Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management
Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings
Accessibility Remediation
If you are unable to use this item in its current form due to accessibility barriers, you may request remediation through our remediation request form.
Date of this Version
April 1987
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Bullsnake (Pituophis melanoleucus) predation on upland nesting ducks was monitored on Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) from 1982-86. The fate of 1,999 duck nests of 9 species was observed under different treatments of land use and control of potential nest predators. Maximum potential levels of bullsnake depredation are masked by nest destruction by mammalian species; bullsnake nest depredation rates were >65% where mammalian predators were controlled, >40% without predator control and <4.0% where both mammalian and reptilian predators were controlled and/or excluded. Duck nest densities were dramatically increased where predator control was accomplished in undisturbed nesting cover.