Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Protein Hydrolysates Are Avoided By Herbivores But Not By Omnivores In Two-Choice Preference Tests, Kristin L. Field, Alexander Bachmanov, Julie A. Mennella, Gary K. Beauchamp, Bruce A. Kimball

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: The negative sensory properties of casein hydrolysates (HC) often limit their usage in products intended for human consumption, despite HC being nutritious and having many functional benefits. Recent, but taxonomically limited, evidence suggests that other animals also avoid consuming HC when alternatives exist.

Methodology/Principal Findings: We evaluated ingestive responses of five herbivorous species (guinea pig, mountain beaver, gopher, vole, and rabbit) and five omnivorous species (rat, coyote, house mouse, white-footed mouse, and deer mouse; N = 16–18/species) using solid foods containing 20% HC in a series of two-choice preference tests that used a nonprotein, cellulose-based alternative. Individuals …

Testing A Passive Tracking Index For Monitoring The Endangered Ethiopian Wolf, Paul Paul Evangelista, Richard M. Engeman, Lucy Tallents

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The endangered Ethiopian wolf is considered the rarest canid in Africa. The species faces many threats and is particularly vulnerable to diseases such as rabies. A simple, low-technology means to monitor populations would greatly facilitate conservation efforts, through early detection of population changes and behavior, and signaling a need for intervention. We tested a passive tracking index methodology, which has been a valuable tool for indexing canids and other species around the world. The method uses counts of track intrusions into plots placed in the animals’ routes of travel as the basis for calculating an index. Unlike for other species, …

“Species Pollution” In Florida: A Cross-Section Of Invasive Vertebrate Issues And Management Responses, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice Constantin, Scott Hardin, Henry Smith, Walter Meshaka Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The state of Florida as among the two worst invasive species problems in the USA. Besides the sheer numbers of established exotic species in Florida, many present novel difficulties for management, or have other characteristics making effective management extremely challenging. Moreover, initiation of management action requires more than recognition by experts that a potentially harmful species has become established. It also requires the political will along with concomitant resources and appropriate personnel to develop effective methods and apply them. We illustrate various aspects of the situation in Florida with examples of invasive vertebrates, the problems they pose(d), and management approaches …

Ctenosaura Similis (Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana), ,I>Gopherus Polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) Concurrent Burrow Use, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice Constantin, Missy Christie, Parker Hall

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Ctenosaura similis is exotic to Florida (Meshaka et al. 2004. The Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida, Krieger Publ. Co., Malabar, Florida. 155 pp.), whereas Gopherus polyphemus is listed as a species of special concern by the state of Florida (Florida Wildlife Code Chap. 39 F.A.C.), and as a threatened species by the Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals (FCREPA) (Moler 1992. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida: Volume III, Reptiles and Amphibians. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 291 pp.).

Relating Ten Years Of Northern Raccoon Road-Kill Data To Their Attraction To Sea Turtle Nests, Richard M. Engeman, Alice Bard, Henry T. Smith, N. Paige Groninger

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

One of the primary threats to sea turtle reproduction in Florida is nest predation by Northern Raccoons (Procyon lotor). We examined 10 years of nest deposition data from a high-density sea turtle nesting beach at Sebastian Inlet State Park, Florida, USA, along with data on raccoon road-kills from the adjacent road, and data on park attendance (as an index of local traffic) to make inferences about raccoon activity patterns relative to turtle nesting. Northern Raccoon road-kills diminished during turtle nesting, even though local traffic was higher. Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana), the only other mammal consistently found …

Managing Predators To Protect Endangered Species And Promote Their Successful Reproduction, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice Constantin, Kenneth S. Gruver, Corey Ross

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Predation critically threatens many rare species, with the deleterious impacts of predation losses compounded by habitat loss. Predators of endangered species are frequently invasive species or artificially over-abundant native species. Often, predation is most damaging to a species' ability to reproduce. We use examples from the tropics to the tundra with which we have been involved to demonstrate how predator management can be a highly effective and economically efficient means to protect populations of rare species and enhance their reproduction.

Working Dogs: The Last Line Of Defense For Preventing Dispersal Of Brown Treesnakes From Guam, Daniel S. Vice, Richard M. Engeman, Marc A. Hall, Craig S. Clark

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The inadvertent introduction of the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) to Guam resulted in unprecedented losses to the island’s fragile ecology and economy. A primary management objective is preventing the spread of brown treesnakes to other locations via Guam’s transportation network. To achieve this, snake populations are suppressed in and around port and cargo staging areas through an integrated wildlife damage management approach, with the last line of defense for preventing their entrance into the outbound cargo flow inspection by trained snake detector dogs. The efficacy of working dogs on Guam has been evaluated from a variety of aspects.

Biomphalaria Havanensis Identified As A Potential Intermediate Host For The Digenetic Trematode Bolbophoms Damnificus, Marlena Yost, Linda Pote, David J. Wise, Brian Dorr, Terry Richardson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The digenetic trematode Bolbophorus damnificus has been associated with mortalities in commercial channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in the Mississippi Delta. In the life cycle of B. damnificus, the only confirmed first intermediate host is the ram's horn snail Planorbella trivolvis. Recently, the exotic snail Biomphalaria havanensis has been isolated in several channel catfish ponds in the Mississippi Delta. The aim of this study was to determine whether this invasive snail species could also serve as a fist intermediate host in the B. damnificus life cycle. Bolbophorus damnificus ova were collected from an American white pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos that …

Experimental Bolbophorus Damnificus (Digenea: Bolbophoridae) Infections In Piscivorous Birds, Cynthia M. Doffitt, Linda M. Pote, D. Tommy King

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In order to determine potential definitive hosts of the digenetic trematode, Bolbophorus damnificus, two American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), two Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias), and two Great Egrets (Ardea alba) were captured, treated with praziquantel, and fed channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) infected with B. damnificus metacercariae. Patent infections of B. damnificus, which developed in both American White Pelicans at 3 days post-infection, were confirmed by the presence of trematode ova in the feces. Mature B. damnificus trematodes were recovered from the intestines …

Landscape-Genetic Analysis Of Population Structure In The Texas Gray Fox Oral Rabies Vaccination Zone, Randy Deyoung, Angeline Zamorano, Brian Mesenrink, Tyler A. Campbell, Bruce Leland, Guy Moore, Rodney Honeycutt, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In west-central Texas, USA, abatement efforts for the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) rabies epizootic illustrate the difficulties inherent in large-scale management of wildlife disease. The rabies epizootic has been managed through a cooperative oral rabies vaccination program (ORV) since 1996. Millions of edible baits containing a rabies vaccine have been distributed annually in a 16-km to 24-km zone around the perimeter of the epizootic, which encompasses a geographic area >4 x 10⁵ km². The ORV program successfully halted expansion of the epizootic into metropolitan areas but has not achieved the ultimate goal of eradication. Rabies …

Testudines - Turtles, James Delutes Iii, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chelydra serpentine serpentine (Common Snapping Turtle). Nesting Behavior and Site Selection. On May 31, 2008, we observed a ca. 36 cm CL Chelydra serpentine serpentine in unexpected nesting circumstances. Observations were made from 0908 to 1027 h on clear day with ambient temp ca 24° C. The nest site near Longmont, Colorado, USA (40.1599528°N, 105.1259861°W; WGS84) was 4.3 m from a seasonal ditch running north-south to connect two lakes, one on either side of a busy road. The intriguing aspect of the nest location was that it was immediately adjacent to a heavily traveled concrete sidewalk that bordered a road …

Surveillance For Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Wild Birds In The Usa, Thomas J. Deliberto, Seth R. Swafford, Dale L. Nolte, Kerri Pedersen, Mark W. Lutman, Brandon S.. Schmit, John A. Baroch, Dennis J. Kohler, Alan B. Franklin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

As part of the USA’s National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, an Interagency Strategic Plan for the Early Detection of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza in Wild Migratory Birds was developed and implemented. From 1 April 2006 through 31 March 2009, 261 946 samples from wild birds and 101 457 wild bird fecal samples were collected in the USA; no highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected. The United States Department of Agriculture, and state and tribal cooperators accounted for 213 115 (81%) of the wild bird samples collected; 31, 27, 21 and 21% of the samples were collected from the Atlantic, …

Rangelands Use And Management At The Border Area Of Northeast Mexico And South Texas/ Uso Y Manejo De Los Pastizales En La Franja Fronteriza Del Noreste De México Y Sur De Texas, Eduardo A. Gonzalez-V, David G. Hewitt, J. Alfonso Ortega-Santos, Randy W. Deyoung, Tyler A. Campbell, Fred C. Bryant

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Land use in southern Texas and northern Mexico is changing away from traditional livestock production and toward wildlife based recreation as white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hunting. The objective was to conduct a landowner survey to document land use patterns along the Rio Grande River in Texas and Mexico. A survey was developed and written in both English and Spanish, and administered to the landowners or managers along the Rio Grande River in Texas and Mexico, during February to June of 2008. In Texas the survey was administered in counties that border the Rio Grande River between Starr …

Field Test Of A Single-Injection Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Immunocontraceptive Vaccine In Female White-Tailed Deer, James P. Gionfriddo, John D. Eisemann, Kevin J. Sullivan, Ronald S. Healey, Lowell A. Miller, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Richard M. Engeman, Christi A. Yoder

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The development and use of safe, effective and practical wildlife contraceptive agents could reduce reproduction in locally overabundant deer populations in situations where traditional management tools such as regulated hunting cannot be employed. GonaCon Immunocontraceptive Vaccine (the commercial name for a particular gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-based emulsion) was tested in adult female white-tailed deer in a fenced herd near Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. Observations of udder condition were used to identify does that had become pregnant. Necropsy observations, histopathology and serum concentrations of anti-GnRH antibodies, luteinising hormone and progesterone were used to compare health and reproductive status of treated (n = …

Escherichia Coli, Salmonella, And Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis In Wild European Starlings At A Kansas Cattle Feedlot, Shannon M. Gaukler, George M. Linz, Julie S. Sherwood, Neil W. Dyer, William J. Bleier, Yvonne M. Wannemuehler, Lisa K. Nolan, Catherine M. Logue

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The prevalence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolated from the feces of wild European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) humanely trapped at a feedlot in central Kansas was assessed. All E. coli and Salmonella isolates recovered were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System panels and the E. coli isolates were classified as to their content of genes associated with pathogenic E. coli of birds and cattle, including cvaC, iroN2, ompTp, hlyF2, eitC, iss, iutA, ireA, papC, stxI, stxII, sta, K99, F41, and eae. Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Mycobacterium avium …

Avian Use Of Harvested Crop Fields In North Dakota During Spring Migration, Alegra M. Galle, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Broad-spectrum herbicide applications and improved harvesting efficiency of crops have reduced the availability of weed seeds and waste grains for game and nongame wildlife. Over the last decade, corn and soybean plantings have steadily increased in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dakota, while sunflower plantings have declined. The PPR is an important corridor for migratory birds, and changes in food availabilities at stopover habitats may affect how food resources are used. In early spring 2003 and 2004, we compared bird use of harvested fields of sunflower, soybeans, small grains, and corn in the PPR of North Dakota. Across …

Evaluating New Protein Sources For Development Of A Deer Repellent Product, Bruce A. Kimball, Kelly R. Perry

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Several protein sources were tested as deer repellents with captive deer. Black-tailed deer were offered Western redcedar seedlings treated with corn gluten meal, feather meal, poultry blood, hydrolyzed casein, or a control (latex sticker used for treatment proteins). After 37 days, feather meal and hydrolyzed casein provided equivalent protection against browse damage (only 23% of seedlings significantly browsed). Poultry blood provided less browse protection (44% browsed), while browse damage to seedlings treated with corn gluten meal (73% browsed) was not statistically different than the control (100% browsed). Based on the efficacy of feather meal and its low material cost, this …

Sunflower Treated With Avipel (Anthraquinone) Bird Repellent, Hans Kandel, Burton Johnson, Chad Deplazes, George M. Linz, Michele Santer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Maturing sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is susceptible to damage by birds, especially blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus and Quiscalus quiscula). The National Sunflower Association (NSA) identified Blackbird damage as a major issue in the production of sunflower throughout the US. In 2007 bird damage was identified as the number one yield limiting factor in 9% of surveyed fields in North Dakota (Graph 1).

Evaluation Of Attractants To Improve Trapping Success Of Nutria On Louisiana Coastal Marsh, Susan Jojola, Gary W. Witmer, Patrick Burke

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are an important part of the Louisiana (USA) fur industry, but high densities of nutria cause extensive damage to coastal marsh ecosystems. Hence, there is a need to develop improved methods for targeted management of nutria. We screened 14 olfactory cues as potential lures for nutria, first in controlled settings and then in the field, to see if nutria capture rates using foothold traps would increase. In Y-maze trials, nutria most frequently selected olfactory cues of a synthetic formulation of nutria anal-gland secretion and nutria fur extract. We examined the 3 most selected attractants in …

Experimental Inoculation Of Coyotes With Mycobacterium Bovis Susceptibility And Shedding, Shylo R. Johnson, Mike R. Dunbar, Lorene Martinez, Robert L. Jones, Richard Bowen, Paul Gordy

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Several wildlife species have tested positive for bovine tuberculosis in Michigan and may potentially transmit the disease to other animals. Coyotes have the highest known prevalence in the endemic area and thus, our objective was to investigate the shedding of Mycobacterium bovis by coyotes. Four coyotes were orally inoculated with 1 ml of 1 x 10⁵ CFU/ml of M. bovis. Oral and nasal swabs, and feces were collected regularly and tested by culture. Fecal samples were also tested by exposing guinea pigs to the coyotes' feces. All animals were necropsied to determine if infection occurred. All swabs, feces …

Bird Damage To Corn And Sunflower In North Dakota, George M. Linz, Anthony A. Slowik, Linda B. Penry, H. Jeffrey Homan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The last comprehensive field surveys of bird damage to sunflower in North Dakota were conducted in 1979 and 1980. Average economic damage across years was slightly over US $5.0 million. Sunflower prices have appreciably increased since these monetary losses were calculated.

As corn acreages in North Dakota have increased, so have complaints from growers about blackbird damage to corn. Quantitative surveys of blackbird damage to corn, however, have never been conducted in North Dakota.

The goal of our multi-year study is to quantify blackbird damage to sunflower and corn crops in the Prairie Pothole Region, the principal corn and sunflower …

Historic And Recent Distributions Of Elk In Nebraska, Kent A. Fricke, Michael A. Cover, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Hugh H. Genoways, Scott R. Groepper, Kit Hams, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Elk (Cervus elaphus) were historically found throughout North America but were extirpated from Nebraska and much of the Great Plains in the 1880s due to consumptive uses by settlers, miners, market hunters, and others. Elk began to reappear in Nebraska in the 1950s and 1960s, and established a stable, nonmigratory population that currently consists of seven herds and an estimated 1,400 individuals throughout western and central Nebraska. The reappearance and subsequent persistence of elk in Nebraska suggests there is adequate habitat to support a self-sustaining population. The general movement of elk eastward may lead to an eventual statewide …

Mammalian Hazards At Small Airports In Indiana: Impact Of Perimeter Fencing, Travis Default, Jacob Kubel, David Glista, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Fences are used at many airports and small airfields to exclude wildlife from entering critical areas. However, not all fences exclude hazardous mammals reliably, and effective fences can be too expensive for small airports to purchase and maintain. In this study, we evaluated fencing at 10 small airports in Indiana and documented the presence and relative abundance of wildlife within airport boundaries using remote cameras and spotlight surveys. Only 4 airports were completely fenced, and four were Odocoileus virginianus) or coyotes (Canis latrans) at nine of the airports with remote cameras and during spotlight surveys. There were fewer …

Foods Scraps Composting And Vector Control, Bradley F. Blackwell, Thomas W. Seamans

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Nontraditional waste management facilities, particularly new projects to compost food scraps, are becoming more common because of national and state initiatives to promote recycling and extend landfill capacities. In fact, food waste is the third largest component of generated waste by weight, following yard trimmings and corrugated boxes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that each American disposes of 1.3 pounds of food waste daily or nearly 474 pounds annually. While there is a clear need to recycle food waste, the location of waste management facilities and national initiatives on waste management are increasingly controversial, partly because of potential …

Physiological Effects Of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunocontraception On White-Tailed Deer, Paul D. Curtis, Milo E. Richmond, Lowell A. Miller, Fred W. Quimby

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Before immunocontraceptives can be considered safe to use on wildlife species, potential health risks should be assessed. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive has successfully reduced fertility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus); however, associated deer physiology has rarely been examined. We conducted gross necropsy examinations, histology, and blood chemistry comparisons on euthanized deer previously vaccinated with immunogenic GnRH (n = 18 females and n = 4 males), or left as untreated controls (n = 7 females and n = 6 males). Granulomas were found at injection sites of most deer, even 3 years post-treatment. There were no significant differences in …

Gnrh Immunocontraception Of Male And Female White-Tailed Deer Fawns, Lowell A. Miller, James P. Gionfriddo, Jack C. Rhyan, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Donald C. Wagner, Gary J. Killian

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Immunocontraceptive vaccines based on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have been tested in adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), but their effects on fawns are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if early immunization against GnRH would induce a long-lasting immune response in fawns, and if it would delay or prevent sexual development. We gave primary and subsequent booster injections of a KLH-GnRH/Freund’s vaccine to 6 male and 6 female fawns. This vaccine contained the same active ingredients as GonaCon™ vaccine, but it contained Freund’s adjuvant instead of AdjuVac™ adjuvant. Two 450-μg injections were given 1 month apart …

Just Green Iguanas? The Associated Costs And Policy Implications Of Exotic Invasive Wildlife In South Florida, Arthur Sementelli, Henry T. Smith, Walter E. Meshaka Jr., Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive exotic species have begun to emerge as a policy issue at the federal, state, and local levels. Although invasive species are often understood as a function of the damage they cause to localized ecosystems, this study diverges by discussing the infrastructural damage caused by an invasive exotic species, the green iguana (Iguana iguana). Specifically, the authors discuss the magnitude and scope of damage caused by iguana burrows on canals in southern Florida and offer policy recommendations to move discussions of this potentially disastrous public works issue forward.

Estimating Population Size Of Mexican Wolves Noninvasively (Arizona), C. A. Cariappa, Warren Ballard, Stewart W. Breck, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Melissa Neubaum

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Monitoring wolf abundance is a significant problem confronting biologists coordinating the recovery of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) population in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) in Arizona and New Mexico (Figure 1). Thus far, radiotelemetry has been a satisfactory method. However, collaring and tracking more wolves in the expanding population is expensive. The development of a cost-effective method to estimate Mexican wolf populations will assist the long-term management and recovery of wolves.

We are attempting species and individual identification using DNA extracted from wolf scat because scat is both readily available and easy to collect …

Overwintering Site Selection By Short-Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma Hernandesi) In Northeastern Colorado, Tom Mathies, Daniel J. Martin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Radio telemetry was used to track 16 adult Short-Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma hernandesi) to their individual overwintering sites on the Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) in Weld County, Colorado. Above-ground habitat characteristics of overwintering sites and randomly selected points within the study area were assessed. All individuals entered overwintering between 29 August and 19 September with a mean estimated entrance date of 7 September. Arrival of the first subzero nighttime air temperatures occurred shortly thereafter on 16 September. No lizard left its normal area of use to overwinter, and there was no tendency to aggregate. Lizards did not necessarily …

Bird Use Of Stormwater-Management Ponds: Decreasing Avian Attractants On Airports, Bradley F. Blackwell, Laurence Schafer, David Helon, Michael Linnell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Characteristics of stormwater-management ponds that contribute to avian hazards to aviation at airports have not been quantified. We selected 30 stormwater-management ponds (average 0.1 ha), approximately 50km from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, as surrogates to on-airport facilities. We conducted 46 weeks of avian surveys (between 14 February 2005 and 17 February 2006) and evaluated model fit of 6 a priori models relative to pond use by an avian group via Kullback–Leibler information. Our full model, composed of pond surface area (sa), ratio of area of open water to area of emergent and woody vegetation (ow:ew), perimeter irregularity, and geographic isolation, was …