Research Needs in Education and Research Institutions

Research to support wildlife management programs has traditionally been conducted by scientists in education and research institutions. Much of this work has resulted from state and federal agency program needs or has been funded by state or federal agencies upon solicitation from scientists at these institutions. Regardless of the origin of the research, these institutions have primarily provided the investigators and staff for conducting research on animal damage problems. The priorities, duration and depth of the efforts have been dependent upon the committment to damage control research by the investigator and the quality of funding support

Characteristics of Predation and Losses in the New York Sheep Industry

A questionnaire survey was used in 1985 to obtain data on predation and losses from New York sheep growers. Surveys were returned by 685 growers which was a 40% return rate. The average grower managed 160 acres, including 24 acres of pasture, kept 106 sheep and received 12% of the total family income from sheep farming. Sheep predation occurred on 44% of the farms and dogs were considered the most harmful predator by 88% of the growers with losses. Growers with sheep losses had significantly larger flocks, more acreage in pasture, larger farms and depended more heavily on sheep farming for income than growers without losses (p \u3c 0.05). Growers who had reduced their pasture acreage and were planning further reductions had significantly higher losses than growers whose acreage had remained constant or increased and were planning to add more pasture (p \u3c 0.001). Growers who had reduced their flock size also had significantly higher losses than those who had increased their flocks (p \u3c 0.05). Finally, individuals who would reduce or sell their flock if predation continued had significantly higher losses than growers who planned to use lethal predator control methods to combat future predation (p \u3e 0.05)

Factors Affecting Deer Use of Hybrid Corn in Winter

We compared white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) use of 15 field corn (Zea mays) hybrids grown in food plots near 3 deer wintering areas in southwestern Minnesota, 1987-88. Physical and morphological characteristics of corn varied significantly among sites, subplots and among hybrids. Deer use of hybrids was significantly different and 5 use groups of hybrids were identified. A significant linear relationship was found between use and ear height. Hybrids with higher ears and less husk coverage were preferred by deer. These findings suggest that deer preferences for corn hybrids are affected more by deer pressure, ear height and husk coverage than by morphological variables which could affect deer mastication and mouth prehension. A 1988-89 study of 2 hybrids planted in food plots corroborated our preference rankings

Fence Designs for Deer Control: A Review and the Results of Recent Research in Southeastern New York

Research on fences for deer control over the last 45 years has involved either the nonelectric or electric designs. The conventional nonelectric fence has been a vertical 8-to 10-foot woven-wire type which has proven effective in several states over the past 30 years. Some installations have included a 2-to 3-foot overhang of barbed or smooth wire at the top. All versions of this fence have been deemed excessively expensive by many consumers, although a recent New York study reported the 8-foot fence in new, high-density fruit orchards to be a very cost-effective control option

An Evaluation of the Cost and Effectiveness of Repellent Applications in Protecting Fruit Orchards

A summer repellent spray program was devised and implemented on a total of 110 acres (9 orchard blocks) of 1- to 3-year-old semi-dwarf apple trees. Cooperating growers were supplied with repellent (Hinder or Clearepel) as required, to allow them to adhere to a flexible 3-to 6-application schedule from May through August. Spraying costs, including labor, equipment, and spray materials, were estimated based on data provided by each cooperating grower for each application completed

ASSESSING DEER DAMAGE IN YOUNG FRUIT ORCHARDS

Evaluations of systematic damage assessments of 5, 10 and 20 percent of all apple trees in 12 orchards were compared. The 10% assessment technique was selected as the most accurate and efficient in estimating summer and fall damage. Analysis of several parameters of tree vigor found significant differences between browsed and unbrowsed trees for tree basal diameter and central leader diameter over 2 successive years. These subtle yet important differences in tree development were felt to severely limit the possibilities of relating browsing to growth and. later, yields. Methods and considerations for making control decisions on a per acre basis are discussed

WILDLIFE DAMAGE MANAGEMENT IN THE 90S—DOES THE PROFESSIONAL FIT THE PROFESSION?

A recurring theme at animal damage conferences has been the lack of interest in, and recognition of, animal damage management or problem wildlife manage-ment as an important topic in the wildlife profession (Timm 1982; Berryman 1983, 1989; Jones 1983; Miller 1987; San Julian 1989; Schmidt 1989a). This concern has been raised by Animal Damage Control (ADC) workers in urban, suburban, agri-cultural and forested systems and, in fact, can be heard in nearly any landscape in which wildlife are in conflict with people\u27s use of the land. While the scope of these issues involves the largest potential constitu-ency the wildlife profession could ever serve, few professionals save those from ADC, Wildlife Extension, or the Cooperative Wildlife Research Units are present at the meetings. Why? Do wildlife professionals see conflict resolution in wildlife management as a trivial pursuit, or one unworthy of our time and interest? Worse, are many agencies willing to relegate the wildlife concerns of a huge pool of voters to the best-guess advice rendered by biologists, cornered for a fleeting moment between other, more important management problems? What is the present level of emphasis on problem wildlife management or conflict resolution in undergraduate and graduate curricula or in professional improvement or in-service training programs? Are educators, academicians, and information specialists preparing students and training wildlifers to deal with the diversity of problems and publics that must be served today? Many who have considered the preceding questions have come away with feelings of alarm about the present state of benign neglect by the wildlife profession for the majority of the wildlife resources that we have the privi-lege and professional obligation to manage. How did we get to where we are today, where will we go from here, and how will we get there

CURRENT STATUS OF DEER FENCING IN THE NORTHEAST

The recent development of high tensile electric fencing for controlling deer damage has led to the installation of these fence designs throughout the Northeast. In May 1984. 55 surveys were sent to individuals in 10 states who were known to have recently constructed deer fences. Sixty-seven percent of the surveys were returned and a variety of fence-related data were generated. These include information on deer damage, a general description of fence designs being utilized, information concerning fence voltage, data on fence maintenance and several questions on fence performance, owner satisfaction, and the cost/benefits of deer damage control. The majority of fences in this study were either 5-strand vertical (40%) or 7-strand slant (33%). Slanted fences enclosed more acreage and longer rotational crops than vertical fences. Most fence owners indicated that maintenance activities were routinely carried out and that fence performance was excellent. However, the majority of fence owners reported that deer penetration did occur. The results of the survey contradicted, to some extent, data and field observations collected by the authors in southeastern New York over the past five years. An unpublished study of 12 high-tensile fences, most of which were also reported on in the survey, revealed significant differences in wire tension, bottom wire height, and voltage between and within these fences. This study indicates that many fences are actually in poor operating condition and are in need of better maintenance. Possible reasons for the widespread owner satisfaction with fences which appear to be operating at below-optimum levels are discussed