Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

The Canaan Valley, West Virginia, Canada goose (Branta canadensis) flock is a discrete population that resulted from birds released in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This flock is the only flock in West Virginia that regularly migrates out of the state during winter and returns for nesting. It remains discrete even though other populations exist within 27 km to the east and west. This is the southernmost migratory flock of geese in the eastern United States. Helicopter surveys were conducted from 1982 to 1993 to estimate population size, and banding was conducted from 1977 to 1993 to examine demography and movements of this flock. The Canaan Valley goose population increased from <100 birds in 1982 to >500 by 1991. We banded 679 geese (379 adults and 300 juveniles) between 1977 and 1993.

While researchers recently have begun to examine production and nutritional quality of forage plantings for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), little research has been done to determine deer preference of commonly planted forages. Due to lack of research, some forages are being inappropriately recommended to supply forage during times of the year they are not productive or preferred. We employed a timed observational method to determine captive whitetailed deer use of commonly planted forages from 1989-1991 at the Auburn University Deer Research Facility near Auburn, Alabama. We recorded feeding activity of 10 deer foraging on 11 cool-season and 6 warm-season forages during 227 feeding intervals.

Long-term reproductive, physiological, and population data are not commonly available for deer herds. In Texas, there is little data on populations that are not commercially hunted. Data were recorded from 943 white-tailed does (Odocoileus virginianus) collected from 1961-1992 on the Welder Wildlife Foundation. Age class, eviscerated carcass weight, kidney fat index, density, and rainfall were correlated with reproductive performance including birth dates, pregnancy rates, and counts of corpora lutea and embryos. Deer densities averaged 33/km2. Mean conception date was 22 November and 75% of the breeding occurred in November. Pregnancy rates for fawns, yearlings, and adult does were 5%, 90%, and 95%, respectively. Yearlings averaged 1.39 corpora lutea and 1.28 embryos. Adults averaged 1.83 corpora lutea and 1.68 embryos. Fetal sex ratio was 52% males.

Little is known about exotic ungulates in Florida. This study evaluated the status of this industry in Florida and its potential for detrimental impacts on native wildlife. The exotic ungulate industry in Florida was surveyed by mail questionnaires to exotic ungulate permittees, phone interviews, interviews with exotic ungulate owner/managers, interviews with law enforcement wildlife inspectors, review of permit application forms on file with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, and review of the International Species Inventory System list. There were 64 wildlife exhibits, game farms, and hunting preserves that maintained >6,000 exotic hoofed-animals representing 103 species and subspecies. The number of new game farms with exotic ungulates has increased dramatically in the past 10 to 15 years. The most common species are fallow (Cervus dama), axis {Axis axis), and sika (C. nippon) deer.

Hunting is a popular and traditional pastime. However, natural resource managers are increasingly called upon to defend the use of hunting as a wildlife management tool and as a source of public recreation. The purpose of this study was to produce economic information to help resource managers and the public gain a better understanding of the economic contributions of hunting, to justify conservation and management expenditures, and help shape beneficial regulatory actions. My data show hunters spent $5.07 billion in the southeastern states in 1991 and jobs supported by hunting per state ranged from 3,120 (Oklahoma) to 23,370 (Texas). Hunting also produces important state tax revenues in the Southeast with $236.1 million generated by sales tax and $34.0 million generated in income tax revenues by hunting-supported jobs in SEAFWA member states. This report quantifies the economic contributions of deer and migratory bird hunting.

Wildlife agencies are challenged to conserve wildlife populations while supporting a persistent recreational and commercial demand for the resource. Conservation of some populations may require harvest restrictions to prevent over-exploitation. Hunting restrictions are often unpopular and create confrontations between user groups and wildlife agencies. The success of conservation measures, however, rests on shaping public opinion to accept reductions in consumptive use of the resources. I discuss 2 case studies in Delaware regarding confrontational responses to harvest restrictions placed upon 2 popular species, the Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and the Canada goose (Branta canadensis). Most sportsmen and conservation groups supported agency actions, while a determined influential minority contested imposed restrictions and worked persistently to eliminate them.

A safe, efficient, low-manpower method of capturing Rio Grande turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) sustainable over long periods of time was needed as an alternative to drop nets and rocket nets. We trapped 549 turkeys during a 3-year study of breeding chronology in Rio Grande turkey hens in Texas. We captured 107 birds (19.5%) using a rocket net and captured the remaining 442 birds (80.5%) using 4 x 8 x 10-ft. wire funnel traps. The funnel trap became the method of choice after its efficiency became apparent. During the last 1.5 years of the 3-year study, no more than 2 days of effort with ≤6 funnel traps was required to capture a minimum of 26 birds. One advantage of the funnel trap is that 1 person can safely trap turkeys. Another advantage is that private ranchers better accept a single trapper using a funnel trap than they do a crew of 3-5 people using either drop nets or rocket nets.

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is an important game species throughout the Southeast. While many long-term research projects have provided quantitative data on wild turkey ecology, information on daily gobbler movements is lacking. Because data on gobbler mobility may affect habitat and population management, we studied gobbler movements by radio-telemetry (N = 2,775 locations) on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Mississippi. Gobblers (N = 48) were monitored from 1 February 1989 through 30 September 1990 hourly from roost to 1200 hours (morning) and 1300 hours to roost (afternoon) during spring (1 Feb-31 May), summer (1 Jun-30 Sep), and fall/winter (1 Oct-31 Jan). Daily mean distance moved during the morning was 2,492 m for adults and 2,412 m for juveniles in spring 1989. Daily mean distances moved in the morning in spring 1990 by adults (1,228 m) and juveniles (955 m) were significantly (P <0.05) greater.

Little is known about effects of selective harvesting on home range and habitat use of wild turkeys. Such knowledge is needed to develop sound wild turkey management plans. Thirty-two eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) hens were monitored by telemetry in Wetzel County, West Virginia, from 15 April to 18 August 1990-1992. Spring home range (N = 24) averaged 532 ha; hens (N = 6) nesting in selectively harvested habitats had significantly smaller (344 ha) home ranges than hens (N = 18) nesting in unharvested forest (609 ha) (P = 0.01). Summer home range averaged 631 ha with no significant difference {P = 0.59) between hens using unharvested (N — 11) or harvested (TV = 5) stands. Although hens nested in 5 habitat types in proportion to their availability, during nesting (15 April to hatching) and brood-rearing (hatching to 18 August), unharvested chestnut oak (Quercusprinus) and bottomland hardwood and nonforest habitats were used more than expected.

Increased interest in and use of growing season prescribed burning has caused concern among sportsmen and biologists as to the potential impact on ground nesting game birds. We used radio-telemetry and invertebrate sampling to evaluate early growing season (April-May) prescribed burning to provide wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) brood habitat in the Coastal Plain pine (Firms spp.) forests of south Georgia from 1988 to 1990. None of the 14 hen-poult groups monitored were ever located in spring burns. Additionally, there was no significant difference in invertebrate abundance during the brood season between late winter (February-March) and spring burns. Our evaluation of spring burns for wild turkey brood habitat indicates that there are no benefits over traditional winter burning, and spring burning poses a threat to wild turkey nests. Alternative management strategies are discussed.

Wildlife population studies that involve marking of animals assume that the "mark" will remain with the animal for the duration of the study. Violations of this assumption may contribute to biased estimates of population parameters. Thirty-six gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and 16 fox squirrels (S. niger) were marked with ear tags and toe-clipped to study ear tag loss in these species. Fortynine percent of all squirrels lost at least 1 ear tag, whereas 15% lost both tags. Fox squirrels lost ear tags at twice the rate of gray squirrels. Female fox squirrels lost ear tags at a rate greater than gray squirrels and male fox squirrels. Studies that depend on identification of individual squirrels may be significantly affected by ear tag loss.

Significant declines in forested bottomlands are a basis for concern about the status of swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) in Kentucky. Current swamp rabbit distribution was determined through staff surveys and field investigations. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) personnel were surveyed to document their knowledge of swamp rabbit occurrence. County maps were marked to show areas where swamp rabbits were (1) thought to currently exist; (2) extirpated; and (3) areas which had potential habitat but unknown status of occupancy of swamp rabbits. These data indicated that swamp rabbits were extant in parts of 14 counties and extirpated from parts of 13 counties. Areas were identified in 14 counties where habitat was thought suitable but status of swamp rabbits unknown. Spot searches for swamp rabbits or their sign were completed at 280 sites. Rabbit fecal pellets were found at 137 locations in 20 counties. Populations were found along 12 stream systems.

Territorial behavior of beaver (Castor canadensis) has not been well documented in the Southeast. Study of this behavioral mechanism may lead to methods which may aid in the control of nuisance beavers in economic and environmentally sensitive areas. Territorial behavior was evaluated for beaver in 4 study areas in the Piedmont of South Carolina by monitoring scent marking and movements of adjacent colonies. Scent marking was observed during January 1982 to June 1985 on 1 area with high (≥ 0.8 beavers/ha) and 3 areas with low densities (≤0.3/ ha), of beaver. Beaver (N = 9) from 2 adjacent colonies were implanted intraperitoneally with radio transmitters and monitored from February 1983 through March 1984. Beaver on the high-density area built and maintained scent mounds from mid-September through mid-June. Beavers built new mounds from mid- September to late December.

Thirteen radio equipped gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were located by triangulation during 24-hour tracking periods on the Savannah River Site, Aiken, South Carolina, between 22 March 1985 and 24 May 1986. Diurnal and nocturnal habitat use was evaluated for each sex within seasonal (pup rearing N ~ 6, dispersal and mating N = 9, and denning N =1) and comprehensive (N = 13) home ranges. Proportional use of available habitats was not observed for 13 of 16 sex-temporal groupings (P < 0.05). Tests for relative use of 7 available habitat types demonstrated diurnal preference by both sexes of 5- to 14-year-old pine stands and, depending on sex and season, random or preferred use of these stands at night. Males and females in most seasonal groupings used ≥ 5-year-old pine stands less than expected during the day and randomly used them at night. Less than expected use of the 0- to 4-year-old pine/old field category was frequently exhibited, depending on sex and season.

The role of coyotes (Canis latrans) as predators of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) remains unclear. We determined proportion of wild turkey and other prey species in coyote scats collected during the wild turkey reproductive and non-reproductive seasons from 4 study areas with wild turkey populations. Wild turkey constituted only a small portion (x = <4%) of coyote diet on all study areas. Wild turkey increased in coyote diet during the wild turkey reproductive season, but the differences were not significant. Wild turkeys have evolved in the presence of predators and possess adaptations for dealing with predation such as wariness, large clutch sizes, and roosting at night. Wild turkeys in quality habitat appear to maintain populations when sympatric with coyotes.

Scent stations are assumed to be a simple and economical method to index furbearer populations, but recent literature challenges the reliability of this technique. We examined several variables that could affect visitation rates of 2 commonly indexed species. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) and bobcat (Felis rufus) visitation rates of scent stations were monitored on the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge in western Tennessee during summer and fall 1991. Factors tested included placement from water and roads, attractant type, and within-habitat variability of scent-station visitation rates. Placement of scent stations near water (≤10 m) increased visitation rates of raccoons. Attractant type (visual vs. olfactory) did not affect visitation rates of bobcats or raccoons regarding visual attraction to a scent station. Differences existed between sites within a habitat for raccoons.

During the last 20 years, coyote populations in the Southeast have increased. Information about livestock producers' perceptions towards coyotes and about economic and actual damage caused by coyotes in the Southeast was needed. We mailed questionnaires to 825 members of the Alabama Cattleman's Association (ACA) and to 189 members of the Alabama Lamb, Wool, and Mohair Association (LWMA) to evaluate knowledge and attitudes of Alabama cattle, sheep, and goat producers towards coyotes; and determine real or perceived economic losses caused by coyotes. Of the 1,014 livestock producers surveyed, 52 were unaccounted for, 5 respondents returned nonusable questionnaires, and 129 of the remaining 181 LWMA producers and 544 of the remaining 776 ACA producers surveyed returned useable questionnaires. Ten percent (n = 28) of the nonrespondents were contacted and no nonresponse bias was found.

Empirical case histories that relate long-term northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population declines to changing habitat conditions are rare in the scientific literature. We examined long-term (38 years; 1955-1992) changes in habitat conditions and bobwhite population trends at Copiah County Wildlife Management Area (CCWMA), Mississippi. Between 1955 and 1992, proportion of CCWMA in old fields declined from 70% to 20%, proportion of area in forest with <50% canopy cover declined from 18% to 0%, and proportion of forests with >50% canopy cover increased from 19% to 78%. During the same 38-year period, bobwhite density declined from 0.48 birds/ha to 0.08 birds/ha. Harvest rate declined from 1.76 birds/hunter day in 1955 to 0.5 birds/hunter day in 1992

Northern bobwhite populations have been declining throughout most of their range. Population declines imply that mortality consistently exceeds production and therefore a thorough understanding of the causes and temporal distribution of mortality is important. We present Heisey-Fuller estimates of monthly survival and cause-specific mortality rates of 1,001 radio-marked bobwhite on private lands in northern Missouri during 1989-1992. Monthly survival rate was lowest during the hunting season (November-January)(jc = 0.639), intermediate during the breeding season (May-September) (x = 0.815) and highest during the remainder of the year (October, March-April)(jc = 0.858). Females had significantly lower (P = 0.027) survival rate (0.552) than males (0.653) during the first month of the hunting season. Males had lower (P = 0.06) survival rate than females during July (0.710 vs. 0.887). Avian and mammalian predators were primary causes of natural mortality.

Some land managers think that the effects of increasing numbers of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on habitat have been a factor in the long-term decline of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations in the Southeast. We studied effects of deer browsing of selected quail foods in northern Florida on an area managed for quail and supporting a population of about 40 deer/km2. Periodic observations of permanently tagged plants indicated use of some taxa by deer, especially in early autumn. In sample quadrats from which deer were excluded, seed production was greater for partridge peas (Cassia nictitans and C. fasciculata) (P = 0.096) and butterfly pea (Centrosema virginiana) (P = 0.007) than in quadrats open to deer. Also, vegetative cover was greater inside exclosures for partridge peas (P = 0.013) and beggarweeds (Desmodium spp.) (P = 0.009).

In the southeastern United States northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have declined rapidly during the past 3 decades. Deterioration of suitable habitat conditions has been suggested as a major cause of this decline. Habitat management efforts typically focus on production of fall/winter foods (i.e., seeds). Management efforts are seldom directed at production of breeding season foods (i.e., arthropods) for bobwhites. Therefore, we used a D-Vac insect vacuum to measure effects of strip disking on arthropod resources in old fields managed for northern bobwhites during the 1992 and 1993 breeding seasons. Disked fields contained greater arthropod biomass than undisked fields. Greater arthropod biomass was supported primarily by increases in phytophagous insects. Arthropod biomass did not differ between years.

Little information is available on the success of single-parent mourning dove (Zenaida macwura) nests after 1 September, the time period when hunting usually begins. To answer this question, data from single-parent nests were collected on the Texas A&M University Campus during September 1979. Data for 44 nests where 1 parent was removed were compared to 31 control nests. Success of single-parent nests with young 0-6 days of age was reduced. We did not observe significant reduction in success for nests containing young exceeding 6 days of age, or for single male versus single female parents. Most known mortality was from weather or avian predators. While no eggs from single-parent doves produced fledged young, some hatched but were subsequently lost to weather. Most control eggs also were lost to weather.

Although numerous studies have been conducted on food habits of the Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), there is a paucity of information on food items taken by quail on severely-disturbed land bases. To collect more information, crop content analysis was conducted on 1,015 hunter-harvested northern bobwhites from 1982 to 1992. Quail were collected from disposal areas created by the deposition of spoil material during construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. These disposal areas are classified as severely-disturbed due to edaphic and pedogenic conditions. Vegetative cover was monitored during the study on disposal areas where bobwhites were collected. The seeded legume, sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), dominated these sites with ground coverages of ≥60% for most study years. Naturally-colonizing food plants, such as Lespedeza striata, exhibited mean coverages <5% for each study year.

Using radio collars on black bears (Ursus americanus) has greatly increased our knowledge of this species. Excessive body growth of collared bears can result in neck injuries from radio collars, however; therefore, techniques have been developed to resolve such problems. Three types of breakaway devices were used on black bear radio collars in Florida. Forty-eight collars (Telonics breakaway, TV = 10; surgical tubing breakaway, JV = 11; leather spacer breakaway, TV = 27) were placed on bears in the Apalachicola and Ocala National Forests. Collar life averaged 163 ± 22 (SE) days (TV = 4), 185 ± 21 days (TV = 7), and 399 ± 48 days (TV = 10) for surgical tubing, Telonics, and leather space types, respectively. Collars with leather spacers lasted significantly longer (P < 0.001) than other collar types. No neck injuries were observed during the study.

Bait stations have proven effective in monitoring black bear (Ursus americanus) population changes. However, little research has been conducted to investigate influences of habitat characteristics on bait station visitations. Vegetation (N = 20) and land-use (N = 3) variables were evaluated at bait stations visited (N = 27) and not visited (N = 25) by black bears on 2 islands in Arkansas. Overstory, midstory, and understory vegetation composition were assessed by nested circular plots centered on bait stations. Distance to nearest road and type and time since last timber harvest also were recorded for each site. Vegetative composition between visited and not visited bait stations did not differ (MRPP, P — 1.00) indicating that site-specific variables measured had no influence on probability of a bait station being visited.