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United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

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Articles 1051 - 1080 of 1529

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Avoidance Of Plant Secondary Compounds By European Starlings: Citronellyls, Arla G. Hile Feb 2004

Avoidance Of Plant Secondary Compounds By European Starlings: Citronellyls, Arla G. Hile

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

There is an ongoing need for nonlethal and environmentally safe vertebrate repellents for a variety of uses. One promising source of candidate repellents is plant secondary compounds, many of which have evolved to defend against invertebrate herbivory. In this study I tested six citronellyl compounds that are used in the human flavor and fragrance industry. Testing was conducted with an invasive and exotic avian pest species in North America, the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). All six compounds tested were highly repellent to the birds and repellency was similar across treatment days. A dose–response experiment revealed that two of …

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Leptospirosis In The Azores: The Rodent Connection, Gary W. Witmer, Hernani Martins, Lidia Flor Feb 2004

Leptospirosis In The Azores: The Rodent Connection, Gary W. Witmer, Hernani Martins, Lidia Flor

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Azores are Portuguese islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. The culture is very agrarian with a large cattle industry. Unfortunately, there is a chronic leptospirosis problem within the people, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife of the Azores. Introduced rodents play a significant role as maintenance hosts of this disease. We review the situation and make recommendations for reducing the occurrence and hazard of leptospirosis in the Azores. Areas addressed include the need for a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease and the role of rodents, development of an effective rodent control program, improvements in farm practices and …

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Non-Target Hazard To Ring-Necked Pheasants From Zinc Phosphide Use In Northern California Agricultural Areas, Craig A. Ramey, Jean B. Bourassa, Michael S. Furuta Feb 2004

Non-Target Hazard To Ring-Necked Pheasants From Zinc Phosphide Use In Northern California Agricultural Areas, Craig A. Ramey, Jean B. Bourassa, Michael S. Furuta

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) conducted a field study to determine hazards to non-target gallinaceous birds following the use of 2.0% zinc phosphide (Zn,P2) baits for vole control in fall alfalfa. Consultation among the NWRC, USDA Wildlife Services, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the California Department of Fish and Game produced a 3-phased study. Free-ranging ring-necked pheasants and California quail were studied in alfalfa during the concurrent harvest of other agricultural crops. These data would be used by CDFA to support the re registration of their label "Rodent Bait Zinc …

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The Role Of Bait Manipulation In The Delivery Of Oral Rabies Vaccine To Skunks, Stacie J. Robinson, Susan M. Jojola, Kurt C. Vercauteren Feb 2004

The Role Of Bait Manipulation In The Delivery Of Oral Rabies Vaccine To Skunks, Stacie J. Robinson, Susan M. Jojola, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control each year occur in wildlife including skunks, raccoons, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Currently, oral rabies vaccination campaigns are employed to immunize coyotes, foxes, and raccoons. Though skunks are vectors of 6 rabies strains, there is currently no effective oral vaccine or delivery system for skunks. More information is needed to determine if baits currently used are sufficiently attractive to skunks, or if the baits are difficult for skunks to handle and consume. We observed bait manipulation by skunks in penned/feeding trials to determine the bait type most conducive …

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Potential Flotation Devices For Aerial Delivery Of Baits To Brown Treesnakes, Peter J. Savarie, Kenneth L. Tope Feb 2004

Potential Flotation Devices For Aerial Delivery Of Baits To Brown Treesnakes, Peter J. Savarie, Kenneth L. Tope

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Brown treesnakes are exotic invasive predators that have extirpated native forest birds and caused drastic reductions of lizards on Guam. Operational management control methods to contain the snake on Guam include the use of live traps, hand capture from fences, and canine detection. Live traps are also used to depopulate small forest plots. Toxicants offer an additional means for reducing snake populations on small plots. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipe bait stations containing dead neonatal mice (DNM) treated with 80 mg acetaminophen are placed about 1.5 m above the ground in vegetation to reduce exposure to terrestrial scavengers such as …

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Using Fatty Acid Profiles To Assess Dietary Intake Of Sunflower In Red-Winged Blackbirds , Randal S. Stahl, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, John J. Johnston Feb 2004

Using Fatty Acid Profiles To Assess Dietary Intake Of Sunflower In Red-Winged Blackbirds , Randal S. Stahl, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In late summer, red-winged blackbirds forage heavily on ripening sunflower crops in the Dakotas. Sunflower achenes have a distinct fatty acid profile that should influence the fatty acid composition in tissues of these buds. To determine if fatty acid composition in tissue could be used as a biomarker indicating dietary history, we fed 18 red-winged blackbirds a sunflower diet for 2 weeks and compared fatty acid profiles in their muscle and liver tissues to a control group of red-winged blackbirds (n = 15) fed a birdseed mix supplemented with safflower seed. Three subjects from each treatment group were sacrificed at …

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Relative Factor Costs Of Wildlife Rabies Impacts In The U.S., Ray T. Sterner, Ben Sun Feb 2004

Relative Factor Costs Of Wildlife Rabies Impacts In The U.S., Ray T. Sterner, Ben Sun

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A comprehensive cost model of wildlife rabies is presented. A total of 11 factors were viewed to comprise the diverse agricultural, insurance, medical, and veterinary expenses associated with rabies (i.e., pet vaccinations, livestock vaccinations, pet replacements, livestock replacements, pre-exposure prophylaxis for humans, post-exposure prophylaxis for humans, adverse medical reactions, animal control activities, public health charges, quarantine costs, and human death settlements). These factor costs form the basis of potential savings to be gained from rabies control activities. Irrespective of incidence, per unit costs and ranges were found to be greatest for livestock replacement, post-exposure prophylaxis, adverse medical reactions, and human …

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Evaluation Of Trapping To Reduce Monk Parakeet Populations At Electric Utility Facilities, Eric A. Tillman, Ann C. Genchi, James R. Lindsay, James R. Newman, Michael L. Avery Feb 2004

Evaluation Of Trapping To Reduce Monk Parakeet Populations At Electric Utility Facilities, Eric A. Tillman, Ann C. Genchi, James R. Lindsay, James R. Newman, Michael L. Avery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Through accidental and intentional introductions, the monk parakeet, native to South America, is now established in several parts of the United States. In Florida, it occurs in 21 of 67 counties. Monk parakeets build a bulky nest structure of sticks, and they often build on electric utility substations and support structures for distribution and transmission lines. This nesting activity is incompatible with reliable electric service because nest material creates short circuits that cause power outages. Nest removal by electric utility personnel is ongoing but provides only short-term relief, as buds readily rebuild their nests. In h s study, we evaluated …

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Bird Depredations In Uruguayan Vineyards, Ethel N. Rodriguez, Guadalupe Tiscornia, Mark E. Tobin Feb 2004

Bird Depredations In Uruguayan Vineyards, Ethel N. Rodriguez, Guadalupe Tiscornia, Mark E. Tobin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Many species of birds in Uruguay frequent vineyards and damage grapes, both species that are considered crop pests and species that are protected by law because their conservation and protection are desirable. We surveyed 70 farmers in the Department of Canalones, the main grape growing region in Uruguay, to determine their perceptions about the nature and severity of bud depredations and the methods being employed to reduce such damage. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported receiving damage from birds. Bird depredations were considered a serious problem by 58% of respondents, a moderate problem by 19% of respondents, and a minor problem …

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Cervid Disease Research At The National Wildlife Research Center, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Mike Lavelle, Dale L. Nolte, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Jason Gilsdorf Feb 2004

Cervid Disease Research At The National Wildlife Research Center, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Mike Lavelle, Dale L. Nolte, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Jason Gilsdorf

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The realized and perceived threats of cervid diseases have immense implications for federal and state wildlife management agencies, captive cervid ranchers, hunters, and businesses and economies that rely on recreation associated with deer and elk. Therefore, the spread of diseases, primarily chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis, in wild and captive cervids is of great concern. Research is paramount to closing information gaps associated with all aspects of cervid diseases. The Wildlife Disease Research Program of the USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center is engaged in considerable research on cervid diseases. Efforts focus on disease epidemiology, cervid ecology, and …

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Operational Field Evaluation Of A Plastic Bulb Reservoir As A Tranquilizer Trap Device For Delivering Propiopromazine Hydrochloride To Feral Dogs, Coyotes, And Gray Wolves, Peter J. Savarie, Daniel S. Vice, Layne Bangerter, Kevin Dustin, William J. Paul, Thomas M. Primus, F. Sherman Blom Feb 2004

Operational Field Evaluation Of A Plastic Bulb Reservoir As A Tranquilizer Trap Device For Delivering Propiopromazine Hydrochloride To Feral Dogs, Coyotes, And Gray Wolves, Peter J. Savarie, Daniel S. Vice, Layne Bangerter, Kevin Dustin, William J. Paul, Thomas M. Primus, F. Sherman Blom

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We evaluated a polyethylene bulb reservoir fabricated at the Pocatello Supply Depot, Pocatello, Idaho, as a potential cost savings replacement for the McBride lubber device that is used as a tranquilizer trap device (TTD). The polyethylene devices, also called pipette TTDs, were formulated with 0.6 g of propiopromazine hydrochloride (PPZH) and 0.4 g of ascorbic acid, an antioxidant. The pipette bulb was secured to a 1.6 mm-diameter cable and the cable was attached to the trap jaw. TTD testing was conducted during routine operational control under an Investigational New Animal Drug application (INAD 9528) from the U.S. Food and Drug …

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GonaconTm, A Versatile Gnrh Contraceptive For A Large Variety Of Pest Animal Problems, Lowell A. Miller, Jack Rhyan, Gary Killian Feb 2004

GonaconTm, A Versatile Gnrh Contraceptive For A Large Variety Of Pest Animal Problems, Lowell A. Miller, Jack Rhyan, Gary Killian

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

As part of the program to develop contraceptive tools to control populations of over-abundant wildlife species, the NWRC has developed a single-injection gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive vaccine, GonaConTM. GonaConTM has been tested and shown to provide contraceptive effects lasting 1-3 years in many pest species including white-tailed deer, domestic and feral pigs, bison, wild horses, cats, dogs, and California ground squirrels. GonaCon contains a GnRH peptide conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin combined with AduVacTM ,an adjuvant also developed at the USDA National Wildlife Research Center. Immunization against GnRH prevents the circulating GnRH from stimulating the release …

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Response Of Canada Geese To A Dead Goose Effigy, Thomas W. Seamans, Glen E. Bernhardt Feb 2004

Response Of Canada Geese To A Dead Goose Effigy, Thomas W. Seamans, Glen E. Bernhardt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The North American Canada goose population increased at a rate of 10.5% per year, 1966 - 2001. Canada geese rank has the third most hazardous species in regards to collisions with aircraft. Sound Canada goose management tools are critical for a safer airport environment. We conducted field evaluations of a Canada goose effigy during the breeding season with territorial pairs and in late summer with post-fledging flocks to determine if geese were deterred by the effigy. No difference in territorial pairs was found between pretreatment and treatment periods for Canada geese when goose effigies were placed within their territories. In …

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Keynote Address: Breathing Lessons, J. Russell Mason Feb 2004

Keynote Address: Breathing Lessons, J. Russell Mason

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Current issues in wildlife damage management and the protection of human health and safety arise from the successful application of traditional methods by state and federal managers. The paradox is that these same methods are increasingly controversial. Within this constraint, management strategies may be difficult to implement. In California, for example, protecting state-threatened foxes could mean killing federally protected golden eagles. In Utah, restoring Gunnison sage grouse may require the sustained lethal suppression of predator populations unless or until habitat can be restored. The obvious fact is that these are unpopular choices, and special interest groups frequently oppose selective intervention, …

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Weight And Age Of Coyotes Captured In Virginia, John M. Houben, J. Russell Mason Feb 2004

Weight And Age Of Coyotes Captured In Virginia, John M. Houben, J. Russell Mason

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We recorded the weight and age of 70 coyotes collected during depredation control efforts in western Virginia. Mean masses for adult male and female coyotes were 16.2 and 13.4 kg, respectively. Juvenile male and female coyotes weighed 14.0 and 13.0 kg, respectively. Regardless of sex, mean mass was greatest between November and January and comparable to that reported for coyotes throughout the eastern United States. Cementum aging indicated that 71% of the coyotes captured were greater than 1 year of age. Numerical trends suggest that age and sex may influence vulnerability to capture.

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West Nile Virus: Impact On Crow Populations In The United States, Robert G. Mclean Feb 2004

West Nile Virus: Impact On Crow Populations In The United States, Robert G. Mclean

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Since the introduction of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus (WNV) into New York City (NYC) in 1999, it has expanded westward across the North American continent in an unprecedented fashion, taking in its wake hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of native and exotic birds. Corvid species, particularly the American crow, are particularly susceptible to this virulent strain of virus and have died dramatically during the summer virus transmission season. Experimental studies have shown that the fatality rate from WNV infection in American crows is nearly 100%. This mortality in crows and other corvids was used as a sensitive sentinel …

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Evaluation Of Three Contraceptive Approaches For Population Control In Wild Horses, Gary Killian, Lowell A. Miller, Nancy K. Diehl, Jack Rhyan, David Thain Feb 2004

Evaluation Of Three Contraceptive Approaches For Population Control In Wild Horses, Gary Killian, Lowell A. Miller, Nancy K. Diehl, Jack Rhyan, David Thain

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Overpopulation of feral horses in several western states is an unquestioned problem. Current management strategies of removal and adoption are expensive, logistically challenging, and ineffective as a means of population control. We are testing three long-acting contraceptive approaches on feral Nevada mares. Modified reversible immunocontraceptive vaccines for gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and porcine zona pellucida (F'ZP) (SpayVac), and intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs), are being evaluated to determine: I) their safety and efficacy for preventing pregnancy for multiple years, 2) whether the effects are reversible, and 3) whether there are notable contraindications. Preliminary data after 1 year suggest that IUD- and …

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Contraception Of Bison By Gnrh Vaccine: A Possible Means Of Decreasing Transmission Of Brucellosis In Bison, Lowell A. Miller, Jack C. Rhyan, Mark Drew Feb 2004

Contraception Of Bison By Gnrh Vaccine: A Possible Means Of Decreasing Transmission Of Brucellosis In Bison, Lowell A. Miller, Jack C. Rhyan, Mark Drew

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Preventing pregnancy in brucellosis-infected bison (Bison bison) provides a potential means of preventing transmission of disease. To determine whether a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine was effective in reducing pregnancy in bison and to study the safety of injecting GnRH in pregnant bison, a study was conducted at the Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Health Laboratory in Caldwell, Idaho (USA). Four pregnant and two non-pregnant female bison were given a single injection of GnRH vaccine, and five pregnant adult females were given a sham injection that contained only adjuvant. Three of the GnRH-vaccinated bison that were pregnant at the …

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Fertility Control Of California Ground Squirrels Using Gnrh Immunocontraception, Paul B. Nash, David K. James, Lucia T. Hui, Lowell A. Miller Feb 2004

Fertility Control Of California Ground Squirrels Using Gnrh Immunocontraception, Paul B. Nash, David K. James, Lucia T. Hui, Lowell A. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Population of wildlife, such as California ground squirrels, can grow to the extent that they come in conflict with humans. Contraception is a method of population management under investigation that may be useful in situations where neither leaving the animals uncontrolled nor lethal control are apropos. In this study, we tested the use of a single-injection gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive vaccine in urban California ground squirrels. We monitored the effects of treatment for two breeding seasons. Immunization reduced the proportion of females lactating by 91% the first year and 96% in the second year. Testicular development was inhibited 35% …

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Effects Of Forage Nutritional Quality (Energy And Protein) On Deer Acceptance Of Foods Containing Secondary Metabolites, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Kelly R. Perry, Juan J. Villalba, Frederick D. Provenza Feb 2004

Effects Of Forage Nutritional Quality (Energy And Protein) On Deer Acceptance Of Foods Containing Secondary Metabolites, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Kelly R. Perry, Juan J. Villalba, Frederick D. Provenza

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications


Deer foraging on tree seedlings is recognized as the most widespread detriment to reforestation efforts. Non-lethal approaches to reduce deer damage to seedlings are highly desirable. Avoidance of natural secondary metabolites contained in conifers may provide feasible means to develop non-lethal measures. Other studies have demonstrated that sheep and goats fed diets with high protein-to-energy ratios, or allowed to select between concentrates high in either energy or protein, ate much more of a high-terpene diet and of a high-tannin diet than when they were fed diets high in energy-to-protein ratios. Thus, manipulating foraging options for deer may impact their ability …

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Evaluation Of Different Rice Baits And Chemicals To Improve Efficacy Of 2% Drc-1339 To Reduce Blackbird Damage To Rice, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, Jerry C. Hurley, Karen H. Sheffer Feb 2004

Evaluation Of Different Rice Baits And Chemicals To Improve Efficacy Of 2% Drc-1339 To Reduce Blackbird Damage To Rice, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, Jerry C. Hurley, Karen H. Sheffer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Blackbird damage to sprouting rice can be locally severe and costs Louisiana growers an estimated $4 million/year and Texas growers $4.4 million/year. DRC-1339 blackbird baiting programs probably will continue until available alternative control techniques (i.e., repellents) become available. We conducted 3 studies to evaluate different rice baits and chemicals to improve efficacy of DRC-1339 for use at staging areas. During the first study, individually caged red-winged blackbirds preferred untreated medium grain brown rice over long grain brown rice, rough rice, or rough rice soaked with sodium bisulfite. Of birds offered only medium (control), long, rough, and rough rice soaked with …

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Response Of Roosting Turkey Vultures To A Vulture Effigy, Thomas W. Seamans Feb 2004

Response Of Roosting Turkey Vultures To A Vulture Effigy, Thomas W. Seamans

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Increasing populations of turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) and black vultures (Coragyps atratus) cause concerns for human health and safety in areas where large roosting concentrations occur. Dead bird effigies are one proposed method of dispersing roosting vultures. In 1999 and 2000, tests were conducted using a supine and hanging turkey vulture effigy (a taxidermy mount) to disperse a vulture roost in a tower in northern Ohio. In all tests, fewer (P ≤ 0.04) vultures were observed in the roost during the treatment period when compared to the pretreatment period. In tests ending in fall migration the …

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Eastern Phoebe Uses Elk Hair As A Nesting Material, Nathan W. Seward, John J. Cox, Joshua H. Brown, Jeffery L. Larkin Feb 2004

Eastern Phoebe Uses Elk Hair As A Nesting Material, Nathan W. Seward, John J. Cox, Joshua H. Brown, Jeffery L. Larkin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

On 20 April 2003, we found an active Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) nest located under a capstone rock ledge on a reclaimed mine in Breathitt County, Kentucky. The capstone was one of several clustered together on top of a southwestern slope at 420 m in elevation and was located approximately 100 m from the forest-reclaimed grassland edge. The nest was positioned 2 m off the ground near the ceiling-vertical wall interface. The nest contained three eggs and was comprised of a mosaic of moss, mud, and grasses. The lining of the nest was a mixture of grass and …

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Economics In Wildlife Damage Management Studies: Common Problems And Some Solutions, Stephanie A. Shwiff Feb 2004

Economics In Wildlife Damage Management Studies: Common Problems And Some Solutions, Stephanie A. Shwiff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Benefit-cost analysis (BCA) has become a highly useful economic tool to evaluate research and operational efforts in wildlife damage management. At the same time, common problems with BCA can be noted in these studies. These problems include: the absence of present value calculations, the misuse of market vs. non-market valuations, and the improper accounting of benefits and costs. Solutions to these problems are relatively simple but are imperative to the accuracy of the results. This paper outlines a number of common errors in BCA and offers solutions that enhance the use of economics in wildlife damage management studies.

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Vulture-Cattle Interactions At A Central Florida Ranch, John S. Humphrey, Eric A. Tillman, Michael L. Avery Feb 2004

Vulture-Cattle Interactions At A Central Florida Ranch, John S. Humphrey, Eric A. Tillman, Michael L. Avery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Black vulture depredations to newborn livestock, poultry, and other captive animals have been reported from at least 15 states, and during the 1990s, reports of depredations increased annually by an average of 18%. In response to this issue, we initiated a study at Buck Island Ranch of the MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center in central Florida to examine interactions between cattle and vultures. Based on previous reports, we hypothesized that vulture predation selectively targets calves of young, inexperienced cows. To document vulture activity, we conducted point counts of vultures in pastures throughout the ranch from January 2000 to March 2001. During …

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Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots As A Dual-Purpose Wildlife Management Strategy, George M. Linz, Dionn A. Schaaf, Philip Mastrangelo, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier Feb 2004

Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots As A Dual-Purpose Wildlife Management Strategy, George M. Linz, Dionn A. Schaaf, Philip Mastrangelo, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The National Sunflower Association has identified blackbird damage as a key reason for growers to abandon sunflower. In the 1980s, National Wildlife Research Center scientists showed that "decoy" p1antings of sunflower can significantly reduce bird damage to nearby commercial sunflower fields. For a variety of reasons, largely logistical and economic in nature, decoy sunflower fields did not become wide-spread. Over the last decade, new federal farm programs have placed more emphasis on wildlife conservation. Thus, decoy sunflower fields planted to ameliorate blackbird damage and establish habitat for wildlife might gamer broad support from both agricultural and conservation groups. We present …

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Could Blackbird Mortality From Avicide Drc-1339 Contribute To Avian Botulism Outbreaks In North Dakota?, Diana R. Goldberg, Michael D. Samuel, Tonie E. Rocke, Kevin M. Johnson, George M. Linz Feb 2004

Could Blackbird Mortality From Avicide Drc-1339 Contribute To Avian Botulism Outbreaks In North Dakota?, Diana R. Goldberg, Michael D. Samuel, Tonie E. Rocke, Kevin M. Johnson, George M. Linz

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Blackbird (family Icteridae) depredation on sunflower (Helianthus annuus) crops in the prairie states of the United States has motivated the proposed use of an avicide, DRC-1339 (3-chloro-4-methylaniline), to decrease their numbers. The resulting mortality of blackbirds at wetland roosts could increase the potential of avian botulism occurring in affected marshes. To assess this possibility, we seeded (artificially placed) blackbird carcasses in selected wetlands in Stutsman County, North Dakota, during August–September 2000 and July–September 2001 to evaluate their rate of decomposition and role in initiating avian botulism outbreaks. We monitored carcasses to determine their persistence, the frequency and amount …

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Relationship Of Raccoon Road-Kill Data To High-Density Marine Turtle Nesting, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, William J.B. Miller Feb 2004

Relationship Of Raccoon Road-Kill Data To High-Density Marine Turtle Nesting, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, William J.B. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Four years of data from a high-density marine turtle nesting beach at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Florida were examined along with data on raccoon (Procyon lotor) road-kills from adjacent roads, and data on park attendance (as an index of local traffic) to make inferences about raccoon activity patterns relative to turtle nesting. Raccoon road-kills were found to diminish substantially during turtle nesting, even though local traffic was constant or increasing. Opossums (Didelphis virginiana), the only other animal consistently found as road-kills, did not show a decrease during turtle nesting season, but they are not …

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Cheloniidae (Marine Turtle) Nest Predation, John Woolard, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, John Griner Feb 2004

Cheloniidae (Marine Turtle) Nest Predation, John Woolard, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, John Griner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

On 19 June 2003 at 0217 h, an Opossum (Didelphis virginiann) was observed for 10 min while digging into a marine turtle nest and eating 4 eggs on the beach at St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park (SLIPSP) on Jupiter Island, Florida. The predation event was observed using night vision equipment as part of nightly patrols to protect turtle nests from Raccoon (Procyon lotor) and Armadillo (Dasypus noverncinctus) predation during the nesting season (Engeman et al. 2003. Biol. Cons. 113:171-175). After verification of an ongoing predation event, the Opossum was euthanized and removed. Prior …

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A Review Of The Colonization Dynamics Of The Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus Carinatus Arimouri) In Florida, Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman Feb 2004

A Review Of The Colonization Dynamics Of The Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus Carinatus Arimouri) In Florida, Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The northern curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus armouri) is endemic to the islands of the Little Bahama Bank, with other subspecies found in the Great Bahama Bank, Cayman Islands, and Cubs (Schwartz and Thomas 1975, Schwartz and Henderson 1991).

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