Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Rat Control In Coconut Palms In Colombia, Danilo Valencia

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

The black rat (Rattus rattus) causes severe damage to coconut (Cocos nucifera) crops in Colombia. These rodents climb to the crown of producing palms and often nest there. Damage results from the rats gnawing the shells of the coconuts until they penetrate to the endosperm; the perforated nuts will fall within a period of 15 days and are unsuitable for harvest.
Since 1972, the Colombian Agricultural Research Institute (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario or ICA), through its Vertebrate Control Program, has been conducting a series of investigations to obtain information about the characteristics of this damage and the best means of reducing …

Predator Damage Control, 1980: Recent History And Current Status, Dale A. Wade

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

This review summarizes executive and other actions relating to cancellation of the predacides in 1972 and related events. A chronology of these actions and events is appended (Appendix A). Predator damage control operations, and research findings over the past decade, are briefly reviewed and related political decisions are discussed.

Population Studies On Gerbils Of The Western Desert Of Egypt, With Special Reference To Gerbillus Andersoni De Winton, Kamal Wassif, Sohail Soliman

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

Population studies on the gerbil, Gerbillus andersoni, were carried out in Omayed in the Western Desert of Egypt during the period from July 1976 through August 1978 inclusive. Studies included determination of the sex ratio in the different age and weight groups, as well as seasonal changes in this ratio. The mean weight and age at the onset of maturity and the reproductive activity of both sexes were determined. The study also included seasonal changes in mean body weights of both sexes, those of the testes in relation to body weights, as well as changes in the length of the …

The Influence Of Insects In Bird Damage Control, Paul P. Woronecki, Richard A. Dolbeer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

Considerable effort has gone into developing and testing the various management methods for keeping blackbirds out of cornfields, but little work has been directed at understanding the relationship of the birds or the damage control methods to the other organisms within cornfields. This report shows that in a number of cases insects may influence bird-damage control programs. It points out the complex interaction among organisms that can occur in agricultural crops and the importance of considering pest control from an integrated view instead of from a single-species basis.

Environmental Manipulation In Roof Rat Control Programs, Gene Zdunowski

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

The control of roof rat Rattus rattus involves not just chemical and physical suppression, exclusion, and sanitation in an integrated environmental manipulation approach, but in order for the environmental manipulative technique to work, the environmental-behavioral habits of the individuals living in these roof rat infested areas must be modified. Once a target area of known rodent infestation has been initially impacted and environmentally improved upon, the task by the homeowner to continue to practice environmental manipulation must be ongoing. Continued maintenance of the environmentally improved area by staff knowledgeable in environmental manipulation and behavioral modification is the only way to …

Exclusion Of Gulls From Reservoirs In Orange County, California, William Amling

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

Measures to exclude gulls from two coastal domestic water supply reservoirs in Orange County have included the use of shotguns, exploding shell cartridges and carbide cannons. Alternative methods were explored which hopefully would prove more effective and less costly than the harassment techniques being employed. The installation of a network of spaced wire over the reservoir water surface has successfully excluded gulls from these bodies of water.

Deratization Of Budapest And Five Years Of Follow-Up Control Measures, Daniel Bajomi

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

A brief review of deratization carried out in Budapest (.2 million inhabitants) is given. As a result of an extensive eradication project initial infestation level of premises amounting to 33% decreased below 0.5%. Materials and techniques employed for the preservation of a rat free state as well as the method how to determine the size of the remainder of the rat population are described. "Idealized premises" were introduced allowing comparison between rat infestations of various areas. Report on the relationship between rat population and temperature, on the areal dispersion of population and on how re-infestation occurs. Finally conclusions are drawn …

Mountain Beaver Problems In The Forests Of California, Oregon And Washington, John E. Borrecco, Robert J. Anderson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

Mountain beavers (Aplodontia rufa) cause considerable damage to forest trees in the Pacific Northwest. Feeding injuries result in mortality, growth losses, deformity of trees, and understocked plantations. Losses are most severe in new plantations with significant damage problems also occurring in sapling stands. Trapping, and placing physical barriers around individual trees, are the most common methods of control. Both methods are costly but effective in reducing damage.

The Situation Of Grain-Eating Birds In Somalia, Richard L. Bruggers

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 9th (1980)

Research into the biology and control of pest birds in Somalia has continued intermittently since 1971 under UNDP funding of four projects. Data have been gathered on the identification, distribution, and status of the principal pest species to agriculture. These species include the Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea), of which northern and southern races occur, and several other ploceid weavers (Ploceus spp.) which may damage cereal crops. The movements, food habits, and corresponding impact of these species on agriculture in Somalia are discussed in detail. As a result of the information obtained during these years of research, emphasis has recently shifted …

Water Current, Volume 12, No. 2, March/April 1980

Water Current Newsletter

Nebraska's Water: Twenty-Five Years of Change
Research Overview
Proposals Submitted to OWRT
Water Center's Five-Year Research Planning Program
New Staff Members
Recent Staff Activities
208 Program Shifted to DEC
Geothermal Research
Support for Water Research
Animal Escape Ramps for Concrete-Lined Canals
Domenici/Moynihan Compromise Introduced
EPA Groundwater Study
WRC Budget Cuts
US Water Scientist Takes UNESCO Post
Research Review: Suitability of Region-Wide Irrigation Scheduling by Local Evapotranspiration Measurement

Volume 4, Number 3 (March 1980), The Solar Ocean Energy Liaison

The OTEC Liaison

No abstract provided.

The Probe, Issue 5 - March 1980

The Probe: Newsletter of the National Animal Damage Control Association

THE PROBE National Animal Damage Control Association March, 1980
Our first NADCA conference meet scheduled for Flagstaff, AZ has to be cancelled.
As of this issue we hope to go on a regular bimonthly issue basis (March, May, July, etc.) finances permitting.
CALIFORNIA VERTEBRATE PEST CONFERENCE
WONDER CHEMICALS The only wonder is that EPA still permits us to use any chemicals for controlling vertebrate animal damage.
Anderson called Secretary Andrus a "cuttlefish" as the latter is as adept at squirting ink to hide his operations as is the marine squid. Anderson has documented some very questionable, Mafia-linked practices by Andrus …

Monthly Planet, 1980, March, Brian Blix, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Stretching The Mouse Control Dollar, John E. Crumpacker

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

One of the biggest problems In our mouse control program at H. F. and T. B. Byrd, Inc. in Timberville, Virginia Is keeping a palatable bait before the voles until the bait can be accepted. For years we used labor needed for pruning to place an expensive bait only to be impeded by wet weather that molded the bait.

This year an effort is being made to keep the bait in good condition and before the target animal for a longer time. We cut old car tires (not steel belted) given to us by a local distributor and rented his …

Evaluation Of Possible Temperature Fluctuations From Proposed Power Modifications At Hoover Dam, Larry J. Paulson, John R. Baker, U.S. Water And Power Resources Service

Publications (WR)

There are several planned alternatives for increasing the generation capacity of Hoover Dam to help meet peak power demands. These alternatives include: (a) uprating the existing generating units, (b) replacing or adding one or more generating units and (c) adding reversible pumped-storage hydroelectric units. Since the existing generators are at the end of their economic life and have to be replaced, their uprating has been scheduled as routine maintenance. This will increase the generating capacity of the Hoover Dam powerplant from 1240 MW to 1810 MW, but the anticipated capacity for meeting power demand is 2300 MW. Therefore, modifications (alternatives …

Evaluation Of Impacts Associated With Reregulation Of Water Levels In Lake Mohave, Larry J. Paulson, John R. Baker, U.S. Water And Power Resources Service

Publications (WR)

The U.S. Water and Power Resources Service is considering reregulating Lake Mohave water levels to increase the net power benefit from Hoover Dam. Reregulation will not increase the generation capacity of the Hoover powerplant but it will enable the plant operation to be increased when the energy has greater monetary value. Energy generated at different times of the year has different market value, the highest being in January-March and July- September. By generating more power during these periods more net monetary benefit can be derived from Hoover Dam. The total volume of water released from Hoover Dam over an annual …

Chemistry Of The Spring Waters Of The Ouachita Mountains Excluding Hot Springs, Arkansas, George H. Wagner, Kenneth F. Steele

Technical Reports

This report is based on the chemical analysis of the waters from 93 springs and 9 wells. Springs, when free from metal plumbing, provide an uncontaminated source of the ground water and it was desired to obtain water uncontaminated with metals. A few wells were added to the list, usually because of their unique location in the sampling grid.

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 12, Number 1. March, 1980

The Prairie Naturalist

RESIDUAL SEEDS AS POTENTIAL SPRING WATERFOWL FOODS IN SMALL, MAN-MADE IMPOUNDMENTS ▪ G. A. Baldassarre

NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BATS FROM BADLANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, SOUTH DAKOTA ▪ J. P. Farney and J. K. Jones, Jr.

PRAIRIE CHICKEN DOMINATED SHARP-TAILED GROUSE INTERACTION ▪ R. A. Schmidt

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA— 1979 ▪ R. N. Randall

THIRD NESTING OF CATTLE EGRET IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ R. A. Schmidt

FIRST BREEDING RECORDS OF THE WHITE-FACED IBIS IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ R. A. Schmidt

NOTES

Pinon Jay in North Dakota ▪ R. N Randall, J. Swanick and O. Swanick

Gray-crowned …

Assessment Of The Radiological Impact Of The Inactive Uranium-Mill Tailings At Mexican Hat, Utah, F. F. Haywood, W. A. Goldsmith, B. S. Ellis, H. M. Hubbard Jr., W. F. Fox, W. H. Shinpaugh, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

High surface soil concentrations of 226Ra and high above-ground measurements of gamma-ray intensity in the vicinity of the inactive uranium-mill tailings at Mexican Hat show both wind and water erosion of the tailings. The former mill area, occupied by a trade school at the time of this survey, shows a comparatively high level of contamination, probably from unprocessed ore on the surface of the ore storage area near the location of the former mill buildings. However, the estimated health effect of exposure to gamma rays during a 2000-hr work year in the area represents an increase of 0.1% in the …

Blackbirds And Corn In Ohio, Richard A. Dolbeer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Damage to corn by blackbirds (Icteridae) has been an economic problem throughout historical times in North America. Ohio, with the highest nesting season population density of red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) in North America and large acreages of corn, has been a key state in this conflict. Survey of damage from 1968 to 1979 revealed that blackbirds annually destroyed less than 1% of the corn crops in Ohio, a 4- to 6-million dollar loss at 1979 prices. This total dollar loss is somewhat misleading because of the uneven distribution of damage among fields. Over 97% of the cornfields in …

Rodenticide Use In Apple Orchards, Walter L. Ferguson

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

The preliminary data presented in this paper were obtained from the 1978 Survey of Pesticide Use on Deciduous Fruits (Figure 1). The survey was conducted by the Economics, Statistics and Cooperatives Service, USDA.

The purpose of this paper is to present information on: (1) rodenticides used in controlling meadow and pine voles, (2) method and timing of applications and type of coverage, (3) tree losses due to vole injury by region, and (4) growers perceived efficacy of chemicals versus cultural and mechanical controls. These data are based on the aggregated responses of the surveyed apple producers.

Induction Of Abortion By Strange Males In Pine Vole Females That Are: 1) Ten Days Pregnant Or 2) Pregnant And Lactating, Margaret H. Schadler, Barbara J. Gauger

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Pregnant voles react to the presence of unfamiliar males by aborting the offspring they are carrying, entering estrus and mating with these new males. This phenomenon was first described in pine voles by Marks and Schadler (1979). At that time we reported that 84% of females that were four days along in their first pregnancy were induced by strange males to reject their embryos. These findings encouraged us to continue our investigations and this paper reports results on the abortion response caused by strange males in females ten days along in their first pregnancy (Experiment I) and on experienced pine …

Pine Vole Control In 1979 Field Plots, Ross E. Byers

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Broadcast treatments of Volak (Brodifacoum) applied at rates of approx. 20 lbs/acre gave 98% control of voles when active ingredient levels were from 0.005% to 0.0005% in the bait. Of the two Rozol (Chlorophacinone)formulations tested, the French (Lipha) pelleted formulation appeared to be slightly better than what is currently being marketed in the USA. The Maki (Bromodialone) bait formulated in the same wax bait carrier as the Rozol-USA gave no better control than Rozol. Ramik-Brown (Diphacinone) did not appear to be as good as the other anticoagulants tested when applied either as a broad¬cast or as a hand placed bait. …

Current Research Related To Pine And Meadow Vole Damage Control, Mark H. Merson, Ross E. Byers

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

This paper will outline some of the research related to pine and meadow vole damage control which is currently underway at the Winchester Fruit Research Laboratory and outline some of the areas which we will be pursuing in the future. One question which must be answered whenever a chemical is used to control a pest organism is how that chemical is impacting non-target organisms. A study was initiated in the fall of 1979, with the objective of determining by use of radiotelemetry the fates of birds of prey in the vicinity of orchards treated with Brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide. A …

Disposition Of The Endrin Rpar, Lawrence S. Ebner, Harvey S. Gold

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Following a comprehensive three-year Rebuttable Presumption Against Registration ("RPAR") review of endrin, on July 25, 1979 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its decision to continue federal approval of endrin for control of pine voles in the East and meadow voles in the West among other uses. See 44 Fed. Reg. 43,637-8. The Agency concluded that with additional safety precautions and procedures, endrin can be applied safely and effectively, and that the benefits of usage outweigh any risks. The stringent new safe¬guards being required by EPA, including new usage restrictions and directions, equipment specifications, and warnings to female applicators, are …

Access Of Compounds To The Vomeronasal Organ In Pine And Meadow Voles, Charles J. Wysocki, Gary K. Beauchamp, Susan Erisman

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Neuroendocrine responses play a critical role in reproduction in every mammalian species, including voles (Richmond S. Stehn, 1976). Disruption of these normal responses can result in: (1) abnormal sexual maturation; (2) abnormal or absent female cycles; (3) pseudopregnancy; (4) blocked pregnancies; or (5) the total absence of courtship and mating. Each of these factors in turn plays a considerable role in population dynamics, especially population density. Therefore, mechanisms which disrupt normal neuroendocrine function could affect population dynamics and reduce population density by affecting changes in one or many of these reproductive processes.

Preliminary Field Observations Of Meadow Vole Preferences Among Selected Apple Clones, Karen Pearson, J. N. Cummins, John Barnard

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Damage by voles has continued to be a major cause of tree mortality American orchards despite nearly universal use of herbicides and rodenticide. (1,7). To reduce damage done by voles in infested orchards, one valuable tool could be use of a stock system that voles found highly unattractive. Having such stock systems in place would be particularly valuable during periods when the orchardist could neither bait nor spray for control.

A cooperative VPI/Cornell research project initiated in 1974 identified a few cultivars with relatively high levels of resistance to pine voles, as expressed in free-choice tests under laboratory conditions. This …

Apple Tree Mortality, Rate And Causes, William T. Sullivan Jr., Turner B. Sutton, Don W. Hayne

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

In a randomly selected sample of 47 orchard blocks in Henderson County, North Carolina, over two years, the average annual mortality rate for apple trees was 1.0 percent with probably a little less than half of this caused by voles.

Registration List

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Registration List

Seasonal Forage Availability In Relation To Energy Requirements Of Pine Voles In Two Orchard Types, R. L. Lochmiller, J. B. Whelan, R. L. Kirkpatrick

Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposia

Results from previous work on pine vole populations and habitat interactions (Cengel et a1. 1978; Noffsinger 1976) suggested that pine vole populations were quite sensitive to seasonal changes in the quantity, species composition, and nutritive value of available forage. This conclusion was based on decreases in both reproductive performance and physical condition of pine voles collected from abandoned orchards in the fall as compared to voles taken from maintained orchards during the same season. Utilizing information from these investigations, a "follow-up" study was designed to investigate food availability and nutrient composition, food consumption, food digestibility, and energy requirements of pine …