Demographic vital rates and population growth: rethinking the relationship in a harvested elk population

Understanding the nature of the relationship between demographic vital rates and the rate of population change (λ) is important for determining effective strategies for population management and conservation. We examined the relative impacts of various demographic vital rates on λ within the range of temporal vital rate variability observed in a harvested population to test the hypotheses that adult survival rates in ungulates are relatively invariant when compared to other vital rates and that variability in calf survival has a greater influence on rates of population change than adult survival. Vital rates were estimated for an elk (_Cervus elaphus_) population at Fort Riley, Kansas from October 2003 – February 2007. The magnitude of adult survival rates were similar to other harvested populations and models including a negative relationship between survival and age received the highest levels of support. Prime-age adult survival had the highest stage-specific elasticity values, indicating a high contribution of these matrix elements to λ. Life-stage simulation analysis indicated that variation in calf survival had the highest correlation with variation in λ (r^2^ = 0.61). Our results suggest that adult survival rates in harvested populations may experience increased levels of variability, but that calf survival rates have the greatest relative influence on λ due to the wider range of variability observed for this vital rate

Status of the Mountain Lion in Arkansas

Two authenticated kill records of the mountain lion, Felis concolor, in Arkansas are reported as well as numerous reliable sight records spanning an approximately 30-year period. Distribution of sightings in the state is discussed in relation to an expanding deer population. The cougar probably never was exterminated in Arkansas but it still may be considered endangered

Status of the Mountain Lion in Arkansas

Two authenticated kill records of the mountain lion, Felis concolor, in Arkansas are reported as well as numerous reliable sight records spanning an approximately 30-year period. Distribution of sightings in the state is discussed in relation to an expanding deer population. The cougar probably never was exterminated in Arkansas but it still may be considered endangered

Capture Locations of Coyotes, Canis latrans, Bobcats, Lynx rufus, and Raccoons, Procyon lotor, Relative to Home Range Boundaries

Previous research showed that Coyotes (Canis latrans) and other canids might be more vulnerable to capture near the boundary or outside of their home ranges, making the capture of specific individuals within their territories difficult. Information concerning capture vulnerability relative to home range boundaries for other carnivores is lacking. During a four-year study of carnivore ecology in Kansas, we compared capture locations of Coyotes, Bobcats (Lynx rufus), and Raccoons (Procyon lotor) to their home range boundaries to determine if they were more likely to be captured inside, or near the periphery of, their home ranges. Resident Coyotes were captured disproportionately more often (P < 0.01) near the periphery of their home ranges, whereas Bobcats, Raccoons, and transient Coyotes were captured equally (P > 0.05) in both areas of their home ranges. Differences in capture vulnerability within and between species might be related to differences in social organization and behavior

Space and Habitat Use by Male and Female Raccoons, Procyon lotor, in Kansas

We monitored 12 radio-tagged adult Raccoons (Procyon lotor) from an unexploited population in northeastern Kansas to determine intersexual differences in space and habitat use. Home ranges (mean ± SE) of males were relatively large (266 ± 14 ha) and mutually exclusive, whereas home ranges of females were relatively small (122 ± 52 ha) and overlapped extensively. Sizes of home ranges were smaller (P < 0.05) in winter than summer for both sexes, although females reduced their home ranges more than males. Females used more grassland habitats than males during summer (P < 0.05), whereas males used more grassland habitats than females during winter (P < 0.05). Seasonal differences in habitat selection was detected for females (P < 0.05), but not males. Intersexual differences in space and habitat use were likely related to different behavioral strategies employed by male and female Raccoons

Spatial and Seasonal Variation in Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions

To understand seasonal variation in the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions and the influence of land cover type on collision distribution we counted road-kill carcasses for 84 weeks along a 40 km route on two state highways in northeastern Kansas. We noted land cover type adjacent to each road-kill and tested the null hypothesis that road-kills were distributed randomly with respect to land cover type. Wildlife-vehicle collisions were not distributed randomly in relation to land cover availability. Instead, collisions occurred more often then expected adjacent to riparian areas and less often than expected adjacent to agricultural fields. Wildlife-vehicle collisions varied seasonally and occurred most frequently during the fall. Seasonal changes in traffic volume were not related to the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions observed. Knowledge of land cover types in which wildlife-vehicle collisions are more likely to occur might help wildlife managers and state transportation departments design strategies to minimize the occurrence of these collisions

Perceptions Of Wildlife Damage By Conservation Reserve Program Contract Holders In Riley County, Kansas

Twenty-five Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract holders in Riley County, Kansas were surveyed by telephone to assess their perceptions of wildlife damage relative to CRP plantings. Sixty-four percent experienced wildlife damage on their farm or ranch. Respondents felt that five species causing damage on their farm or ranch had become more common due to enrollment of lands in the CRP. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) accounted for 64.3% of these observations, followed by wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), and Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), which accounted for 14.3 %, 7.1%, 7.1%, and 7.1% of the damage observations, respectively. Only 12.5% of respondents attempted to control wildlife damage, and none felt that wildlife damage was severe enough to preclude future enrollment in programs such as the CRP. Most respondents allowed hunting or trapping by non-family members on their CRP lands (68.8%), but none felt that increased hunting or trapping would reduce the amount of wildlife damage they experienced. All respondents felt that the benefits of the CRP exceeded costs associated with wildlife damage and that the program was highly beneficial overall

Comparison of Standard and Modified Soft Catch Traps for Capturing Coyotes, Bobcats, and Raccoons

Capture rates and injury rates of coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and raccoons (Procyon lotor) captured in standard No. 3 Soft Catch® traps were compared to those captured in the same trap type modified with the Taos Lightening Spring™ (TLS) double torsion spring. All traps were equipped with Paws-I-Trip™ pan tension devices and were successful in excluding most small non target species. We captured 15 coyotes and 17 bobcats from October 1995 to March 1997. In addition, 23 raccoons, a large non target species, were captured. Capture rates for coyotes were higher (P \u3c 0.10) in TLS modified traps (92%) than standard traps (27%), whereas capture rates were similar (P \u3e 0.10) for raccoons (85% and 67%, respectively) and identical for bobcats (100%). Injury rates were minimal (\u3c 9%) for coyotes and bobcats in both types of traps. In contrast, injury rates for raccoons were higher (P \u3c 0.10) in TLS modified traps (73%) than standard traps (33%)

Distance-Based Habitat Associations of Northern Bobwhites in a Fescue-Dominated Landscape in Kansas

Northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have a wide distribution across North America which influences its’ associations with habitats in a variety of landscapes. We used radio-marked bobwhites and Euclidean distance to characterize land cover associations of bobwhites at generalized level 1 and specific level 2 land cover classifications during the reproductive (15 Apr-14 Oct) and covey (15 Oct-14 Apr) periods in southeastern Kansas from 2003 to 2005. Habitat associations occurred during the reproductive (Wilkes’ k 1⁄4 0.04, F6,36 1⁄4 143.682, P , 0.001) and covey (Wilkes’ k 1⁄4 0.056, F6, 29 1⁄4 81.99, P , 0.001) periods. Ranking of the reproductive period habitats indicated bobwhites preferred locations in close proximity to fescue (Festuca spp.) over all other habitats. Coveys preferred locations in close proximity to woody cover. Bobwhites were found to associate with specific habitats at the level 2 land cover classification during the reproductive (Wilkes’ k 1⁄4 0.006, F16, 26 1⁄4 284.483, P , 0.001) and covey (Wilkes’ k 1⁄4 0.004, F16, 19 1⁄4 276.037, P , 0.001) periods. Bobwhites preferred locations in close proximity to fescue pastures and roads equally over all other habitats during the reproductive period. Coveys preferred locations in close proximity to roads and Conservation Reserve Program lands during the covey period. Fescue pastures may be avoided by bobwhites during the covey period, provided adequate cover is not provided, but bobwhites are strongly associated with them during the reproductive period because they meet nesting and brooding needs not met by other habitats

ACCURACY AND PRECISION OF ESTIMATING AGE OF GRAY WOLVES BY TOOTH WEAR

We evaluated the accuracy and precision of tooth wear for aging gray wolves (Canis lupus) from Alaska, Minnesota, and Ontario based on 47 known-age or known-minimum-age skuIIs. Estimates of age using tooth wear and a commercial cementum annuli-aging service were useful for wolves up to 14 years old. The precision of estimates from cementum annuli was greater than estimates from tooth wear, but tooth wear estimates are more applicable in the field. We tended to overestimate age by 1-2 years and occasionaIIy by 3 or 4 years. The commercial service aged young wolves with cementum annuli to within ± 1 year of actual age, but under estimated ages of wolves 2:9 years old by 1-3 years. No differences were detected in tooth wear patterns for wild wolves from Alaska, Minnesota, and Ontario, nor between captive and wild wolves. Tooth wear was not appropriate for aging wolves with an underbite that prevented normal wear or severely broken and missing teeth