Innovative solutions to human-wildlife conflicts : National Wildlife Research Center accomplishments 2002

54 Pages·2003·3.6 MB·English

by  National Wildlife Research Center (U.S.)

^
I
1
document
Historic, archived
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
*>:*<

/
USDA
United States
Departmentof Innovative Solutions to Human
Agriculture
Wildlife Conflicts
Animal and
Plant Health ._j
Inspection
National Wildlife Research Center
Service
Accomplishments 2002
Miscellaneous
Publication No. 1587
United States Department ofAgriculture NWRCfieldstations:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bismarck, ND
ife Services [phone]/4469
FAX: [phone]
National Wildlife Research Center
4101 LaPorteAve. Gainesville, FL
FortCollins, CO80521-2154 [phone]/2230
Http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc FAX: [phone]
Main TeleplioneNumber: Hilo. HI
[phone] [phone]
FAX: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Information Sen/ices: Logan, UT
[phone] [phone]
FAX: [phone] FAX: [phone]
email: [email protected]
Millville Office
AnimalCare: [phone]
[phone] FAX: [phone]
Research Programs: Olympia, WA
Birds: [phone] [phone]
Mammals: [phone] FAX: [phone]
ProductDevelopment: [phone]
Wildlife Diseases: [phone] Sandusky, OH
[phone]/0098
FAX: [phone]
MS
Starkville,
[phone]
FAX: [phone]
Pfiiladelphia, PA
[phone]
FAX: [phone]
Introduction 1
Developing Methods 3
Bird Research Program 3
Mammal Research Program 13
Product Development Research Program 20
Wildlife Diseases Research Program 31
Program Support 33
Providing Wildlife Services 35
National Support 35
International Cooperation 36
Valuing and Investing in People 37
Information and Communication 39
information Services 39
Seminars 41
Meetings, Workshops, and Conference Presentations 42
Publications 44
The United States DepartmentofAgriculture Mention ofcompanies orcommercial This publication reports research involving
(USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its products does not imply recommendation pesticides. All uses ofpesticides must be
programs and activities on the basis of race, orendorsement by USDAoverothers registered byappropriate State and/or
color, national origin, gender, religion, age, not mentioned. USDA neitherguarantees Federal agencies beforetheycan be
disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, norwarrantsthe standard of any product recommended.
or marital orfamily status. (Notall prohibited mentioned. Product names are mentioned CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious
biasapplytoall programs.) Persons with solelyto reportfactuallyon available data
to humans, domestic animals, desirable
disabilitieswho require alternative means and to provide specific information.
forcommunication of program information plants, andfish orotherwildlifeiftheyare
not handled orapplied properly. Use all
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should
pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow
contact USDA'sTARGETCenterat (202)
recommended practicesforthe disposal of
720-2600 (voice and TDD).
surplus pesticides and pesticidecontainers.
Tofile acomplaint ofdiscrimination, write
USDA, Director, Office ofCivil Rights,
Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14'^ and
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9410orcall [phone]
(voice andTDD). USDA isan equal
opportunity providerand employer.
H
INTRODUCTION
National Wildlife Research Center-
Mission and Location
The mission of USDA's Wildlife Services
(WS) Program isto provide Federal
leadership in managing problems
caused bywildlife. The National Wildlife
Research Center(NWRC) functions asthe
research arm ofWS by providing scientific
information on the developmentof socially
acceptable methodsforwildlife damage
management. As partofWS' strategic
planto improve the coexistence of people
and wildlife, it has identifiedfourstrategic
program goals: (1) developing methods,
(2) providing wildlife services, (3) valuing
and investing in people, and (4) enhancing
information and communication. WS is
dedicated to helping meetthe wildlife
damage management needs ofthe United
States by building on the Center's strengths
in these fourkeyareas. This annual NWRC The headquarters ofthe NWRC is located was initiated on newfacilities in which
research highlights is structured around on 43 acres on the Foothills Research to conduct invasive species and wildlife
these program goals. Campus ofColorado State University (CSU) disease research. Upon completion of
in FortCollins, CO. During 2002, NWRC the Center's Masterplan overthe next
made significant progresstoward building several years, NWRC and its United States
out its Master Plan onthatsite. Construction regionallybased field stations, will truly
was initiated on an outdooranimal research be the onlywildlife research complex of
facilityand associated research support its kind in theworld devoted exclusivelyto
structures, and on an office, lab, and animal providing new, science-based solutions
food-storage and -preparation addition tothecomplex issuesofwildlife damage
tothe Center's existing indoorAnimal and associated human health and safety
Research Building. In addition, planning problems.
m
r^'
Goal: Increase effective methods available for
damage management.
wildlife
BIRD RESEARCH PROGRAM
Title: Economic Impact and Management ofBird Predation at
Aquaculture Facilities in the Southeastern United States
Goal: Determine the magnitude ofand develop methodology
to reduce damage by cormorants, wading birds andpelicans on
southern catfish, baitfish and crawfish farms.
Fish-eating birds can havea substantial double-crested cormorants have also been wintering, these research efforts should
economic impacton aquaculture associated with habitatchangesthroughout providethe information necessaryto
production. Annual costs associated with North America. Present research is aimed develop and evaluate management
bird damage and damage prevention for atacquiring information regarding the alternativesthroughouttheirrange.
aquacultural industries are estimated abundance, foraging behavior, economic
American White Pelican Ecology—During
to exceed $17 million. Double-crested impacts, and damage management
2002, scientists at NWRC's Mississippi
cormorants, American white pelicans, and techniques associated with fish-eating birds
field station, in collaboration with biologists
several wading birds arethe predominant nearsoutheastern aquaculture facilities. fromthe WS operational program,
species associated with theseconflicts. Sincethese birds annually migratefrom
continued a banding studybegun in 1996
In addition to conflictswith aquaculture, northern breeding areasto southeastern
ofthe breeding ecology ofAmerican white
pelicansat Chase Lake National Wildlife
Refuge in North Dakota, the largest
known breeding colonyofthis species.
The information is being used todevelop
modelsfordescribing the population
dynamics ofAmehcan white pelicans and
to develop managementstrategiesfor
reducing pelican damagetocommercial
aquaculture. Byattaching coded, plastic leg
bandstojuvenile pelicans. Centerbiologists
will be ableto observe individual pelicans
in subsequentyearsand learn about
population parameters such as the age of
first breeding, age-specificsurvivorship,
and reproductiveoutput. NWRC scientists
alsoare using satellitetelemetrytechnology
todeterminethe distribution, abundance,
movement patterns, and habitat use
ofAmericanwhite pelicans in the
soundflyway managementplan for reducing
double-crested cormorant impactsto
southern aquaculture.
Double-Crested Cormorant Population
iVIodel Provides Foundation for
Evaluating Management Scenarios-
Scientistsfrom NWRC and the United
States Geological Survey's (USGS) Lake
Erie Biological Station andthe Canadian
Wildlife Service have constructed a
biological representation ofcormorant
population growth on Lake Ontario
(1979-2000) by referencing literature
valuesforfertility, age atfirst breeding,
and survival. These parameterswere
incorporated into adeterministicstage-
classified matrix model.
By calculating the elasticityof mathx
elements (i.e., stage-specificfertility and
Southeastern United States. Thisstudywill the delta region ofMississippi was near$5 survival), the researchers showed that
provide information on pelican movement million (replacementcost) and could be as cormorant population growth on Lake
patternsthroughoutthe region and their high as$25 million. Ontariowas most sensitiveto survival
use ofaquaculture complexes and other of birds abouttoturn age 3 and older.
A2001 field studyto determine the
habitats. Further, the investigators demonstrated
distnbution and abundance ofcormorants
howthis information can be used to
Effects ofCormorant Foraging on on catfish ponds in the delta region of evaluate managementscenarios and direct
Catfish Production—NWRC scientists Mississippi found thatcormorantsforaged
future research bysimulating potential
conducted controlled foraging experiments daily on an average of25 percentofthe
atthe NWRC captive bird facilityon the ponds aeriallysurveyed during the period environmental effects on fertilityand
survival, aswell as a5-yearegg-oiling
Mississippi State Universitycampusto FebruarytoAphI, with 5to 46 birds counted program. Theyfound that survival ofolder
assessthe impacts ofcormorants on using each pond. Cormorantfeeding on birds exerts more effective population
catfish production. During these studies, aquaculture facilities was greaterthan the control than changes infertility. This
cormorantsconsumed 7-9 catfish per level offeeding simulated in the captive population model isvaluable to evaluate
bird perday. Relativeto pondswithout foraging studies, suggestingthatthe and defend management optionsfor
cormorant predation, this consumption economic impactfrom this species may double-crested cormorants. The modelwas
resulted in a30-percent reduction in be greaterthan previously estimated. recently adapted for use bythe Ontario
fish abundance and a 23-percent loss in Futurestudies will focus on an increased Ministry of Natural Resources in its efforts
fish biomass. Based on these studies, understanding of population trends and to managedouble-crested cormorants in
it isestimated thatthe annual impact of cormorant breeding ecologyto provide data the North Channel and Georgian Bayareas
cormorantstothe aquaculture industry in essential fordevelopmentof a scientifically of Lake Huron.