Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Why Bad Things Happen To Good Animals, Robert H. Schmidt

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

The terms "good" and "bad" are completely subjective, yet the public has expectations that wildlife damage management professionals "do bad things to good animals." It is argued that wildlife damage management decisions are made in a value-laden context, with science in a supportive role. The principle of collective human values is the driving force of society's concerns, and collective values are currently highlighting animal welfare and other environmental concerns. Wildlife damage management professionals could modify their operational paradigm from a focus on populations of animals to a focus on aggregations of individual animals in order to respond proactively to both …

A Cage Trap For Live-Trapping Mountain Lions, James D. Shuler

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

The use of cage traps to capture mountain lions (Felix concolor) has the potential to become a valuable tool in the USDA-APHIS-ADC program. Because of California public sentiment, many of the traditional methods can no longer be used or are being severely restricted. Due to increasing requests for assistance, California ADC personnel have had to develop a method that will be highly selective, humane, and effective in rural and urban areas. The development of the mountain lion cage trap and it’s applications are described.

Management Of Birds Associated With Buildings At The University Of California, Berkeley, Arthur J. Slater

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Information concerning fifteen species of birds associated with twenty-five buildings on the University of California at Berkeley has been collected for nineteen years. Fourteen species are included under three minor associations (temporary roosters, building invaders, and species that nest on, or in buildings in small numbers). Two species (cliff swallows, and feral pigeons) have caused major problems. Feral pigeons problems have been the most difficult and complex to resolve. Case histories are used to describe problems associated with these birds (ectoparasites, building defacement and messiness, slipping hazards and noise), and human contributions to the problems (feeding, trap vandalism, and legal …

Summary Of A Usda Forest Service Pocket Gopher Trapping Contract, Michael D. Smeltz

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Data for this report were gathered from three different contractors working on a service contract for the Butte Falls Ranger District of the Rogue River National Forest in southwest Oregon to control pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.). Other data were collected from formal open-hole inspection plots. These plots were also the basis for payment on this contract. Issues of concern on this project were: 1) Production. Could we treat enough acres of the high-risk plantations in the City of Medford Municipal Watershed; 2) Control effectiveness? Could we reach a control comparable to strychnine-treated grain; 3) Cost effectiveness? Would bid prices …

Rodent Disease Implications Associated With Campgrounds And Public Use Areas In California, Charles R. Smith

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Rodents, both commensal and wild, serve as reservoirs for a variety of diseases in nature communicable to man. Forty-six percent of the 30 human plague cases in the past two decades in California are associated with campgrounds and public use recreational sites. In addition, human cases of tularemia, giardiasis, relapsing fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, and Lyme disease have been associated with recreational activities. Commingling of humans, wild rodents and ectoparasites in disease endemic areas places the public at risk from the above-mentioned diseases. Construction of recreational sites without knowledge of wild rodent and disease ecology may …

Potentiation Of Anticoagulant Toxicity To Rattus Rattus By Two, Shakunthala Sridhara, T.R. Krishnamurthy

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

In view of resistance reported to have developed towards second generation anticoagulants and the problem of bait shyness and neophobia when acute rodenticides are used it becomes imperative that methods be evolved to overcome these problems. Attempts to potentiate anticoagulants for effective rodent control is a new concept with very few studies. Experiments using two non-steroid anti-inflammatory, drugs namely ibuprofen and phenylbutazone at 80 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg body weight respectively to potentiate the action of two second generation anticoagulants, brodifacoum and bromadiolone yielded positive results for Rattus rattus. The drugs reduced the lethal dose required for 100% mortality …

Population Dynamics Of Rattus Rattus In Poultry And Implications For Control, Shakunthala Sridhara, T.R. Krishnamurthy

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Rodents cause significant economic loss to poultry by feeding on poultry feed, contaminating it, damaging eggs, attacking chicks and transmitting bacterial and protozoan diseases. A year long study was undertaken to generate data on population structure and dynamics of Rattus rattus inhabiting poultry. Peak density was observed during summer (April). Although rats bred throughout the year, maximum breeding occurred in December (Winter). Adults were preponderant and sex ratio tilted slightly towards females. The calculated annual productivity of female R. rattus was 69.59 young/female/year. The continuous availability of food and ample shelter well protected from predators and immigrants indicates behavioral regulation …

The Pesticide Reregistration Process: Collections Of Human Health Hazards Data For 3-Chloro-P-Toluidine Hydrochloride (Drc-1339), Ray T. Sterner, Donald J. Elias, Daniel R. Cervin

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

The 1988 Amendments to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) accelerated the reregistration schedule for pesticide products registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prior to 1984. The compound 3-chloro-p-toluidine hydrochloride (DRC-1339), an avicide registered to control 14 pest bird species, was included on Pesticide List B published by EPA. For the reregistration of DRC-1339,44 studies were required — 22 product chemistry, 7 wildlife/aquatic hazards, 8 human/domestic animal hazards, 5 environmental fate, and 2 residue chemistry studies. In 5 acute human-health-hazards studies, DRC-1339 was found to: (1) have an oral LD₅₀ of 330 (272-401) mg/kg in rats, …

Use Of Microcomputers For Randomly Assigning Animals To Treatment Groups, Formulating Baits, And Keeping Records, Robert T. Sugihara

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

A computerized laboratory animal tracking database system and several interactive microcomputer application programs for monitoring captive animals, selecting and randomly assigning animals to treatment groups, formulating baits, and other tasks are described.

Observations Of A Gas Exploding Device For Controlling Burrowing Rodents, Monty Sullins, Daniel Sullivan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Field trials were conducted to test the effectiveness of a gas exploding device called “Rodentorch” in reducing pest populations of ground squirrels and prairie dogs. Ignition of a propane/oxygen mixture injected for 30 seconds into burrows reduced prairie dog activity 13.0%. Doubling the injection time in prairie dog burrows to 60 seconds resulted in a 63.3% reduction. Reduction in ground squirrel activity was 40.6% after a 45 second injection time. Comparative trials on ground squirrels using EPA registered gas cartridge and aluminum phosphide fumigants resulted in 90.8% and 83.7% reduction in activity, respectively.

Operational Application Of Diversionary Food In Young Lodgepole Pine Forests To Reduce Feeding Damage By Red Squirrels, Thomas P. Sullivan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

The use of diversionary food is an ecological method to reduce feeding damage by wildlife to forest and agricultural crops. The red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) feeds on the vascular tissues of young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) and this damage is particularly severe in intensively managed stands. Aerial application of sunflower seed on an operational scale significantly reduced damage by squirrels. This result was achieved in three different ecological zones in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. The food shortage apparently experienced by these rodents during the May-June damage period can be accommodated by an …

Control Strategies To Reduce Preharvest Rat Damage In Bangladesh, Parvin Sultana, Michael M. Jaeger

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

The principal objective of this study was to determine when during the year the control of bandicoot rats would be most cost-effective under the agricultural conditions existing in Bangladesh. An annual cycle in the rise and fall of burrow density was found. This argues for a management strategy directed at reducing rat damage at a specific time period within the year as opposed to a strategy of continuous population reduction. A model predicting rat damage was developed based on monthly estimates of burrow densities in rice and wheat; and projected losses were compared among the four major cereal growing seasons …

An Evaluation Of 4-Aminopyridine Baits Coated To Delay Reaction Time, Kelly F. Swindle

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

In cold weather and early mornings, birds feeding on Avitrol® baits treated with 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0% (percent) 4- aminopyridine have shown reaction times as short as four minutes (reaction times of seven to ten minutes are common). Relatively fast reaction times, staggered arrival times of a flock at feeding sites, and delayed feeding by some members of a flock continue to result in premature reactions which frighten birds from the treated bait resulting in insufficient numbers reacting to give the desired repellency. This paper reports preliminary results of an effort to slow chemical absorption in an attempt to minimize …

Behavioral Effects Of Removal Of Coyote Pups From Dens, James A. Till

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) upon domestic sheep is a serious economic problem for some sheep producers in the United States. One of the few depredation control techniques that has been quantitatively analyzed is denning, the process of removing pups from the dens of depredating coyotes. The significance of coyote prey selection and territoriality are discussed with regard to the efficacy of denning and possible future depredation management strategies.

Rodent Damage In Hawaiian Macadamia Orchards, Mark E. Tobin

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) damage an estimated 5-10% of the annual macadamia nut crop in Hawaii, resulting in farm value losses of between $2-4 million. The Denver Wildlife Research Center field station in Hilo, Hawaii studies the biology, impact, and control of rodent pests in Hawaiian agricultural crops. This paper describes field and laboratory research currently being conducted to address rat problems in macadamia nut orchards.

Eradication Of Feral Goats And Sheep From Island Ecosystems, Dirk Van Vuren

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Feral goats (Capra hircus) and feral sheep (Ovis aries) occur on numerous islands throughout the world and cause severe damage to island resources. Damage includes large-scale alteration of plant communities, negative impacts on insular endemic species of plants and animals, and damage to soils and cultural resources. Complete eradication is the best solution to the problem. Proposed control techniques include poisons, predators, diseases, sterilization, trapping, and shooting from the air, but experience shows that shooting from the ground, combined with the use of dogs, Judas goats, and perhaps fencing, is the best approach in most cases. …

Rejex-It™ Brand Bird Aversion Agents, Peter F. Vogt

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

ReJeX-iT^TM brand bird aversion agents have been formulated from non-toxic, food-grade ingredients that meet or exceed US Food Chemical Codex (FCC) and US Pharmacopeia (USP) specifications. The products, based on methyl anthranilate (MA) as the active ingredient have been developed in liquid and powder form to cover the widest possible range of applications. EPA/FIFRA registration is being actively pursued for all products.

Clinical Approach To The Diagnosis Of Diseases And Disorders In Pets And Domestic Animals Sometimes Mistaken For Anticoagulant Toxicosis, Benny J. Woody

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

To differentiate the causes of bleeding disorders requires a basic understanding of the hemostatic process and the proper interpretation of history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. A brief overview of the hemostatic process is presented. Tables and flow charts are provided to assist in developing a sound clinical approach to the bleeding patient through the proper assessment of history, physical examination findings, and laboratory tests. Categories of inherited and acquired bleeding disorders are briefly presented.

Alpha-Chloralose Efficacy In Capturing Nuisance Waterfowl And Pigeons And Current Status Of Fda Registration, Paul P. Woronecki, Richard A. Dolbeer, Thomas W. Seamans, William R. Lance

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

During 1990 and 1991 we conducted safety, efficacy and clinical trials required to register alpha-chloralose (A-C) for capturing nuisance waterfowl and pigeons with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We determined the Most Effective Dose (MED) to be 30 and 60 mg of A-C/kg of body weight for capturing waterfowl and pigeons, respectively. We conducted 11 field trials in 4 states, capturing 587 waterfowl and 1,370 pigeons with 8% mortality for ducks, 0% for geese, and 6% for pigeons. We submitted a New Animal Drug Application to FDA in October 1991 and anticipate registration in 1992.

Rodenticide Ecotoxicology: Pre-Lethal Effects Of Anticoagulants On Rat Behaviour, Paula Cox, R.H. Smith

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Anticoagulant rodenticides may pose a secondary poisoning hazard to non-target predators and scavengers because of the time-delay between ingestion of a lethal dose and death of a target rodent. We investigated some pre-lethal effects of an anticoagulant rodenticide on the behavior of wild rats in cages and in enclosures. We found that social interactions shortened time to death, that most rats died away from cover and that thigmotactic behavior was reduced in the enclosures. The normal light-dark rhythm was upset in intoxicated rats in both cages and enclosures. Thus pre-lethal effects are likely to alter the exposure of predators and …

The Characteristics And History Of Behavioural Resistance In Inner-City House Mice (Mus Domesticus) In The U.K., Richard E. Humphries, Adrian P. Meehan, Richard M. Sibly

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Since 1984 pest control operatives in some inner-city areas in the U.K. have found that house mice have become increasingly difficult to control. Mice in these very localized areas have stopped taking rodenticide bait from bait containers, a phenomenon referred to here as behavioral resistance. We report here preliminary experiments designed to characterize the phenomenon more precisely by comparing West Midlands behaviorally resistant (WMBR) populations with non-resistant (BC) populations in Berkshire. We investigated three hypotheses, that compared with non-resistant populations, resistant mice 1) are less likely to enter conventional live-capture traps; 2) have unusual food preferences; and 3) avoid bait …

A Review Of Available Anticoagulants And Their Use In The United States, William B. Jackson, A.D. Ashton

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Nearly half a century ago anticoagulant rodenticides changed the nature of rodent control. Warfarin, and succeeding first-generation compounds, provided effective and increasingly safe baits for reducing commensal rodent populations. Environmental deficiencies were overridden by these “miracle” chemicals, but excessive and irresponsible use selected for resistant populations. Second-generation compounds with a single-feeding characteristic have controlled such resistant populations, at least initially. But use extensions to crop and field areas have been held back by registration requirements, costs, and concerns over local effects on predators. New compounds, formulations, and applications in the near future are likely to be quite limited.

The Effectiveness Of Difethialone (Lm 2219) For Controlling Norway Rats And House Mice Under Field Conditions, Edward F. Marshall

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

Under an Environmental Protection Agency Experimental Use Permit, a pelleted bait containing 0.0025% (25 ppm) of the new anticoagulant difethialone was tested to determine the effectiveness in controlling Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and house mice (Mus musculus). Sixteen (16) individual field studies were conducted in five (5) geographical locations of the United States. The results were conclusive in showing that difethialone bait formulated at 25 ppm was both palatable and efficacious in controlling both Norway rats and house mice under actual field conditions.

Laboratory And Field Evaluation Of Difethialone, A New Anticoagulant Rodenticide, Y. Saxena, Deepak Kumar, Tanuja Bhandari, Hema Bhasin

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 15th (1992)

The efficacy of the newly developed anticoagulant rodenticide, difethialone was evaluated against various rodent species in laboratory and fields. Difethialone at 0.025% concentration in the form of loose bait (broken wheat and rice + vegetable oil + garlic powder) gave absolute mortality in Rattus rattus, Mus musculus, Funambulus pennanti, and Meriones hurrianae during ‘no-choice’ tests in one day feeding. No significant difference was noted in poison bait intake and mean days to death between two and three days poison feeding. Mean days to death were ranged between 2.9 to 5.70 in all the species tested. In fields, …

Status Of The Major Oyster Diseases In Virginia 1991 A Summary Of The Annual Monitoring Program, Eugene M. Burreson

Reports

No abstract provided.

Marine Spill Response Corporation (Msrc): How It Hopes To Fill The Oil Recovery Requirements Of The Oil Pollution Act Of 1990, Gerald P. O'Reilly

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

The establishment of Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) is a direct outcome of OPA-90 which will have a substantial effect on domestic shipment, storage and traffic of oil. The ramifications of the law will be felt internationally and it has set a precedent for prevention of oil spills from tankers throughout the world. It will have a positive impact on the environment of the world. But it will be costly and the public will ultimately bear the burden of the environment impact.

Rhode Island Marine Debris Pilot Project, Christina L. Beal

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

The Rhode Island Marine Debris Pilot Project was initiated in Newport, R.I. during the summer of 1991. The objective of the project was to decrease recreational boaters' contribution to marine debris. Two methods were used to achieve this goal. First, trash and recycling disposal facilities were increased around the harbor. Secondly, educational literature on the environmental consequences of marine debris, and the law that applies to overboard disposal, were distributed throughout the local marine community. The implementation of the pilot project led to a significant increase in the amount of debris brought ashore by boaters, and a decrease in the …

Ontario's Blue Box As An Agent Of Change, Robert Nathaniel Burgess

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Ontario's blue box has elicited strong arguments from observers on both sides of a debate regarding the recycling programme‘s promotion of social change in the province. Both supporters and critics agree on our eventual need to change from a consumer to a conserver society through the 3Rs of waste management (reduce. reuse. recycle). but they disagree on whether the blue box programme ultimately encourages this change. Disagreement also exists regarding the means to achieving change. With supporters of the blue box approach favouring working within the system whereas critics tend to favour a more radical approach. Practical criticisms concern the …

Characterization Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Pahs) By The Kinetics Of Depuration In Bivalve Molluscs, Mercenaria Mercenaria, C Sato, H Kim, John T. Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM (1977-2016)

The objectives of this study were to examine depuration aspects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a hard-shell clam Mercenaria mercenaria, and to characterize PAHs by the depuration kinetics. In this investigation, clams were exposed to artificial sea water containing a mixture of eight PAHs (i.e., naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, flouranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene) for 48 hours. The clams were then transferred into clean (PAH-free) artificial seawater for release, and sampled at predetermined intervals. The target PAHs were extracted from the clam tissue and quantified by a gas chromatograph equipped with a capillary glass column and FID.

The results …

Preliminary Epidemiological Interpretation Of The Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors Contributing To The Coverage And Participation Rates Of The Vaccination Program In Arssi, Ethiopia, Muchie Kidanu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many immunization programs in developing countries arr now undergoing a period of rapid utilization. Innovative strategies, such as immunization holidays, are being tried. Political commitment and enthusiasm are high. There is a strong desire by health professionals to protect the lives of many children from the untimely death and/or disability resulting from infectious diseases preventable by vaccination.

Evaluation of an immunization program can benefit other elements of the health system, particularly those that are not amenable to objective evaluation as immunization. In this case, immunization can serve as an indicator of the overall performance of the health system. The problems …