Invasive Species Control and Resolution of Wildlife Damage Conflicts: A Framework for Chemical and Genetically Based Management Methods

Authors

Larry Clark, APHISFollow
John Eisemann, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow
John Godwin, North Carolina State UniversityFollow
Katherine Horak, U.S. Department of AgricultureFollow
Kevin Oh, USDA APHIS Wildlife ServicesFollow
Jeanette R. O'Hare, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Antoinette J. Piaggio, USDA APHIS Wildlife ServicesFollow
Kim M. Pepin, USDA APHIS Wildlife ServicesFollow
Emily W. Ruell, USDA, APHIS, WS, National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Published in A. Chaurasia et al. (eds.), GMOs, Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation 19, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53183-6_9

Comments

US gov't work

Abstract

Vertebrate wildlife damage management relates to developing and employing methods to mitigate against damage caused by wildlife in the areas of food production, property damage, and animal or human health and safety. Of the many management tools available, chemical methods (e.g., toxicants) draw the most attention owing to issues related to environmental burden, species specificity, and humaneness. Research and development focusing on RNA interference and gene drives may be able to address the technical aspects of performance goals. However, there remain many questions about regulation, environmental risk, and societal acceptance for these emerging biological technologies. Here we focus on the development and use of these biological technologies for use in vertebrate pest management and conservation (e.g., management of wildlife diseases). We then discuss the regulatory framework and challenges these technologies present and conclude with a discussion on factors to consider for enabling these technologies for pest management and conservation applications under a commercially applied framework.