Environmental Health and Protection Commons^™

Certalert: Grasses Attractive To Hazardous Wildlife

Other Bird Strike and Aviation Materials

Recently, several reports have been received of airport owners or airport contractors planting disturbed areas (construction sites, re-grading projects, etc) with seed mixtures containing brown-top millet. All millets are a major attractant to doves and other seed eating birds.

Contesting Legal Procedures Of Risk Management In Belgium: A Case Study, Tomke Lask

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Dr. Lask evaluates legal procedures for dealing with siting problems in Belgium in the context of an actual conflict, and discusses how citizens' dissatisfaction with governmental systems has resulted in increased involvement in environmental issues.

Climate Change And Nebraska

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

The earth's climate is predicted to change because human activities are altering the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases - primarily carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. The heat-trapping property of these greenhouse gases is undisputed. Although there is uncertainty about exactly how and when the earth's climate will respond to enhanced concentrations of greenhouse gases, observations indicate that detectable changes are under way. There most likely will be increases in temperature and changes in precipitation, soil moisture, and sea level, which could have adverse effects on many ecological systems, as well as on …

Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus)

Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery: Annual Reports

Historically, most Native Americans revered gray wolves, trying to emulate their cunning and hunting abilities. However, wolves became nearly extinct in the lower 48 states in the early part of the 20th century because settlers believed wolves caused widespread livestock losses. Constantly persecuted and targeted by large scale predator eradication programs sponsored by the federal government, wolves have been pursued with more passion and determination than any other animal in U.S. history. By the time wolves were finally protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, they had been exterminated from the lower 48 states, except for a few hundred …

Measuring The Applicability Of The Seville Strategy To The Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve, Debra Kreitzer

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The dominant paradigms of the past decade involve the preservation of biodiversity through the use of landscape corridors and buffer zones, as well as the integration of economic growth through sustainable use. The International Biosphere Reserve (IBR) program, as defined in the Seville Strategy, encourages locations already involved in conservation to continue to protect biodiversity and foster harmonious relationships between humans and their environment through sustainable development. An excellent example of an IBR is the Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve (MCABR) in south-central Kentucky. In order to measure the significance of the implementation of the Seville Strategy in the MCABR, …

The Price Of Clean Air: A Consideration Of Market Based Emissions Trading, Mark W. Miller

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Traditional regulatory approaches for environmental protection do not consider

the costs and benefits of the standards they impose. Further, imposing strict performance

standards on firms with heterogeneous control costs leads to an inefficient allocation of resources devoted to pollution control. This paper explores the use of emission allowance trading as a way to improve economic efficiency within the context of environmental protection. PM10 air pollution from sources within the Las Vegas Valley is used as the case study.

This paper found that an emission trading

program in this particular case study would not live up to the theoretical expectations. Although, …

Watercraft Impact On The Lake Mead National Recreational Area, Terence Lino

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Development Of An Internet Center For Wildlife Damage Management (Html.Www.Ianr.Unl/Wildlife), Scott E. Hygnstrom, Robert H. Schmidt, Paul D. Curtis, Greg K. Yarrow

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Wildlife damage problems are experienced by all segments of society. Row crops, forages, rangeland, fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and turf are all susceptible to wildlife damage at various stages of development. Agricultural producers lose billions of dollars each year due to crop damage caused by deer, voles, blackbirds, and other wildlife species (Conover et al. 1995). In addition, over 75,000 people are injured annually or become ill in North America due to wildlife-related incidents. For most of these problems, IPM principles can be applied to reduce damage to tolerable levels. Information, materials, and services on wildlife damage management are available through …

The Efficacy Of Glue Traps Against Wild Populations Of House Mice, Mus Domesticus, Rutty, Robert M. Corrigan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Field research was conducted from Purdue University during 1991 to 1993 to examine some aspects of the efficaciousness of the various types of glue traps against wild populations of house mice. The research was conducted in agricultural and livestock buildings containing various infestation levels of mice. Tests compared the capture and escape rates of glue boards vs. trays, covered vs. uncovered glue traps, and glue traps vs. snap traps, and multiple catch curiosity traps. Observational work, via night vigils, was also conducted to note the behavioral response of mice to glue surfaces, including the behavioral aspects of mice neutralizing glue …

Management Of Conflicts Between Urban Coyotes And Humans In Southern California, Rex O. Baker, Robert M. Timm

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

An apparent increase in coyote-human conflicts, notably attacks on humans, demonstrates that such incidents are not rare in California. The authors discuss coyote attacks on 53 humans, resulting in 21 instances of human injury, over the last decade. These illustrate repeated, predictable pre-attack coyote behavior patterns. Specific changes in human environments and in human behavior that have contributed to coyote attacks are discussed. Case histories of attacks reveal contributing factors and suggest appropriate corrective and preventive actions. Padded leghold traps have been the most effective and efficient tool in removing problem coyotes and changing the behavior of coyotes to fear …

An Investigation Of The Presence Of Pesticides In The Drinking Water Of Greater Cairo, Mohsen Majed Alami

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Porcupine Damage And Repellent Research In The Interior Pacific Northwest, Gary W. Witmer, Michael J. Pipas

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) rely on trees and shrubs for winter food and can cause serious, localized damage to conifers. Twenty-two percent of ponderosa trees (Pinus ponderosa) examined in southeastern Washington were damaged by porcupines. Most damage involved complete girdling of the mid- to upper boles of the larger trees (12 to 30 cm dbh) in the stand. Preliminary repellent trials with captive porcupines suggested that several materials might reduce tree damage, especially predator-associated odors. Field trials are needed to assess efficacy and duration of protection under ambient winter conditions.

Rat Management For Endangered Species Protection In The U.S. Virgin Islands, Gary W. Witmer, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Frank Boyd

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Introduced roof rats (Rartus rattus) pose a substantial threat to the fauna and flora of many tropical islands. In the Caribbean, there is concern about rat impacts to several endangered species, including the Atlantic hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the least tern (Sterna antillarum). The authors surveyed the rat population on Buck Island, Buck Island Reef National Monument, U .S. Virgin Islands in February 1998. Based on three nights of trapping, rats were of low to moderate abundance during the sampling period when compared to results from other Caribbean islands. The impact of …

Research And Management Of Bird Depredations At Catfish Farms, Mark E. Tobin

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Depredations by fish-eating birds are a major constraint on production at commercial catfish facilities in the southeastern United States. A recent survey of catfish farmers estimated total losses due to direct predation by birds and costs associated with employing preventive measures at $17 million, or 4% of national sales. In 1988, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) established a research station in Mississippi to develop more effective methods for reducing the impact of birds on southeastern aquaculture farms. This paper describes the impact of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus, DCCO) on the catfish industry, …

The Use Of Aerosol Repellents As An Avian Deterrent Strategy, Gwen R. Stevens, Larry Clark, Richard A. Weber

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Traditional protective measures to keep wildlife away from areas include exclusion by use of netting, hazing, and chemical repellents. The primary problem with most hazing systems is that wildlife quickly habituate to the devices if their use falls into a predictable pattern. Repellent substances cause wildlife species to avoid otherwise attractive or palatable resources by creating a disincentive to visit a specific area or consume a particular resource. Chemical repellents, both lethal and non-lethal, are typically used for agricultural and horticultural purposes, but in addition may provide a strategy to deter wildlife in other contexts. Aerosol delivery of chemical repellents …

Deer On Airports: An Accident Waiting To Happen, Sandra E. Wright, Richard A. Dolbeer, Andrew J. Montoney

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors analyzed data on civil aircraft strikes with wild ungulates (deer [Odocoileus spp.], elk [Cervus canadensis] and moose [Alces alces]) in the U.S. from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wildlife Strike Database and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Aviation Accident Database for 1983 to 1997. Prior to 1991, the FAA Form 5200-7 for reporting strikes was designated solely for bird strike data, thus, strike reports for non-avian species prior to 1991 are underrepresented. A total of 343 ungulate strikes was reported, 48 from 1983 to 1990 and 295 from 1991 to 1997. Forty-four …

Comparison Of White Mineral Oil And Corn Oil To Reduce Hatchability In Ring-Billed Gull Eggs, Patrica A. Pochop, John L. Cummings, Christi A. Yoder, John E. Steuber

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Oiling eggs is a potential management method for controlling nuisance or depredating populations of ring-billed gulls, Canada geese, and other bird species. However, no registration for an oiling compound currently exists with the Environmental Protection Agency. Efficacy data were collected for white mineral oil and corn oil to reduce the hatchability of ring-billed gull eggs. Egg failure was 99% in corn oil, 96% in white mineral oil, and 35% in control eggs. Most treated eggs that hatched were treated early in the incubation period, 1 to 8 days after clutch completion. A Wildlife Service Technical Note on the use of …

Fertility Control In Coyotes: Is It A Potential Management Tool?, Thomas J. De Liberto, Eric M. Gese, Frederick F. Knowlton, J. Russell Mason, Michael R. Conover, Lowell Miller, Robert H. Schmidt, Michael K. Holland

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Fertility control in wildlife is emerging as a potential management tool. Published research on feral horses, deer, rodents, and rabbits suggest an effective agent producing reversible infertility in these species could be developed. Furthermore, anecdotal reports suggest that infertility can be induced in a greater array of species. In this paper, the authors review methods of fertility control being studied for application in wildlife and focus on their studies designed to evaluate the effectiveness of fertility control agents in coyotes (Canis latrans). Immunocontraception using porcine zona pellucida (PZP) is currently the most promising method of fertility control in …

Tracing The History Of Blackbird Research Through An Industry's Looking Glass: The Sunflower Magazine, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The Sunflower magazine, the voice of the National Sunflower Organization, featured articles in January 1978 and December 1996 that began with these words, "If Old King Cole was a merry old soul, it was probably because he had only four and twenty blackbirds to contend with, and they were all out of commission!" This quotation captures the sentiments of sunflower growers, who have identified blackbirds as a major production problem since the 1960s. The National (formerly Denver) Wildlife Research Center, a unit within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, is charged with both …

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

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (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 …

Wildlife Information Sources And Search Methods On The Internet, Diana L. Dwyer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Vertebrate pest damage information is pulled from a variety of disciplines ranging from wildlife management to psychology. The Internet has opened the door to what seems to be an unending number of information sources. Researchers can become overwhelmed by the choices and different levels of information available. The correct use of search engines and a checklist of criteria to evaluate the quality of information obtained can help to eliminate the extraneous information and make the time spent on the Internet more productive. There are a large number of wildlife, biology, environmental, and other related sites that are especially useful to …

Potential Bird Repellents To Reduce Bird Damage To Lettuce Seed And Seedlings, John L. Cummings, Patricia A. Pochop, Christi A. Yoder, James E. Davis Jr.

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of ReJeX-iT® AG-145, Mesurol®, activated charcoal, lime, and fipronil to reduce homed lark damage to lettuce seeds and seedlings. In Experiment 1, homed larks consumed significantly more feed mixture (50:50 grains and lettuce seed) than untreated clay-coated lettuce seed in a three-day choice-test. In Experiment 2, where clay-coated lettuce seed was treated with ReJeX-iT® AG- 145, Mesurol®, activated charcoal, or lime, there was no significant difference in consumption of untreated clay-coated lettuce seed and treated clay-coated lettuce seed. Homed larks consumed insignificant amounts of all seed treatments including untreated coated lettuce seed. In this experiment …

Managing Island Biotas: Brown Treesnake Control Using Barrier Technology, Gad Perry, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Gordon H. Rodda, Thomas H. Fritts

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis), accidentally introduced to the previously snake-free U.S. island of Guam after World War 11, decimated the island's naive wildlife. Today, it periodically stows away on craft going to other islands where the ecological damage may be repeated. Barriers offer an effective tool for keeping the snakes out of areas from which they can disperse off-island, as well as sites identified as critical for the protection of human health, conduct of economic activity, or conservation of endangered species. The authors have developed a variety of barrier designs which repulse at least 95% of snake …

Effects Of Taste Stimuli (Quinine And Sucrose) In Pelleted Granulated, And Wax Block Baits On Feeding Preferences Of Northern Pocket Gophers (Thomomys Talpoides), Stephen A. Schumake, Geraldine R. Mccann

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

A two-choice, taste preference study was conducted using 18 northern pocket gophers to evaluate pelleted sorghum, granulated sorghum, and wax block baits containing either 0.01 to 0.05 % quinine or 0.10 to 5.0 % sucrose. Bait consumption was significantly higher across treatments (P≤.001) for granulated sorghum, followed by pelleted sorghum, and wax blocks. Gophers also showed a high frequency of moving the granulated bait in their cheek pouches to be deposited at alternate locations within their cages. Although increasing sucrose concentration did not produce significantly (P ≥.10) enhanced consumption for any of the baits, a trend toward increasing preference with …

Evaluation Of Acrolein As A Fumigant For Controlling Northern Pocket Gophers, George H. Matschke, Geraldine R. Mccann, Rebecca A. Doane

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Baker Performance Chemical Incorporated entered into a cooperative agreement with the National Wildlife Research Center to evaluate acrolein as a fumigant for controlling northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides). In October 1996, a 44.5 ha (110 acre) irrigated alfalfa hay field was selected as the study site in Franklin County, Washington. Eight treatment units (TUs), six fumigated and two control, were established on the study site. On the six fumigated TUs, 58.9% of the sample plots were inactive, whereas, all sample plots (100%) on the two control TUs were active. The 58.9% mean reduction in pocket gopher activity on …

Mammal Repellents: Options And Considerations For Development, J. Russell Mason

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Repellents include chemical substances, visual displays, and sonic and ultrasonic deterrent systems. The use of electric shock also can be considered as a repellent category. Each of these categories is discussed, together with their respective utilities, constraints on their usefulness, and possibilities for future development. Economic considerations that may impede or expedite the development of new strategies are presented. Repellent effectiveness depends upon a complex of variables, including the palatability of protected and alternative foods, weather conditions, and the number of animals causing problems. Invariably, repellents are most useful when used as components of integrated pest management strategies

Evaluation Of Electronic Frightening Devices As White-Tailed Deer Deterrents, Jerrold L. Belant, Thomas W. Seamans, Laura A. Tyson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of the motion-activated Usonic Sentry (with and without strobe), motion-activated Yard Gard, and Electronic Guard for deterring white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from preferred feeding areas from February to April 1996. Two four-week experiments were conducted, monitoring deer use (number of intrusions and corn consumption) at eight feeding stations in a 2,200 ha fenced facility in northern Ohio with high deer densities (≥ 38/km²). During these experiments, one of the devices was positioned at each of four sites. The mean (± SE, n = 4) daily number of deer intrusions at feeding …

Development Of Seed Treatments To Control Blackbirds, Michael L. Avery, David Decker, John S. Humphrey

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Bird repellents to protect seeds are a potentially important aspect of integrated vertebrate pest management strategies. Yet, there currently are no repellents registered for seed treatment uses. This is due not to lack of effective candidate compounds, but to monetary and regulatory constraints that inhibit commercialization of promising compounds. Two examples of this dilemma are methiocarb and anthraquinone, each of which has considerable potential for bird repellent uses and each of which faces considerable registration hurdles as prospective seed treatment compounds. A concerted, coordinated effort among private industry, producer groups, and state and federal agencies may be the best strategy …

The Bait Surcharge Program: Research Improves Zinc Phosphide Use For Vole Control In Alfalfa, Ray T. Sterner

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

This paper describes several unexpected benefits of rodenticide-registration research funded by The California Bait Surcharge Program. An enclosure-type study was conducted to determine efficacy of single, pre- and test-bait broadcasts (10 lb./ac.) of 0% and 2% zinc phosphide (Zn₃P₂, CAS #1314-84-7) steam-rolled-oat (SRO) groats to control voles (Microtus spp.) in alfalfa (Medicago sariva). Unexpected research spinoffs resulted from the use of: 1) eight randomly-located, sieved-dirt plots per enclosure to monitor bait distribution, bait removal, and rodent/avian (non-target) activity; 2) a bait-weathering plot and bait-sample analyses to monitor Zn₃P₂ biodeterioration; and …

The Development Of An Integrated Pest Management Plan For Roof Rats In Hawaiian Macadamia Orchards, Earl W. Campbell Iii, Ann E. Koehler, Robert T. Sugihara

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 18th (1998)

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) damage an estimated 5 to 10% of the developing nut crop in Hawaiian macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) orchards. Relevant aspects of roof rat biology in macadamia orchards have and continue to be studied with the ultimate goal of developing an ecologically sound and cost-effective integrated pest management plan. The field component of a two-year study of roof rat populations in macadamia orchards has recently been completed. The goal of this study is to clarify the relationship between roof rat seasonal abundance, macadamia flowering, and nut production on five orchards in three regions on …