Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
File Type

Articles 1111 - 1140 of 1529

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Use Of Roadkill Data To Index And Relate Raccoon Activity At A Heavily Predated, High-Density Marine Turtle Nesting Beach, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, William J.B. Miller Jan 2004

Use Of Roadkill Data To Index And Relate Raccoon Activity At A Heavily Predated, High-Density Marine Turtle Nesting Beach, 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 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-klls were found to diminish substantially during turtle nesting, even though local traffic was constant or increasing. Opossums, the only other mammal consistently found as road-kills, did not show a decrease during turtle nesting season, but they are not known as a primary predator of turtle nests. …

Go to article

Leiocephalus Carinatus Armouri (Northern Curlytailed Lizard), Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman Jan 2004

Leiocephalus Carinatus Armouri (Northern Curlytailed Lizard), Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Ninebanded Armadillo (Dasypus Novemcinctus), Michael T. Mengak Jan 2004

Ninebanded Armadillo (Dasypus Novemcinctus), Michael T. Mengak

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Scientists classify armadillos with anteaters and sloths. This tells us that they have poorly developed teeth and limited mobility. In fact, armadillos have small, peg-like teeth that are useful for grinding their food but of little value for capturing prey. No other mammal in Georgia has bony skin plates or a “shell”, which makes the armadillo easy to identify. Just like a turtle, the shell is called a carapace. Armadillos are common in central and southern Georgia and are moving northward. Only one species of armadillo lives in Georgia and the southeastern U.S. However, 20 recognized species are found throughout …

Go to article

Book Review Of Chromatography Of Natural, Treated And Waste Waters Edited By T. R. Crompton, John J. Johnston Jan 2004

Book Review Of Chromatography Of Natural, Treated And Waste Waters Edited By T. R. Crompton, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

T. R. Crompton has accomplished a significant task, summarizing the literature (up to 1998) for the determination of organic and inorganic compounds in a variety of water substrates (surface/natural water, treated water, and waste water). Overall, the book is relatively easy to read; the manuscript produced by the author contains clear tables, figures, and font. The first chapter presents a brief overview of the techniques presented in the book. The author assumes that the reader has a general understanding of chromatography and the basic components of a chromatographic system. The remainder of the book is organized into chapters by chromatographic …

Go to article

Prevalence Of Neurotoxic Clostridium Botulinum Type C In The Gastrointestinal Tracts Of Tilapia (Oreochromis Mossambicus) In The Salton Sea, P. P. Nol, T. E. Rocke, K. Gross, T. M. Yuill Jan 2004

Prevalence Of Neurotoxic Clostridium Botulinum Type C In The Gastrointestinal Tracts Of Tilapia (Oreochromis Mossambicus) In The Salton Sea, P. P. Nol, T. E. Rocke, K. Gross, T. M. Yuill

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) have been implicated as the source of type C toxin in avian botulism outbreaks in pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) at the Salton Sea in southern California (USA). We collected sick, dead, and healthy fish from various sites throughout the Sea during the summers of 1999 through 2001 and tested them for the presence of Clostridium botulinum type C cells by polymerase chain reaction targeting the C1 neurotoxin gene. Four of 96 (4%), 57 of 664 (9%), and five of 355 (1%) tilapia tested were positive for C. botulinum type C …

Go to article

Safety Of Brucella Abortus Strain Rb51 In Black Bears, Steven C. Olsen, Jack Rhyan, T. Gidlewski, Jesse Goff, W. C. Stoffregen Jan 2004

Safety Of Brucella Abortus Strain Rb51 In Black Bears, Steven C. Olsen, Jack Rhyan, T. Gidlewski, Jesse Goff, W. C. Stoffregen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In two studies conducted from October 1999 to March 2000 and December 2000 to April 2001, adult black bears (Ursus americanus) were orally inoculated with 1.4–3.1X1010 colony-forming units (CFU) of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51, n=12) or 2 ml of 0.15 M NaCl solution (saline, n=11). We did not detect a difference (P>0.05) in antibody titers to SRB51 in serum obtained before vaccination, at 8 wk after vaccination, or at necropsy at 21 or 23 wk after vaccination between SRB51-vaccinated and nonvaccinated bears. The SRB51 vaccine strain was recovered from tissues obtained at …

Go to article

Bird Depredation, James F. Glahn, D. Tommy King Jan 2004

Bird Depredation, James F. Glahn, D. Tommy King

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A survey of catfish producers by the United States Department of Agriculture, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) in 1996 indicated that the two primary sources of catfish losses in commercial operations were disease (45%) and wildlife (37%) (CEAH 1997a). A variety of avian and mammalian predators are amracred to aquaculture facilities in the United States (Parkhurs: er al. 1992) because ponds and open raceways provide a constant and readily accessible food supply for these animals. However, the mere presence of these predators arcund aquaculture faciliries does not necessarily mean that significant depredation problems are occurring. At catfish farms, …

Go to article

Coyote And Wolf Habitat Use In Northwestern Montana, Wendy M. Arjo, Daniel H. Peltscher Jan 2004

Coyote And Wolf Habitat Use In Northwestern Montana, Wendy M. Arjo, Daniel H. Peltscher

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Being a habitat generalist is an adaptation suategy that has allowed the coyote to expand its range. As wolves reestablish, or are reintroduced, resident populations of coyotes may change habitat use. We compared habitat use between coyotes and wolves in Glacier National Park after successful recolonization by wolves. Two wolf oacks and nine coyotes were monitored from June 1994 throueh June 1997 to determine habitat use in northwestern Montana. Wolves used habitat types within their home ranges in proportion to availability during the winter, but not the summer when more open areas and burned forests were used. Most coyotes used …

Go to article

Managing Wolf Depredation In The United States: Past, Present, And Future, Stewart W. Breck, Tom Meier Jan 2004

Managing Wolf Depredation In The United States: Past, Present, And Future, Stewart W. Breck, Tom Meier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

With the successful recolonization and reintroduction of wolves (Canis lupus) in parts of the western United States (Bangs and Fritts, 1996; Bangs et al., 1998) and the natural expansion of wolves in the upper Midwest (Fuller et al., 1992; Thiel, 2001), managing conflicts between wolves and livestock is a growing issue for livestock producers, resource professionals, and the general public (Mech, 1996). Unlike the coyote, (Canis latrans) where a great deal is known regarding the biology and ecology of depredation and methods for managing it (Knowlton et al., 1999), very little is known regarding patterns and processes of wolves preying …

Go to article

Usda Wildlife Services Image Collection: Creating An Online Database Of Digital Images Using Contentdmtmso Rware, Diana L. Dwyer Jan 2004

Usda Wildlife Services Image Collection: Creating An Online Database Of Digital Images Using Contentdmtmso Rware, Diana L. Dwyer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Photographic images are valuable assets in wildlife damage management research. Photographs are used in ~resentation.s ~.. u bublicationsw, ehsites. and wsters to illustrate dama-ge mblems. the mcies involved and management solutions. & - 'However, organizing phot&aphic &llecions is time consuming, requires special storage, and locating individual images becomes difficult as collections grow. This article demonstrates the USDA Wildlife Senices Image Collection Database and describes the steps taken in creatingthe database, scanning the images, developing a conwolled vocabulary and metadata, and Internet search screens. The database allows users to search by keyword, +lay search results, and download selected images hectly into …

Go to article

Monetary Valuation Of Rare Species And Imperiled Habitats As A Basis For Economically Evaluating Conservation Approaches , Richard M. Engeman, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Henry T. Smith, Bernice Constantin Jan 2004

Monetary Valuation Of Rare Species And Imperiled Habitats As A Basis For Economically Evaluating Conservation Approaches , Richard M. Engeman, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Henry T. Smith, Bernice Constantin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Management actions directed towards the conservation of species or habitats are usually measured in resource improvement. Nevertheless, the decision to select and carry out such actions are rooted in the available funding. Therefore, to truly evaluate the benefit/costs of a conservation-directed management action, the resource improvement should be in the same metric as the expenditures. To this end, we describe here a variety of methods for attaching monetary values to rare species and habitats. We also give examples of applications with which we have been involved to demonstrate how such species and habitat valuations have allowed economic analyses of conservation …

Go to article

Solutions Through Science: Protecting Sunflowers From Blackbirds Jan 2004

Solutions Through Science: Protecting Sunflowers From Blackbirds

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In late summer, large flocks of blackbirds gather in the northern Great Plains to prepare for their strenuous migration to southern wintering grounds in the United States and Mexico. The birds acquire energy for their trip by feasting on energy-rich seeds and berries. Unfortunately for farmers, many of those seeds come from agricultural crops. Red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, and yellow-headed blackbirds cause most of the damage to commercial crops. Sunflower producers in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota suffer millions of dollars’ worth of losses annually due to blackbirds.

Reducing blackbird damage to sunflower crops continues to be a challenge …

Go to article

Propane Exploders And Electronic Guards Were Ineffective At Reducing Deer Damage In Cornfields, Jason M. Gilsdorf, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Erin E. Blankenship, Richard M. Engeman Jan 2004

Propane Exploders And Electronic Guards Were Ineffective At Reducing Deer Damage In Cornfields, Jason M. Gilsdorf, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Erin E. Blankenship, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) cause millions of dollars of damage to agricultural crops annually. We tested the effectiveness of propane exploders and Electronic Guards (Pocatello Supply Depot, Pocatello, Id.) for reducing deer damage in cornfields during the silking–tasseling stage of growth. Track-count indices (F2,7=0.70, P=0.532), corn yields (F2,6=0.14, P=0.873), and estimated damage levels (F2,12=1.45 P=0.272) did not differ between experimental and control fields. The size (F2,11=0.08, P=0.924), location (F2,9=0.30, P=0.750), and percent overlap (F2,9=0.46, P=0.644) of use-areas of radiomarked female deer in the vicinity of experimental fields did not differ among before, during, and after 18-day treatment periods. In a …

Go to article

Coyote (Canis Latrans), Marc Bekoff, Eric M. Gese Dec 2003

Coyote (Canis Latrans), Marc Bekoff, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Coyotes

Go to article

On Analytical Methods And Inferences For 2 X 2 Contingency Table Data Using Wildlife Examples, Richard M. Engeman, George D. Swanson Dec 2003

On Analytical Methods And Inferences For 2 X 2 Contingency Table Data Using Wildlife Examples, Richard M. Engeman, George D. Swanson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The 2 X 2 contingency table is common analytical method for wildlife studies, but inappropriate analyses and inferences are not uncommon. Issues of concern are presented for selecting the appropriate test for analyzing these data sets. These include the choice of test relative to experimental or sampling design and breadth of intended inferences, the careful statement of hypotheses, and analyses with small sample sizes. Examples from the wildlife literature are used to reinforce the statistical concepts.

Go to article

Live Capture Of Denning Mammals Using An Improved Box-Trap Enclosure: Kit Foxes As A Test Case, Adam J. Kozlowski, Tim J. Bennett, Eric M. Gese, Wendy M. Arjo Dec 2003

Live Capture Of Denning Mammals Using An Improved Box-Trap Enclosure: Kit Foxes As A Test Case, Adam J. Kozlowski, Tim J. Bennett, Eric M. Gese, Wendy M. Arjo

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The ability to capture and recapture animals efficiently is ,In integral part of many wildlife studies. For many species of small terrestrial carnivores, the baited box trap has been a staple of live-capture trapping efforts. Combined with an enclosure, the box trap is especially effective on species with a den or refuge that can be encircled. However, increased trapping success of these enclosure designs often is offset by increased cost, labor, and awkwardness of transporting and establishing the enclosure trap. We describe a new enclosure design, the tunnel trap, which improves on the mobility and effectiveness of previous enclosure designs. …

Go to article

A Review Of Color Vision In White-Tailed Deer, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Michael J. Pipas Dec 2003

A Review Of Color Vision In White-Tailed Deer, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Michael J. Pipas

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A better understanding of the color vision abilities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) helps to determine how these animals interpret their environment. We review and summarize the literature related to the color vision abilities of white-tailed deer. Physiological measurements using advanced techniques such as molecular genetics, electroretinography, and electron microscopy have demonstrated conclusively that whitetailed deer possess the anatomical requisites for color vision. Operant conditioning techniques employed in pen studies using trained cervids confirm that deer see color. The eyes of white-tailed deer are characterized by 3 classes of photopigments: a short-wavelengthsensitive cone mechanism, a middle-wavelength-sensitive cone mechanism, …

Go to article

Nonlethal Techniques For Managing Predation: Primary And Secondary Repellents, John A. Shivik, Adrian Treves, Peggy Callahan Dec 2003

Nonlethal Techniques For Managing Predation: Primary And Secondary Repellents, John A. Shivik, Adrian Treves, Peggy Callahan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Conservation biology requires the development of practical tools and techniques to minimize conflicts arising from human modification of ecosystems. We applied behavioral theory of primary and secondary repellents to predator management by using aversive stimulus devices (electronic training collars) and disruptive stimulus devices (behavior-contingent audio and visual repellents) in a multipredator (Canis lupus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Ursus spp. ) study in the United States. We examined fladry and a newly developed disruptive stimulus device contingent upon behavior on six wolf territories in Wisconsin, (US.A.) and determined that the disruptive stimulus device gave the greatest degree of protection from predation. We …

Go to article

Wolf Depredation Trends And The Use Of Fladry Barriers To Protect Livestock In Western North America, Marco Musiani, Charles Mamo, Luigi Boitani, Carolyn Callaghan, C. Cormack Gates, Livia Mattei, Elisabetta Visalberghi, Stewart W. Breck, Giulia Volpi Dec 2003

Wolf Depredation Trends And The Use Of Fladry Barriers To Protect Livestock In Western North America, Marco Musiani, Charles Mamo, Luigi Boitani, Carolyn Callaghan, C. Cormack Gates, Livia Mattei, Elisabetta Visalberghi, Stewart W. Breck, Giulia Volpi

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In Alberta, Canada (1982-2001), and in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, United States (1987-2001), wolves (Canis lupus) killed various domestic animals, among which the major prey were sheep in the United States (68%, n = 494) and cattle in Canada (95%; n = 1633). Under recovery programs, the wolf population increased in the United States, and depredation events increased proportionately. In both countries, the number of domestic animals killed each year was correlated with the number of wolves killed by government authorities for depredation management. We tested the ability of anti-wolf barriers made of flags hanging from ropes to impede wolf …

Go to article

Dietary Toxicity Test For 2% Drc-1339-Treated Brown Rice On Nontarget Avian Species, John L. Cummings, Darryl L. York, Kirk J. Shively, Patricia A. Pipas, Randal S. Stahl, James E. Davis Jr. Nov 2003

Dietary Toxicity Test For 2% Drc-1339-Treated Brown Rice On Nontarget Avian Species, John L. Cummings, Darryl L. York, Kirk J. Shively, Patricia A. Pipas, Randal S. Stahl, James E. Davis Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In Louisiana and Texas DRC-l339 treated brown rice is used to manage blackbird populations that cause severe damage to newly planted rice. Non-target bird species have been observed on some DRC-1339 bait sites. We conducted dietary toxicity tests to provide additional data on the toxicity of DRC-l339 to the following non-target species observed on DRC-1339 bait sites: savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), Canada geese (Branta canadensis), snow geese (Chen caerulescens), mourning doves (Zenarda macroura), western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta), and American tree sparrows (Spizella arborea). During our 5-day DRC-1339 dietary …

Go to article

Acute And Chronic Toxicity Of Compound Drc-1339 (3-Chloro-4-Methylaniline Hydrochloride) To Birds, John D. Eisemann, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings Nov 2003

Acute And Chronic Toxicity Of Compound Drc-1339 (3-Chloro-4-Methylaniline Hydrochloride) To Birds, John D. Eisemann, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

DRC-1339( 3-chloro-4-methylaniline hydrochloride) is the only toxicant currently registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for lethal bird control. DRC-1339 was first registered in 1967 for starling control at feedlots It may currently be used to manage blackbirds, rock doves, crows, ravens, magpies, gulls and starlings for purposes of protecting human health and safety, agricultural crops and threatened or endangered species. A large body of toxicity information is available because of the nature of DRC-1339 uses and its 35-year history of use. Laboratory testing has resulted in estimates of median lethal dose (LD50) for 55 species of …

Go to article

Amount And Economic Valuation Of Feral Hog Damage To A Unique Basin Marsh Wetland In Florida, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, Robert G. Severson, Mary Ann M. Severson, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Bernice Constantin, Daniel Griffin Nov 2003

Amount And Economic Valuation Of Feral Hog Damage To A Unique Basin Marsh Wetland In Florida, Richard M. Engeman, Henry T. Smith, Robert G. Severson, Mary Ann M. Severson, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Bernice Constantin, Daniel Griffin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) have been introduced into many natural habitats throughout the world, and they have adversely affected the environment in most of those places. Basin marshes are unique, but dwindling ecosystems in Florida that are especially vulnerable to damage by feral hogs. We estimated the amount of hog damage to the last remnant of a basin marsh system in Savannas Preserve State Park (SPSP), and to ecotones within the marsh. We also applied an economic valuation method for the hog damage that was based on the dollar amounts that wetland regulators have allowed permit applicants to …

Go to article

A Review Of The Range, Distribution, And Ecology Of The Invasive Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard In Florida, Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman Nov 2003

A Review Of The Range, Distribution, And Ecology Of The Invasive Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard In Florida, Henry T. Smith, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We examined the distribution and ecology of the exotic northern curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus armouri) in Florida. Published literature and especially unpublished documents and data were reviewed and synthesized. Our findings suggest that both the range and distribution of the Florida population have expanded at a rapid rate during the last 60 years. Ecological effects or this species on Florida's native lizards and other fauna have not been quantified and require thorough evaluation.

Go to article

Nontarget Bird Exposure To Drc-1339 During Fall In North Dakota And Spring In South Dakota, Thomas W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, Paul M. Dummer, George M. Linz, Louis Sileo, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Johnston Nov 2003

Nontarget Bird Exposure To Drc-1339 During Fall In North Dakota And Spring In South Dakota, Thomas W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, Paul M. Dummer, George M. Linz, Louis Sileo, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Blackbirds frequently use ripening sunflower (Helianthus annuus)as a food source in the northern Great Plains. In 1999 and 2000, the avicide DRC-1339 (3-chloro-4-methylaniline hydrochloride) was used experimentally on fall-ripening sunflower fields in North Dakota so researchers could evaluate its effectiveness for reducing crop depredations by blackbirds DRC-1339 was applied to rice and broadcast on the ground in a confined area within ripening sunflower fields. One objective of this study was to determine if nontarget birds, birds other than blackbirds, were eating rice and were exposed to DRC 1339. In 1999, 8 of 11(73%) sparrows collected by shotgun in sunflower fields …

Go to article

Estimating The Number Of Nonbreeding Male Red-Winged Blackbirds In Central North Dakota, Richard S. Sawin, George M. Linz, Ryan L. Wimberly, Mark W. Lutman, William J. Bleier Nov 2003

Estimating The Number Of Nonbreeding Male Red-Winged Blackbirds In Central North Dakota, Richard S. Sawin, George M. Linz, Ryan L. Wimberly, Mark W. Lutman, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Red-winged blackbirds (Agelauis phoeniceus) have a polygynous breeding system that results in a group of nonbreeding males (floaters) who are unable to obtain territories. Floaters are often unaccounted for in population estimates during the breeding season because they are difficult to locate. We used a series of removals to estimate the population of non-breeding after-second-year male red-winged blackbirds in two townships in the northern Great Plains. The number of floaters determines the level of competition for vacant territories. In our study population, we estimated there were more floaters than territorial males, indicating that competition for vacant territories was …

Go to article

Reducing Blackbird-Human Conflicts In Agriculture And Feedlots: New Methods For An Integrated Management Approach, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, Philip Mastrangelo Nov 2003

Reducing Blackbird-Human Conflicts In Agriculture And Feedlots: New Methods For An Integrated Management Approach, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, Philip Mastrangelo

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In the United States, blackbirds are abundant and widely distributed. with their winter populations estimated to be between 500 million and 1 billion. Annual damage to grain, fruit, and berry crops from blackbirds exceeds $100 million in direct costs. Additional costs, not estimated, include those spent to prevent human health and safety hazards and those from damage abatement efforts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services (WS) is charged with reducing the magnitude of health. safety, nuisance, agriculture, and feedlot/dairy problems caused by these birds. WS' goal is to improve profitability to agricultural producers, enhance the human health and safety, …

Go to article

Nontarget Bird Use Of Drc-1339 Bait Sites During Operational Baiting Programs In Louisiana And Texas, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, John D. Eisemann, Richard M. Engeman Nov 2003

Nontarget Bird Use Of Drc-1339 Bait Sites During Operational Baiting Programs In Louisiana And Texas, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, John D. Eisemann, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Nontarget bird use of DRC-1339 bait sites was assessed during operational baiting programs from 2000-2002 in Louisiana and from 2001-2002 in Texas. DRC-1339 is an avicide registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to manage blackbirds causing damage to agriculture. It was used in Louisiana between 15 February to 15 March and in Texas from January though March to protect newly planted rice. In Louisiana, there were 55 bait sites observed during 316 observation periods (158 observation hours) and 312 flush-counts conducted from 2000-2002. In Texas, there were 26 bait sites observed during 182 observation periods (91 observation hours) and …

Go to article

Understanding Blackbird Sensory Systems And How Repellent Applications Work, Scott J. Werner, Larry Clark Nov 2003

Understanding Blackbird Sensory Systems And How Repellent Applications Work, Scott J. Werner, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We reviewed the learning processes and sensory capabilities of birds, with a special emphasis on chemical repellents and wildlife damage management. Repellents include several methods and devices used to manipulate behavior of birds in attempt to reduce damage or nuisance. Effective applications of chemical repellents to reduce bird damages are dependant upon an adequate understanding of the sensory modalities and modes of animal learning that are affected by a repellent. Chemical repellents can elicit withdrawal from specific or combined sensory stimuli or by producing learned avoidance via association between adverse postingestive effects and specific sensory cues. The application of repellents …

Go to article

Timber Damage By Black Bears, Dale L. Nolte, Kimberly K. Wagner, Andy Trent Nov 2003

Timber Damage By Black Bears, Dale L. Nolte, Kimberly K. Wagner, Andy Trent

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Consequences of Bear Damage
Damage Management
Bear Removal
Silvicultural Practices
Alternative Food Sources
Alternative Approaches

Go to article

Using Fecal Glucocorticoids For Stress Assessment In Mourning Doves, Brian E. Washburn, Joshua J. Millspaugh, John H. Schulz, Susan B. Jones, Tony Mong Oct 2003

Using Fecal Glucocorticoids For Stress Assessment In Mourning Doves, Brian E. Washburn, Joshua J. Millspaugh, John H. Schulz, Susan B. Jones, Tony Mong

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Fecal glucocorticoid assays provide a potentially useful, noninvasive means to study physiological responses of wildlife to various stressors. The objective of our study was to validate a method for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) feces. We validated the assay using standard procedures (e.g., parallelism, recovery of exogenous corticosterone) to demonstrate that the assay accurately and precisely measured glucocorticoid metabolites in Mourning Dove fecal extracts. We conducted adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) challenge experiments to validate the assay’s ability to determine biologically important changes in fecal glucocorticoids. Fecal glucocorticoid levels increased significantly approximately 2–3 hr after administration of ACTH …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last