Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

With the increase in illegal commercial fishing, there is a need for better and faster means of detecting nets in our reservoirs. With the improvements in Sonar depth finders for fishermen came the idea to use electronics, especially the Graph Recorder in the detection of nets. Its use makes law enforcement personnel more effective.

Woodcock (Philohela minor) singing grounds were located in 39 counties in Tennessee. Harvest records indicated that the Great Valley and the Central Basin were the most productive hunting areas during 1966-1976. During 1977 and 1978 February hunting seasons, western Tennessee hunters, contributed about one-third of all woodcock. Spring migration through Tennessee occurred from mid February to mid March both years of the study. Testes of males shot during February averaged 9.2 mm in length both years (n =20, 1977, n =46, 1978). Follicle measurements offemales collected during February showed a wide variation in degree of sexual maturation. Clutch and brood observations in 1978 indicated that peak nesting occurred during the second and third wks. in March.

Increased commercial demand for wild furs had substantial influence on various aspects of Missouri's furbearer harvest system. Significant (P < .05) positive correlations existed between inflated market values and fur trader numbers, trapper numbers, raccoon (Procyon 1010r) hunter numbers, raccoon hunter individual efforts and harvests of high demand furbearers and certain other species. Little correlation existed following transformation of inflated values to inflation-adjusted standards. Trapper recruitment during active market periods concentrated heavily on young individuals. Mean trapper efforts and total catch were lower in 1977-78 than 1972-73 despite increased market demand and increased mean trapper expenditures.

Food habits of pen-raised wild turkey poults (Meleagris gallopavo silverstris), age 4-14 days, were studied for a 3-yr. period (1975-1977) in the loblolly pine-shortleaf pine (Pinus taeda, P. echinata, forest type in eastcentral Mississippi. Crop and gizzard contents of poults that fed on recently burned subplots (0.65 hal were compared to the contents of poults that fed on 3- and 4-yr.-old "roughs" or unburned subplots. Total animal food eaten (insects, spiders, snails, etc.) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher on burned subplots. Mean oven.dry weight of selected animal food eaten (insects and spiders), was not significantly different when recently burned areas werecompared to 3yr.- old "roughs." However, a highly significant (P < 0.01) difference was detected for recently burned subplots compared to 4-yr.-old "roughs" for selected animal food. Total plant food, mostly seeds of dewberry (Rubus trivialis) , was significantly (P <0.01) greater on unburned subplots. A 3-yr.

Total forage yield (TFY) on a pine-hardwood forest site in east Texas was sampled before and I growing season after clearcutting (1972 and 1973), also I and 3 growing seasons after planting site preparation by burning, choping, or KG blading (1974 and 1976). Total forage yield was only 359 kg/ ha in the uncut forest, but 2217 kg/ ha after clearcutting. On control plots (no site preparation), TFY peaked in the first growing season after clearcutting with 2917 kg/ ha, but by 1976 decreased to 1983 kg/ ha. On burned plots, TFY peaked the first growing season after burning (3540 kg/ ha) and remained steady till 1976. On chopped plots, TFY rose from 3053 kg/ ha in 1974 to 3619 by 1976, and on KG-bladed plots from 2935 to 3774 kg/ha, because browse growth increased.

Distributions of game animals in relation to a four-lane, limited-access highway were monitored before, during, and after highway construction along Appalachian Highway 48 in northern West Virginia from 1971 to 1975. All game species monitored were affected as a result of habitat loss due to the highway itself occupying land but none exhibited a chance in distribution due to highway construction. Only the wild turkey (Meleagris gal!opavo) seemed to avoid the highway.

Home range and activity patterns were determined for one male and one female radio-collared bobcat (Lynx rulus) in an eastern Tennessee hardwood forest. Home range of the male was calculated to be approximately 3076 ha while the female utilized 1416 ha. Both bobcats' ranges were larger than previously reported values for the southeast. Measurements of both average net distance traveled per day showed the male moved a statistically significant greater distance than the female. The larger home ranges may be primarily the result of relatively low prey populations in the mountainous terrain of eastern Tennessee as compared to upper coastal plains areas where most of the previous research on southeastern bobcats has been carried out.

Waterfowl food production, availability, and use in brackish impoundments were studied in South Carolina. Widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima), dwarf spikerush (Eleocharis parvula), and seeds of saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus robustus) were sampled each month. Standing crop of widgeongrass vegetation declined from 241.11 kg/ ha in August to nearly none in December, due mainly to competition from filamentous algae (Cladophora spp.) Widgeongrass seed production was estimated at 6.16 kg/ ha. Although waterfowl fed intensively on widgeongrass seeds, no depletion was detected, and seeds apparently accumulated from year to year. Standing crop of dwarf spikerush declined from 856.20 kg/ ha in September to 363.46 kg/ ha in February, apparently because of waterfowl use. Saltmarsh bulrush seed production was estimated at 464.60 kg/ ha.

Basic physical parameters and health characteristics are presented on raccoons (Procyon lotor) representative of animals offered for sale to raccoon hunting clubs in the southeastern United States. Comparisons were made with similar data on samples of wild raccoons live-trapped by noncommercial wildlife agencies. Raccoons from animal dealers had more fresh bite wounds and fracture calluses, significantly greater numbers of infected soft tissue lesions (P <.05), and generally were in poorer physical condition than animals live-trapped by game biologists. Bite wounds, and infected soft tissue injuries which may have originated as bite wounds, were considered as an enhancement factor for possible rabies transmission. The generally poor physical condition of the raccoons offered to hunters for purchase was viewed as a possible factor contributing to the low survival previous authorities have reported in translocated raccoons.

Two field techniques were developed to detect and evaluate crop gland activity in live mourning doves (Zenaida macroura). An inexpensive, commercially-produced "inspection light" was successfully used as a crop examination device (CEO). Crops of 45 adult and 40 juvenile doves of both sexes were examined by palpation and CEO. There was a significant (P <0.00 I) dependence of test score upon crop phase; a significant (P < 0.00 I) difference also occurred between test procedures used. Best results were obtained when palpation and the CEO were used together. Under these circumstances, active, inactive, and developing or regressing crops were classified correctly 100,96.5, and 77.8% of the time, respectively.

Prey utilization by bobcats (Lynx rufus) was studied on 2 quail (Colinus virginianus) plantations in southern Alabama from 1975 through 1977. Estimates of relative densities of principal prey species were obtained by various procedures. Analysis of 136 stomachs, 137 large intestines, and 218 scats indicated that the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) and the cottontail rbbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) were the 2 most important food items. The cotton rat had the highest frequency of occurrence and the cottontail rabbit was second for each month of the year. Mammals as a group were more important than birds in the bobcat's diet. Despite its high density on the study areas, the bobwhite quail was unimportant in the bobcat's diet. This study revealed that the bobcat is not a serious decimating factor of bobwhite quail in southern Alabama. Prey utilization was related to both prey availability and prey size.

Experience in investigating panther (Felis concolor coryl) reports showed that most people, including wildlife biologists, cannot readily and accurately distinguish panther tracks from those of other species, particularly from large dogs. Characteristics by which to identify panther tracks are presented.

Legal harvest, illegal kill, crippling loss, and movement of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) related to multiple species hunting were studied on 2 state wildlife management areas in Alabama using 125 radio instrumented birds. During spring 1978 hunts an estimated 35.7% of the gobblers were killed and 7% were crippled and died on I area while 20% were harvested and 20% were crippled and died on the second area. Illegal kill of instrumented birds was 7.8% over a 2-year period on I area and 9% for a 7-month period on the second area. Multispecies hunting on state game management areas as carried out in Alabama was not a major factor limiting turkey populations. Movements of turkeys were closely monitored before, during, and after squirrel, (Sciurus sp.), deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and turkey hunts on both areas; no permanent movements out of established ranges were noted that could be attributable to hunting pressure.

During the summers of 1976 and 1977, predation rates were determined for 350 dummy Rio Grande turkey (Meleagris gal!opavo intermedia) nests on the Welder Wildlife Refuge in south Texas. Grazing system, pasture deferment time, plant community, and coyote ( Canis latrans) exclusion significantly affected predation rates. No differences were found for soil type, CQver type, egg type, or the effects of hair-catchers at nests. Based on 'hair sample's, striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and raccoons (Pro(von lotor) were the major nest predators on the Welder Refuge, whereas coyotes and armadillos (Das.vpus novemcinctus) were of minor importance. No patterns of nest predation could be characterized based on predator sign left at the nest.

A study of nesting and brood rearing in a coastal island wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) population was conducted in Georgia from 1975 through 1977. Thirty-nine hens were instrumented during the 3 years. Pre-nesting movements and nesting ranges were determined for 9 hens in 1977. Average maximum straight-line movement for the 9 was 4.60 km; movements from release sites to nests averaged 2.38 km. Twenty-seven of the hens were known to nest. Twentv-two nests were located by telemetry fixes on incubating hens and I nest was found incidentally. Fourteen hens selected similar nest sites in saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) dominated habitat. Two others nested in similar forest type under clumps of perennial vegetation. Four nests were located in oak-pine forest and 3 others were found in open situations. Predators destroyed 6 nests; I was abandoned for unknown reasons. Nest clustering appeared to be influenced by both habitat selection and sociological factors.

An inventory of beaver (Castor canadensis) impounded water 0.4 ha and greater in area in Mississippi was conducted using the same technique as a survey made a decade earlier. The data revealed almost a 300% increase of beaver impounded areas. The increase indicates a probable yearly increase of impoundments of 11.5% per year.

In 1976, a survey was conducted to ascertain the incidental capture of sea turtles by shrimp trawlers in Georgia waters. Interviewed were captains and strikers representing 101 commercial trawlers (average length 17.4 m) which principally offload their catch at commercial docks on the Georgia coast. During that period, 1,388 vessels were registered to shrimp in Georgia, including a 321 vessel commercial fleet with Georgia registration and vessel length greater than 9.14 m. Commercial shrimpers trawled an average of 22 days per month during a 6.7 month shrimp season; they averaged 4.5 drags per day and 2.1 hours per drag. Commercial shrimpers estimated that 30.7 turtles are incidentally captured per vessel per year (I turtle per 16 drags during a 5-month season when turtles are numerous in Georgia estuarine waters). The minimal mortality rate was 7.9% of captured turtles. It is estimated that a minimum of 778 turtles were drowned in 1976.

Annual alligator (Alligator mississipiensis) nest counts were conducted in Louisiana coastal marshlands, 1970-1977. Alligator populations were projected from nest count transect data. Total estimated population ranged from a low of 135,000 to a high of 280,000. Highest population densities were located in the Chenier Plain Marsh Zone of southwest Louisiana. Alligator population density (1 alligaotr: 3.2 ha) was highest in the intermediate marsh type. The brackfish and fresh types were about equal with I alligator: 5.7 ha.

Seasonal prediction models for understory production from simple overstory measurements were developed using regression analysis. During the summer of 1976 and winter of 1976-1977, production of understory vegetation was recorded by species or species groups in timber stands on the Savannah River Plant using a 100% clip method. Overstory density and basal area were also recorded. Sampled timber stands ranged from pine regeneration sites with measurable overstory (stems > 3 cm dbh) to immature sawtimber of pine and upland hardwoods. Quadratic equations using basal area of all stems yielded seasonal regressions for woody leaf and twig production and combined woody production. Variation in the total understory forage yield (fungi, grasses and sedges, herbaceous plants and woody plants) was also explained with quadratic equations using either basal area of all stems or basal area of only large stems.

A questionnaire was developed to characterize Virginia bear hunters, their hunting methods, and attitudes concerning Virginia bear hunting, Game Commission policy, and potential management alternatives. Ofthe respondents 61%were dog hunters and 39% incidental hunters. These 2 classes differ in hunting methods as well as attitudes concerning hunting and proper management strategies. Although these differences complicate decisions, they must be considered in planning bear management policy and education efforts.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Number 206 Tomahawk Live Trap for capturing coastal marsh furbearers in a simulated commercial trapping operation. Live trapping of marsh furbearers was conducted from 17 January 1976 to 16 December 1976. A total of 35,078 trap days produced 1,983 captures of which 89.9% were furbearing animals. Nutria (Myocastor coypus), muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) comprised 91.5% of the catch of furbearing animals. Overall, the live traps caught fewer furbearers than did the leg-hold and Conibear traps evaluated in earlier studies. The live traps were found to be applicable only in specialized situations but still did not perform as well as other trap types when considering captures per 100 trap days.

Fates were determined for 458 nests of the Atlantic loggerhead ( Caretta caretta caretta) on 4 South Carolina barrier islands. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) destroyed 56.1% of the nests overall and from 16.4 to 86.3% on individual islands. Poachers took 47.5% from I island and abiotic factors accounted for 14.2%. Ghost crabs (Ocypode quadrata) were not important predators, destroying only 2.4%. The overall hatch was 6.1 %. The spatial and temporal aspects of nesting and predation, age of nest when depredated, density of nesting, and feeding efficiency of raccoons are discussed as they relate to the .number of nests affected by each factor.