Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Aquatic Feeding By Moose: Seasonal Variation In Relation To Plant Chemical Composition And Use Of Mineral Licks, D. Fraser, B. K. Thompson, D. Arthur

Feeding Behavior Collection

Activity of moose (Alces alces) was studied at aquatic feeding areas and at natural, sodium-rich licks during four periods covering late May to early September. Aquatic feeding increased from period 1 (late May and early June) to period 2 (late June and early July) and had declined by late July. Major activity at mineral licks occurred earlier in the season than aquatic feeding, especially for males. Chemical composition of aquatic plants showed no seasonal changes corresponding to the peak of aquatic feeding in period 2, although the sodium content of some species declined in period 3. We suggest that moose …

Moose-Vehicle Accidents In Ontario: Relation To Highway Salt, David Fraser, Evan R. Thomas

Anthropogenics and Population Decline Collection

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of The Intact Male For Red Meat Production: A Review, S. C. Seideman, H. R. Cross, R. R. Oltjen, B. D. Schanbacher

Contraception and Sterilization

Castration has long been a traditional practice in the United States. Research studies indicate that intact males grow more rapidly, utilize feed more efficiently and produce a higher-yielding carcass with less fat and more edible product. The disadvantages of the intact male include aggressive behavior (bull and boar); undesirable odors and flavors (boar and ram); lower quality grade (bull); lower meat tenderness (bull and ram) and undesirable meat color (bull and ram). Research is needed to develop antemortem and(or) postmortem handling procedures that offset the disadvantages of the intact male so that the meat and livestock industry can take advantage …

U.S. Declares War On Coyotes

Close Up Reports

The coyote has long been perceived as a threat by ranchers who graze their sheep on U.S. public lands. At the ranchers' insistence, U.S. government employees are paid to shoot coyotes from helicopters and airplanes, ambush them in cruel steel-jaw leghold traps, and plant cyanide guns that explode in the coyotes' faces. The Humane Society of the United States is irrevocably opposed to the unabated, cruel, and unnecessary practice of killing animals in the name of "predator control." The resumed use of denning and the threat of reinstituting 1080 makes our--and your--actions even more urgent.

U.S. Declares War On Coyotes

Close Up Reports

Department of Interior reinstitutes cruel killing methods

Is Your Pet Safe From Laboratory Experimentation?

Close Up Reports

Researchers still claim need for shelter animals as test subjects

Estimation Of Harvest Rate Of Black Bears From Age And Sex Data, David Fraser, James F. Gardner, George B. Kolenosky, Stewart Strathearn

Wildlife Population Management Collection

No abstract provided.

Is Your Pet Safe From Laboratory Experimentation?

Close Up Reports

In the U.S., the path from public or private shelters to laboratories is treat too often by dogs and cats. In a few states, so-called "pound seizure" laws require shelters to turn over unclaimed or unwanted dogs and cats to researchers. In other states, shelters may voluntarily sell dogs and cats to "bunchers" who travel around a state or states, bunching animals together to resell to research facilities. Even in the handful of states that prohibit release of animals for research purposes, unscrupulous profit seekers can find animals and sell them for research across state lines.

Many scientists claim these …

Predation By Wild Coyotes: Behavioral And Ecological Analyses, Michael C. Wells, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

Predatory behavior of coyotes (Canis latrans) was studied between 1977 and 1980 in the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Wyoming. Major prey were voles (Microtus spp.), Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus), pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides), and grasshoppers (Locustidae). Coyotes typically rushed and ran down squirrels; when hunting mice, coyotes pounced and stabbed at them with their forepaws. Sequence structure was similar, though sequences directed to squirrels were significantly more variable. When juvenile coyotes hunted mice, sequences were similar to those performed by adults that hunted mice. Adults and juveniles were about equally successful. The size of prey last eaten influenced …

Striving For Common Ground: Humane And Scientific Considerations In Contemporary Wildlife Management, Stephen R. Kellert

Nature Collection

Although there is a diversity of opinion about how to view the relationship between humans and wildlife, recent political pressures from the current administration make it mandatory that these diverse groups coalesce to use their combined leverage to halt the planned incursions into the remaining habitats of wildlife. It is also important to begin to see nature as a complex and interrelated whole, and to respect the integrity of that whole, rather than simply select individual species for affection and protection.

Ethical Issues And Future Directions In Wildlife Management, John W. Grandy

Nature Collection

Recent progress in protection of wildlife and wildlife refuges is currently being undermined by the efforts of James Watt, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, who believes that commercial interests should take precedence over the preservation of pristine wilderness areas and wildlife sanctuaries. The consequent loss, as populations approach extinction because of programs like decimation of habitats and predator control, is more than simply aesthetic: genetic material unique to each species will be lost forever. Particular issues of immediate concern are the fate of bobcats and whales, inhumane trapping, and the Endangered Species Act. As a longer-term concern, the goal of …

Genetic Adaptation In Relation To Animal Welfare, R. G. Beilharz

Genetics Collection

In this essay I outline the processes of adaptation of animals and of animal populations and discuss their relevance to the problem of animal welfare. Because "animal welfare" has many different aspects including philosophical, ethical, and biological, it is important to examine some of the fundamental issues that underly the concept. Hence, in this essay, I comment on how people come to "know," how information accumulates, and how what we know influences our actions. I also discuss the biological information that is relevant to animal welfare. It is my hope that, when this topic has been placed within a broader …

No Need To Be Boxed In: Group Pens And Grain For Veal Calves, Michael S. Mosner

Agribusiness Collection

My family has been in the wholesale veal business for 30 years. The basis of this business has been various breeds of female beef calves that are slaughtered at less than 500 lb. These calves are allowed to suck from cows and graze until they are ready for market. Beef calves, however, tend to vary in quality and quantity depending on the tjme of the year that they are purchased and raised. Generally, calves become scarce in the spring, when feeders are buying calves to put out on pasture. Then, in the summer and fall, large numbers of calves usually …

Horse Racing And Drug Abuse: Untangling The Issues Involved, Dana Murphy

Equines Collection

Some time during mid-january, hearings on a new bill, intended to stop the misuse of drugs in racehorses, will be held in the U.S. Senate. The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) wholeheartedly supports the bill and, in fact, worked with the American Horse Protection Association as one of the co-authors of its specific provisions. But to many sectors of the racing industry, the bill is anathema. They believe that enactment of this legislation will surely spell financial ruin for the racetracks of America, given the costs that will be entailed in foregoing the alleged benefits of drugs, and in …

A Chronology Of Significant Events, Meetings, And Publications Concerning The Welfare Of Laboratory And Farm Animals, Andrew N. Rowan

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author reviews the development of animal protection concerns in the UK and the USA. Such developments include publications on animal rights, changes in legislation on laboratory and farm animals on both sides of the Atlantic, and the mention of noteworthy scientific publications.

Animal Liberation -The Modern Revival, Andrew N. Rowan

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

People have questioned why there has been such an explosion of interest in animal welfare and animal rights during this period. One fortuitous event was the gathering of a small group of vegetarians at Oxford University at the end of the 1960s.

The Oxford Vegetarians- A Personal Account, Peter Singer

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Peter Singer describes his encounters with a small group of vegetarians at Oxford University from 1969 to 1971 and some of the developments launched by those encounters with fellow philosophy students, including Richard Keshen, John Harris, and Roslind and Stanley Godlovitch. Others in Oxford at the time included philosopher Stephen Clark, theologian Andrew Linzey, and psychologist Richard Ryder. Members of the group have produced several landmark publications addressing the moral status of animals, including the initial volume, Animals, Men and Morals (edited by the Godlovitches and John Harris and published in 1971), Singer’s landmark volume, Animal Liberation in 1975, …

The "Show Dog" Syndrome, M. W. Fox

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The Show Dog Syndrome appears to be similar to reactive depression in humans. Overmeier has demonstrated such a syndrome – which he labeled “learned helplessness” – in dogs and argued that insecurity and an inability to predict and control traumatic environmental stimuli underlies the development of such a syndrome.

Horse Racing And Drug Abuse: Untangling The Issues Involved, Dana Murphy

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

During mid-January, hearings on a new bill intended to stop the misuse of drugs in racehorses will be held in the U.S. Senate. The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) wholeheartedly supported the bill and worked with the American Horse Protection Association as one of the co-authors of its specific provisions. But to many sectors of the racing industry, the bill is anathema. They believe that enactment of this legislation will surely spell financial ruin for the racetracks of America, given the costs that will be entailed in foregoing the alleged benefits of drugs and in setting up the drug …

Attitudes Toward Animal Suffering: An Exploratory Study, John Braithwaite, Valerie Braithwaite

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

A total of 302 undergraduates in the social sciences and the humanities at two Australian universities were given a questionnaire designed to explore public attitudes toward animal suffering. Though preliminary, the results strongly suggest that attitudes may greatly support animal welfare and animal rights. However, as reflected in the answers to the questionnaire, actual behavior does not always follow suit. The recommendation is made that the animal welfare/animal rights movement should perhaps emphasize raising people's awareness of the inconsistencies between their attitudes toward animals and their behavior.

Genetic Adaptation In Relation To Animal Welfare, R. G. Beilharz

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author outlines the adaptation processes of animals and animal populations and discusses their relevance to the animal welfare problem. Because "animal welfare" has many different aspects, including philosophical, ethical, and biological, it is important to examine some fundamental issues underlying the concept. Hence, in this essay, the author comments on how people come to "know," how information accumulates, and how what we know influences our actions. The author also discusses the biological information that is relevant to animal welfare. When this topic has been placed within a broader framework, more generally useful solutions to the "animal welfare problem" may …

Letter To Editor: Behavior Inconsistent With Attitudes?, Mary T. Phillips

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

I welcome John and Valerie Braithwaite's survey on "Attitudes Toward Animal Suffering" (tnt j Stud Anim Prob 3(1):42-49, 1982) as a good beginning in establishing a much-needed empirical basis for discussions of the issue. Their selection of survey items is exceptionally well designed, providing a systematic comparison of attitudes across relevant values of several important variables. However, in my opinion, the Braithwaites' analysis of the data obtained reflects a mistaken assumption that one can infer behavior from written responses to a questionnaire. The findings also indicate that attitudes to animal research are strongly influenced by the pain level the animal …

Bureaucracy And Wildlife: A Historical Overview, Edward E. Langenau

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

This paper provides a framework for understanding the Government's position on many wildlife topics, including humane ethics. The Government's historical role in wildlife conservation is traced to pertinent theories of bureaucracy. It is shown that Government involvement in wildlife conservation increased through successive stages of change because of interest group activity.

Effects Of Psycho-Physiological Stress On Captive Dolphins, Nick Carter

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

“Morgane (1978) has stated that: Man sees all other creatures through the narrow focus of his knowledge

and sees the whole image in distortion.” But dolphins are extraordinary creatures with complex behavior patterns and capabilities. Humans who appreciate dolphins are almost unanimous “in agreeing that familiarity breeds awe..”. It is suggested that the conditions of capture and confinement may be as stressful to dolphins as they would be for humans. Evidence in support of this speculation is presented. An examination of hundreds of dolphins who died after being caught in trawl nets indicated that only 5% had water in their …

The Judeo-Christian Tradition And The Human/Animal Bond, James A. Rimbach

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

This paper surveys the role of animal imagery in the literature of the Old Testament and in post-biblical Jewish literature. The article also discusses biblical materials that speak to humankind's relation to animals. It assesses the subsequent use of these traditions to support or negate specific attitudes toward the natural environment.

Reader Survey, Andrew N. Rowan

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

A survey of 600 journal subscribers produced 156 responses (26%). Responses were sorted into four groups – institutions and three groups of individuals (veterinarians, research scientists, animal welfare advocates, and others). The readers were mainly satisfied with the material's quality – 82% rated the journal as excellent or good. Fifty-eight percent (58%) responded that the journal needed more objectivity, and 38% responded that objectivity should stay the same. The responses were helpful and would be considered as the journal moved forward.

Urban Wildlife Habitatpresent And Future, David Tylka

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Many wild animals can adapt to living in cities, provided that the right habitats are available and that city dwellers accept their presence. Suitable habitats can be furnished by traditional parks, tracts of "wild acres" set aside by cities, linear parks, cemeteries and golf courses, and transportation corridors. Buildings, rooftops, and institutional grounds can also provide a habitat for animals like birds and butterflies. Suburban areas can encourage the growth of local wildlife by neglecting to mow common grounds or allowing sections of individual lawns to grow with wild vegetation.

Letter To Editor: Discrepancy Between Successful Adaptation And Welfare And Response By R. G. Beilharz, M. R. Baxter

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Baxter notes his delight at reading Professor Beilharz's penetrating discussion of animal welfare in the journal (lJSAP 3(2):117, 1982). However, the author raises concerns regarding Beilharz's assumption about the welfare of animals in their species-typical environments. Baxter notes that on p. 122, he [Beilharz] says that "we can do no better than to assume that the welfare of any adapted form of life is guaranteed, i.e., that it does not "suffer" in its particular environment" (his italics). Beilharz responds to Baxter.

The Language Of Animal Exploitation, Michael W. Fox

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

A cross-cultural linguistic analysis of terminology related to various forms of animal exploitation might give considerable insight into how professional and vested interest groups perceive and value animals and how sensitive they are about what they do. Dairy cattle, breeding sows, and laying hens have been called "production units" and "biomachines." These examples show how language can be laundered to assuage guilt, gain public respectability, or avoid public ridicule. There are myriad other examples. Unwanted cats and dogs are "put to sleep," rather than killed; surplus pets are euthanized (which means mercy killing) rather than depopulated. Seals, deer, and other …

The Problem Of Pain: What Do Animals Really Feel?, Dana H. Murphy

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Much of the contention and confusion that inevitably arise whenever the subject of pain in animals stems from problems with the word "pain" itself. When used to describe responses in humans,

"pain" can mean any subset of a vast spectrum of sensations and emotions, ranging from the instantaneous, galvanizing effect of a dentist drill hitting the nerve in a molar to more airy notions such as the "pain" of rejection or "painfully" embarrassing situations. Humans even use concepts as abstruse as the German term weltschmerz, or "world pain," which denotes a vaguely defined depression or despair.