Copyright (c) 2005 University of Nebraska - Lincoln All rights reserved. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour Recent documents in Proceedings: Fourth Vertebrate Pest Conference (1970) en-us Sun, 02 Oct 2005 23:27:41 PDT 3600 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/41 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/41 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:27:27 PDT The Fourth Vertebrate Pest Conference was the largest ever, with 275 registered participants and an estimated additional 50 to 75 persons who attended portions of the conference but did not register. The attendance was made up of individuals having varying interests in vertebrate pest problems, including foresters, agriculturalists, conservationists, pest control operators, vector control specialists, health officials, wildlife specialists, product distributors and manufacturers, instructors and researchers from twenty nine states plus the District of Columbia. Participants from Canada, England, Germany and Japan provided an international touch which contributed greatly to the success of the conference. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/40 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/40 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:27:24 PDT On behalf of the California Vertebrate Pest Committee, which sponsors these conferences, I wish to thank all of the speakers for their contribution to the program and the session chairmen who kept the meeting moving so smoothly. We would like to extend a special thanks to the speakers and participants who have come from other countries to share with us some of their knowledge concerning vertebrate pest problems and their solutions. Hopefully, the acquaintances made here and the exchange of information with our colleagues from distant places will be the beginning of long-lasting friendships and will foster better communications between those with mutual interests. Rex E. Marsh http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/39 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/39 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:27:18 PDT ABSTRACT: Under Western Australian legislation, landholders have an obligation to control rabbits on their properties; local authorities the responsibility to supervise their work whilst the Agriculture Protection Board has a Statewide supervisory and co-ordination role. Prior to 1950 (when the Agriculture Protection Board was formed) the central role was in the hands of a Government department which, through lack of staff and money was unable to provide adequate supervision, and rabbits were in plague proportions. Since 1950, the Board has actively engaged in a vigorous policy aimed at tighter control and supervision. To enable this, the Board has entered into a voluntary scheme with local authorities whereby the role of local supervision of landholders is passed to staff employed by the Board, but jointly financed by the local authority and the Board. A contract poisoning service is also proŽvided by the Agriculture Protection Board to any landholder who is unable or unwilling, to meet his obligations in this area. Both services are subsidised. Two of the major reasons for the poor level of control existing before 1950, have thereby been minimised. Soon after its formation, the Board set up a research section which has devoted nearly all of its activities to applied research on control of the State's many vertebrate pest problems. In the rabbit control area, poisoning has received most attention. The "One-Shot" method of poisoning was developed after years of research. Fumigation is at present being closely studied as is the economics of complete eradication from some areas of the State. Greatest needs in the applied rabbit research field at present are: (1) a selective poison, or poisoning regime, which will not harm stock, and (2) a more complete understanding of the economics of control and eradication. The serious rabbit problem which existed in 1950 has been reduced to very small proportions, by organisational development using local research findings. These organisational developments have been implemented by circumvention rather than confrontation. A. R. Tomlinson http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/38 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/38 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:27:14 PDT Collisions between birds and aircraft have caused loss of human life and millions of dollars worth of property damage. The advent of even larger planes may reduce airframe damage, but it seems doubtful that engine damage will be significantly reduced. Dealing with the problem biologically, involves combating the hazards caused both by birds on or near the ground at airfields, and by birds on mass migrations at altitudes up to several thousand feet above ground. Airports can be designed or altered to minimize their attraction to birds. The chance arrival of a flock of birds must be treated as an emergency with all available equipment and personnel used to ensure quick dispersal. The hazards caused by birds aloft must be dealt with by making it possible for aircraft to avoid the main bird flocks. Warnings of the immediate presence of birds can be given by air traffic control operators, trained to recognize birds on their radar. The ability to forecast the probable presence of flocks of birds on migration is now being developed. Victor E. F. Solman http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/37 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/37 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:27:10 PDT The importation of live birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians into the United States is a growing problem to law enforcement agencies of the Federal and State governments. Importation of the above types of animals into the United States is supervised by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, of the U. S. Department of the Interior. The function is of a regulatory nature: 1. to insure that no prohibited species enter the United States; 2. to enforce compliance with certain Federal Acts such as (a) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, (b) the Lacey Act, Title 18 USC, Sec. 42, 43 and 44, (c) the Bald and Golden Eagle Act; 3.to assist in the enforcement of State laws and regulations concerned with entry of undesirable species of wildlife not afforded Federal prohibition. Restricted species of birds and mammals prohibited entry into the United States by Federal laws are: Birds: Java Sparrow, Padda oryzivora; Sudan Dioch, Quelea quelea; Rosy Pastor, Sturnus roseus; and the Red-Whiskered Bulbui, Pycnonotus jococus; Mammals: Mongoose, any species of the genera Atilax, Cynictis, Helogale, Herpestes, Ichneumia, Mungos and Suricata; Bats of the genus Pteropus; Multimammate Rat of the genus Mastomys; the East Indian Wild Dog of the genus Cuon. The above named birds and mammals were declared undesirable for entry into the United States because of their destructive habits to agriculture and our native wildlife. Holger S. Larsen http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/36 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/36 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:27:04 PDT The house finch or linnet, Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis (Say) is a protected migratory nongame bird indigenous to California and found abundantly in all but the northern and mountainous areas. These finches attack more than twenty different crops and damage is demonstrated by fruit pecks, seed removal, and disbudding. When house finches cause agricultural damage control measures must be carried out under the general supervision of a county agricultural commissioner. Control practices involve the use of toxic baits, trap-decoy stations, and bio-acoustical devices. Most importantly, these control methods have been demonstrated to be safe, selective, and successful when employed by persons properly trained in the ecology of the species. Thomas K. Palmer http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/35 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/35 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:11:03 PDT Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) have been discouraged from using cattle feedlots near Denver, Colorado, by baiting alleys with cracked corn treated with an aversion-producing immobi1izing agent, DRC-736 [4-(methylthio)-3,5-xylyl N-methylcarbamate]. In three studies, large populations of redwings were reduced 70% - 98% within a few days and protection lasted about a month. In a fourth study, simultaneous baiting of three heavily used feedlots reduced redwing use by more than 90% within hours and was apparently responsible for these birds abandoning their roost and relocating in areas where they caused little trouble. Mortality was low (less than 5% of affected redwings in the fourth study), and few birds of nontarget species were affected. Paul P. Woronecki http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/34 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/34 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:07:26 PDT Reproduction inhibitors are intended to maintain or control a population at a desired level; toxicants aim at elimination of the population. Azocosterol hydrochloride (SC-12937; 20,25-diazocholestenol dihydrochloride) is a long acting inhibitor of ovulation in the pigeon (Columba liyia) by interfering with cholesterol synthesis and egg yolk formation. Corn impregnated with SC-12937 at the 0.1% level by weight and fed for 10 days has been found to inhibit or diminish reproduction for 5-6 months. Population turnover rate, mortality and longevity of the feral urban pigeon are also discussed. M. R. Woulfe http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/33 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/33 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:05:49 PDT In 1968 and 1969, biologists of the Denver Wildlife Research Center made field surveys in six Latin American countries to obtain information on bird damage problems in agriculture under an agreement with the Agency for International Development. Species of icterids, fringillids, psittids, columbids, and anatids caused most of the damage. Grain sorghum, corn, and rice were damaged most heavily. Other crops such as soybeans, wheat, cacao, and mangoes were also damaged, but seldom seriously. John W. De Grazio http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/32 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpcfour/32 Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:03:19 PDT Applications of wetting-agent solutions produce mortality in birds. The exact cause of death is undetermined, but it is believed that destruction of the insulating qualities of the plumage permits ambient cold temperatures and evaporation to lower the body temperature to a lethal level. The original concept of using these materials as bird-control tools was developed in 1958 at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Laurel, Maryland. Early field trials by personnel of the Division of Wildlife Services and the Denver Wildlife Research Center indicated that ground-application techniques had promise, but limitations of the equipment precluded successful large-scale roost treatments. In 1966, Patuxent Center personnel began using tanker-type aircraft to evaluate high-volume aerial applications of wetting agents. The success of these tests led to the use of small aircraft to make low-volume, high-concentration aerial applications just prior to expected rainfall. Recent trials of the low-volume method show that, with some limitations, it is effective, inexpensive, and safe to the environment. Paul W. Lefebvre