Application of Large-Scale Parentage Analysis for Investigating Natal Dispersal in Highly Vagile Vertebrates: A Case Study of American Black Bears (\u3ci\u3eUrsus americanus\u3c/i\u3e)

Understanding the factors that affect dispersal is a fundamental question in ecology and conservation biology, particularly as populations are faced with increasing anthropogenic impacts. Here we collected georeferenced genetic samples (n=2,540) from three generations of black bears (Ursus americanus) harvested in a large (47,739 km2), geographically isolated population and used parentage analysis to identify mother-offspring dyads (n=337). We quantified the effects of sex, age, habitat type and suitability, and local harvest density at the natal and settlement sites on the probability of natal dispersal, and on dispersal distances. Dispersal was male-biased (76% of males dispersed) but a small proportion (21%) of females also dispersed, and female dispersal distances (mean ± SE = 48.9±7.7 km) were comparable to male dispersal distances (59.0±3.2 km). Dispersal probabilities and dispersal distances were greatest for bears in areas with high habitat suitability and low harvest density. The inverse relationship between dispersal and harvest density in black bears suggests that 1) intensive harvest promotes restricted dispersal, or 2) high black bear population density decreases the propensity to disperse. Multigenerational genetic data collected over large landscape scales can be a powerful means of characterizing dispersal patterns and causal associations with demographic and landscape features in wild populations of elusive and wide-ranging species

American Black Bear–Apiary Conflicts in Michigan

American black bear (Ursus americanus) damage to apiaries can result in substantial economic loss. We used records of black–bear apiary conflicts collected by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to characterize damage in the Upper and Northern Lower peninsulas of Michigan from April 2003 to May 2011. Most conflicts occurred between May and July, and the number of conflicts decreased across years. The number of reported conflicts was directly correlated with bear population size. However, we found no positive association between numbers of reported conflicts with bear condition as indexed by winter severity and hive abundance. Intolerance toward black bears increased 30% after \u3e1 black bear–apiary conflict occurred. The effectiveness of direct or indirect management for reducing repeated conflicts was similar, and overall management actions may have reduced black bear–apiary conflict

Effects of Wild Pig Disturbance on Forest Vegetation and Soils

In North America, wild pigs (Sus scrofa; feral pigs, feral swine, wild boars) are a widespread exotic species capable of creating large‐scale biotic and abiotic landscape perturbations. Quantification of wild pig environmental effects has been particularly problematic in northern climates, where they occur only recently as localized populations at low densities. Between 2016 and 2017, we assessed short‐term (within ~2 yrs of disturbance) effects of a low‐density wild pig population on forest features in the central Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA. We identified 16 8‐ha sites using global positioning system locations from 7 radio‐collared wild pigs for sampling.Within each site, we conducted fine‐scale assessments at 81 plots and quantified potential disturbance by wild pigs. We defined disturbance as exposure of overturned soil, often resulting from rooting behavior by wild pigs.We quantified ground cover of plants within paired 1‐m2 frames at each plot, determined effects to tree regeneration using point‐centered quarter sampling, and collected soil cores from each plot. We observed less percent ground cover of native herbaceous plants and lower species diversity, particularly for plants with a coefficient of conservatism ≥5, in plots disturbed by wild pigs.We did not observe an increase in colonization of exotic plants following disturbance, though the observed prevalence of exotic plants was low. Wild pigs did not select for tree species when rooting, and we did not detect any differences in regeneration of light‐ and heavy‐seeded tree species between disturbed or undisturbed plots. Magnesium and ammonium content in soils were lower in disturbed plots, suggesting soil disturbance accelerated leaching of macronutrients, potentially altering nitrogen transformation. Our study suggested that disturbances by wild pigs, even at low densities, alters short‐term native herbaceous plant diversity and soil chemistry. Thus, small‐scale exclusion of wild pigs from vulnerable and rare plant communities may be warranted

Behavioral states in space and time: Understanding landscape use by an invasive mammal

Animal movement models can be used to understand species behavior and assist with implementation of management activities. We explored behavioral states of an invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) population that recently colonized central Michigan, USA, 2014–2018. To quantify environmental factors related to wild pig movement ecology and spatio‐temporal landscape use, we predicted wild pig behavioral states relative to land cover type, landscape structure (i.e., edge and patch cohesion), and weather conditions. We used global positioning system (GPS)‐collars and monitored 8 wild pigs from 2014–2018. We fit local convex hulls and calculated movement metrics revealing 3 wild pig behavioral states (resting, exploratory, and relocating) and constructed a 3‐level model to predict behavioral state probabilities relative to biotic and abiotic conditions. Probabilities of exploratory and resting behaviors were higher nearer to riparian and open herbaceous cover types (oftentimes emergent marsh), indicating that these cover types provided security cover during activity and bedding. Hard mast cover types had a strong positive association with relocating behaviors. More cohesive patches of agriculture and shrub cover types were associated with higher probabilities of exploratory behaviors, while resting was more likely in continuous patches of agriculture (mostly mid‐summer corn). The probability of exploratory behaviors increased exponentially with warming ambient temperature. Our results may be used by managers to develop control strategies conducive to landscape and environmental conditions where the likelihood of encountering wild pigs is highest or targeting wild pigs when in a behavioral state most vulnerable to a particular removal technique

Chicago Wilderness Grant: A Model for Managing Overabundant Deer Populations in the Natural areas of the Chicago Wilderness

Chicago Wilderness Grant Final ReportReport issued on: [June 7, 1999]INHS Technical Report prepared for unspecified recipien

Ecology and Management of Overabundant White -Tailed Deer From Suburban Chicago, Illinois

107 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001.These data will help to fill a void in our knowledge about suburban deer life histories and population dynamics and, thereby provide information essential for the management of overabundant deer.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Ecology and Management of Overabundant White -Tailed Deer From Suburban Chicago, Illinois

107 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001.These data will help to fill a void in our knowledge about suburban deer life histories and population dynamics and, thereby provide information essential for the management of overabundant deer.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Demographics of non-hunted white-tailed deer populations in suburban areas

Burgeoning deer populations in urban and suburban areas, along with the inherent problems stemming from this increase, are becoming increasingly widespread. To address these problems, wildlife biologists need quality baseline data of herd composition for harvest and treatment forecasts for management and fertility control research programs. In this study, we provide white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population data from 4 areas where localized suburban white-tailed deer populations were substantially reduced utilizing sharpshooting as a management tool. In each area, legal hunting was nonexistent for \u3e10 years preceding the sharpshooting program. The areas ranged in size from 300 ha to 3,000 ha. We annually culled from 124 to 566 deer per area and reduced herds by 35% to 90% in a given year. Biological traits were gathered from harvested deer (n = 3,242) at each site to ascertain herd demographics and fitness. The results from these harvest programs indicate that sex and age structure of non-hunted deer populations are fairly uniform and predictable. There were consistently 60% females and 40% males in these environments. Also, these deer populations were comprised of ~40% yearling and adult females, ~20% yearling and adult males, and ~40% fawns

Illinois Forest Game Investigations W-87-R-17, Quarterly Report 1 April 1995 through 30 June 1995

Quarterly Report W-87-R-17; Study No. 1: Title: Cooperative Forest Wildlife Research-Illinois Deer InvestigationsReport issued on: 7 June 1995INHS Technical Report prepared for unspecified recipien

Population Dynamics and Ecology of White-tailed Deer in Illinois W-87-R-17, Final Report July 1, 1994 - June 30, 1995

Final Report July 1, 1994 - June 30, 1995 issued June 1, 1995Report issued on: June 1, 1995INHS Technical Report prepared for Department of Natural Resource