USDA-APHIS Fact Sheets on Wildlife Damage Management Copyright (c) 2013 University of Nebraska - Lincoln All rights reserved. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets Recent documents in USDA-APHIS Fact Sheets on Wildlife Damage Management en-us Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:54:22 PST 3600 Solutions Through Science: Wildlife Contraceptives http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/51 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/51 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:30:44 PST Since the early 1900s, wildlife conservation efforts in the United States have focused on restoring, protecting, and managing populations of many wildlife species. In some cases, such as the white-tailed deer and Canada goose, these efforts have been so successful that these species have become locally overabundant. These and other overabundant species can cause a variety of conflicts with humans, ranging from minor nuisance issues to serious habitat and crop destruction, disease spread, and vehicle and aircraft collisions. Hunting and trapping have been the traditional methods fish and wildlife agencies use to manage wildlife populations. However in urban and suburban areas, where most human-wildlife conflicts occur, these management practices are often legally restricted, impractical, or socially undesirable. Wildlife contraception is one method—when used as part of an integrated approach with other methods—that can potentially help manage locally overabundant wildlife populations in these particular settings.

Science-Based Solutions
Scientists at the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), are developing several wildlife contraceptives for use with overabundant mammal and bird species. NWRC—the research arm of APHIS’ Wildlife Services program—works collaboratively with State fish and wildlife agencies, universities, zoos, international organizations, and private partners to develop, test, and register wildlife contraceptives for use in wildlife damage management. Some of the products investigated have been employed previously in human medicine or in farm animal production. Others have been dispensed as vaccines or as oral baits. Regardless of origin, contraceptives are a promising new wildlife management tool. Contraceptives alone, however, cannot rapidly reduce overabundant wildlife populations to healthy levels. Instead, they may be most useful in specific and limited situations in conjunction with other wildlife management methods, such as hunting. Immediate population goals can be met only by removing problem animals. Contraceptives can then be used to slow the rate of population recovery in these managed areas. NWRC scientists strive to develop wildlife contraceptives that are:
Safe for the target species, nontarget species, and the environment
Free of undesirable side effects
Safe for human consumption if ingested while eating animal products

GonaCon™-Immunocontraceptive Vaccine
OvoControl® G and P—Oral Bait
DiazaCon–Oral Bait

]]> Improving Wildlife Welfare http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/50 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/50 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:23:25 PST Wildlife is a precious natural resource, and protecting wildlife populations is important for many people. Unfortunately, as animals become more abundant and adapt to living near people, they sometimes impact human safety, livestock, property, and natural resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services (WS) program responds to more than 200,000 human-wildlife conflicts each year. WS’ field specialists, disease biologists, and scientists help resolve these conflicts using a variety of science-based, selective, and socially responsible methods.

As the program works to resolve wildlife conflicts, it also focuses efforts on developing methods and approaches that can improve wildlife welfare. The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) functions as the research arm of the WS program. Its mission is to apply scientific expertise to resolve human-wildlife conflicts while maintaining the quality of the environment shared with wildlife. NWRC scientists work in collaboration with WS fi eld specialists to improve wildlife welfare through the development and use of nonlethal wildlife damage management tools, such as scare devices, wildlife contraceptives, fencing, and repellents. They also work to ensure that lethal methods are selective—targeting those animals causing the damage—and are sensitive to animal welfare concerns. Approximately 75 percent of NWRC’s research budget is devoted to the development of nonlethal tools and techniques.

]]> GonaCon<sup>TM</sup> Immunocontraceptive for Deer http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/49 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/49 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:44:11 PST Overabundant deer herds, particularly those in urban or suburban settings, present serious problems for wildlife managers, landowners, and the general public. Problems include increased numbers of deer-vehicle collisions, increased damage to ornamental and native plants, aggressive behavior toward humans by bucks during the rut, greater potential for disease transmission among deer, and reduced nutritional status of deer. Traditional methods of population control, such as hunting, often are impractical or illegal in such settings. The development of safe and effective wildlife contraceptives is needed to control overabundant wildlife populations in situations where traditional management tools cannot be employed.

The single-shot, multiple-year GonaCon™ vaccine will be a useful tool for the management of enclosed or urban/suburban wildlife populations, such as deer. GonaCon™ still has limitations, however, especially the need to capture and inject each animal.

GnRH Immunocontraception—The GnRH vaccine stimulates the production and release of GnRH-specific antibody from the B-cells into the bloodstream. The antibody circulates throughout the body, and when it reaches the capillary region of the hypothalamus, it comes into contact with GnRH that has diffused into the capillaries after being produced in the hypothalamus. Binding of GnRH to the specific antibody forms large immune-complexes that travel down the hypophysial stalk. Because of their large size, however, the immune-complexes are unable to diffuse out of the blood at the pituitary capillaries. Instead, they remain in the venous blood and leave the pituitary without stimulating the release of LH and FSH. Without the LH and FSH that normally stimulate the synthesis of steroids in the reproductive organs, animals of both sexes remain in an asexual, nonreproductive state. As long as there is sufficient antibody to bind all GnRH circulating in the hypothalamic/pituitary portal system, all sexual activity will be suspended and animals will remain nonreproductive.

]]> Questions and Answers: GonaCon™–Birth Control for Deer http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/48 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/48 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:38:17 PST GonaCon™ is a new gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive vaccine developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services’ (WS) National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC). It is registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use with female white-tailed deer 1 year of age or older.

]]> Word Find http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/47 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/47 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:21:38 PDT Word Find

]]> Wildlife Services: Helping Producers Manage Predation http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/46 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/46 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:19:01 PDT Extreme weather, treacherous terrain, and disease claim the lives of countless livestock each year, but just as fearsome is the threat posed by predators, such as coyotes, cougars, wolves, and bears. Despite producers’ best efforts to protect their livestock, hundreds of thousands of sheep, cattle, and goats fall victim to predators each year. In fact, predators cause some of the most significant losses to the sheep industry nationwide. Livestock losses attributed to predators cost U.S. ranchers and producers more than $71 million annually, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

When their losses become too great, producers turn to Wildlife Services (WS), a program within the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), for assistance. WS has the Federal authority, expertise, and research capability to resolve wildlife conflicts and help manage damage. This assistance can prevent predation and preserve the livelihood of farmers and ranchers across the Nation.

]]> Wildlife Services: Managing Bird Damage to America’s Resources http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/45 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/45 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:17:21 PDT More than 700 bird species make their home in the United States. The diversity and range of these species help to shape our Nation’s landscape, but these same birds can also cause damage, destroying agricultural and natural resources and sometimes even threatening public health and safety.

Wildlife Services (WS), a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, provides Federal leadership and expertise to resolve problems and damage caused by birds. Whether the damage is occurring in agricultural or urban areas, WS responds in a way that balances the needs of both people and wildlife.

Using an integrated approach that combines a variety of science-based methods, WS assists dairy, livestock, crop, and aquaculture producers in resolving bird predation and contamination problems from droppings. In urban areas, WS works to prevent bird strikes at airports and protect public health and safety at parks and other open areas frequented by ducks and Canada geese. The program also works to resolve property damage caused by certain bird species that are thriving in urban and suburban environments across the country.

]]> Wildlife Services: Preventing Services http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/44 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/44 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:14:41 PDT The Wildlife Services (WS) program—part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)—is charged with providing Federal leadership to alleviate or minimize wildlife damage to agricultural, property, and natural resources and protect humans from health and safety threats from wildlife. Providing assistance in wildlife disease management is an integral part of the WS mission.

]]> Pest Alert: Carribean Tree Frogs in Hawaii http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/43 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/43 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:13:05 PDT First spotted in Hawaii in 1992, invasive Caribbean tree frogs have been a threat to the State’s Agriculture, tourism, and native ecosystems ever since. In just 10 year, burgeoning populations of two species, the coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) and the greenhouse frog (E. planirostris), have become established on Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii’s main island.

]]> Managing Wildlife Damage: The Mission of APHIS' Wildlife Services Program http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/42 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/42 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:09:05 PDT Wild animals are an important part of our environment, and for centuries they have served our needs in a number of ways. Historically, many species were used for food, clothing, or adornment. But in those earlier years, wildlife was seldom managed. Some species, such as the passenger pigeon, became extinct; and other species, like the bison and beaver, became seriously depleted. Today, wildlife continues to provide people with a variety of benefits. Wild animals contribute to our enjoyment of outdoor recreational activities such as camping, hiking, photography, and hunting. The knowledge that abundant wildlife exists is important for many people. Diverse wildlife species are major components of a healthy environment; beavers, for example, can create aquatic habitats beneficial to fish and waterfowl. Wildlife is receiving increased attention as people develop a broadened environmental consciousness. Wildlife is now recognized as having esthetic as well as practical value and is managed by the Federal and State Governments to ensure future abundance. In some instances, however, this abundance has led to conflicts between human and wildlife interests as the following examples illustrate.

]]> Living with Wildlife http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/41 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/41 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:05:29 PDT Color poster: living with wildlife.

]]> Living with Wildlife http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/40 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/40 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:02:57 PDT Living with wildlife.

]]> Living with Wildlife http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/39 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/39 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:00:32 PDT Seeing both sides of the coin.

]]> Be Aware of the Brown Treesnake http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/38 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/38 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:58:07 PDT Accidentally introduced to Guam in the late 1940s or early 1950s, the brown tree snake (BTS) has caused extensive economic and ecological damage to the island. In just half a century, the snake has exterminated most of Guam’s native forest birds and greatly reduced its population of fruit bats and native lizards.

Unlike regions where the BTS is indigenous, Guam has no natural means to keep the species’ population in check. An abundant food supply and the lack of local competitors and predators have allowed the BTS to reach a population density among the highest ever recorded for any snake. The BTS population on Guam has grown so large that snakes coming into contact with power lines have caused more than 1,000 electrical outages, costing taxpayers millions of dollars and inconveniencing residents.

]]> Feral/Wild Pigs: Potential Problems for Farmers and Hunters http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/37 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/37 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:56:08 PDT Free-ranging populations of wild pigs (also called feral swine) exist in at least 39 states in this country. Some experts estimate their numbers at over 4 million, with the largest populations located in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. Hunters, farmers, and landowners need to be aware of the extensive damage wild pigs can cause to their property and livestock. The rooting and wallowing activities of wild pigs cause serious erosion to river banks and streams. These destructive animals have been known to tear through livestock and game fences and consume animal feed, minerals, and protein supplements. Not only do wild pigs feast on field crops such as corn, milo, rice, watermelon, peanuts, hay, turf and wheat, but they are also efficient predators and –when given the opportunity- will prey upon young livestock and other small livestock.

]]> No Escape from Guam: Stopping the Spread of the Brown Tree Snake http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/36 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/36 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:50:43 PDT The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced into Guam in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s. With no natural predators and abundant prey on Guam, the snake population spread throughout the island, causing major ecological and economic problems. This brochure briefly describes brown tree snake biology and damage and gives information on the agencies and activities involved in snake control as well as some suggestions for capturing and handling snakes.

]]> A Pest Alert: Stop the Spread of the Brown Tree Snake http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/35 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/35 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:48:27 PDT The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) is a species alien to Guam. An aggressive predator, it has caused the extinction of nearly all of Guam’s native bird species. The brown tree snake eats poultry, eggs, and pets. It has extraordinary climbing abilities and causes costly electrical power outages by climbing on power lines. The brown tree snake is mildly venomous: its bite can injure or even kill infants and young children.

]]> Controlling Blackbird Damage to Sunflower and Grain Crops in the Northern Great Plains http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/34 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/34 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:42:37 PDT Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), and yellow-headed blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) cause severe damage to ripening crops in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Scientific surveys show that blackbirds damage $4 million to $11 million worth of sunflower each year in these three States. On occasion, blackbirds have destroyed entire fields of sunflower in a few days. Preventing this magnitude of crop damage requires knowledge about the blackbird’s habits and various methods available to prevent damage. In late summer, after the nesting season, blackbirds form flocks and roost at night in numbers varying from a few to over a million birds. These flocks and roosting congregations are sometimes comprised of a single species, but often all three species mix together. Although some blackbirds roost in trees in the northern Great Plains, the birds prefer to roost in dense cattail marshes. Between 40 and 50 percent of the blackbird population dies every year. But these mortality figures are offset by the birds’ reproductive success. On average, a female produces two to four fledglings per year. The three common blackbird species have many differences in their nesting biology, food preferences, feeding habitats, and migration patterns.

]]> Bird Predation and Its Control at Aquaculture Facilities in the Northeastern United States http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/33 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/33 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:39:16 PDT The northeastern aquaculture industry, centered in Pennsylvania and New York, consists primarily of trout production, but local facilities also produce a number of warm-water species, including bait fish, catfish, and goldfish. There are several different culturing methods for producing these fish.

Although trout culturing occurs primarily in concrete and earthen raceways, it also occurs in ponds that are sometimes used for pay-to-fish sites. Narrow concrete raceways are usually set in rows over a small rectangular area, whereas earthen raceways are more linear and resemble a series of interconnected ponds that can meander over a large geographic area. Warm-water fish species are almost always produced in ponds. Aquaculture facilities vary in size from farms with a single 0.1-acre pond to several acres of concrete or earthen raceways to more than 100 acres of ponds.

The diversity of northeastern aquaculture and the adaptability of bird species to exploit this resource has led to correspondingly diverse bird-predation problems. Several integrated approaches are needed to alleviate these problems.

The following information will help producers identify and assess predation losses caused by primary bird predators as well as suggest species-specific control measures that are also cost effective for reducing these losses.

]]> WS Assistance With Waterfowl http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/29 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaaphisfactsheets/29 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:05:01 PST Part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Wildlife Services (WS) program helps alleviate wildlife damage to agricultural, urban, and natural resources. WS also addresses wildlife threats to public health and safety and protects endangered and threatened species from predators. Canada geese, ducks, and other waterfowl are valuable natural resources enjoyed by birdwatchers and the general public. WS professionals recommend a number of methods to discourage waterfowl from settling in residential and crop areas. In special instances, WS may relocate urban waterfowl using live-trapping or tranquilizers such as alpha-chloralose.

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