Environmental Health and Protection Commons^™

Cost Comparisons For White-Tailed Deer Live Capture Techniques, Robert L. Pooler, Paul D. Curtis, Milo E. Richmond

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

During March 13 - July 16, 1996, we captured 75 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) using dart guns, rocket nets, and Clover traps on the Seneca Army Depot in Romulus, New York. We compared the labor and cost efficiency of these trapping techniques and reported on mortalities. Darting from a vehicle ($196/deer), and rocket-netting ($172/deer) were similar in time and cost efficiency. Darting from a blind was more costly ($358/deer) due to minimal time devoted to the technique and a high initial material investment. Clover traps were relatively inefficient (15.2 hours/deer) and costly ($895/deer), primarily due to a lack …

Enhancement Of Deer Repellent Efficacy With Visual Cues, Milo E. Richmond, James J. Messina

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Previous research on deer repellents by the authors suggests that visual cues (warnings) coupled with application of an effective repellent may enhance the protection afforded by the repellent. We report the results of 2 separate experiments designed to evaluate and partition the effects of such visual cues in practical applications of 3 candidate repellents. In the first experiment, we established 1-ha plots in late succession old fields in Warren County, New Jersey. Plots were treated with bobcat urine, Deer Stopper®, water, and no treatment. Treatment application was made to 5-cm strips of cotton cloth attached to ¼-in cotton rope that …

What Do Driver’S Education Manuals Contain Relative To Wildlife And Animal Dangers On Roads? (Poster Abstract), A. L. Robinson

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Most states in the U.S. provide driver’s education manuals (DEMs) as instructional material for instruction of novice drivers. U.S. territories and other countries also provide DEMs. DEMs were requested from U.S. states and territories and acquired from a number of foreign sources. Content was examined relative to animals and safe driving. Of the 42 U.S. DEMs reviewed, 20 had specific advice about coping with animals on the road, 25 used signs involving animals as illustrations, 6 dealt specifically with deer, and 14 referred to farm animals (i.e., horseback riders, animal drawn vehicles, range animals). The Ontario, Canada, and Victoria, Australia, …

Characteristics Of Gray Squirrel Release Sites Selected By Kentucky Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators, Sara Steen-Ash, Thomas G. Barnes, Jeff T. Hutchinson, Jeffrey L. Larkin, Brian E. Washburn, Jason L. Weese, Henry F. Yacek Jr.

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

A telephone survey of Kentucky nuisance wildlife control operators (NWCOs) (n=66) was conducted in April of 1997 to assess their knowledge and practices regarding nuisance gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) release-site habitat. Thirty-three percent of NWCOs (n=22) trapped and relocated >1 nuisance gray squirrel in the previous year and these individuals/companies were selected for the survey. NWCOs trap and release >1,700 squirrels annually in Kentucky. Sampled release sites varied in size from 18 to 5,200 acres, and >70% were classified as poor to marginal habitat. Three of the release sites sampled provided adequate to optimum gray squirrel habitat. Actual …

Aldo Leopold’S Land Ethic: Implications For Predator Management, Johnny Stowe

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

The golden rule of Aldo Leopold’s land ethic clearly supports active management of predators that harm populations of rare animal species. In the early part of his career, while working as a forester in the American Southwest, Leopold advocated exterminating large predators like gray wolves (Canis lupus lupus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) from the region, but he later changed his mind when he realized that native predators help maintain ecosystem integrity. Philosophically, Leopold’s changing views on predators exemplifies John Dewey’s customary and reflective morality. But Leopold’s dramatic narrative in A Sand County Almanac about …

Electric Fencing Reduces Heron Predation At Northeastern Trout Hatcheries, Mark E. Tobin, James F. Glahn, Erica S. Rasmussen

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Great blue herons (Ardea herodius) are the most common avian predator at commercial trout hatcheries in the northeastern United States. We evaluated a 2-strand electric fence for excluding this species from raceways at 2 commercial trout hatcheries in central Pennsylvania. Fences consisted of high density polyethylene 400-lb strength tape supported by fiberglass posts and energized by either a battery-powered or a solar-powered fence charger. Labor and material for constructing the fences at the 2 sites averaged $1.32/m of raceway. Bird visitation at the 2 sites initially declined, but returned to pre-installation levels. However, bird use of raceways declined …

Deer Damage Incurred By Homeowners During 1995 In Virginia, Ben C. West, James A. Parkhurst

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Damage caused by white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) is a problem for some homeowners in Virginia. As part of a broader effort to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of agricultural producers and homeowners toward deer damage in Virginia, a mail questionnaire was developed and implemented during the fall of 1996. The survey yielded 732 useable responses and, of those, 261 individuals indicated they were homeowners and grew at least one planting during 1995. Many homeowners (36%) indicated that deer caused damage to at least one of their plantings during 1995. Of those who had experienced damage, most (61%, n=57) …

Wildlife-Caused Losses For Catfish Producers In 1996, Alice P. Wywialowski

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

In January 1997, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) surveyed catfish producers about wildlife-caused losses in 1996, Of the 1,465 catfish producers in 15 states surveyed, 1,008 (68.8%) agreed to complete the survey. Surveys were conducted primarily by telephone, but some producers received mail surveys. The response rated varied among states. The majority of catfish producers were in Mississippi (n=-300), followed by Alabama (n=163), and then Arkansas (n=117). The remaining states each had <100 respondents. Data were analyzed for 6 regions, each with a sample size of >100 respondents. Overall, 69% of catfish producers cited a wildlife-caused loss of catfish. Producers cited losses to wildlife most frequently in Mississippi (81%), followed by states adjoining …

Wildlife Damage To Agricultural Crops In Pennsylvania: The Farmers’ Perspective, Margaret C. Brittingham, Walter M. Tzilkowski, James M. Zeidler, Matthew J. Lovallo

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Agricultural damage by wildlife is a major concern for both agricultural and wildlife agencies at the state and federal level. Our objective was to estimate wildlife damage to agricultural crops on a statewide basis. We sent questionnaires to 4,958 farmers and 1,003 were returned after 2 mailings. Twenty-five percent of farmers responding to our survey rated the level of wildlife damage to their crops as severe or very severe, 46% as moderate, and 29% had none or very little. Mean levels of crop loss to wildlife ranged from 6% for wheat to 10% for corn grain, and white-tailed deer ( …

Double-Crested Cormorant And Ring-Billed Gull Damage Management On Lake Champlain: Are Basin-Wide Objectives Achievable?, Richard Chipman, Dennis Slate, Larry Garland, David Capen

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Ring-billed gulls ( Larus delewarensis) and double-crested cormorants ( Phalacrocorx auritus) have nested on Lake Champlain since 1949 and 1982, respectively. Recent increases in cormorant nesting populations and pioneering activities of both species to previously uncolonized islands have resulted in impacts related to accumulation of bird guano and interspecific competition with less common species. Of primary concern are: decreases in wildlife and plant diversity on islands; reduced aesthetics and property values of island associated with the loss of trees; and predation or competition for nesting space with other species such as the state-endangered common tern (Sterna hirundo …

Historical Forces Shaping Americans’ Perceptions Of Wildlife And Human-Wildlife Conflicts, Michael R. Conover, Denise O. Conover

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

From colonial times until the 19th century, the dominant American view of wildlife and its management was dualistic—wildlife species were divided into good animals (those which had commercial value or could be eaten) or bad animals (those which threatened the colonists’ safety or food supply). Philosophically, early colonial Americans believed that the environment was to be manipulated for man’s purposes. Under the impact of modernization, Darwinian influence, over-exploitation of resources, and environmentally-conscious professionals, Americans in the late 19th century began to appreciate the recreational value of wildlife and to develop a more protective attitude toward it. Still the dichotomy between …

Bird Abundance At Accomack County Southern Landfill, Melfa, Virginia, In Relation To Various Management Activities, Laura Francoeur, Martin Lowney

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Birds, especially gulls (Larus spp.), are attracted to landfills, and when landfills are close to airports, birds can pose a threat to aircraft safety. We conducted a 1-year ecological study to address concerns of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Accomack County, Virginia, officials over potential wildlife hazards caused by the Accomack County Southern Landfill. During 48 surveys conducted from December 1995 to December 1996, we observed 112,693 birds at the landfill ( x =503). Nine species represented 97% of all observations. Bird numbers varied during the year, increasing during winter and declining during summer. Bird abundance appeared unaffected …

Frontmatter Credits And Contents

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Frontmatter and contents

Developing Urban Deer Management Plans: The Need For Public Education, Deborah Green, Glen R. Askins, Phillip D. West

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Independent public opinion surveys concerning urban deer (Odocoileus virginianus) management were conducted in two Virginia communities. A total of 346 citizens were interviewed in two Random Digit Dial telephone surveys. In addition to questions concerning management techniques and their administration, participants were asked about their experience with deer, their awareness of problems with deer in the area, and their enjoyment of deer. In both localities, non-lethal controls were preferred over lethal controls; trapping and relocation, fencing, repellents, and birth control measures were favored by a majority of residents. The only lethal control acceptable to residents in both communities …

Development Of An Integrated Canada Goose Management Program In Virginia, Martin Lowney, Phil Eggborn, Gary Costanzo, Don Patterson

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Wildlife managers in the State of Virginia developed an integrated Canada goose (Branta Canadensis) damage management program in 1996 to address increasing damage caused by resident (non-migratory) Canada geese, primarily in urban/suburban areas. The previous Canada goose damage management program relied primarily on harassment and relocation. The integrated program was made available to citizens, homeowner associations, businesses, organizations, city and county governments, and state and federal agencies in 1997. The Integrated Canada Goose Management Program was developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Wildlife Services, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Department of …

Conservation Of A Dinosaur In Modern Times: South Carolina’S Alligator Management Program, Walter E. Rhodes

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) conservation is necessary given the animal's role in wetland ecosystems and its economic value. Although the alligator appears to be no longer threatened with extinction, the reptile’s perceived reputation and a burgeoning human population combine to create a management paradox. Alligator management in South Carolina consists of a Nuisance Control Program, a Private Lands Harvest Program, and public education. Annually, over 750 alligator complaints are received by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and harvest averages about 250 animals. To address alligator/human interaction in rural habitats, a harvest on private lands was …

Do You Have Your Skates On?, Gary J. San Julian

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

It is an honor to keynote this conference as we think about our profession in the next century. Jim asked me to predict what the future of wildlife damage management might look like in the year 2020. I explained to him that I have not been actively engaged in doing wildlife damage work for almost 9 years and I had been in an administrative role. Jim knew that I am going back to a faculty position in the next several months. He thought it was great for a person coming out of retirement to predict the future. Since I left …

Private Nuisance Wildlife Control: Is There A Future In Kansas?, Charles D. Lee, Philip Gipson, Lucas Koch

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

The private industry involvement in nuisance animal damage control is increasing in Kansas. Improved oversight of that industry is needed and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) plans to implement a mandatory education and certification program beginning in 1998. KDWP currently issues permits to individuals who wish to trap or control nuisance animals outside of normal harvest seasons. Individuals who have held these permits to conduct nuisance animal damage control were surveyed in 1995 to better understand the status and needs of that industry in Kansas. A 3-page mail survey was sent to all 93 permit holders. Raccoons …

Proceedings Of The Eighth Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

Proceedings edited by James A. Parkhurst
Held October 16-19, 1997, Roanoke, Virginia

Contents


Historical Forces Shaping Americans’ Perceptions of Wildlife and Human-Wildlife Conflicts — Denise O. Conover and Michael R. Conover
Do You Have Your Skates On? — Gary San Julian

TECHNICAL SESSION #1 The Mass Media and Stakeholders’ Beliefs About Suburban Wildlife — Cynthia A. Loker, James Shanahan, and Daniel J. Decker
Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic: Implications for Predator Management (abstract only) — Johnny Stowe
Private Nuisance Wildlife Control: Is There a Future in Kansas? (abstract only) — Charles Lee
Vertebrate Damage Management: The Future of an Evolving Profession …

Response From Cooperative Extension Personnel To Citizen Requests For Information About Wildlife (Poster Abstract), Shannon Thurston, Gary J. San Julian

Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference: 8th (1997)

With the increasing urbanization of rural areas, conflicts between homeowners and wildlife are becoming more common. County extension offices frequently receive telephone calls from individuals who are experiencing problems with wildlife. In most cases, extension staff provides assistance over the phone or by mail. However, there are no guidelines for the distribution of information nor is there training for extension personnel. Each county office collects and distributes information differently. Because there is no follow-up to inquiries, little is known about what the homeowners actually do or whether the problems were solved. With some wildlife species, there is a question of …

The Use Of Spectrofluorimetry And Capillary Electrophoresis/Laser-Induced Fluorescence For The Detection Of Fluorescent Dyes In Groundwater Migration Studies, Patrick Ferguson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis involves work that was accomplished during a two-year internship at the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA), Environmental Chemistry Branch. The research is an application of trace level determination of fluorescein dyes used as groundwater tracers. The work was performed to determine whether groundwater could migrate from a Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) site to an adjacent Superfund site. The research involved using Spectrofluorimetry and a new technique called capillary electrophoresis/laser induced fluorescence (CE/LIF) to determine tracer dyes that were injected at the RCRA site and monitored at the Superfund site. Results from Spectrofluorimetry were compared to those of CE/LIF. …

Artificial Recharge In The Las Vegas Valley: An Operational History, Michael Johnson, Erin Cole, Kay Brothers, Las Vegas Valley Water District

Publications (WR)

Artificially recharging the Las Vegas Valley (Valley) ground-water system with treated Colorado River water is one water resource management option employed by the Las Vegas Valley Water District (District) to help meet future long-term and short-term peak water demands. The District began operation of an artificial ground-water recharge program in 1988 in order to bank water for future use and to slow declining water levels. Artificial recharge occurs in the winter months, typically from October to May, when there is excess capacity in the Southern Nevada Water System (SNWS), currently a 400 Million Gallon per Day (MGD) treatment and transmission …

Evaluation Of Continuous Flow Constructed Wetlands Treating Swine Waste, Stephanie Rivard

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The ability for wetlands to purify contaminated water is not a new concept. Natural wetlands have been cleansing water within our environment for ages. After studying the process of natural wetlands the same concept was applied to municipal waste. It is the success of constructed wetlands treating municipal waste that created the new idea for the application of a wetland system to treat wastewater from livestock facilities. Through proper design and management, constructed wetlands may be useful for reducing the nutrient concentration of waste (Rieck el al., 1996). Taking into consideration the higher nutrient loads of livestock waste, the same …

Las Vegas Wash Water Quality Monitoring Program: 1996 Report Of Findings, Richard A. Roline, James J. Sartoris, U.S. Bureau Of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey

Publications (WR)

Las Vegas Wash, a natural wash east of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, carries stormwater, groundwater drainage, and sewage effluent from three sewage treatment plants to Lake Mead. The Wash provides nearly the only surface water outlet for the entire 2,193 mi² of Las Vegas Valley. A drainage area of 1,586 mi² contributes directly to the Wash through surface flow which is channeled to Las Vegas Bay of Lake Mead, while drainage of the remaining 607 mi² is presumably subsurface and may drain toward Las Vegas Wash.

In the 1930's and 1940's, sewage treatment plants were …

Evaluating Cable Resistance To Pocket Gopher Damage - A Review, Craig A. Ramey, Geraldine R. Mccann

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The National Wildlife Research Center, formerly known as the Denver Wildlife Research Center (DWRC), collaborated with telecommunications and energy industries to evaluate cable resistance to pocket gopher damage for 29 years (1966 to 1995). Recently, DWRC's evaluation process was transferred to private contract laboratories. This review summarizes the chronology of key investigations and procedures that were used and first published on cable resistance to rodent damage. The longstanding cooperative goal of both DWRC scientists and industry engineers was the development of rodent-proof, buried cables and ducts. Even though most data collected were proprietary, extensive laboratory testing at DWRC provided data …

Control Of Nuisance Birds By Fogging With Rejex-It® Tp-40, Peter F. Vogt

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Many bird problems are caused by birds congregating, roosting, loafing, and nesting rather than by the birds’ feeding activities. No matter what their activity, eventually birds will need to be driven off, preferably in a so-called “friendly” way without harming the birds or other animals. Unlike other avian aversion methods, fogging of ReJeX-iT® TP-40 relies on the exposure of the target birds to the aerosol rather than relying on birds eating treated food. Best results are achieved when birds congregate in the early morning or early evening when they settle down. After several exposures the birds generally leave the area …

Impact Of Preventive Aerial Coyote Hunting On Sheep Losses To Coyote Predation, Kimberly K. Wagner, Michael R. Conover

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Coyote (Canis latrans) predation is a serious problem for livestock producers in the Western U.S. In Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, 34% of all producer-reported sheep and lamb losses were to coyote predation, amounting to $4.8 million in losses during 1995. Although preventive aerial hunting is commonly used by agriculture agencies in the Intermountain West to reduce coyote (Canis latrans) predation on sheep (Ovis aries), only limited data are available on the efficacy of the technique. We assessed the impact of winter (January - March) aerial coyote hunting on sheep losses to coyotes and the …

Development And Registration Of A Pracical Tranquilizer Trap Device (Ttd) For Foot-Hold Traps, Doris E. Zemlicka, D. Pete Sahr, Peter J. Savarie, Frederick F. Knowlton, F. Sherman Blom, Jerrold L. Belant

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Foot-hold traps can be used to selectively capture coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (C. lupus). However, injuries to captured animals sometimes occur when they struggle to escape. Tranquilizer trap devices (TTDs) reduce struggling and injuries but prototype TTDs were too expensive for widespread use by animal damage control (ADC) operational personnel. For this reason, the Pocatello Supply Depot (PSD) and the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) are investigating alternative TTD designs. A molded-rubber TTD will be available from the PSD for coyotes, and the NWRC continues to explore other cheaper TTD designs. A practical TTD …

Field Trials Of Alpha-Chloralose And Drc-1339 For Reducing Numbers Of Herring Gulls, Paul P. Woronecki, Richard A. Dolbeer, Thomas W. Seamans

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

We compared the potential of Alpha-chloralose (A-C) and DRC-1339 to reduce a nesting population of herring gulls at an industrial site in Ohio in 1988. Almost all treated baits were consumed by gulls but only about one affected gull was noted for every 10 baits consumed of either chemical. A test indicated our DRC-1339 baits. containing 3.7 - 7.4 times the published LD value, were not lethal to most captive herring gulls living in fresh water. LD values of A-C and DRC-1339 need to be more precisely estimated for gull species in fresh and salt water environments.

Cooperative Wolf Depredation Management In Wisconsin, Robert C. Willging, Adrian P. Wydeven

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

A depredation management plan was an important component of Federal and State recovery plans for the endangered gray wolf (Canis lupus) in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) entered into a cooperative agreement with USDA-APHIS-ADC to cooperatively manage wolf depredations. Response to complaints involving wolf-dog hybrids was also part of the cooperative agreement. From 1990-1996 ADC investigated 60 wolf complaints and confirmed 10 depredations. In the same time period, WDNR paid a total of $21,376 in compensation payments for 21 incidents of wolf depredations. Wolves may be downlisted from endangered to threatened within the next five …