Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Relocated eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) have been increasing in northern Post Oak Savannah (POS) of Texas. However, it has been difficult to establish populations in the southern POS where mortality is high and reproductive success low. It has been proposed that high spring precipitation and high carnivore numbers account for poor population viability in the southern POS. We found that spring precipitation (1994-1995 nesting seasons) was not above the historic average (1950-1993), nor did unusually high rainfall events occur. These data suggest that spring precipitation might not account for low reproductive success of relocated wild turkeys in southern POS. Furthermore, carnivore indices for northern and southern counties (spotlight census data—7,658 km, 1980-1994) were 74 carnivores/100 km and 51 carnivores/100 km, respectively. We also reject the hypothesis that carnivore numbers were greater in the southern POS than in the northern POS.

To effectively manage a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population in an agricultural area, information regarding habitat use and selection is needed to aid in reducing crop damage. We gathered data on deer use of clover (Trifolium repens) and soybean (Glycine max [L.]) fields at Chesapeake Farms, Maryland. We surveyed soybean and clover fields to test the hypothesis that deer distribute themselves proportionally to availability of soybeans and clover fields. Clover patch height and mass were also measured to quantify the amount of use by deer. Deer density in clover fields was always higher than in soybean fields in both years of the study (1997 and 1998). Browsing by deer significantly reduced clover patch height and mass. Our data suggested that active selection of crops by deer did not occur.

In 1995, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) established policy and rules for handling of nuisance wildlife by Wildlife Damage Control Agents (WDCA). The policy required a 1 -day long training session, culminating in an open book, certification examination. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service (NCCES) conducted the training and administered the examination. The certification-training program covered principles of wildlife damage management, wildlife laws and regulations, humane handling of animals and euthanasia, human health risks from exposure to wildlife, professional ethics, and sources of technical information. Between October 1995 and March 1999, 6 certification-training sessions were held and 240 WDCAs were certified, with agents in 56 of 100 counties. The Wildlife Division of NCWRC administered the program.

Poult survival is an important factor in the dynamics of eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) populations. We captured wild turkeys in western Virginia and monitored radio-tagged hens (N=26) to determine the effect of brood habitat, brood movements and brood range size on poult survival. Poult survival to 21 days post-hatch averaged 0.203 (SE=0.05) during 1992 and 0.418 (SE=0.11) during 1993 (T= 1.37, P>0.10). No correlations were detected (P≥0.10) between macrohabitat and forest cover type variables and poult survival. Poult survival was correlated with the percentage of brood habitat composed of herbaceous understory vegetation (P=0.058). Poult survival was also examined in relation to a simple brood habitat classification system; however, no correlations were detected (P≥0.10).

To study the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) in the mountains of Virginia, we monitored 349 nest boxes at 26 sites from October 1985 to May 1996. The northern flying squirrel was captured 112 times at 6 of these sites; 78 individuals were ear-tagged, 11 neonates were not ear-tagged, and 6 escaped. Twelve northern flying squirrels were recaptured at least once. Most of the individuals (84.8%) were captured at 3 sites in Grayson and Smyth counties. The remaining individuals were captured at a fourth site in Grayson County and 2 sites in Highland County. The northern flying squirrel is now documented from 7 sites in 3 Virginia counties. The northern flying squirrel occupied 28 of the 349 nest boxes. The mean number of squirrels/occupied box was 2.1 (range= 1-5). The sex ratio of adult squirrels was 1.4 males/female. The juvenile to adult female ratio was 1.2 young/adult female during the breeding season.

The return of elk to eastern Kentucky in 1997 followed an absence of more than 150 years. This restoration was made possible by combining the financial, human resource, and land assets of several public and private organizations, as well as landscape changes that appear to have created suitable elk habitat. The impetus for the return of elk was based in part on the anticipation that the new herd would be accessible to the public for hunting and viewing. Pre- and post-release outreach included assessing public opinion which was mostly supportive of elk restoration and interacting with agencies from neighboring states. Release protocols were built upon previous elk restoration efforts in the eastern U.S. where success rates were highly variable. Adaptive management practices have been followed to reduce mortality among transported elk. Overall mortality in 1998 was 42% but declined to 4% in 1999.

Fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) are an important species in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests. We estimated fox squirrel density within 6 minimally disturbed longleaf pine strands, examined association between fox and gray squirrels (S. carolinensis), and measured habitat variables at fox and gray squirrel capture sites. Fox squirrel density estimates ranged from 12-19 squirrels/km2 among study areas. Fox squirrel capture sites had higher pine basal area, higher total basal area, higher herbaceous groundcover, and lower woody groundcover than other sites. Gray squirrel capture sites had higher hardwood, oak, and total basal areas; lower pine basal area, higher woody groundcover, and less herbaceous groundcover than other sites. A strong negative association between fox and gray squirrel capture sites appeared related to species-specific habitat preferences. Fox squirrel capture sites had higher pine and lower hardwood basal areas than gray squirrel capture sites.

We examined stomach contents from 219 American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) collected from 4 Florida lakes. Fish, mostly shad (Dorosoma spp.), bowfin (Amia calva), and gar (Lepisosteus spp.) occurred in 55.3% of the stomachs and was the most important food group (57.5%) by volume. Apple snails (Pomacea paludosa) and crayfish (Procambarus spp.) were important invertebrate prey (66.7% occurrence and 6.6% by volume). Of the 195 stomachs having a dominant food type (>50% of the total food volume), most (72%) contained one food type exceeding 90% of the total food volume. The predominant food type differed by lake (P< 0.001), sex (P= 0.056), and size (P< 0.001) of the alligator. In general, the dominant food type changed from invertebrate to vertebrate with an increase in alligator size. Alligator length-weight relationships (condition) were examined for variation associated with diet.

To determine the characteristics of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hunters in Texas, and their attitudes and preferences concerning turkey hunting and management, we developed and mailed a self-administered questionnaire to a sample of licensed turkey hunters in Texas and members of the Texas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). We sampled 3,500 turkey stamp purchasers and 2,345 members of the Texas Chapter of the NWTF. We received questionnaires from 1,300 (37%) of the turkey stamp purchasers and 748 (32%) of the members of the Texas Chapter of the NWTF. We refer to turkey stamp purchasers and Texas Chapter of the NWTF as nonmembers and members, respectively. For all questions, we compared the Texas Chapter of the NWTF member responses to responses from nonmembers who bought license and turkey stamps.

Squirrels (Sciuris spp.) are important game species; however, it is believed that southern fox squirrel (S. niger) populations in many regions are declining. Changes in forest management practices may have reduced habitat availability and diversity, thereby contributing to declining population trends. However, relationships among forest management practices, active management of wildlife habitats, and wildlife populations requires an understanding of relationships among forest communities and wildlife populations. We used linear regression to build predictive models of gray squirrel (S. carolinensis) and fox squirrel relative abundance based on winter and summer habitat conditions. Relative abundance of gray squirrels was greatest in older hardwood stands containing high basal areas, regardless of season. Southern fox squirrel abundance also was correlated with percentage hardwood, indicating the importance of the hardwood component to southern fox squirrels.

Because estimates of small mammal species richness and diversity are strongly influenced by sampling methodology, 2 or more trap types are often used in studies of small mammal communities. However, in most cases, all traps are placed at ground level. In contrast, we used Sherman live traps placed at 1.5 m in trees in addition to Sherman live traps and Mosby box traps placed on the ground to sample small mammals in pine stands in the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. To determine the importance of placing traps in trees, we compared estimates of small mammal (primarily rodent) species richness and diversity based on data from all traps (ground and tree) with estimates based on data from ground traps only. Estimates of species richness based on data from ground traps only did not differ from estimates based on data from all traps.

We evaluated the proximity to development of 2 representative groups of colonial waterbirds present in Maryland's coastal plain, active in 1985 through 1988, to determine the influence of land and water development on the distribution of waterbird nest sites. Thirty of 38 known common tern (Sterna hirundo) and Forster's tern (S. forsteri) colonies were located on marsh islands. All 23 great blue heron (Ardea herodias) colonies were located in forested areas usually along shorelines. The distance to and quantity of various man-made structures (e.g., buildings, roads, piers, agricultural areas) within 1 km of each colony were quantified from aerial photographs. Similar measurements were taken from randomly selected sites of potential nesting habitat. Development around the colonies was compared to the random sites using /-tests. Most of the 8 variables in the analysis were useful in differentiating between colony and random sites.

Nest success strongly influences wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) reproduction. Understanding selection of nesting habitats may provide information for management opportunities to increase turkey nest success. Therefore, we examined the landscape scale habitat selection of wild turkey hens during nesting. A logistic regression model with 89 nest locations and 89 random locations indicated an intercept term, elevation, and distances to mature pine burned ≤3 years ago and mature pine not burned within 3 years differed significantly (P<0.04) between used and random sites. Nest success was higher in mature pine stands (36.1%) than in regeneration stands (P=0.04; 11.1%), but no difference in nest success was detected between bottomland (18.8%) and upland habitats (34.8%; P=0.214). Distance to edge did not influence nest success.

Of 550 rabbit heads collected from 35 counties in central and eastern Kentucky, 73 (13.3%) were identified as Appalachian cottontails (Sylvilagus obscurus). These collections document the Appalachian cottontail in 20 counties covering a large part of Kentucky and suggest Appalachian cottontails exist throughout the Cumberland Mountains and Cumberland Plateau of the Eastern Coal Field and in portions of the Outer Bluegrass and Knobs physiographic regions. Appalachian cottontails and eastern cottontails (S. floridanus) often were found living sympatrically in early-successional forests. Appalachian cottontails were documented in lower elevations (260 m) and in a wider variety of habitat types than previously believed.

Current recommendations for subpopulation management for mid-continent sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are based on tentative evidence that suggests geographic separation of crane concentrations during migration and winter and possible variation in demographic characteristics between these groups. We determined distribution, abundance, subspecific composition, and annual recruitment of the Gulf Coast subpopulation of mid-continent sandhill cranes because little information was available on most demographic characteristics of this subpopulation. Based on aerial line transect surveys conducted along the Texas Coast during winter, subpopulation abundance was 120,072 cranes (SD = 31,845) during 1996-1997 and 121,057 cranes (SD = 31,521) during 1997-1998. Winter age ratios (percent hatch-year cranes) along the Texas Gulf Coast ranged from 9.5% (SE=0.52, N=3,239 cranes) to 10.8% (SE=0.61, N=2,570 cranes), indicating that annual recruitment was lower than previously reported.

Although surface mining may affect wildlife communities adversely, the degree of impact depends upon the extent of mining activity and the reclamation efforts employed. We compared breeding bird and small mammal communities on sites of different successional stages in 1995 and 1996 to evaluate the wildlife value of the reclamation prescriptions currently used on kaolin surface mines in east-central Georgia. Sites were grouped according to tree ages during the first year of the study (age class I, 2-4 years; age class II, 5-7 years; and age class III, 8-11 years). Avian abundance in 1995 was greatest in age classes I and II. In 1996, avian abundance was more than twice as great in age class I than in the 2 other age classes. Species richness in both years was greater in age class II. Avian diversity was greater in the 2 oldest age classes in 1995, but was not different among classes in 1996. Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) were the most common small mammals captured.

As the environment continues to change, so does conservation law enforcement. Today's conservation ranger has a diversified list of duties and serves more than just the hunter and fisher. In order to protect the environment, enforceable environmental laws are necessary to insure the safety of the habitat which we share with our wildlife. Georgia's Waste Control Law, Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) 16-7- 50 (5 Apr 1993), gave Georgia's 40,000 law enforcement officers statutes to meet this need. As we enter the new millennium, we will see the increasing importance of protecting the environment. As political awareness aims at polluters, we too should be on the front line waging war against crimes that destroy the environment that wildlife and mankind depend on. The following outlines the creation and implementation of a law designed to stop the people that commit these crimes.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission began a study in 1987 to determine the possibility of creating a canine program especially designed to meet the demands of wildlife law enforcement. As a result of this study, the Commission began a pilot program in 1988 to evaluate the use of canines in the field. Due to the success of this pilot program, the decision was made to expand in October 1995. Through proper training and deployment, the Commission's canine program has become a successful and innovative law enforcement approach directed toward the detection and apprehension of wildlife law violators.

Geographic information systems (GIS) have become a commonly used technology in nearly all aspects of wildlife management except wildlife law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies in large municipalities have also been using GIS extensively to provide better and more efficient enforcement. All states in the Southeast have wildlife violation data in some database that can very quickly and easily link to available county spatial data. Pictorial examination of these data by county on a state-wide basis provides chiefs and supervisors an effective and easy way to evaluate existing programs. Having conservation officers plot specific locations of violations provides individual officers and district administrators a clear picture of an officer's work habits and “sphere of influence.” Results of this examination into the use of GIS in wildlife law enforcement show that GIS can be easily integrated into existing programs and provide a large benefit to both officers and administrators.

A 2-part study (multiple mark-recapture and telemetry) was used to estimate the size of the shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) population and their habitat use in the Ogeechee River, Georgia. The mark-recapture study was conducted from July 1993 to December 1994 and used the modified Schnabel model for estimating population size. Sixty-two shortnose sturgeon were marked; 17 were recaptured at least once. Seventy-eight percent of the marked fish were older juveniles and adults [>56.0 cm fork length (FL)]. Estimated population size was 266 (95% CL 236-300) in 1993 and 72 (95% CL 57-91) in 1994. CPUE declined 6-fold from 1993 to 1994. The telemetry study was conducted from June 1994 to June 1995. Radio and ultrasonic transmitters were used to monitor the movements of 20 adults and 1 juvenile shortnose sturgeon. Tagged fish never left the river system and used specific regions of the river during summer, fall/spring, and winter.

The objective of this study was to document changes in catch rates (fish/hour) and size structure of the redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) populations in the Black and Lumber rivers, North Carolina, over a 4-year period following implementation of a 12-fish daily creel limit. Using boat-mounted electrofishing gear, 123, 122, 94, and 59 redbreast sunfish were collected from the Black River from 1994 through 1997. Numbers of redbreast sunfish collected from the Lumber River during the same years were 257, 252, 164, and 183. Mean CPUE for Black River redbreast sunfish was 18, 19, 16, and 7 fish/hour from 1994 through 1997. Lumber River redbreast sunfish were captured at rates of 35, 33, 27, and 23 fish/hour from 1994 through 1997. Proportional stock density (PSD) values for redbreast sunfish in the Black River exceeded 25 all 4 years of the study while PSD values for Lumber River redbreast sunfish exceeded 45.