more science and math into the classroom so that our children can compete in the world market, which is seeing an ever-increasing population of highly educated students from other countries. We read everyday in the newspapers the statistics of slipping academic achievement of American students compared to that of students around the world. So, the push for a more strenuous academic curriculum in American schools should be good for our students and for the nation. With a finite number of school hours, however, the advancement of 1 subject over another means a …


Echinacea And Deer Whistles: Science And Trust In The Wildlife Arena, Ben C. West Jan 2008

Echinacea And Deer Whistles: Science And Trust In The Wildlife Arena, Ben C. West

Human–Wildlife Interactions

“We must educate the public.” Few mantras have been used as often in the wildlife management profession, particularly in the arena of human–wildlife conflicts. In a modern era where people increasingly are separated from the natural world, wildlife professionals frequently note a lack of basic understanding about ecological systems among our stakeholders and cooperators. In response, we have created a plethora of educational programs and yet continue to call for more.


Factors Affecting Autumn Deer–Vehicle Collisions In A Rural Virginia County, William J. Mcshea, Chad M. Stewart, Laura J. Kearns, Stefano Liccioli, David Kocka Jan 2008

Factors Affecting Autumn Deer–Vehicle Collisions In A Rural Virginia County, William J. Mcshea, Chad M. Stewart, Laura J. Kearns, Stefano Liccioli, David Kocka

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Vehicular collisions with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a safety and economic hazard to motorists. Many efforts to reduce deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs) have proven unsuccessful, but deer reduction has been a primary management tool in several states. The Virginia Department of Transportation geo-located all known DVCs in Clarke County, Virginia, from August through December 2005 (n = 246) and 2006 (n = 259). We estimated harvest intensity, deer population density, amount of forest and housing development, presence of row crops, and traffic volume and speed for 228 road segments (each 500 m in length) within the county to …


Comparison Of 2 Vegetation-Height Management Practices For Wildlife Control At Airports, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott C. Barras, Glen E. Bernhardt, Bradley F. Blackwell, Jonathon D. Cepek Apr 2007

Comparison Of 2 Vegetation-Height Management Practices For Wildlife Control At Airports, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott C. Barras, Glen E. Bernhardt, Bradley F. Blackwell, Jonathon D. Cepek

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Vegetation-height management is a potential method to reduce bird numbers at airports. Based on studies in Europe, researchers recommended vegetation heights around 25 cm; however, preliminary studies in the United States produced conflicting results regarding the effect of tall (18 to >25 cm) vegetation on bird numbers at airports. From 1999 to 2002, we compared birds and other wildlife use of 4 short-vegetation plots (mean maximum height of 15.6 cm ± 5.1 SE and visual obstruction reading of 4.6 ± 3.0 cm) and 4 tall-vegetation plots (mean maximum height of 26.9 ± 8.4 cm and visual obstruction reading of 10.0 …


Evolution Of The Field Of Wildlife Damage Management In The United States And Future Challenges, James E. Miller Jan 2007

Evolution Of The Field Of Wildlife Damage Management In The United States And Future Challenges, James E. Miller

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Through the early twentieth century, people in rural areas of North America either dealt with problems caused by wildlife by killing the problem species, eliminating its habitat, changing crops or husbandry practices, tolerating the damage, or moving to a new area devoid of such problem animals. However, many of these solutions are impractical today with the increase in human populations, the increased expansion of development into previously rural landscapes, the increased fragmentation of land ownership, and the increasing movement of people into metropolitan areas. Because of current local, state, and federal ordinances and regulations, along with the impacts of animal …


Drive-By Netting: A Technique For Capturing Grebes And Other Diving Waterfowl, Joe A. Caudell, Michael R. Conover Jan 2007

Drive-By Netting: A Technique For Capturing Grebes And Other Diving Waterfowl, Joe A. Caudell, Michael R. Conover

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We describe a new method (drive-by netting) for capturing grebes (Podiceps spp.) and other birds that dive under water to escape capture. We used a floating gill net to capture 203 eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) in 20 days in 1999 on the Great Salt Lake (GSL), 652 eared grebes in 41 days on the GSL in 2000, and 409 grebes in 20 days in 2001. Other species captured during the 2000 and 2001 fi eld seasons included 1 western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis), 9 ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis), and 1 Canada goose (Branta …


Long Time Coming, Michael R. Conover Jan 2007

Long Time Coming, Michael R. Conover

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Welcome to this inaugural issue of Human– Wildlife Conflicts. Much has changed during my lifetime. I can remember when there were no deer on my family’s farm in Illinois. I can remember in 1979 seeing Canada geese feeding in a golf course in New Haven, Connecticut, and thinking they were a lost family of geese from the Arctic. I can remember going to a wildlife conference and seeing a presentation in the program, titled “Turkey problems in Wisconsin,” and wondering if the turkeys they were referring to had wings or wore overalls. I can remember the editor of The …


The Changing Face Of Wildlife Damage Management, William H. Clay Jan 2007

The Changing Face Of Wildlife Damage Management, William H. Clay

Human–Wildlife Interactions

On behalf of the Wildlife Services program, I’m pleased to provide some thoughts for this initial issue of Human–Wildlife Conflicts regarding the changing face of wildlife damage management. Having been in this profession for more than 25 years, I have witnessed firsthand the growth and evolution of wildlife damage management programs across the country. The entire field of wildlife damage management has been in a period of change during the past 15 to 20 years. Wildlife damage managers making decisions in today’s environment must now consider a wide range of legitimate public interests that often conflict with one another. These …


Perceptions Of Wildlife Damage And Species Conservation: Lessons Learned From The Utah Prairie Dog, R. Dwayne Elmore, Terry A. Messmer, Mark W. Brunson Jan 2007

Perceptions Of Wildlife Damage And Species Conservation: Lessons Learned From The Utah Prairie Dog, R. Dwayne Elmore, Terry A. Messmer, Mark W. Brunson

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens), a federally listed threatened species, causes damage to agricultural operations, yet little incentive exists for private landowners to conserve them. Therefore, we surveyed Utah residents to identify stakeholder attitudes regarding prairie dog management. We assessed how perceptions of wildlife damage affect respondent attitudes regarding conservation among agricultural producers, rural residents, and urban residents. Higher levels of perceived wildlife damage were reported for agriculture respondents …


Successful Use Of Neck Snares To Live-Capture Red Foxes, S. Nicole Frey, Michael R. Conover, Gary Cook Jan 2007

Successful Use Of Neck Snares To Live-Capture Red Foxes, S. Nicole Frey, Michael R. Conover, Gary Cook

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Box traps and foot-hold snares are common methods to live-capture study animals. However, these methods are frequently ineffective due to factors such as weather constraints, food availability, and target animal behavior. During a study of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) behavior, we examined the use of neck snares to live-trap study animals. We modified the neck snare using swivel cam-locks, deer stops to minimize damage to the animal. Additionally, we utilized our knowledge of red-fox behavior to set traps in …


In The News, Spring 2007, Michael R. Conover Jan 2007

In The News, Spring 2007, Michael R. Conover

Human–Wildlife Interactions

High Country News reported that on November 8, 2006, the body of 22-year-old Joel Carnegie was found at Points North Landing in the northern boreal forest of Saskatchewan, Canada. Investigators believe Carnegie was attacked by a group of 2 to 4 wolves when he was walking alone near a mining exploration company camp. The attack is the first documented case of a fatal wolf attack in North America since 1900, but a nonfatal wolf attack occurred a year earlier in the same area. In that incident, wolves attacked and injured a jogger. Wildlife biologists linked the attacks to the presence …