Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Trends In Mountain Lion Depredation And Public Safety Threats In California, Terry M. Mansfield, Steven G. Torres

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

The mountain lion (Felis concolor) is widely distributed in California over at least 80,000 square miles of a variety of habitats. Trends in lion damage to property and threats to public safety have increased in recent years. The Department of Fish and Game has documented confirmed damage to property caused by lions since 1972. In 1972, there were four depredation permits issued and one mountain lion taken, while in 1993 there were 192 permits issued and 74 lions taken. Four verified incidents of mountain lions injuring humans have occurred in California since 1985. All four incidents involved children and …

Grower Practices For Blackbird Control In Wild Rice In California, Daniel B. Marcum, W. Paul Gorenzel

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

We surveyed 29 wild rice growers, representing 96% of the California acreage grown in 1993, to determine current practices for blackbird damage control. Twenty-seven growers (93%) had blackbird damage. The period of greatest damage and most intensive control was July through September. Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) most frequently caused damage, but three other species of blackbirds and the European starling (Sturnis vulgaris) were also identified. Most growers (72%) reported 1 to 10% yield loss. Average loss ranged from $121 to $309/ha, and from $14,530 to $32,061/grower. Most growers (97%) attempted to control blackbirds for an average of 3.5 months …

Current (1994) Ground Squirrel Control Practices In California, Rex E. Marsh

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Current control practices are discussed for the California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) which is considered a major rodent pest to agriculture. The primary control options are poison baits, burrow fumigation and trapping. The effectiveness of baits and fumigants is linked closely with the squirrel's annual life cycle, hence knowledge of their cycle is essential. The elements of the squirrel's life cycle importance to management are given in detail. Habitat modification and other methods useful in select instances are provided, along with control strategies within the context of integrated pest management.

Developing An Electrified Fence To Exclude Rabbits From Crops, Gordon Mckillop, Dylan Poole

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

The effectiveness of a new design of electric strained wire fence (CSL fence) for managing rabbits is currently being assessed in a two year trial. It is being compared with a commercially available electric netting fence (Flexinet fence) and also with farmers' normal control methods. The study is taking place on commercial farms in Cornwall, England, where the fences are being erected to protect fields of cauliflower. The amount of rabbit damage to individual plants in each field is being assessed and the numbers of rabbits feeding in these fields are being counted. Plant yields at harvest will also be …

Assessment Of Toxic Bait Efficacy In Field Trials By Counts Of Burrow Openings, S. Moran, H. Keidar

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

The Levant vole, Microtus guentheri, is a pest of most of the field crops in Israel. It lives in gallery systems, the openings of which are clearly visible, and is active above ground mainly at night. Its activity was assessed by plugging the burrow openings (holes) and, after three nights, counting the number of reopened holes. The efficacy of control by whole wheat toxic baits was determined by counting the number of reopened holes before and after the treatment in random squares. Three chemicals were tested: sodium fluoroacetate, zinc phosphide and brodifacoum. The bait was applied either by hand, …

Improving Aerial Control Of Possums By Precision Bait Delivery, David R. Morgan

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Aerial delivery of 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) baits is the main technique for reducing populations of New Zealand's foremost vertebrate pest, the Australian brushtail possum, in large areas of inaccesible country. Surveys after pilot-controlled aerial sowing of baits in seven operations in forests showed that inaccurate navigation along the swaths left up to half the target zone untreated. Kill was estimated to average 75 %. Inadequate coverage with baits was therefore believed to be a major factor in the survival of possums during aerial control operations. This was confirmed in field trials using rhodamine B as a biomarker to reveal acceptance …

Pindone For Rabbit Control: Efficacy, Residues And Cost, Peter C. Nelson, Graham J. Hickling

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Toxins are a major component of rabbit control campaigns in New Zealand, with sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) being the primary toxin in use since the 1950s. However, landowners can use 1080 only under the direct supervision of a licensed operator, and rabbit populations in regularly-poisoned areas have become increasingly resistant to this form of control. A new, cost-effective toxin that does not cause persistent residues in livestock is required by landowners who wish to undertake their own rabbit control. Several recent trials have demonstrated the potential of the anticoagulant pindone (2-pivalyl-l,3-indandione) to meet these requirements. In 1992, the New Zealand Pesticides …

Bird Control In New Zealand Using Alpha-Chloralose And Drc1339, Peter C. Nelson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Horticulturists and the general public in New Zealand are experiencing increasing problems with a number of introduced bird species. This has meant that many people wish to carry out bird control operations themselves to reduce the problems these birds cause. Most of this control will have to be carried out by the growers themselves as there are very few professional bird control personnel in New Zealand. Alpha-chloralose is the only toxin the general public has access to for controlling birds. It is available in a variety of bait forms with a maximum toxic loading of 2% (weight/weight). Registered personnel can …

Wolf Depredation Management In Relation To Wolf Recovery, Carter C. Niemeyer, E.E. Bangs, S.H. Fritts, J.A. Fontaine, M.D. Jimenez, W.G. Brewster

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

By 1930, wolves were extirpated from the western United States for livestock protection. In 1973, the Endangered Species Act protected wolves, and by 1980, wolf recolonization began in Montana. Confirmed livestock losses have been 17 cattle and 12 sheep with 16 wolves controlled as part of a program to enhance the recovery of non-offending wolves. ADC has: 1) controlled problem wolves, 2) improved communication with affected publics and governmental agencies, and 3) enhanced wolf recovery in Montana.

Potential Repellents To Reduce Damage By Herbivores, Dale L. Nolte, Dan L. Campbell, J. Russell Mason

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Economic losses caused by herbivores and other species that inflict damage by browsing or gnawing are substantial. Because lethal approaches to damage reduction are not always practical or desirable, there is an increase in interest in the development of alternative, non-lethal technologies. Repellents may provide a feasible alternative. Here, we present recent studies of three repellent types: 1) anthranilate derivatives (e.g., methyl anthranilate), 2) predator scents (e.g., coyote urine), and 3) bittering agents (e.g., denatonium saccharide). Anthranilate derivatives and predator odors both appear to be promising repellents. Avoidance of the former substances is based on irritant volatiles, and anthranilates may …

Trapping Ground Squirrels As A Control Method, Ross A. O'Connell

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Trapping of ground squirrels could be conducted following the use of fumigants or rodenticides to further reduce populations. Trapping should be considered as an alternative to the other methods of control in cases where other controls have not worked or would not be prudent to use. Trapping can be conducted during a longer period of the year than the other methods. The type of trap used, whether live trap or one of the kill traps, can be selected as to the environmental concerns of the trapper as all traps can be effective.

Feral Cat Control In Britain; Developing A Rabies Contingency Strategy, R.J.C. Page, D.H. Bennett

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Feral cat (Felis catus) control is required for reasons of public health, the welfare of cats themselves, and rabies control should an outbreak occur in Britain. A prerequisite to the control of feral cat colonies would be establishing their location. A method for locating colonies was developed and tested in four urban areas with a mean area of 157 sq km. Each area was surveyed on foot and by car to obtain the number and distribution of feral cat colonies. The method involved making inquiries at premises most likely to be frequented by cats ("high risk areas"). Most (94%) …

Laboratory And Field Assessment Of A Carbon Monoxide Producing Fumigant Cartridge For Use In The Control Of Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus), R.J.C. Page

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Fumigation is the most effective method of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) control available in the United Kingdom. Use of current methods, involving formulations that generate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) or phosphine (PH₃) on exposure to moisture, is limited by weather conditions. A carbon monoxide producing cartridge has been developed which can be used independent of weather conditions. The cartridge is similar in size to the smaller carbon monoxide (CO) cartridge used in the United States, but produces up to 70% more CO. High concentrations of CO were measured at the entrances of an unoccupied artificial warren fumigated with …

An Overview Of Avian Predation And Management Techniques At Fish-Rearing Facilities, James A. Parkhurst

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

As the aquaculture industry continues to expand in the United States, so too do the losses attributed to wildlife depredation. Because the industry is so diverse and the various types of culture are characterized by unique designs, operations, and arrays of cultured species, there is a need for corresponding uniqueness in predator management strategies and techniques. It is unlikely that, at any time in the near future, one universal method or approach will be developed to successfully resolve wildlife depredation problems in all facilities. However, numerous areas for improvement currently exist where potential reductions in the extent of loss can …

Field Evaluation Of Chemical Attractants For Summer Use On M-44s1, Robert L. Phillips, F. Sherman Blom

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Responses of free-roaming coyotes (Canis latrans) to four chemical attractants (W-U lure, artificial beef liver flavor, artificial smoked fish flavor, and Fatty Acid Scent) used on M-44 tops were measured during the summer months in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. Visitation and pull rates varied throughout the study period from area to area and appeared to be associated with weather, food abundance, and coyote densities. Fatty Acid Scent and W-U lure produced the highest visitation and pull rates.

Racumin Plus , A New Promising Rodenticide Against Rats And Mice, Reiner Pospischil, Hans-Jurgen Schnorbach

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Coumatetralyl (Racumin ) has been known since 1957 as a multiple dose anticoagulant and has been used successfully over many decades. In the seventies and especially the eighties, rats developed an increased resistance to anticoagulants in certain regions of Central Europe. Also, the addition of vitamin K to animal feed (especially to chicken feed) has reduced the efficacy against rats and mice in farm buildings. Combinations of anticoagulants with different types of vitamin D are generally described to increase the efficacy of action against rodents. It was found that especially the combination of coumatetralyl with cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) could overcome …

Predicting The Outcome Of Rodenticide Trials Against Norway Rats Living On Farms, Roger J. Quy, David P. Cowan, Peter Haynes, Ian R. Bmglis, Tom Swinney

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Difenacoum and bromadiolone treatments against Norway rats may fail because: 1) the animals eat little or no bait, 2) reinvasion rapidly offsets any success, or 3) the population contains resistant individuals. By monitoring bait takes and employing independent measures of rat activity such as tracking plates, it is possible to identify, often in the early stages of a treatment, patterns that indicate the contribution of each of these causes to the eventual outcome. If there is no bait take from the majority of bait points visited by rats in the first week then the treatment is unlikely to be successful, …

Effective Period For Control Of The Brown Spiny Field Mouse (Mus Plantythrix) In Dry Land Crops, G. Govinda Raj

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Information on breeding aspects of rodents is important to ensure control program timing necessary for effective pest management. Hence, studies on breeding aspects of the brown spiny field mouse (Mus platythrix), a known rodent pest in dry land crops were investigated including environmental factors influencing reproduction, from regular monthly collections made during the years 1990 and 1991. Field trapped rodents were classified to derive their population structure—percent juvenile, pre-pubertal and adult including prevalence of pregnancy—based on body weights and sexual conditions. The stage of pregnancy and sperm motility were confirmed by autopsy studies. The data were also analyzed …

Active Ingredients In Aphis's Vertebrate Pesticides - Use And Reregistration Status, Craig A. Ramey, Edward W. Schaffer Jr., Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Steven D. Palmateer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) re-registration process has had an extensive impact on the Animal Damage Control Program administered by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of USDA. Specifically, the 1988 Amendment to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act required a comprehensive reevaluation of pesticide safety; nearly 500 data submissions have been requested by EPA from APHIS to maintain its federal (Section 3) and state (Section 24(c)) low volume minor use vertebrate pesticide registrations. These registrations are used to control damage to American agricultural resources, mitigate losses to selected wildlife species, and reduce threats to public health …

Charting A Future: Process And Promise, Bobby R. Acord, Craig A. Ramey, Robert W. Werge

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

The Animal Damage Control program has been heavily involved in strategic planning since its transfer from USDI to USDA. The first effort was undertaken in 1989 by the program's management team. It was an introspective, critical look at what changes were needed to improve the program's strategic position in the natural resources community. That plan failed to achieve the desired objective due principally to the lack of involvement by ADC employees and others outside the program. In 1991, a more comprehensive effort was begun known as "Futuring." In this process, a representative from each organizational level of the program and …

Blurred Images: And The Future Of Wildlife Damage Management , Jack H. Berryman

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

The paper points out a number of perceptions that blur and damage the image of wildlife damage management and their importance to the future. Some of the reasons for the perceptions are suggested and a number of steps suggested to improve the public image. It concludes on a note of optimism for the future.

Stowaway Transport Rates Of House Mice (Mus Domesticus) And Deermice (Peromyscus Maniculatus)*, Ann Eileen Miller Baker

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Stowaway transport rates were obtained from behavioral observations of 14 house mice (Mus domesticus) and 14 deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) during commercial transport. One house mouse escaped during unloading and flaking of 2,500 kg 2-year old oat hay. Three house mice and two deermice were hand-caught on trucks during unloading of 51,110 kg transported barley straw and grass hay. One house mouse was hand-caught after being buried alive in grain. Two house mice escaped during unloading of a semitruck holding dog food. House mice (one live, six recently-dead) and deermice (two recently-dead) were taken from a feedmill screen over which had …

Field Tests Of A Copper-Based Fungicide As A Bird Repellent Rice Seed Treatment, Michael L. Avery, M.O. Way

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

In east Texas, bird damage to sprouting rice was reduced in two of seven study plots when rice seed was treated with the fungicide Kocide® SD at the maximum label rate (8 fluid oz/100 1b seed). Foraging rates of male red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) in treated plots were lower (P = 0.02) than were those in control plots. We suspect that the copper in Kocide SD produces physiological effects that suppress feeding activity that results in reduced losses in some cases. Because it is registered for use on rice and is relatively inexpensive, Kocide SD may be a useful component …

An Evaluation Of Anti-Coyote Electric Fences, Robert C. Acorn, Michael J. Dorrance

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

We interviewed 21 sheep farmers and evaluated their electric fences to identify problems and determine efficacy of electric fences to prevent coyote (Canis latrans) predation. Modified woven wire fences and fences of 9 high-tensile smooth wires alternating charged and grounded were most effective in preventing coyote predation. The most serious problems in fence design and maintenance were a) bottom charged wire too high above ground level, b) wires spaced too far apart, and c) inadequate vegetation control.

Bear Relocations To Avoid Bear/Sheep Conflicts, Alan R. Armistead, Ken Mitchell, Guy E. Connolly

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Preventive relocation of black bears (Ursus americanus) was tried as an alternative to lethal removal of bears that attacked sheep in northeastern Oregon. Bears in likely problem areas or in close proximity to sheep bands were captured with culvert traps and moved to other ranges without sheep. Sixteen bears were relocated in 1990 and five in 1991 from areas where five damaging bears had been destroyed in 1989. The five bears relocated in 1991 were radio collared and monitored by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. None of them were involved in livestock depredations subsequent to relocation. Sheep losses …

Resistance To The First And Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides-A New Perspective, A.P. Buckle, C.V. Prescott, K.J. Ward

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 16th (1994)

Warfarin resistance was first discovered among Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations in Scotland in 1958 and further reports of resistance, both in this species and in others, soon followed from other parts of Europe and the United States. Researchers quickly defined the practical impact of these resistance phenomena and developed robust methods by which to monitor their spread. These tasks were relatively simple because of the high degree of immunity to warfarin conferred by the resistance genes. Later, the second generation anticoagulants were introduced to control rodents resistant to the warfarin-like compounds, but resistance to difenacoum, bromadiolone and brodifacoum is …

Water Current, Volume 26, No. 1, February 1994

Water Current Newsletter

UWIN Offers Forum for Water Information
Sixth Annual Festival Set for March
Register Now for Conference
From the Director
High Plains Groundwater as a Sustainable Resource
Nitrogen Conference Proceedings Available
Tropical Water Center Set Up
Brochure Describes Water Laboratory
Water Focus of Interest
High School Primer Out
National Fellowships Available in Water Sciences
Valmont Offers Grants
Symphony to Add New Note to Children's Groundwater Festival
National Forum Participants to Visit Festival
Water, Drought Management Focus of Western Conference

Impacts Of Projected Climate Change On Urban Water Use, United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Reclamation

Water

Urban water use, particularly outdoor use, responds to changes in temperature, precipitation, and other climatic parameters. This study significantly improved the capacity of an existing regional water demand model to estimate the response of both residential and commercial-industrial water demand to changes in climatic parameters. The resulting functional relationships derived from historic time-series climatic and water use data were applied to global climate scenarios for the four Wasatch Front counties of Utah.

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre Newsletter, Volume 2-1, Winter 1994

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre: Newsletters and Publications

Work Underway at the CCWHC
CCWHC Headquarters Secretary
Newcastle disease in cormorants
Rabies update: First case in PEI, Rabies in Bats
New viral disease of lagomorphs in Europe
Investigation of pesticide poisoning
Hantavirus in North America
Mortality in Leach's storm petrels
Common loon mortality
Verminous pneumonia in red foxes
Strychnine poisoning in grackles
Leptospirosis in a raccoon
Great horned owls and porcupines
Tick species near Thunder Bay
Mercury poisoning: loons, eagle
Parvovirus in raccoons
Phorate poisoning in Yukon wildlife
Avian cholera in Manitoba

A Profile Of The Oyster Industry Northeastern United States, Douglas Lipton, James Kirkley

Reports

This is a critical period for the future of the east coast oyster industry. This report documents the dramatic decline in industry output which has been the impetus for a publicly funded program to "revtalize" the industry. Oyster biologists argue over the severityy of the decline and the cause, and also the potential remedies. Should non-native oysters, specifically Crassostrea gigas, be introduced into the region to replace the native oyster production? Are there ways to manage around the devastating oyster diseases MSX and Dermo? Will large populations of oysters significantly improve the water quality in currentiy degraded areas?

While these …