SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BIG GAME REPELLENT AND PREDATOR URINE REPELLENCY TO WHITE-TAILED DEER: THE IMPORTANCE OF SULFUR AND FATTY ACIDS

Authors

Rebecca Lewison, Vassar College
N. Jay Bean, Vassar College
Evgeny V. Aronov, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
John E. McConnell Jr., Utah State University
J. Russell Mason, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PAFollow

Date of this Version

October 1993

Abstract

In the present experiment, we evaluated the repellency of Big Game Repellent® (BGR), whole coyote urine, coyote urine with sulfur compounds removed, and water. Each stimulus was applied to an ornamental plant (hostas, Alba marginata) at 5 sites in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. At weekly intervals for 5 weeks, damage was recorded, treatments were reapplied, and plants were replaced when necessary. There was no damage to plants treated with either BGR or whole coyote urine. This was not true for plants sprayed with sulfur-free urine or water. We conclude that the repellency of coyote urine is largely a consequence of sulfurous volatiles.