Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Riparian vegetation has numerous, well recognized values to the stream ecosystem. In small watershed projects in North Carolina, the problem of maintaining and managing this riparian vegetation both during and after channel improvement is an important planning consideration. To date, efforts have largely concentrated on leaving existing trees along the channel bank during construction. Several problems have been encountered with this practice and alternative methods of managing riparian vegetation are being evaluated. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of planting trees along constructed stream channels. Four shrub and 6 tree species were evaluated for the following parameters: establishment methods, plant survival, and species performance. Three replicate plantings were made. Observations on the effects of mulching and competition from native vegetation were also recorded.

Island Creek, a tributary of the Northeast Cape Fear River in Duplin County, North Carolina, was modified through excavation and snagging during 1977 and 1978. To evaluate the effects on resident fish populations, rotenone samples were taken before alteration in 1977 and after the project in 1981 and 1982. Mean standing crop of fish increased from 27.5 to 38.3 kg/ha after the project and total number of fish captured increased from 424 to 1,058. Significantly greater (P < 0.05) centrarchid and total game fish biomass were found after the project. No statistically significant differences could be detected between biomass and numbers of nongame fish or numbers of game fish before and after the project.

A study was conducted from April through October 1980 to characterize seasonal changes in distribution, diversity, and abundance of ichthyoplankton within the Cracraft dike field in the lower Mississippi River. During high river stages (April through June), diversity and abundance of larval fishes were greater at open-water than nearshore stations. Under moderate to low river stages (July through October), diversity was low and greatest densities of larval fishes were observed along the shoreline inside the middle bar rather than in the open-water.

The Field Training Officer Program is 1 part of the total wildlife officer selection process. This is accomplished by selecting experienced senior officers and placing them in specialized seminars where they are taught how to assist, direct, and evaluate probationary officers in the field. The primary objective of the Field Training Officer Program is to introduce the recruit to actual work-related experiences and to bring the officer to a level that allows him to work alone in a safe, skillful and professional manner. Secondary results are increased efficiency and supervisory experience for the field training officer, and data feedback that helps update academy entry-level criteria and standards.

The cooperation of the uniformed conservation officer as a valuable source of information and the involvement of other state and federal agencies is vital to the success of any covert operation.

Because of the nature of our work, fish and wildlife departments have traditionally been involved in boating safety. Even though many of the states have separate water patrol departments whose primary duties are policing the waterways, game agents find that a substantial amount of their time is spent providing public services on the water. This reality has forced many of our states to begin boating safety programs within their enforcement ranks and to accept these tasks as routine duties.

The use of aircraft to hunt wild animals has been a problem in recent years. With the number of helicopters increasing every day, wildlife is threatened with potential disaster. Those few poachers that would take immoral, as well as illegal advantage of wild animals by hunting them from an aircraft, have the potential of destroying years of careful wildlife management. We in the wildlife law enforcement field must concentrate our efforts on stopping this type of illegal hunting.

The public generally has inadequate knowledge about 1) good places to observe quality wildlife populations and 2) habitat requirements for such populations. Wildlife observation areas are designed to help resolve both problems. Of 28 sites designated between 1981 and 1983, 75% are in cooperation with other agencies. Cooperative plans for each area are site-specific, but the owner-cooperator is normally the lead agency for enhancing wildlife observation opportunities and interpretative programs. By blending programs of similar interests, good opportunities are provided for improving enjoyment and public support of all wildlife resources at a minimal cost. A major goal of Tennessee's Nongame Wildlife Program is to provide the public with maximum opportunities for enjoyment of wildlife. Another goal is to better educate the public about habitat requirements of wildlife. Wildlife observation areas (WOA's) are designed to accomplish both these objectives.

A content analysis of annual reports for 15 southeastern state fisheries and wildlife agencies revealed that resource information (e.g., habitat, populations, and use) appears much less frequently than administrative information (e.g., revenues, personnel, permit review). The “typical report” consists of 35% administrative, 28% fisheries, 16% facilities, 11% wildlife, and 11% public involvement information. States cluster into 4 groups based on relative emphasis of freshwater fisheries, freshwater and marine fisheries, wildlife, or facilities and administrative information. Reports consist primarily of quantitative data in a textual or tabular format, with little comparison to previous years. Content analysis of these reports is useful to illustrate objectively how state agencies present themselves and to provide a baseline for monitoring changes in the character of agency programs.

A mail questionnaire was used to determine behaviors of Mississippi nonindustrial private forest landowners toward hunting on their lands. Seventy-three percent (516 of 704) of the questionnaires were returned. A telephone survey of nonrespondents indicated negligible bias in the mail survey. About 45% of the respondents posted their land and 43% allowed no hunting by the general public. At least 77% of the respondents allowed hunting on their lands. Since only 6% of the respondents leased hunting rights, most hunting was by the landowner, family or guests. Timber was the most important use of forests followed by wildlife, residence and grazing. Most (63%) of the respondents had multiple-use goals of ownership. Most respondents did not actively manage for timber or wildlife.

St. Regis Corporation has developed a multi-faceted wildlife program. The company's program has been successful in integrating wildlife management guidelines into its forest management practices. The wildlife department's responsibilities also include biological data collection from leasees, wildlife research, management of customer and guest hunting areas, and cooperative working relationships with staff and federal wildlife agencies. Hunting lease fees generated from the company's forest land fund the program. These funds have increased from approximately $89,000 in 1976 to more than $500,000 in 1983.

In 1979, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) initiated a program permitting landowners with department-approved management plans to harvest antlerless deer (Odocoileus virginianus and O. hemionus) in numbers exceeding those recommended for general areas by the department. Preparation of management plans and problems encountered with the program are discussed.

Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) nests were located on the Texas A&M University campus during the 1981-1982 nesting seasons. Daily survival rates, calculated using nests and individuals as units of analysis, were compared for eggs, nestlings, and eggs and nestlings combined. No difference (P > 0.05) was detected in any of the comparisons, indicating that equivalent data were obtained by knowing only the fate of the nest and not of individuals within the nest. Thus, disturbance at the nest can be minimized without loss of accuracy. Nest data tended to underestimate survival for eggs while overestimating slightly for nestlings, and eggs and nestlings combined when compared to survival rates calculated for individuals.

Age ratios were determined for 361 gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and 130 fox squirrels (S. niger) taken on 50 ha in Northeast Texas during 5 weekend hunts. Data indicated that adults were more likely than young to be taken on the opening weekend. During weeks 2 and 3, young were more frequently taken while during weeks 4 and 5, adults were again taken more frequently. Results were inconsistent with the beliefs of most biologists and hunters who claim that young animals are more susceptible to the gun than are adults. Because of different vulnerability of adults and young squirrels by week, caution should be observed when interpreting age-ratio data taken from hunter bags.

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) restoration efforts were initiated in Arkansas in 1981, with the relocation of 50 wild-trapped birds from Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Virginia to a release site in Newton County, Arkansas, along the Buffalo National River. In 1982, restoration efforts continued with the release of 67 Wild-trapped grouse captured in Virginia and Minnesota. These birds were released on the Buffalo National River site and on the Ozark National Forest in Johnson County. Population monitoring, particularly winter censuses and spring drumming surveys, documented minimum first year survival rates of 24.0% and 20.0%, respectively, for the 2 release sites. From 1982 to 1983, the number of birds observed, indirectly and directly, on the Buffalo National River site during winter censuses and spring drumming surveys indicates the birds are not only maintaining themselves, but are increasing.

Removal trapping was used to study opossum (Didelphis virginiana) demography at an upland site in western Tennessee during March 1983. Monthly differences in scent-station visitation were assessed at 5 western Tennessee localities, representing upland and lowland habitats, from April 1982 to May 1983. A density of 1 opossum/ 15.6 ha was determined using removal trapping. Yearlings made up 64% of the 14 animals captured. Adult and pouch-young sex ratios were approximately 100:100. Mean litter size was 8.8 young. Monthly differences in scent-station visitation were found in lowland habitat (P = 0.02) but not in upland habitat (P = 0.38).

Loss of corn sprouts to birds (predominantly common grackles, Quiscalus quiscula) was estimated in a O.5-ha plot in each of 270 fields in 36 counties in Kentucky in 1978 and 215 fields in 21 counties in Tennessee in 1979. Estimated loss of sprouts to birds in Kentucky and Tennessee averaged 0.15% (SE = 0.03) and 0.95% (SE = 0041), respectively, for a maximum projected grain harvest loss of about 4,600 metric tons in Kentucky and 12,400 metric tons in Tennessee. Although maximum calculated bird damage to sprouts for both states was $1.8 million, 453 (93%) of the 485 plots surveyed had relatively minor <1%) losses. However, those 32 plots receiving ≥=1 % sprout loss accounted for 82% of all bird damage losses and would have benefitted from recently developed bird repellent seed treatments.

Potential chemical repellents against rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) depredation of wood duck (Aix sponsa) nesting boxes were tested under controlled conditions on the Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area, Georgia. Two repellents (Tack Trap and a mixture of Tack Trap and pine gum) effectively repelled rat snakes from wood duck nesting structures under pen conditions (P<0.l 0). The stickiness of the repellent material and not the presence of pinosylvin phenols appeared to be the deterrent to rat snakes.

Field studies of delta duckpotatoes (Sagittaria graminae var. platyphylla) disclosed that plant density was 1.5 times greater in wildlife exclosures than in control areas. Tuber production where nutrias (Myocastor coypus) and ducks were excluded was 652.3 g/m2• Tuber production was considerably less in plots subjected to foraging by wildlife (nutria foraging only: 104.7 g/m2, duck foraging only: 75.8 g/m2 , nutria and duck foraging: 64.8 g/m2 ). Tubers were found to a soil depth of 30 em but where animals were excluded greatest production (40.3%) was at the 10-15 cm depth. Nutrias foraged to the 30 cm depth but most duck foraging was from the 0-15 cm depth. Tank studies disclosed that a deep (30 cm), constant water depth produced taller plants and enhanced seed production, but water depth variation had no effect on tuber production. Constant 20 and 30 cm water depths encouraged above-ground biomass production.

Ten wood ducks (Aix sponsa) were radio-tracked during the wintering period on Steel Creek, Savannah River Plant, South Carolina. Home range size, daily movement and habitat use were determined from 1,140 radio-locations. Data collected during approximately 21 to 28 days of intensive radio-tracking were sufficient for delineating individual wintering wood duck home range size.. Males had significantly larger home ranges than females (42 ha vs 12 ha) and exhibited greater diurnal movements. Females made 0.5 to 3-day excursions (N = 10) to locations outside their home ranges throughout the entire tracking period. Wood ducks generally preferred emergent wetland habitat over scrub-shrub, forested, and open-water habitats. Emergent wetland habitat exhibited a more open canopy and greater herbaceous understory development than did other types. Preferred nocturnal roosting sites were located adjacent to feeding and loafing areas and were characterized by dense overhead and lateral cover.

Two definitions of crippling rate, cripples! shot and cripples! hit, have been employed in field studies to compare waterfowl wounding losses for lead and steel shot. Properties of these 2 definitions were compared using the Louisiana Lacassine Study data (Hebert et al. 1982) and a mathematical model. Cripples! shot was shown to decrease to a limit of 0 with an increase in misses even though the actual number of cripples remains constant. Cripples! shot, and not cripples! hit, was subject to an interaction between load and distance. The susceptibility of cripples! shot to an interaction between load and distance may result in the conclusion of no significant difference in crippling rates for the loads, regardless of what the actual relative wounding losses might be. Cripples!hit was more reliable than cripples! shot for comparing wounding losses for lead and steel shot.