Design and testing of an agricultural implement for underground application of rodenticide bait

An agricultural implement for underground application of rodenticide bait to control the Mediterranean pocket gopher (Microtus Duodecimcostatus) in fruit orchards has been designed and tested. The main objective of this research was to design and test the implement by using the finite element method (FEM) and considering a range of loads generated on most commonly used furrow openers in agricultural implements. As a second step, the prototype was tested in the field by analysing the effects of forward speed and application depth on the mechanical behaviour of the implement structure. The FEM was used in the design phase and a prototype was manufactured. The structural strains on the prototype chassis under working conditions were tested by using strain gauges to validate the design phase. Three forward speeds (4.5, 5.5, and 7.0 km/h), three application depths (0.12, 0.15, and 0.17 m), and two types of soil (clayey-silty-loam and clayey-silty-sandy) were considered. The prototype was validated successfully by analysing the information obtained from the strain gauges. The Von Mises stresses indicated a safety coefficient of 1.9 for the most critical load case. Although both forward speed and application depth had a significant effect on the stresses generated on the chassis, the latter parameter critically affected the structural behaviour of the implement. The effects of the application depth on the strains were linear such that strains increased with depth. In contrast, strains remained roughly constant regardless of variation in the forward speed

Twelfth Wildlife Damage Management Conference, April 9-12, 2007, Corpus Christi, Texas -- Final Program & Abstracts

Includes abstracts of Oral and Poster Presentations

Rodent Biology and Management; Abstracts of papers presented at the International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management, held at Beijing, China, 5-9 October 1998

Farm Management,

8th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference Berlin, Germany, 26-30 September 2011 - Book of Abstracts -

The 8th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference was held 26-30 September 2011 in Berlin, Germany.  It was organised by the Vertebrate Research Group of Julius Kühn Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants and the Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture of Humboldt University. The Conference is a biennial meeting of people interested in various aspects of vertebrate pest management. Overabundant vertebrate populations can be responsible for crop loss, public and animal health concerns, structural damage and confl icts with conservation interests. The conference is a forum for all involved in basic research in vertebrate biology, ecology, methodology, legislation and the application of these topics in wildlife management.The intention of the meeting was to foster the interaction of experts from Europe and beyond specializing in diff erent fi elds of applied and basic vertebrate research because thorough knowledge of all relevant aspects is a vital prerequisite to make informed decisions in vertebrate pest management. This book of abstracts summarizes all contributions that were presented in 9 symposia: 1) Fertility control in vertebrates, 2) Invasive vertebrates, 3) Management of birds, 4) New tools and methods - alternatives to anticoagulants including a workshop, 5) Population dynamics and management of mammals, 6) Rodenticide resistance and management of commensal rodents, 7) Vertebrate management in developing/emerging countries, 8) Wild boar biology and management, and 9) Zoonotic diseases in vertebrates

Ecologically-Based Management of Rodent Pests

Farm Management,

Innovative Solutions to Human–Wildlife Conflicts

The mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services (WS) Program is to provide Federal leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) functions as the research arm of WS by providing scientific information on the development of socially acceptable methods for wildlife damage management. As part of WS’ strategic plan to improve the coexistence of people and wildlife, NWRC has identified four strategic program goals: (1) developing methods, (2) providing wildlife services, (3) valuing and investing in people, and (4) enhancing information and communication. WS is dedicated to helping meet the wildlife damage management needs of the United States by building on NWRC’s strengths in these four key areas. This annual research highlights report is structured around these program goals

Innovative Solutions to Human–Wildlife Conflicts

The mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services (WS) Program is to provide Federal leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) functions as the research arm of WS by providing scientific information on the development of socially acceptable methods for wildlife damage management. As part of WS’ strategic plan to improve the coexistence of people and wildlife, NWRC has identified four strategic program goals: (1) developing methods, (2) providing wildlife services, (3) valuing and investing in people, and (4) enhancing information and communication. WS is dedicated to helping meet the wildlife damage management needs of the United States by building on NWRC’s strengths in these four key areas. This annual research highlights report is structured around these program goals

Innovative Solutions to Human–Wildlife Conflicts

The mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services (WS) Program is to provide Federal leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) functions as the research arm of WS by providing scientific information on the development of socially acceptable methods for wildlife damage management. As part of WS’ strategic plan to improve the coexistence of people and wildlife, NWRC has identified four strategic program goals: (1) developing methods, (2) providing wildlife services, (3) valuing and investing in people, and (4) enhancing information and communication. WS is dedicated to helping meet the wildlife damage management needs of the United States by building on NWRC’s strengths in these four key areas. This annual research highlights report is structured around these program goals

Restoring Wildlife Habitat on Rat Island: Environmental Assessment

Restoration of natural ecosystem function on Rat Island promises to re-establish native seabirds and other native species, thus returning this wilderness island to a healthy natural community. This restoration cannot occur until the island is cleared of the invasive non-native rats that now dominate the living community. Introduced non-native species are a leading cause of extinctions in island communities worldwide. Increasingly, land managers are removing introduced species to aid in the restoration of native ecosystems. Rats are responsible for 40-60% of all recorded bird and reptile extinctions worldwide. Given their widespread successful colonization on islands and the resulting impact to native species, introduced rats are identified as key species for eradication. Most of the Aleutian Islands lying within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) provide important breeding habitat for seabirds, including many for which the Aleutians provide a substantial portion of their worldwide range. Norway rats are established on at least 10 Aleutian islands or island groups, and the diversity and numbers of breeding seabirds occurring on those islands are now conspicuously low. Rat-caused modifications to other components of the island ecosystems (e.g., other birds, plants, and invertebrates) are also evident. The restoration of Aleutian ecosystems through introduced predator eradications has long been identified as a priority for Alaska Maritime NWR, and the initial efforts have been directed to removing introduced foxes. The focus now has turned to rats. This Environmental Assessment evaluates the environmental effects of eradicating introduced non-native rats from Rat Island, located in the central Aleutians within Alaska Maritime NWR. The consequences of the No Action alternative are addressed along with the Preferred Alternative (Proposed Action hereafter) which is to eradicate rats from Rat Island employing an aerial broadcast of rodenticide, and subsequently maintaining the island in rodent-free status. The intent of the Proposed Action is to facilitate the restoration of the natural island ecosystem by improving habitat quality for native species