Estimating Relative Distribution Of Raccoons, Opossums, Skunks, And Foxes Using Animal Control Data,
2010
San José State University
Estimating Relative Distribution Of Raccoons, Opossums, Skunks, And Foxes Using Animal Control Data, Christine Klinkowski-Clark, Michael J. Kutilek, John O. Matson, Paula Messina, Kevin Earley, Shannon M. Bros-Seemann
Human–Wildlife Interactions
We used indices of animal control reports per capita and areas of land covers to assess the relative habitat-use of raccoons (Procyon lotor), opossums (Didelphis virginiana), skunks (Spilogale putorius and Mephitis mephitis), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes and Urocyon cinereoargenteus). We used confirmed (hereafter, verified) calls made to Brevard Animal Services, Florida, and assessed potential human demographic influences associated with unconfirmed (hereafter, unverified) reports where it was uncertain whether or not an animal was present. To estimate habitat use, we performed quadrat sampling using a geographic information system (GIS) and obtained areas of …
Effects Of Aquaculture On Migration And Movement Patterns Of Double-Crested Cormorants,
2010
USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services' National Wildlife Research Center
Effects Of Aquaculture On Migration And Movement Patterns Of Double-Crested Cormorants, D. Tommy King, Bradley F. Blackwell, Brian S. Dorr, Jerrold L. Belant
Human–Wildlife Interactions
We analyzed 10,620 recovery records for double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) banded as nestlings from 1923 to 2006 to determine the population’s age structure, migration routes, dispersal patterns, and the possible influence of the expansion of the aquaculture industry in the southeastern United States on these population characteristics. Ninety-nine percent of the birds were banded during June to August, and 78% were banded as pre-fledged birds. Cormorants banded in the interior region of the United States comprised 91% of all birds banded from 1955 to 2006; these birds wintered primarily in the Lower Mississippi Valley and the northern Gulf …
Testing Fladry As A Nonlethal Management Tool For Wolves And Coyotes In Michigan,
2010
Central Michigan University
Testing Fladry As A Nonlethal Management Tool For Wolves And Coyotes In Michigan, Sarah J. Davidson-Nelson, Thomas M. Gehring
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Several forms of nonlethal management exist, but fi eld testing is problematic, and few such techniques have been tested on free-ranging wolves (Canis lupus) or other predators. We tested fladry in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan during the summers of 2004 and 2005 on treatment farms and control farms. Wolf visitation inside pastures, compared to those outside pastures, was less on fladry-protected farms (U = 45, n = 7, P = 0.004); whereas, we found no difference in wolf visitation inside and outside of pastures on control farms (U = 30, n = 7, P …
Effects Of Waterfowl Hunting On Raccoon Movements,
2010
Utah State University
Effects Of Waterfowl Hunting On Raccoon Movements, Shandra Nicole Frey, Michael R. Conover
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Nontarget wildlife may react to hunters with avoidance, ambivalence, or attraction, depending upon the frequency of contact and the consequences of past contacts. We studied raccoons (Procyon lotor) located within the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah, before and during waterfowl hunting seasons to assess changes in the size of their distributions, locations, and travel distances. Raccoon distribution size did not change with the onset of hunting. Once hunting began, raccoons were located more frequently in areas with lower densities of hunters and less frequently in areas with higher densities of hunters. Raccoons also responded to the presence …
Habitat Correlates Of Jaguar Kill-Sites Of Cattle In Northeastern Sonora, Mexico,
2010
Campus San Luis Potosi
Habitat Correlates Of Jaguar Kill-Sites Of Cattle In Northeastern Sonora, Mexico, Octavio C. Rosas-Rosas, Louis C. Bender, Raul Valdez
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Predation on cattle by the endangered jaguar (Panthera onca) can be a serious ecological and economic conflict. We investigated habitat characteristics of kill sites of cattle in Sonora, Mexico, from 1999 to 2004 to see whether habitat management or cattle distribution could be used as effective nonlethal methods to limit predation. Kill-sites were positively associated with oak, semitropical thornscrub, and xeric thornscrub vegetation types, whereas they were negatively associated with upland mesquite. Sites of cattle kills were also positively associated with proximity to permanent water sources and roads. A model including these relationships fi t kill locations well …
Evaluation Of Damage By Vertebrate Pests In California Vineyards And Control Of Wild Turkeys By Bioacoustics,
2010
University of California, Davis
Evaluation Of Damage By Vertebrate Pests In California Vineyards And Control Of Wild Turkeys By Bioacoustics, Robert W. Coates, Michael J. Delwiche, W. Paul Gorenzel, Terrell P. Salmon
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Complaints of agricultural damage by wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), particularly from wine grape growers, have increased in California. We assessed damage by vertebrate pests in vineyards and tested a bioacoustic-aversion technique for turkeys as an alternative to other control techniques (e.g., reflective tape, trapping, bird netting). We selected 12 vineyards in the Napa Valley and Sierra Foothills American Viticultural Areas of California. We conducted damage surveys to assess percentages of missing or damaged grapes (i.e., grapes that had been stripped, pecked, and plucked) for every grape cluster on 20 randomly-selected vines before harvest in 2007 and on 40 …
Visitation To Cottonseed Storage Sites By Feral Swine And Evidence Of Gossypol Exposure,
2010
Texas A&M University
Visitation To Cottonseed Storage Sites By Feral Swine And Evidence Of Gossypol Exposure, Tyler A. Campbell, Sarah L. Bullock, David B. Long, David G. Hewitt, Michael K. Dowd
Human–Wildlife Interactions
No abstract provided.
Landowner Attitudes Toward Elk Management In The Pine Ridge Region Of North-Western Nebraska,
2010
University of Nebraska
Landowner Attitudes Toward Elk Management In The Pine Ridge Region Of North-Western Nebraska, R. Daniel Crank, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Kit M. Hams
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Little is known about attitudes of landowners toward elk (Cervus elaphus) on privately-owned land. We mailed questionnaires to agricultural landowners in the Pine Ridge region of northwestern Nebraska in both 1995 and 1997 to determine attitudes toward elk populations and management of elk. Fifty-six percent (n = 214) of respondents in 1995 and 57% (n = 461) in 1997 were in favor of free-ranging elk. Motivation for those in favor of elk was utilitarian (opportunity to view and hunt elk), ecological (return of a native species), and economic (benefits from increased tourism and leased land for elk hunting). …
In The News,
2010
Purdue University
Commentary Euthanasia Methods In Field Settings For Wildlife Damage Management,
2010
National Wildlife Control Operators Association
Commentary Euthanasia Methods In Field Settings For Wildlife Damage Management, Timothy J. Julien, Stephen M. Vantassel, Scott R. Groepper, Scott E. Hygnstrom
Human–Wildlife Interactions
No abstract provided.
Metapopulation Dynamics Of Mid-Continent Lesser Snow Geese: Implications For Management,
2010
Utah State University
Metapopulation Dynamics Of Mid-Continent Lesser Snow Geese: Implications For Management, Lise M. Aubry, Robert F. Rockwell, David N. Koons
Human–Wildlife Interactions
The rapid increase in abundance of lesser snow goose (LSG; Chen caerulescens caerulescens) numbers and their devastating effects on arctic and subarctic habitats has inspired much research on the use of population models for defining appropriate management policies. We use the not yet considered metapopulation approach to examine the elasticity of mid-continent LSG population dynamics to changes in underlying vital rates to determine whether management efforts aimed at decreasing burgeoning numbers should be reevaluated. After considering a variety of geographic scenarios in the metapopulation model, we found that changes in survival would still have a larger impact on population …
Selection Of Pathways To Foraging Sites In Crop Fields By Flightless Canada Geese,
2010
South Dakota State University
Selection Of Pathways To Foraging Sites In Crop Fields By Flightless Canada Geese, Troy M. Radtke, Charles D. Dieter
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Geese, especially when they are flightless, can cause significant crop damage. We determined the effects of shoreline characteristics on foraging site selection by flightless Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in South Dakota. Distance from edge of crop field to wetland and visual obstruction by vegetation were important determinants of pathway selection by geese. Geese used crop fields for foraging that were closer to water than unused fields. Geese accessed those fields along pathways with less visual obstruction by vegetation than unused pathways. Our data suggest that this distance of crops to wetlands is the most important shoreline characteristic determining …
Nest-Site Selection And Nesting Ecology Of Giant Canada Geese In Central Tennessee,
2010
Tennessee Technological University
Nest-Site Selection And Nesting Ecology Of Giant Canada Geese In Central Tennessee, Jason S. Carbaugh, Daniel L. Combs, Eric M. Dunton
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Little information is available on giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) nest-site selection on isolated nesting ponds. We monitored 46 island and 72 shoreline nests in the Upper Cumberland (UC) region of central Tennessee during 2002 and 2003. We measured 6 habitat variables at nesting ponds and randomly-selected non-nesting ponds. We used logistic regression to determine which habitat variables were important in nest-site selection. Presence of an island was the most important variable, but it was excluded from the final analysis because of quasi-separation (i.e., geese nested on all known islands in the study area). Geese that nested …
Survival And Harvest Characteristics Of Giant Canada Geese In Eastern South Dakota, 2000–2004,
2010
South Dakota State University
Survival And Harvest Characteristics Of Giant Canada Geese In Eastern South Dakota, 2000–2004, Charles D. Dieter, Jeffrey S. Gleason, Bobby J. Anderson, Spencer Vaa, Paul W. Mammenga
Human–Wildlife Interactions
The population of giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) in eastern South Dakota has increased substantially since reintroduction efforts began in the 1960s. Breeding population estimates of Canada geese exceeded the population management objective of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks by the mid-1990s and has continued to increase at an estimated rate of 3 to 5% per year. Goose-related crop damage complaints have also increased. In 1996, a September hunting season (September 1 to 15) was implemented in 10 counties in eastern South Dakota and was expanded in 2000 to include most of eastern South Dakota. …
Late Summer Movements By Giant Canada Geese In Relation To A September Hunting Season,
2010
South Dakota State University
Late Summer Movements By Giant Canada Geese In Relation To A September Hunting Season, Charles D. Dieter, Bobby J. Anderson, Jeffrey S. Gleason, Paul W. Mammenga, Spencer Vaa
Human–Wildlife Interactions
The population of giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) breeding in eastern South Dakota has increased dramatically since reintroduction efforts began in the 1960s. May breeding population levels of giant Canada geese exceeded population management goals set by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) by the mid-1990s, and the population has continued to increase into the 2000s. This population increase was accompanied by an increase in goose-related conflicts such as crop depredation. In 1996, a September hunting season was implemented in select counties in eastern South Dakota in an effort to reduce the giant …
Bulldozers And Blueberries: Managing Fence Damage By Bare-Nosed Wombats At The Agricultural–Riparian Interface,
2010
University of Sydney
Bulldozers And Blueberries: Managing Fence Damage By Bare-Nosed Wombats At The Agricultural–Riparian Interface, Philip Borchard, Ian A. Wright
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Fence damage by bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) can be a serious problem for farmers wishing to reduce herbivory by other herbivores on valuable crops. We investigated the effectiveness of exclusion fencing to prevent the incursion of unwanted native and feral herbivores and the use of swinging gates designed to allow wombats to pass through the fence without having to damage it. We also examined the temporal response of animals toward exclusion fencing and wombat gates. The 10-month study took place on the interface between natural riparian vegetation and a 22-ha blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) orchard in southeastern …
Bullet Fragmentation And Lead Deposition In White-Tailed Deer And Domestic Sheep,
2010
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Bullet Fragmentation And Lead Deposition In White-Tailed Deer And Domestic Sheep, Marrett D. Grund, Louis Cornicelli, Leah T. Carlson, Erika A. Butler
Human–Wildlife Interactions
In February 2008, a private physician in North Dakota radiographed hunterharvested venison and found that 60 of 100 packages contained metal fragments. This discovery had implications for public-funded venison donation programs, and it prompted several Midwest states to examine their programs. Approximately 500,000 deer hunters harvest >200,000 deer annually in Minnesota, and the state has a donation program similar to North Dakota’s program. Therefore, we analyzed fragmentation patterns and lead deposition in carcasses of 8 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and 72 domestic sheep (Ovis aries). We fired 5 different bullet types from centerfire rifles, and we …
Estimating Annual Vertebrate Mortality On Roads At Saguaro National Park, Arizona,
2010
University of Wyoming
Estimating Annual Vertebrate Mortality On Roads At Saguaro National Park, Arizona, Kenneth Gerow, Natasha C. Kline, Don E. Swann, Marin Pokorny
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Road-killed vertebrates are a conspicuous effect of roads on animals, particularly in natural preserves where wildlife is protected. Knowledge of the number of vertebrates killed by vehicles in a national park or other natural area is important for managers, but these numbers are difficult to estimate because such mortality patterns vary greatly in space and time and by taxonomic group. Additionally, animals killed by vehicles may be difficult to observe, particularly during driving surveys, and carcasses may not persist between surveys due to scavenging and other factors. We modified an estimator previously developed for determining bird mortality at wind turbines …
Refinement Of Biomarker Pentosidine Methodology For Use On Aging Birds,
2010
West Virginia University
Refinement Of Biomarker Pentosidine Methodology For Use On Aging Birds, Crissa K. Cooey, Jesse A. Fallon, Michael L. Avery, James T. Anderson, Elizabeth A. Falkenstein, Hillar Klandorf
Human–Wildlife Interactions
There is no reliable method for determining age for most species of long-lived birds. Recent success using the skin chemical pentosidine as a biomarker has shown promise as an aging tool for birds. Pentosidine levels have been determined only from the breast tissue of carcasses, and we sought to refine the procedure with respect to biopsy size and location for safe and effective use on living birds. We compared pentosidine concentrations in 4 skin-size samples (4, 6, 8, and 20-mm diameter biopsies) from the breast of black vulture (Coragyps atratus) carcasses. We also compared pentosidine levels from breast …
Soap Box Immunocontraception To Control Rabies In Dog Populations,
2010
Food and Environment Research Agency
Soap Box Immunocontraception To Control Rabies In Dog Populations, Giovanna Massei, Lowell A. Miller, Gary J. Killian
Human–Wildlife Interactions
No abstract provided.
