U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Date of this Version
2013
Citation
Curtis, P.D., J.D. Cepek, R. Mihalco, T.W. Seamans, and S.R. Craven. 2013. Wildlife translocation as a management alternative at airports. In: T.L. DeVault, B.F. Blackwell, and J.L. Belant, editors. Wildlife in Airport Environments: Preventing Animal-Aircraft Collisions through Science-Based Management. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, in association with The Wildlife Society. 61-65.
Abstract
Wildlife in urban settings may be a welcome sight for many, but negative interactions between people and various wild species are increasing (Conover et a!. 1995, Conover 2002). Wildlife populations are commonly managed in part to reduce these conflicts, particularly in high-risk areas such as roadways and airports (Conover 2002). However, the public often opposes lethal control or management methods perceived as causing harm to nuisance animals (Reiter et al. 1999, Conover 2002, Treves et al. 2006), and attitudes vary considerably depending on the particular wildlife species involved (Kretser et a!. 2009). Consequently, a variety of nonlethal management approaches are typically integrated with limited lethal control (Conover 2002).
Translocation, the transport and release of wild animals from one location to another (Nielsen 1988), is an example of a fairly recent adaptation to wildlife damage management methods. Griffith et al. (1989) provided an overview of translocation as a general wildlife conservation method. Translocation has been demonstrated as an important technique for stocking game species and furbearers, reintroducing extirpated Species, and enhancing threatened or endangered spe~ cies. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is probably the carnivore most frequently translocated to re-establish extirpated populations (Smith and Clark 1994, Linnell et aI. 1997). Based on a survey of 81 wildlife agenCies and organizations (1973-1986), Griffith et aI. (1989) determined that 90% of all translocations were of native game species and were deemed successful 86% of the time. In contrast, translocations of threatened species were successful only 46% of the time.
Comments
U.S. government work.