O. E. Baker, III

Research conducted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources indicated that populations of mink throughout South Carolina were declining or had become rare in areas of previous abundance. In September 1998, we initiated a 3-year study within the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in Charleston County, South Carolina, to determine the feasibility of re-establishing a wild mink (Mustela vison) population in the northern coastal marshes of South Carolina. We captured 62 wild mink with dip nets, cast nets, and live traps from tidal marshes near Edisto and Daufuskie islands, South...

The impact of raccoon (Procyon lotor) hunting with trained hounds on movement, daily use area, and harvest potential of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was studied on Westvaco Corporation's North Whitener Tract in Jasper County, South Carolina, in winter 1993-94 and 1994-95. Two groups (treatment and control) of radioinstrumented deer were selected from a larger group of radio-collared deer. Minimum daily total distance moved (MTD), 4 subsets of MTD, and daily use area were calculated and/or plotted from radio-locations during the 24-hour period before and the 24-hour period...

Tissues from 61 mink (Mustela vison) harvested in two areas in South Carolina during the 1987-88 season were screened for pesticide, PCB, and heavy metal residues. Low levels of DDT and DDE were detected. Although 90% of samples contained measurable levels of DDE, the low concentrations found in all but I animal should not present any problems to these mink populations. Many (43%) samples contained PCBs, and all samples had detectible heavy metal residues. Levels did not approach those published for mink that suffered mortality in laboratory studies; however, sublethal effects on mink...