Den site selection and movement patterns of female raccoons following removal and exclusion from residences

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are one of many wildlife species that have adapted to survive in urban/suburban environments. Classified as a rabies vector species in many eastern states, their disposition after being handled by wildlife specialists is often dictated by this human health concern. Specifically, some states prohibit relocation and mandate that raccoons be released on site or euthanized. Although management using nonlethal means is often preferred by some segments of the human population, several questions remain to be addressed before appropriate agency policies regarding the handling of urban wildlife can be determined. There is little information available regarding the fate of lactating raccoons and their offspring that are trapped and released on site or excluded from human structures. Therefore, our objective was to determine habitat use, home range size, and fate of adult females and their offspring following capture, exclusion, and subsequent release on site. Nineteen adult female raccoons were live-trapped, anesthetized, fitted with radio-collars, and released. Raccoons were captured in Hartford County, Connecticut between April and June of 1998 and 1999. Movements and den-site selection were monitored weekly using radio-telemetry equipment. Home ranges averaged 10.5 ha. Sixty-two percent of the raccoons selected human occupied structures for den sites immediately after release. In total, 73% of the den sites selected were human built. Further insight into nuisance raccoon behavior will permit state wildlife agencies to better develop management policies

Resource selection by New York City deer reveals the effective interface between wildlife, zoonotic hazards and humans

Although the role of host movement in shaping infectious disease dynamics is widely acknowledged, methodological separation between animal movement and disease ecology has prevented researchers from leveraging empirical insights from movement data to advance landscape-scale understanding of infectious disease risk. To address this knowledge gap, we examine how movement behavior and resource utilization by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) determine the distribution of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) which depend on this host for dispersal in a highly fragmented New York City borough. Multi-scale hierarchical resource selection analysis and movement modeling provide insight into how deer’s individual movements construct the risk landscape for human exposure to the Lyme disease zoonotic hazard – infected I. scapularis. We conclude the distribution of tick-borne disease risk is the result of individual resource selection by deer across spatial scales in response to habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances

Administering GonaCon\u3csup\u3eTM\u3c/sup\u3e to White-Tailed Deer Via Hand-Injection Versus Syringe-Dart

Immunocontraceptive vaccines have shown some promise for fertility control of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in urban and suburban habitats where traditional methods of population control may not be applicable. Currently, the only contraceptive vaccine approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in white-tailed deer is GonaConTM Immunocontraceptive Vaccine, but it is registered for use via hand-injection only. It has been suggested that remote-delivery of immunocontraceptives would be more cost-effective than hand-injection, but there is the potential for incomplete injection from a syringe-dart. Therefore, the purpose of our research was to: (1) conduct a dart configuration assessment trial to determine the ideal syringe-dart configuration for remote-delivery of GonaCon to white-tailed deer and (2) use the determined syringe-dart configuration in a subsequent trial to evaluate the vaccine efficacy when administered to female white-tailed deer via hand-injection versus syringe-dart. We saw comparable results with regard to vaccine dispersal during the dart configuration assessment and the efficacy trial; syringedart injected deer presented vaccine deposits and reaction sites both subcutaneously and intramuscularly, whereas, hand-injected deer presented vaccine deposits and reaction sites only intramuscularly. One year after administration, 4 of 5 deer treated with syringe-darts were pregnant, compared to 3 of 6 deer that received hand-injections. Anti-GnRH titers were negatively related to pregnancy status. We did not observe a high level of vaccine efficacy with the syringe-dart delivery method we used. Therefore, we recommend further research of syringe-dart delivery of GonaCon with a larger sample size where the vaccine is deployed in a single bolus similar to a hand-injected presentation

Managing White-tailed Deer in Suburban Environments

A print on demand of these books and articles can be obtained from Cornell Business Services (CBS) Digital Services by sending e-mail to [email protected] or calling 607.255.2524. In the body of the message include the identifier.uri for the book or article, and ask to be contacted regarding payment.Deer populations in suburban environments are soaring, resulting in an increase in deer-related conflicts such as property damage, vehicle collisions, and altered forest ecology. This publication describes strategies and methods for controlling deer populations in suburban environments and provides extensive resource contacts and a list of state wildlife agencies.Cornell Cooperative Extension The Wildlife Society Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Research and Outreach Cooperativ

Ecology of Argali in Ikh Nartiin Chuluu, Dornogobi Aymag

Argali sheep (Ovis ammon) are listed as threatened in both Mongolia and internationally. Yet, little is known about the biology and ecology of this species. Available data suggests that Argali in Mongolia are declining due to direct poaching and competition with domestic livestock. We initiated several research projects to better understand and conserve the species. In this report we discuss Argali ecology using radio telemetry. We captured and radio-collared 36 Argali using drive-nets, lamb captures, and dating from 2000–2004. Fifteen collared animals have died: 2 due to capture techniques, 8 from predation, 1 from starvation and exposure, 1 from disease, 1 due to maternal neglect, and 2 of unknown causes. In addition, 1 collar ceased working and 4 others dropped off prematurely. We have collected more than 1,040 locations through mid-May 2004. The majority of the Argali were captured in the northern portion of Ikh Nart. Animals have primarily restricted their movements to that area and have not exhibited seasonal movement patterns. Mean home range size for 17 animals with sufficient data (\u3e 45 days with locations) was 57±3.7 km2 (range = 30– 80 km2) using the 100% minimum convex polygon method, with areas of predicted occurrence of 76±5.3km2 for 95% kernel, 32±3.7 km2 for 75% kernel, 11±1.6 km2 for 50% kernel, and 3.8±0.5 km2 for 25% home ranges. Predation was the main cause (72.7%) of mortality in the collared animals for which cause of death could be determined (non-study related)

Law professors want hearing, vote on Garland

Dear Senator Fischer and Senator Sasse, We write this as citizens, but we all teach at the University of Nebraska College of Law. We hold different political viewpoints and disagree frequentIy with each other on political and legal issues. As law professors, however, we share a deep commitment to the rule of law and an impartial judiciary. We therefore urge you to hold confirmation hearings and a vote on President Obama\u27s Supreme Court nominee, Chief Judge Merrick B. Garland

Spatial movements in response to baiting female white-tailed deer

A better understanding of the manipulation of white-tailed deer movement patterns in response to bait has implications for future management of increasing suburban herds. We gathered radio telemetry data for 10 female and 1 male deer over a 1-year period with artificial feeding stations activated in spring and fall. Data were triangulated in the computer program Topo!, transferred into home range program CALHOME, and imported into Arc View for analysis. Mean annual home range size was 57.7 ha with mean core area of 8.4 ha. Spatial changes in behavior of all deer were witnessed in response to bait including core area shifts, addition of another core area closer to a second active feeder, and significant collapse of home range and core area around an active feeder. If bait site overlap is not desired for management purposes, we recommend distribution every 50-60 ha to reduce multiple feeder usage. We also recommend bait site placement in wooded areas to shift core areas away from residences if homeowner conflicts are prevalent

Engineering expanded spliceosome function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Nature has long been a source of chemical diversity and its untapped potential is a major resource for solving our medical and energy problems. In particular, filamentous fungi have been prolific producers of medicinal compounds in the fight against human disease. Therefore, there has been interest in leveraging the advances in genomics to discover new fungal biosynthetic pathways that yield novel bioactive compounds. Heterologous expression of biosynthetic genes in model organisms will be increasingly necessary for high-throughput exploration of this genomic sequence space. Unfortunately, fungal genes contain many non-coding introns, which are difficult to manually annotate or predict in silico. Additionally, it is not possible to obtain intron-free cDNA from uncultivable species or transcriptionally silent gene clusters. This intron problem magnifies as the number of genomes increases and it risks derailing heterologous expression of this new genetic data. Unfortunately, the native spliceosome of the commonly used model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae cannot remove introns from distant fungi. In this thesis, I will describe my efforts to engineer S. cerevisiae with expanded spliceosome functionality. I identified two failure modes that prevent splicing of an intron from Aspergillus fumigatus. This led to the generation of a chimeric yeast-fungal BranchBinding Protein that has enhanced specificity for an intron containing a fungal branchpoint site. Expression of this mutant protein enabled a 2-fold improvement in splicing of an intron with a suboptimal branchpoint site. Additionally, we identified multiple synergistic splicing factor mutations with mBBP, YHC1-D36A and downregulation of IFH1, that enabled a 1.6-fold improvement of splicing of the A. fumigatus intron. Additional studies modifying the U2 small nuclear RNA as well splicing proofreaders PRP5, PRP16, and PRP28 will be described, highlighting the drawbacks of these approaches. This study is the first demonstration of improved splicing of an Aspergillus intron through spliceosome engineering in S. cerevisiae. Using the tools, methodologies, and yeast strains provided by this work, the spliceosome can be engineered with new function, broadening the scope of how synthetic biology will be used to enhance heterologous expression in diverse research fields, such as in the elucidation of the splicing code and in natural products discovery

Sharpshooting suburban white-tailed deer reduces deer–vehicle collisions

Too many deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs) are one of the primary reasons local governments implement lethal deer management programs. However, there are limited data to demonstrate that a reduction in deer (Odocoileus spp.) densities will result in a decline in DVCs. We conducted sharpshooting programs in 3 suburban communities to reduce deer numbers and to address rising DVCs. Annual or periodic population estimates were conducted using both helicopter snow counts and aerial infrared counts to assess population trends. Management efforts were conducted from 3 to 7 years. Local deer herds were reduced by 54%, 72%, and 76%, with resulting reductions in DVCs of 49%, 75%, and 78%, respectively. These projects clearly demonstrate that a reduction in local deer densities using lethal methods can significantly reduce DVCs