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United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

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Articles 631 - 660 of 1529

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Wildlife Collisions With Aircraft: A Missing Component Of Land-Use Planning For Airports, Bradley F. Blackwell, Travis L. Devault, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Richard A. Dolbeer Jan 2009

Wildlife Collisions With Aircraft: A Missing Component Of Land-Use Planning For Airports, Bradley F. Blackwell, Travis L. Devault, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Richard A. Dolbeer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Projecting risks posed to aviation safety by wildlife populations is often overlooked in airport land-use planning. However, the growing dependency on civil aviation for global commerce can require increases in capacity at airports which affect land use, wildlife populations, and perspectives on aviation safety. Our objectives were to (1) review legislation that affects airports and surrounding communities relative to managing and reducing wildlife hazards to aviation; (2) identify information gaps and future research needs relative to regulated land uses on and near airports, and the effects on wildlife populations; and (3) demonstrate how information regarding wildlife responses to land-use practices …

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No Adverse Effects Of Simultaneous Vaccination With The Immunocontraceptive GonaconTm And A Commercial Rabies Vaccine On Rabies Virus Neutralizing Antibody Production In Dogs, Scott C. Bender, David L. Bergman, Krista M. Wenning, Lowell A. Miller, Charles E. Rupprecht, Dennis Slate, Felix R. Jackson Jan 2009

No Adverse Effects Of Simultaneous Vaccination With The Immunocontraceptive GonaconTm And A Commercial Rabies Vaccine On Rabies Virus Neutralizing Antibody Production In Dogs, Scott C. Bender, David L. Bergman, Krista M. Wenning, Lowell A. Miller, Charles E. Rupprecht, Dennis Slate, Felix R. Jackson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Parenteral vaccination campaigns are integral to the elimination of canine rabies. To maximize herd immunity in dogs, immunocontraception provided at the time of rabies vaccination should reduce fecundity and dog abundance. GonaConTM has been used successfully as an immunocontraceptive in a variety of mammals, and by inference, the dog would be an ideal candidate for testing. As an initial step in evaluating a combination-vaccination program, we assessed the effects of GonaConTM on rabies virus neutralizing antibody production in dogs after administration of a veterinary rabies vaccine. Eighteen feral/free ranging dogs were included in this initial study: six were …

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Invasive Litter, Not An Invasive Insectivore, Determines Invertebrate Communities In Hawaiian Forests, Nathania C. Tuttle, Karen H. Beard, William C. Pitt Jan 2009

Invasive Litter, Not An Invasive Insectivore, Determines Invertebrate Communities In Hawaiian Forests, Nathania C. Tuttle, Karen H. Beard, William C. Pitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In Hawaii, invasive plants have the ability to alter litter-based food chains because they often have litter traits that differ from native species. Additionally, abundant invasive predators, especially those representing new trophic levels, can reduce prey. The relative importance of these two processes on the litter invertebrate community in Hawaii is important, because they could affect the large number of endemic and endangered invertebrates. We determined the relative importance of litter resources, represented by leaf litter of two trees, an invasive nitrogen-fixer, Falcataria moluccana, and a native tree, Metrosideros polymorpha, and predation of an invasive terrestrial frog, Eleutherodactylus …

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Enhancing The Perceived Threat Of Vehicle Approach To Deer, Bradley F. Blackwell, Thomas W. Seamans Jan 2009

Enhancing The Perceived Threat Of Vehicle Approach To Deer, Bradley F. Blackwell, Thomas W. Seamans

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In North America and Europe, deer (Cervidae)–vehicle collisions (DVCs) are common and result not only in injury and death to the animals involved, but also human injury and property damage. Given that most DVCs occur during crepuscular periods, we questioned whether the perceived threat to deer posed by vehicle approach could be enhanced. We hypothesized that a vehicle-based lighting system that better complements peak visual capabilities of deer at night relative to standard tungsten-halogen (TH) lighting alone would elicit a greater flight-initiation distance (FID) by free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Our lighting system comprised 2 TH lamps and …

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Regional Assessment On Influence Of Landscape Configuration And Connectivity On Range Size Of White-Tailed Deer, W. David Walter, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Henry Campa Iii, William R. Clark, Justin W. Fischer, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Nancy E. Mathews, Clayton K. Nielsen, Eric M. Schauber, Timothy R. Van Deelen, Scott R. Winterstein Jan 2009

Regional Assessment On Influence Of Landscape Configuration And Connectivity On Range Size Of White-Tailed Deer, W. David Walter, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Henry Campa Iii, William R. Clark, Justin W. Fischer, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Nancy E. Mathews, Clayton K. Nielsen, Eric M. Schauber, Timothy R. Van Deelen, Scott R. Winterstein

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Variation in the size of home range of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has broad implications for managing populations, agricultural damage, and disease spread and transmission. Size of home range of deer also varies seasonally because plant phenology dictates the vegetation types that are used as foraging or resting sites. Knowledge of the landscape configuration and connectivity that contributes to variation in size of home range of deer for the region is needed to fully understand differences and similarities of deer ecology throughout the Midwest. We developed a research team from four Midwestern states to investigate how size of …

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Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of Wild Turkeys In Northern Indiana, Lee A. Humberg, Travis L. Devault, Olin E. Rhodes Jr. Jan 2009

Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of Wild Turkeys In Northern Indiana, Lee A. Humberg, Travis L. Devault, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Information regarding survival and cause-specific mortality of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) is vital to their management, especially in small or isolated populations. Between January 2003 and August 2005, we used radio telemetry to investigate survival and cause-specific mortality of 87 [44 male (24 adult and 20 juvenile) and 43 female (34 adult and 9 juvenile)] wild turkeys in northern Indiana. We estimated annual and seasonal survival using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method. Mean male and female annual survival estimates were 0.257 and 0.777, respectively. Annual survival estimates were different between sexes within years, but were homogenous within …

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A Review Of Mitigation Measures For Reducing Wildlife Mortality On Roadways, David J. Glista, Travis L. Devault, J. Andrew Dewoody Jan 2009

A Review Of Mitigation Measures For Reducing Wildlife Mortality On Roadways, David J. Glista, Travis L. Devault, J. Andrew Dewoody

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A growing literature in the field of road ecology suggests that vehicle/wildlife collisions are important to biologists and transportation officials alike. Roads can affect the quality and quantity of available wildlife habitat, most notably through fragmentation. Likewise, vehicular traffic on roads can be direct sources of wildlife mortality and in some instances, can be catastrophic to populations. Thus, connectivity of habitat and permeability of road systems are important factors to consider when developing road mortality mitigation systems. There are a variety of approaches that can be used to reduce the effects of roads and road mortality on wildlife populations. Here, …

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Identification Of 24 Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers For The Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Auritus), Jennifer A. Fike, Travis L. Devault, Olin E. Rhodes Jr. Jan 2009

Identification Of 24 Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers For The Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Auritus), Jennifer A. Fike, Travis L. Devault, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Twenty-four polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus). The number of alleles ranged from two to 13 and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.032 to 0.871. The use of these loci should enable researchers and biologists to learn more about the population structure and ecology of this species.

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Avian Visual System Configuration And Behavioural Response To Object Approach, Bradley F. Blackwelll, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Thomas W. Seamans, Tracy Dolan Jan 2009

Avian Visual System Configuration And Behavioural Response To Object Approach, Bradley F. Blackwelll, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Thomas W. Seamans, Tracy Dolan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Antipredator behavior theory provides a framework to understand the mechanisms behind human–wildlife interactions; however, little is known about the role of visual systems in the responses to humans. We quantified responses of brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater (Boddaert), and mourning doves, Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus), to object approach (a ground-based vehicle) and vehicle lighting regimen, and we examined two visual properties (visual acuity and visual fields) that could influence antipredator behavior. Brown-headed cowbird groups exposed to vehicle approach and constant illumination of the vehicle-mounted lamp showed alert behavior earlier than did groups exposed to pulsating treatments or no lamp. Interestingly, light treatments …

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Use Of Infrared Thermography To Detect Thermographic Changes In Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) Experimentally Infected With Foot-And-Mouth Disease, Mike R. Dunbar, Shylo R. Johnson, Jack C. Ryan, Matt Mccollum Jan 2009

Use Of Infrared Thermography To Detect Thermographic Changes In Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) Experimentally Infected With Foot-And-Mouth Disease, Mike R. Dunbar, Shylo R. Johnson, Jack C. Ryan, Matt Mccollum

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Infrared thermography (IRT) measures the heat emitted from a surface, displays that information as a pictorial representation called a thermogram, and is capable of being a remote, noninvasive technology that provides information on the health of an animal. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) caused by FMD virus (FMDV) is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals, including both domestic and wild ruminants. Early detection of the disease may reduce economic loss and loss of susceptible wildlife. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of IRT to detect possible heat changes associated with sites of infection with FMDV …

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Observations On The Use Of Gonacon™ In Captive Female Elk (Cervus Elaphus), Gary Killian, Terry J. Kreeger, Jack Rhyan, Kathleen Fagerstone, Lowell Miller Jan 2009

Observations On The Use Of Gonacon™ In Captive Female Elk (Cervus Elaphus), Gary Killian, Terry J. Kreeger, Jack Rhyan, Kathleen Fagerstone, Lowell Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Overabundant populations of elk (Cervus elaphus) are a significant concern in some areas of the western United States because of potential ecologic damage and spread of brucellosis to domestic livestock. Brucella abortus is transmitted among elk through direct contact with aborted fetuses, placentas and associated fluids, or postpartum discharge of infected animals. Because transmission of brucellosis is dependent on pregnancy, contraception of cows could be used for both disease and population management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the contraceptive efficacy of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine (GonaConTM) in female elk. In September 2004, cows …

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Selective Foraging For Anthropogenic Resources By Black Bears: Minivans In Yosemite National Park, Stewart W. Breck, Nathan Lance, Victoria Seher Jan 2009

Selective Foraging For Anthropogenic Resources By Black Bears: Minivans In Yosemite National Park, Stewart W. Breck, Nathan Lance, Victoria Seher

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Black bears (Ursus americanus) forage selectively in natural environments. To determine if bears also forage selectively for anthropogenic resources we analyzed data on vehicles broken into by bears from Yosemite National Park, California. We classified vehicles into 9 categories based on their make and model and collected data on use (2001–2007) and availability (2004–2005). From 2001 to 2007 bears broke into 908 vehicles at the following rates: minivan (26.0%), sport–utility vehicle (22.5%), small car (17.1%), sedan (13.7%), truck (11.9%), van (4.2%), sports car (1.7%), coupe (1.7%), and station wagon (1.4%). Only use of minivans (29%) during 2004–2005 was …

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Dogs Gone Wild: Feral Dog Damage In The United States, David Bergman, Stewart W. Breck, Scott Bender Jan 2009

Dogs Gone Wild: Feral Dog Damage In The United States, David Bergman, Stewart W. Breck, Scott Bender

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Feral dogs have been documented in all 50 states and estimates of damage in the U.S. from these animals amount to >$620 million annually. In Texas alone, it is estimated that over $5 million in damage to livestock annually can be attributed to feral dogs. We reviewed national statistics on feral dog damage reported to USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services for a 10-year period from 1997 through 2006. Damage by feral dogs crossed multiple resource categories (e.g., agriculture, natural resources); some examples of damage include killing and affecting the behavior and habitat use of native wildlife; killing and maiming livestock; and …

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Biology And Impacts Of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 5. Eleutherodactylus Coqui, The Coqui Frog (Anura: Leptodactylidae), Karen H. Beard, William C. Pitt, Emily A. Price Jan 2009

Biology And Impacts Of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 5. Eleutherodactylus Coqui, The Coqui Frog (Anura: Leptodactylidae), Karen H. Beard, William C. Pitt, Emily A. Price

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The nocturnal, terrestrial frog Eleutherodactylus coqui, known as the Coqui, is endemic to Puerto Rico and was accidentally introduced to Hawai‘i via nursery plants in the late 1980s. Over the past two decades E. coqui has spread to the four main Hawaiian Islands, and a major campaign was launched to eliminate and control it. One of the primary reasons this frog has received attention is its loud mating call (85–90 dB at 0.5 m). Many homeowners do not want the frogs on their property, and their presence has influenced housing prices. In addition, E. coqui has indirectly impacted the …

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A Tool Box Half Full: How Social Science Can Help Solve Human–Wildlife Conflict, Sharon Baruch-Mordo, Kenneth R. Wilson, John Broderick, Stewart W. Breck Jan 2009

A Tool Box Half Full: How Social Science Can Help Solve Human–Wildlife Conflict, Sharon Baruch-Mordo, Kenneth R. Wilson, John Broderick, Stewart W. Breck

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

There is a growing recognition among wildlife managers that focusing management on wildlife often provides a temporary fix to human–wildlife conflicts, whereas changing human behavior can provide long-term solutions. Human dimensions research of wildlife conflicts frequently focuses on stakeholders’ characteristics, problem identification, and acceptability of management, and less frequently on human behavior and evaluation of management actions to change that behavior. Consequently, little information exists to assess overall success of management. We draw on our experience studying human–bear conflicts, and argue for more human dimensions studies that focus on change in human behavior to measure management success. We call for …

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Effects Of A Synthetic Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Agonist, Leuprolide, On Rut-Associated Events In Male Red Deer, G. K. Barrell, S. C. T. Schaafsma, M. J. Ridgway, M. Wellby, L. A. Miller Jan 2009

Effects Of A Synthetic Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Agonist, Leuprolide, On Rut-Associated Events In Male Red Deer, G. K. Barrell, S. C. T. Schaafsma, M. J. Ridgway, M. Wellby, L. A. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

This study examined the effectiveness of leuprolide, a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist, in suppressing rut-associated events in farmed male red deer. In mid-January (~6 weeks before the rut period in the southern hemisphere) adult red deer (Cervus elaphus scoticus) stags that had been allocated to three groups (n = 10 per group) received leuprolide, administered subcutaneously in a 90-day release formulation, at zero (control), low (22.5 mg) or high (45 mg) doses. Following treatment with leuprolide there was evidence of suppression of mean plasma luteinising hormone concentration that was significant (P < 0.05) at 9 weeks. Mean plasma testosterone concentration of all three groups rose following treatment, then declined prematurely in the low- and high-dose leuprolide-treated groups, so that it was significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed (0.66 ± 0.29 and 2.0 ± 0.88 ng mL–1, low and high dose respectively) in …

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Gopherus Polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise), Ctenosaura Similis (Gray's Spiny-Tailed Iguana) Predation, Michael L. Avery, Eric A. Tillman, Kenneth Krysko Jan 2009

Gopherus Polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise), Ctenosaura Similis (Gray's Spiny-Tailed Iguana) Predation, Michael L. Avery, Eric A. Tillman, Kenneth Krysko

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Gopherus polyphemus is currently listed as a threatened and protected species in the state of Florida (Mushinsky et al. 2006. In Meylan led.], Biology and Conservation of Florida Turtles, pp. 350-375. Chelonian Research Monographs 3). Documented natural predators of Gopherus polyphemus include the Raccoon (Procyon lotor), Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteris), Striped Skunk (Mephitus mephitis), Opposum (Didelphis virginianus), Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus),and crows (Corvus sp.) (Mushinsky et al., op. cit. ), and the introduced Savaunah Monitor (Varanus exanthematicus) (Owens et al. 2005. Herpetol. Rev. 3657-58). Herein, we augment this …

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Assessing Allowable Take Of Migratory Birds, Michael Runge, John Sauer, Michael L. Avery, Bradley F. Blackwell, Mark Koneff Jan 2009

Assessing Allowable Take Of Migratory Birds, Michael Runge, John Sauer, Michael L. Avery, Bradley F. Blackwell, Mark Koneff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Legal removal of migratory birds from the wild occurs for several reasons, including subsistence, sport harvest, damage control, and the pet trade. We argue that harvest theory provides the basis for assessing the impact of authorized take, advance a simplified rendering of harvest theory known as potential biological removal as a useful starting point for assessing take, and demonstrate this approach with a case study of depredation control of black vultures (Coragyps atratus) in Virginia, USA. Based on data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey and other sources, we estimated that the black vulture population in Virginia …

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Ecological Correlates Of Risk And Incidence Of West Nile Virus In The United States, Brian F. Allan, R. Brian Langerhans, Wade A. Ryberg, William J. Landesman, Nicholas W. Griffin, Rachael S. Katz, Brad J. Oberle, Michele R. Schutzenhofer, Kristina N. Smyth, Annabelle De St. Maurice, Larry Clark, Kevin R. Crooks, Daniel E. Hernandez, Robert G. Mclean, Richard S. Ostfeld, Jonathan M. Chase Jan 2009

Ecological Correlates Of Risk And Incidence Of West Nile Virus In The United States, Brian F. Allan, R. Brian Langerhans, Wade A. Ryberg, William J. Landesman, Nicholas W. Griffin, Rachael S. Katz, Brad J. Oberle, Michele R. Schutzenhofer, Kristina N. Smyth, Annabelle De St. Maurice, Larry Clark, Kevin R. Crooks, Daniel E. Hernandez, Robert G. Mclean, Richard S. Ostfeld, Jonathan M. Chase

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

West Nile virus, which was recently introduced to North America, is a mosquito-borne pathogen that infects a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans. Several species of birds appear to be the primary reservoir hosts, whereas other bird species, as well as other vertebrate species, can be infected but are less competent reservoirs. One hypothesis regarding the transmission dynamics of West Nile virus suggests that high bird diversity reduces West Nile virus transmission because mosquito blood-meals are distributed across a wide range of bird species, many of which have low reservoir competence. One mechanism by which this hypothesis can operate …

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Comparison Of Injuries To Coyote From 3 Types Of Cable Foot-Restraints, Patrick Darrow, Ramona Skirpstunas, S. Wade Carlson, John Shivik Jan 2009

Comparison Of Injuries To Coyote From 3 Types Of Cable Foot-Restraints, Patrick Darrow, Ramona Skirpstunas, S. Wade Carlson, John Shivik

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We compared injury rates among captured coyotes (Canis latrans) to determine if modifications to cable foot-restraints would decrease resulting injuries. Mean International Standardization Organization’s injury scores of coyotes caught in 3 types of cable foot-restraints were 22.2, 37.9, and 60.4 (F2,41 = 4.63, P = 0.015) for a chain-loop, standard cable, and sleeved cable, respectively. These results may be important for trappers and researchers to consider when using a cable foot-restraint device to capture wildlife.

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Sapro-Zoonotic Risks Posed By Wild Birds In Agricultural Landscapes, Larry Clark Jan 2009

Sapro-Zoonotic Risks Posed By Wild Birds In Agricultural Landscapes, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

There are over 1400 catalogued human pathogens, with approximately 62% classified as zoonotic (Taylor et al., 2001). Most evidence of direct transmission of pathogens to humans involves domestic and companion animals, whereas the reservoir for most zoonoses is wildlife; yet there are relatively few well-documented cases for the direct involvement of transmission from wildlife to humans (Kruse et al., 2004). In part, this absence of evidence reflects the mobility of wildlife, the difficulty accessing relevant samples, and the smaller number of studies focused on characterizing wildlife pathogens relative to the human and veterinary literature (McDiarmid, 1969; Davis et al., 1971; …

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Serologic Evidence Of Avian Influenza (H4n6) Exposure In A Wild-Caught Raccoon, Nathan M. Roberts, David J. Henzler, Larry Clark Jan 2009

Serologic Evidence Of Avian Influenza (H4n6) Exposure In A Wild-Caught Raccoon, Nathan M. Roberts, David J. Henzler, Larry Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Growing concerns about avian influenza, and its effect on agriculture and human health, have highlighted the need to understand the role of wildlife in maintaining and spreading the virus. We surveyed the wildlife inhabiting a poultry farm with recent I-I3N6 and H4N6 avian influenza virus exposure in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. One raccoon (Procyon lotor) tested positive for H4N6 antibodies. This is the first recorded incident of avian influenza exposure in a wild raccoon. We suggest that raccoons may play a role in the transmission of avian influenza viruses and in compromising biosecurity efforts at poultry operations.

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Spatial Ecologyand Social Interactions Of Jaguars (Panthera Onca) In The Southern Pantanal, Brazil, Sandra M. C. Cavalcanti, Eric M. Gese Jan 2009

Spatial Ecologyand Social Interactions Of Jaguars (Panthera Onca) In The Southern Pantanal, Brazil, Sandra M. C. Cavalcanti, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Pantanal of Brazil is an important area for the conservation of jaguars (Panthera onca). As the size of traditional large ranches in the Pantanal decreases, human access to jaguar habitat increases, resulting in human-altered landscapes that may influence patterns of resource selection and space use by jaguars. We used global positioning system radiocollars to study jaguars in the southern Pantanal. We radiocollared 10 jaguars (6 males and 4 females), obtained 11,787 locations, and examined their space use, movement rates, and social interactions between October 2001 and April 2004. Estimates of 90% kernel home ranges varied among animals …

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An Overview Of Historical Beaver Management In Arizona, Christopher Carrillo, David Bergman, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii, Dale L. Nolte, Patrick Viehoever, Mike Disney Jan 2009

An Overview Of Historical Beaver Management In Arizona, Christopher Carrillo, David Bergman, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii, Dale L. Nolte, Patrick Viehoever, Mike Disney

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In the mid-1820s, Anglo-American fur trappers, known as "mountain men," entered Arizona and began trapping beaver (Castor canadensis). In Arizona there have been a number of famous mountain men such as Sylvester and James Pattie, Ewing Young, Jededia Smith, and Bill Williams who trapped along the waterways in northern and southern Arizona. Although the heyday of mountain men lasted only a few decades due to a population decline of beaver, management of these animals continues to this day. The purpose of managing beavers shifted from monetary gain to controlling wildlife damage. During the late 1900s, beaver were still …

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Influence Of Exogenous Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone On Seasonal Reproductive Behavior Of The Coyote (Canis Latrans), D. A. Carlson, E. M. Gese Jan 2009

Influence Of Exogenous Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone On Seasonal Reproductive Behavior Of The Coyote (Canis Latrans), D. A. Carlson, E. M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wild Canis species such as the coyote (C. latrans) express a suite of reproductive traits unusual among mammals, including perennial pair-bonds and paternal care of the young. Coyotes also are monestrous, and both sexes are fertile only in winter; thus, they depend upon social and physiologic synchrony for successful reproduction. To investigate the mutability of seasonal reproduction in coyotes, we attempted to evoke an out-of-season estrus in October using one of two short-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agents: (1) a GnRH analogue, deslorelin (6-D-tryptophan-9-(N-ethyl-L-prolinamide)-10-deglycinamide), 2.1 mg pellet sc; or (2) gonadorelin, a GnRH (5-oxoPro-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-GlyNH2) porcine hypothalamic extract, …

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Las Enfermedades Del Venado Cola Blanca En Norteamérica: Situación Actual Y Desafíos., Tyler A. Campbell Jan 2009

Las Enfermedades Del Venado Cola Blanca En Norteamérica: Situación Actual Y Desafíos., Tyler A. Campbell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Desde hace mucho tiempo, los administradores de vida silvestre han buscado conocer acerca de la ecología de las enfermedades y parásitos que afectan al venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus ) (por ejemplo vea Whitlock 1939). Este es un importante campo de estudio porque las enfermedades y parásitos pueden afectar nocivamente las poblaciones de venados, otros animales silvestres, el ganado y humanos (Davidson et al. 1981).

El venado cola blanca ha recibido mucha atención en la literatura acerca de sus enfermedades y parásitos y tratados completos se han dedicado al tema (por ejemplo, vea Davidson et al. 1981). Los avances …

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Strawberry-Flavored Baits For Pharmaceutical Delivery To Feral Swine, Tyler A. Campbell, David B. Long Jan 2009

Strawberry-Flavored Baits For Pharmaceutical Delivery To Feral Swine, Tyler A. Campbell, David B. Long

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

More effective methods to control feral swine (Sus scrofa) damage are needed. We evaluated 8 oral delivery systems designed to deliver pharmaceuticals to feral swine on 2 properties in southern Texas, USA. We used modified PIGOUT feral pig bait (Animal Control Technologies Australia P/L, Somerton, Victoria, Australia) throughout our trials to compare species-specific visitation and removal rates. Given our consistent finding of high non-target removal of baits intended for feral swine, we question whether a swine-specific oral delivery system exists for this region.

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Feral Swine Damage And Damage Management In Forested Ecosystems, Tyler A. Campbell, David B. Long Jan 2009

Feral Swine Damage And Damage Management In Forested Ecosystems, Tyler A. Campbell, David B. Long

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive feral swine (Sus scrofa) cause deleterious impacts to ecosystem processes and functioning throughout their worldwide distribution, including forested ecosystems in the United States. Unfortunately, many feral swine damage management programs are conducted in a piecemeal fashion, are not adequately funded, and lack clearly stated or realistic objectives. This review paper identifies damage caused by feral swine to forest resources and presents techniques used to prevent and control feral swine damage. Concluding points related to planning a feral swine damage management program are: (1) the value of using a variety of techniques in an integrated fashion cannot be …

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Feral Swine Contact With Domestic Swine: A Serologic Survey And Assessment Of Potential For Disease Transmission, A. Christy Wyckoff, Scott E. Henke, Tyler A. Campbell, David G. Hewitt, Kurt C. Vercauteren Jan 2009

Feral Swine Contact With Domestic Swine: A Serologic Survey And Assessment Of Potential For Disease Transmission, A. Christy Wyckoff, Scott E. Henke, Tyler A. Campbell, David G. Hewitt, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are present in 38 of the 50 United States, and their populations continue to expand. Domestic swine are widely regarded as vulnerable to diseases harbored by feral swine. Our objectives were to determine antibody prevalence for selected pathogens in Texas feral swine populations and identify contact events between feral and domestic swine. Overall prevalence of antibodies against brucellosis and pseudorabies virus was 11% and 30%, respectively. Antibodies to porcine reproductive and respiratory disease virus were detected in 3% of feral swine from southern Texas. All samples tested negative for antibodies to classical swine fever …

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Evaluation Of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate As A Blackbird Wetting Agent, Robert Byrd, John Cummings, Shelagh Tupper, John D. Eisemann Jan 2009

Evaluation Of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate As A Blackbird Wetting Agent, Robert Byrd, John Cummings, Shelagh Tupper, John D. Eisemann

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

New and improved strategies are needed for managing overabundant blackbird (Icteridae spp.) populations in some areas of the United States. From 2004 to 2007, we evaluated sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as a wetting agent during controlled outdoor cage and flight pen tests in Colorado and small-scale field tests at urban blackbird roosts in Missouri. In the outdoor cage tests (ambient temperature -5 to 2° C), mortality of male red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) sprayed with 1, 2, and 5 ml of SLS on the back feathers only, on the breast feathers only, or on both breast and back …

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