Environmental Health and Protection Commons^™

The Above-Ground Movement And Dispersal Of The Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys Bursarius), Craig Panich

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

The Plains pocket gopher has the largest range of its genus, and it is the gopher that inhabits much of Wisconsin. Gophers are fossorial herbivores that have a dramatic impact on natural and agricultural ecosystems. Throughout the summer of 2005, I completed a population analysis of the plains pocket gopher in a variety of habitats in Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties, Wisconsin, that provided valuable insight into the complex population dynamics of the gopher and served as a foundation to this project. Pocket gophers are known to be strictly subterranean; however, it is not uncommon to find their remains inside the …

Panel Discussion: The Future Of Natural Resources Extension, Gary San Julian Moderator

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

Today we want to talk about the future of Extension. At the committee meeting, we talked about what the important things were, and a high priority that everyone is concerned about is going to happen in 2020: Where is Extension going to be, where is the fisheries and wildlife program going to be, where are we in the states going to be, and what kind of support are we going to get?

An Extension Program Helping Private Landowners Develop Natural Resource Enterprises In Mississippi, A. T. Rohnke, W. D. Jones, K. M. Jacobs, T. A. Tullos

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

The Natural Resources Enterprise (NRE) Program at Mississippi State University has developed a comprehensive statewide extension effort to assist landowners in developing and managing outdoor recreational businesses using sound business and habitat management strategies. According to recent research, fee access wildlife and fisheries recreational enterprises on private lands diversify landowner income, enhance participation in USDA cost-share programs that increase wildlife habitats on marginal agricultural lands, and promote land stewardship and ownership retention. With this program, information pertinent to the development and management of natural resource enterprises is disseminated through a combination of landowner workshops, websites, extension publications, manuals, DVD tutorials, …

Cooperative Is The Cornerstone Of Extension Education, Don Steinbach

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

Cooperation is the key to making Extension education work, both from an implementation and funding perspective. We can all cite many examples of this in our many programs, and thus the name of many of state Extension agencies. This example is one of cooperative funding with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to implement a joint Conservation Education Program.

Managing Kentucky Fee Fishing Operations, Forrest Wynne

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

Management strategies for operating fee fishing operations in Kentucky are described. Recommendations are given for stocking rates of catfish, hybrid bream, and trout; aeration, pond depth and shape, supplemental feeding, and other management considerations. Marketing considerations discussed include pricing, and amenities such as restrooms, fish-cleaning services, and concessions including rental or sale of tackle and supplies.

Coyotes Nipping At Our Heels: A New Suburban Dilemma, Robert M. Timm

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

In the 1970s, coyote attacks on humans in urban and suburban environments began to occur, primarily in Southern California. Such attacks have increased in number, and since the late 1980s coyote attacks on people have been reported from at least 16 additional states and 4 Canadian provinces. Attack incidents are typically preceded by a sequence of increasingly bold coyote behaviors, including attacks on pets during daylight hours. In suburban areas, coyotes can habituate to humans as a result of plentiful food resources, including increased numbers of rabbits and rodents, household refuse, pet food, water from ponds and landscape irrigation run-off, …

The Value Of Teamwork, Jim Byford

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

Wildlife and fisheries professionals are generally “loners.” Most often, we get into the profession because we love not only the outdoors, but also the solitude often associated with our job. And most universities perpetuate that by the way we’re educated – usually not as teams, but as individuals. Even when we occasionally have team projects, it’s easier to do it ourselves than to coordinate with the group. And the height of frustration is when some other team members don’t do their part.

But employers really like team players. They like not only people who can put a team together and …

Realizing The Potential Of Family Forests: Tools To Facilitate Habitat Conservation, Drue Deberry, Julie H. Moore

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

The management of family-owned forests is discussed in light of conservation issues and development pressures. Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances are voluntary tools that can be used to protect conservation values, particularly habitat for threatened or endangered species. A case history of forest management practices to sustain the gopher tortoise in the Southeast is given.

Saving The World One Native Plant At A Time, Christopher E. Moorman, Christopher S. Deperno

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

Wildlife habitat is lost as the human population and land clearing for development increase in the South. Remaining habitats are fragmented and contain high numbers of invasive, exotic plants. Suburban, manicured landscapes often lack the plant diversity and complex vegetation structure important to wildlife. Generally, developers and homeowners replant cleared grounds with exotic plants that don’t provide quality wildlife habitat. Instead, individual home or property owners can mitigate wildlife habitat loss in urban areas by landscaping with native plants following proper design principles. Furthermore, many people taking action over a large area (e.g., across a neighborhood) will help connect small …

Sage-Grouse Restoration Project: Evaluating The Effects Of The Farm Bill Conservation Practices On Sage-Grouse, Terry A. Messmer

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

The Office of Management and Budget is demanding increased accountability of funds used to implement conservation practices and strategies. Although current Farm Bill policy provides priority funding for projects that are designed to enhance species conservation, it does not allocate funds to conduct the evaluations needed to document the effect of conservation practices on wildlife. The Sage-Grouse Restoration Project (SGRP) is a cooperative agreement with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), designed specifically to facilitate evaluations to determine the effect of conservation practices and technologies implemented under the 2002 Farm Bill on restoring or enhancing sage-grouse habitat on private lands. …

Extension Wildlife And Fisheries Take-A-Ways, Ross "Skip" Shelton

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

Never underestimate the power of policy, whether it be –
• Wildlife
• Fisheries
• Tax

• Land
Joint venturing doesn’t have to be costly in time or money.

Backyards are becoming more plentiful than back fortys – think urban wildlife.

Appeal to multiple values when selling wildlife and fisheries conservation (father, son, mother, daughter).

The extension demonstration method is still a very effective communication technique.

Third party testimony is more effective than personal advocacy.

Build consensus: all of us are smarter than any of us.

Enjoy your extension career. It is one of the very best in the natural …

Approaches For Delivering Integrated Forestry And Wildlife Extension Programs: The Missouri Woodland Steward Short Course And Missouri Master Wildlifer Program, Robert A. Pierce Ii, H. E. Stelzer

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

Extension educational programs related to the stewardship of Missouri’s natural resources have been identified as a priority in the MU College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resource’s “Extension Base Program” (MU CAFNR 2001). Citizens own approximately 94% of the land in the state and therefore manage most of the natural resource base, including forests, agricultural lands, prairies and grasslands, wetlands, streams, and other natural habitats. Abundant natural resources, renewable and nonrenewable alike, provide for agriculture and timber production as well as recreational opportunities, each of which are directly or indirectly responsible for a majority of the economic activity within Missouri. …

The Center For Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution At Virginia Tech: A Model Of Future Use, James A. Parkhurst

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

The Center for Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution, located at Virginia Tech, was created in mid-2004 to bring together representatives of state and federal agencies, private sector practitioners, non-governmental organizations, researchers, educators, and other stakeholders common to most human-wildlife conflicts as a means to facilitate and expedite the process of attaining realistic and publicly acceptable solutions to human-wildlife conflicts. The Center has four critical missions: coordination, information transfer, research, and training. Participating partners (i.e., members) in the Center adopted upon an Advisory Board organizational model and operate under a “majority rule” protocol. Increased awareness and understanding of the missions, regulatory mandates, and …

An Introduction To The Revised Southern Region 4-H Wildlife Projects, Renee Strnad, Chris Moorman

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

During the 1970s, a partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture and the National 4-H Council led to the creation of the Southern Region Wildlife Project materials. Fifty-one publications, based on a variety of fish and wildlife-related subject matter, were created. In 1999, the North Carolina Department of 4-H and Youth Development received a grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to revise the publications. Twenty-four of the original 51 publications were selected for revision by Extension Specialists and other wildlife biologists in several southern states. Content and format for the projects were updated in the revised …

China Civil Aviation Birdstrike Prevention, Li Jing, Lu Xianfeng

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 8th (2006)

This article initially analyses the subject of bird strike of China civil aviation and introduces bird strike incidents in these years on quantity, damage, flight phase and height, season, time and other characters. Measures are subsequently presented which were taken by China civil aviation to reduce the hazard of bird strike and ensure aviation safety. First, regulations and advisory circular were issued to qualify and direct bird strike prevention at airports. Then, systematical research on bird strike prevention was done. Birdstrike Prevention Guidance Manual has been compiled to direct aerodrome, airlines, air traffic control and other agencies to cooperate on …

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Volume 22, October 2006, Number 3

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

The final rule on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program and Interstate Movement of Farmed or Captive Deer, Elk, and Moose was published in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on July 21, 2006 (SCWDS BRIEFS, Vol. 22, No. 2). SCWDS researchers recently received research support from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a project entitled “Avian Influenza Viruses in the Environment: What is the Probability of Human Contact and Transmission?” We have had a large number of isolations of bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic …

Usda-Extension Wildlife And Fisheries Educational Programs 1978-2000, James E. Miller

Triennial National Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Specialists Conference: 11th (2006)

This paper provides a brief overview of the history of USDA-Extension wildlife and fisheries programs at the national level, with emphasis on the years 1978-2000. Portions of the earlier history of Extension wildlife and fisheries programs at the national level can be found in previous proceedings of these National conferences and in other publications (see Miller 1981). This review of programs conducted or influenced by the National Program Leader (NPL) during the period is a brief snapshot in time regarding the presence of an experienced and motivated professional serving in the NPL wildlife and fisheries position.

Cooperative Conservation: Increasing Capacity Through Community Partnerships - Interagency Volunteer Program: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending September 30, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Get Outdoors Nevada

• Volunteer database increased 9.5% over last quarter. Database now contains 2,698 records.
• Website activity decreased, recording an average of 42,488 hits per month, with an average of 4,435 pages viewed per month (3.6% decrease in pages viewed).
• Volunteer recognition ceremony scheduled for November 4 at the Renaissance Hotel, Las Vegas.
• Fall 2006 volunteer training schedule finalized.
• National Public Lands Day volunteer projects successfully executed at Red Rock Canyon NCA and Lake Mead NRA, with a total of 232 community volunteers contributing more than 1,000 hours toward clean-up and restoration of Southern Nevada’s public lands.
• Team charter presented to the federal …

Take Pride In America In Southern Nevada: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending September 30, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Anti-littering Programs

• Team members have been meeting regularly with other interagency teams to plan for the upcoming messaging campaign roll-out event, set for October 12, 2006.

• The Interagency Anti-Litter Team recycled over a ton of paper this quarter.

• A task order modification request was completed, submitted, and approved this quarter. The request will make more funds available for the messaging campaign.

• A multi-pronged media buy for the messaging campaign has been planned this quarter and will be initiated in October.

• The Anti-Litter Team worked with the Nevada Division of Forestry to complete Phase Two of a clean-up …

Don’T Trash Nevada: An Anti-Litter Strategy For Southern Nevada, Public Lands Institute

Anti-littering Presentations

• Increase public awareness about the desert dumping and urban littering.
• Increase the media’s awareness of the dumping and littering problem.
• Over the life of the campaign, modify behavior to reduce littering and dumping by Clark County residents and visitors.

Community Engagement, Education & Research, Public Lands Institute

Presentations (PLI)

The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands.

The Growing Together Guide: A Companion Resource To The New England Environmental Finance Center/Melissa Paly Film, New England Environmental Finance Center

Smart Growth

What local leader or public official wants to be faced with an SOS the “same old story” of public discord and confrontation over growth and development in one’s community? That situation has become a problem for efforts to promote smart growth. Investments are needed in the walkable, compact, traditional‐streetscape and mixed use neighborhoods and developments that are more sustainable and healthy than sprawl, for both people and the landscape. Yet attempts at such change all too often end up mired in costly public controversy and stalemate.

Refuge Update – September/October 2006, Volume 3, Number 5

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Table of Contents:

Birds On Every Refuge, page 5 New Refuge System Birding Initiative aims to help birders fully appreciate the importance of refuges in the lives of their favorite species.

Focus on . . Farm Bill, pages 10-16 America’s farmers and ranchers play a critical role in sustaining healthy fi sh and wildlife populations, making the Farm Bill an especially important issue.

Where Has All the Cordgrass Gone, page 21 Sudden wetland dieback is the rapid loss of vegetation in salt marshes. So, why does it happen?

Less Than “Purr-Fect” in the Wild, page 26 Feral cars threaten birds …

Proceedings Of 8th Bird Strike Committee Usa/Canada Annual Meeting: 21-24 August 2006

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 8th (2006)

Includes abstracts of 26 papers and 12 poster sessions. Complete in one document (39 pages).

Potential Wildlife Control Through Use Of A Plant Growth Regulator, Thomas W. Seamans, Brian E. Washburn

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 8th (2006)

Habitat management techniques that reduce wildlife use of habitats on and around airports are critical for safe airport operations. Herbaceous vegetation comprises the main habitat type at airports and vegetation can be managed by various methods. The objective of this study was to compare bird and mammal use of grassland habitat managed either by mechanical (mowing) or chemical (plant growth regulator) methods. We monitored vegetation growth, plant community composition, and wildlife activity each week during May – October 2003 in study plots located in Erie County, Ohio. Vegetation was taller (P < 0.01) and denser (P < 0.01) in unmanaged plots than in managed (mowed or growth regulator) plots. Plots sprayed with growth regulator had lower forb/legume cover and higher grass cover than unmanaged or mowed plots. We observed more (P < 0.001) birds (× ± SE) per 5-minute survey on the ground in or perched on vegetation in unmanaged (3.0 ± 0.3) than mowed (1.5 ± 0.2) or growth regulator (1.5 ± 0.3) plots. More (P < 0.001) white-tailed deer were observed in mowed plots (4.3 ± 0.5) than either unmanaged (2.2 ± 0.6) or growth regulator (1.6 ± 0.3) plots. Fifteen small animals were captured in control plots, whereas no animals were captured in managed plots. Applying plant growth regulator did not maintain desired vegetation height and thus is not a costeffective alternative to mowing in plant communities of mixed composition. Managing vegetation height reduced wildlife use of grassland habitats. Removal of forbs and legumes by the growth regulator might explain the reduction in deer use in these plots. Reducing forbs and legumes might also make grasslands less attractive to small mammals. By simplifying herbaceous communities and encouraging plants less desirable to wildlife, it may be possible to reduce the attractiveness of airfields to wildlife species hazardous to aviation.

International Birdstrike Committee Minimum Best Practice Standards For Aerodrome Bird Control, John R. Allan

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 8th (2006)

Despite almost 40 years of research effort and operational experience, there remains very limited consensus concerning the best methods for managing the bird strike hazard at aerodromes. This is, in part, because the levels of risk, habitat type and bird species present at different aerodromes varies and the precise techniques that are successful at one site may not work at another. It is also partly due to differences in the levels of resources available at different airports and to differences in the attitude of airport managers and national regulators to the hazard posed by bird strikes. Following the implementation of …

The Effect Of Harassment By Dogs On Ground-Nesting Birds In Airfields, Shlomi Brandwine, Nicholas B. Carter

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 8th (2006)

Ground-nesting birds like lapwings and sandpipers constitute a major hazard at airports. Preliminary observations with the Israeli Air Force showed that stone curlew (Burhinusoedicnemus, (Burhinidea)) were involved in 33% of all bird strikes in 2003 at Hatzor Air Force base in central Israel, most of which occurred during the nesting season. The ultimate reduction of curlew populations near the runways is dependent upon understanding the effect of predation risks on the curlew nesting behavior. In theory, true predation and artificial predation should have the same effect on bird behavior. We studied the effect of egg collection vs. egg collection complemented …

Methodological Framework To Assess The Relative Threat Of Bird–Strikes In Colombian Airports., Juan David Amaya-Espinel, Sergio Córdoba-Córdoba, Guillermo Rico-Hernández

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 8th (2006)

The likely risk of a bird-aircraft collision (bird-strike) in a given airport was assessed using a standard methodological evaluation of birds along the runaway to record data and spatial distribution of danger; and making a threat categorization. Contiguous quadrants of 200 X 200 meters were located along the runaway from one head to the other with a center point count at 100 m, in which all birds were recorded for 15 minutes, accounting for species identification, number of individuals (flock size), flight altitude from ground to > 1,000 m, flight direction including number of perpendicular crosses, and behavioral characteristics (flight, roosting, …

Dna Identification Of Bird Strike Remains – Procedures And Technical Considerations., Nancy Rotzel

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 8th (2006)

This poster presents the development of DNA techniques by the Smithsonian Institution Feather Lab to identify bird remains recovered from military and civil bird aircraft collisions (bird strikes). The following steps for molecular identification of forensic samples are explained: receipt of sample, extraction, amplification, sequencing, and final data analysis using computer software. Recommendations for collecting bird strike samples for DNA analysis are also discussed. This work compliments the continuing work of the Feather Lab by providing a molecular signature to verify bird strike samples that do not contain sufficient feather remains for morphological identification.

Remote Sensing Of Birds Around Airports – Present Efforts In Germany, Wilhelm Ruhe, Reinhold Hill

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 8th (2006)

As birds around airports and military airfields are a potential danger for air traffic, there are ongoing efforts, also in Germany, to monitor birds in conflicting airspaces. Besides other factors the spatial scale very much determines system demands and the resolution of detections. Based on the well known time lapse photography technique, digital video recording of radar screens is still used in long term (e.g. 2 years) bird monitoring studies at German airports. The technical equipment is easily installed and the remote controlled systems are working very reliable. However, data analysis is time consuming and needs a good deal of …