COMPARISON OF HANDMADE AND MOLDED RUBBER TRANQUILIZER TABS FOR DELIVERING TRANQUILIZING MATERIALS TO COYOTES CAPTURED IN LEG-HOLD TRAPS

Leg-hold traps are an important tool in selectively capturing coyotes (Canis latrans) causing agricultural depredations. Because animals captured in leg-hold traps may incur injury and trauma to their feet and legs, there has been growing opposition to use of such traps. Each year, state or federal legislation is proposed to restrict the use of traps and considerable research effort has been devoted to the examination of trap improvements or alternatives. A variety of trap modifications have been suggested to reduce foot injuries and make the technique more generally acceptable, including use of padded jaws (Linhart et al. 1986, Olsen et al. 1986, Linhart et al. 1988) or attachment of tranquilizer tabs to traps (Balser 1965, Linhart et al. 1981). A tranquilizer tab consists of a measured amount of tranquilizer in some form of small pouch or nipple attached to the trap jaw. When a coyote is captured in a tranquilizer tab-equipped trap, it chews on the tab and ingests some or all of the tranquilizer, resulting in reduced: 1) anxiety, 2) struggling, and 3) secondary injuries to the coyote\u27s foot and leg. In addition, tranquilization may (4) serve to improve trap efficiency by reducing escapes

Response of captive coyotes to renardine coyote repellent

Renardine is a bone tar product available for use as a coyote (Canis latrans) repellent in Canada. The substance is applied to pasture borders to prevent coyotes from entering and attacking sheep. Because data regarding the effectiveness of Renardine are lacking, we designed two experiments. In the first, six pairs of coyotes were first presented with 400 g of ground meat in two pans (200 g/pan) with false screen bottoms. Beneath the screens were absorbent tubes wetted with 10 ml of distilled water. Subsequently, during a treatment period, the absorbent tube was wetted with 10 ml of Renardine. Pans were presented for 60 minutes, and the amount of time to consume the meat was recorded. In the second experiment, six additional pairs of coyotes were first presented with 200 g of ground meat inside a barrier created with baling twine and wooden dowels. The area inside the barrier was 1 m2, and the twine was tied onto the dowels 0.25 m above the ground. During the treatment period, the twine and dowels were painted with Renardine. In both experiments, all coyote pairs consumed all of the ground meat shortly after presentation. We conclude that Renardine probably is not an effective coyote repellent. However, because the active ingredient in Renardine is bone tar oil and bone tar oil is deer repellent, we speculate that Renardine may have utility as an herbivore repellent

Coyotes (\u3ci\u3eCanis latrans\u3c/i\u3e) are definitive hosts of \u3ci\u3eNeospora caninum\u3c/i\u3e

Four captive-raised coyote pups consumed tissues from Neospora caninum-infected calves. Feces were examined from 4 days before to 28 days after infection. One pup shed N. caninum-like oocysts, which tested positive for N. caninum and negative for Hammondia heydorni using PCR tests. Coyotes are the second discovered definitive host of N. caninum, after dogs. In North America, the expanding coyote ranges and population increase the probability of contact with domestic livestock. To reduce the risk of transmission of N. caninum to intensively farmed cattle, we recommend protection of feedstuffs using canid-proof fences, and careful disposal of dead stock

PZP Immunocontraception in Coyotes: A Multi-Year Study with Three Vaccine Formulations

The use of poisons for coyote control is controversial because of public opposition to lethal control of pest animals and the perceived environmental risks of pesticide use. The development of immunocontraception for population control of coyotes could result in a more acceptable alternative to poisons. Immunocontraception using porcine zona pellucida (PZP) would allow normal estrus in the female and therefore normal male-female pair-bonding. Coyotes are mon-estrus, therefore PZP contraception during the breeding season of February and March could provide year-round protection. This paper reviews 9 years of research on PZP immunocontraception, starting from a multi-shot PZP vaccine using Freund’s adjuvant, to the development and testing of two single-shot preparations combined with a newly developed adjuvant (AdjuVac™). We provide insights into the false assumption that one contraceptive vaccine fits all species and situations

PZP Immunocontraception in Coyotes: A Multi-Year Study with Three Vaccine Formulations

The use of poisons for coyote control is controversial because of public opposition to lethal control of pest animals and the perceived environmental risks of pesticide use. The development of immunocontraception for population control of coyotes could result in a more acceptable alternative to poisons. Immunocontraception using porcine zona pellucida (PZP) would allow normal estrus in the female and therefore normal male-female pair-bonding. Coyotes are mon-estrus, therefore PZP contraception during the breeding season of February and March could provide year-round protection. This paper reviews 9 years of research on PZP immunocontraception, starting from a multi-shot PZP vaccine using Freund’s adjuvant, to the development and testing of two single-shot preparations combined with a newly developed adjuvant (AdjuVac™). We provide insights into the false assumption that one contraceptive vaccine fits all species and situations

DEVELOPMENT AND REGISTRATION OF A PRACTICAL TRANQUILIZER TRAP DEVICE (TTD) FOR FOOT-HOLD TRAPS

Foot-hold traps can be used to selectively capture coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (C. lupus). However, injuries to captured animals sometimes occur when they struggle to escape. Tranquilizer trap devices (TTDs) reduce struggling and injuries but prototype TTDs were too expensive for widespread use by Animal Damage Control (ADC) operational personnel. For this reason, the Pocatello Supply Depot (PSD) and the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) are investigating alternative TTD designs. A molded-rubber TTD will be available from the PSD for coyotes, and the NWRC continues to explore other cheaper TTD designs. A practical TTD design is now available for use with wolves, and evaluation of foot and leg injuries shows \u3e90% of wolves captured in TTD equipped foot-hold traps had only minor injuries. Conversely, 57% of wolves captured in traps without the tranquilizer had more severe injuries. A training handbook is being developed by ADC operations and NWRC personnel for the operational use of TTDs. The development of efficient, economical tranquilizer delivery systems continues to be an important priority for the NWRC

Development of chemical coyote attractants for wildlife management applications

Coyote attractants are inherently variable because they are usually derived by mixing and fermenting complex biologically derived substances. We designed the present study to address this problem. We collected volatiles by purge and trap headspace analyses from 33 commercially available attractants, and analyzed the trapped odors by gas chromatography with mass selective detection. We then statistically evaluated chromatographic peak area data to produce recipes for seven new chemical attractants. We presented these attractants to coyotes in one-choice tests at the Predation Ecology and Behavioral Applications Field Station of the USDA-APHIS-WS National Wildlife Research Center near Logan, Utah. Our results indicated that there were both seasonal and sexual differences in stimulus attractiveness. We also found that several attractants were more effective than Fatty Acid Scent (FAS), a commonly employed coyote attractant. A field trial to evaluate the effectiveness of new candidate attractants is planned

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are definitive hosts of Neospora caninum

Four captive-raised coyote pups consumed tissues from Neospora caninum-infected calves. Faeces were examined from 4 days before to 28 days after infection. One pup shed N. caninum-like oocysts, which tested positive for N. caninum and negative for Hammondia heydorni using PCR tests. Coyotes are the second discovered definitive host of N. caninum, after dogs. In North America, the expanding coyote ranges and population increase the probability of contact with domestic livestock. To reduce the risk of transmission of N. caninum to intensively farmed cattle, we recommend protection of feedstuffs using canid-proof fences, and careful disposal of dead stock.Luis F. P. Gondim, Milton M. McAllister, William C. Pitt and Doris E. Zemlick