Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Diel movement of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) in a Louisiana brackish, coastal marsh was determined using 37 radio-collared muskrats and a total of 2,046 radio fixes during a 13-month period. Monthly home range averaged 0.48 ha but varied considerably among animals; no differences in home ranges were detected among seasons or sex-age classes of muskrats. Also, no differences in hourly movements were found among sex-age classes during periods of day. During winter and spring, differences were detected among individual muskrats. Comparison of seasonal means for all times of day and for all sex-age classes revealed that hourly movement rates were greater in spring than in summer or winter, but did not differ from fall movements. Fall movements did not differ from summer or winter movements. Temperature and marsh water depth had a minor effect on distances moved; neither factor explained more than 21% of the variation in distances moved.

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 reproduction need to be considered.

Scent-station and track-count transects were monitored simultaneously in 5 units of the Big Thicket National Preserve. We examined these transects for furbearer tracks for 3 consecutive days every 3 months from January 1987 through March 1988. Greater species diversity and species richness of furbearers were recorded on track-count surveys than on scent-station surveys on 4 of the 5 study units. The number of monitoring periods with no record of a species group was compared between the 2 techniques. Track-count surveys recorded "no presence" of a species group less often than scent-station surveys. Tracks of dog-like canids, fox-like canids, raccoons (Procyon lotor), and opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were used to compare precision and to correlate the 2 techniques. No difference in precision of the 2 techniques was found in this study. Relevant positive correlations were calculated for the 2 techniques in 6 of 16 cases.

The eyes of bobcat (Felis rufus) kittens opened between 9 and 16 days of age in 3 stages (watering, beginning to open, and complete opening) lasting 1-2 days each. Birth weights averaged 125 g. Growth curves peaked at 60 weeks (x¯ = 10 kg) for males and at 55 weeks (x¯ = 8 kg) for females. Log transformations of nose to rump length, and front leg length were highly correlated with age (r ≥ 0.94).

We surveyed licensed bobcat (Felis rufus) pelt dealers to detennine relative abundance of high-quality pelts during the commercial harvest season (15 Nov 1982 to 15 Feb 1988) in Texas. Respondents indicates most high-quality pelts were obtained during January and February. Abundance of high-quality pelts was low from 15 to 30 November, but few bobcats were harvested during this time. Current season dates seem reasonable if managers wish to maximize recreational opportunities rather than pelt quality.

We detennined summer diets of coyotes (Canis latrans) from analysis of 523 scats and 9 stomachs collected on 7 study areas in Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee from May 1985 to September 1986. We compared coyote diets among 4 areas where white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) occurred in high densities (HDA's) and 3 areas with low deer densities (LDA's) during prefawning, fawning, and post-fawning periods on each study area. Important coyote foods (by frequency of occurrence) were fruit (45.7%), insects (36.5%), rabbit (Sylvilagus ssp., 31.6%), deer (30.8%), and rodents (23.5%). During fawning, deer were the most frequent (xˉ = 74.2%) major food item on the HDA's, and the least frequent (xˉ 8.8%) major food item on the LDA's. Summer use of deer was largely fawns (76.9%) and occurred in peaks corresponding to the local fawn drop. Significantly greater use of fawns occurred during fawning and post-fawning than in pre-fawning on the HDA's.

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) hunters (N = 269) who participated in 3 nights of managed raccoon hunting in eastern Tennessee during 1984 were surveyed by mail questionnaire; 149 (55%) responded. Hunters responded favorably to hunting in assigned areas, limiting hunting party size to 3 persons, and restricting the number of dogs to lIhunter. Ninety-eight percent planned to hunt under the same managed conditions in 1985. Hunters estimated they spent $15 a night to hunt and were willing to pay an additional $5-$10 for a I-day permit to finance raccoon management practices. The majority of the raccoon hunters surveyed were bluecollar workers, 37-40 years of age, had hunted for 21 years, and had traveled to other states, even outside the southeastern United States, to hunt raccoons.

Assistance foresters in the 12 southeastern states were surveyed by mail questionnaire to ascertain the amount of habitat management they recommended for nonindustrial, private forest (NIPP) lands. The efforts of state wildlife extension specialists also were estimated by examining existing data sources. Assistance foresters managed >550,000 ha for wildlife in 1987, with >60% of this being reported by private consultants. The 550,000 ha represented >20% of the total area managed by assistance foresters during the year. The 12 state extension offices reported 29 full-time equivalents allocated to wildlife activities in 1987, and provided information and assistance to individuals owning >2.6 million ha. Increasing foresters' knowledge of the available resources for habitat management activities would result in an even larger portion of NIPF lands being managed for wildlife.

We developed a simple device to remotely trigger a drop-net without the use of blasting caps. It uses standard telemetry equipment and allows release of the net from a distance limited only by transmitter range. The device proved reliable and safe for capturing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and significantly increased trapping efficiency and success.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has a comprehensive basic training program for all conservation ranger recruits. The Conservation Ranger School consists of 16 weeks of vigorous training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. The training is coordinated and conducted by veteran officers who not only have years of experience, but who have prepared themselves as trainers by attending numerous instructor training programs and by spending much time involved in research and lesson preparation. Other professionals from various public safety agencies and from such institutions as the University of Georgia are involved in presenting the many subjects related to the duties and responsibilities of a conservation officer. This paper relates some of the experiences of a ranger trainee who graduated as a member of the 12th Basic Conservation Ranger Class in June 1989.

Officer survival training begins with the basic firearms course which is taught to all newly hired wildlife officers. The course consists of the fundamentals of shooting a revolver and shotgun. However, we take the course a step further and stress the importance of mental conditioning as it relates to surviving a gun battle. Our advanced firearms program relentlessly drills in the idea of mental conditioning. The training philosophy is "repetition leads to instinctive shooting." Repetitive drills in all aspects of firearms use are performed. The experience and the ability to shoot instinctively become all too important during the many field scenarios that we set up for our recruits. With the use of training aids, such as the fiber optic laser vests, we are able to set up and execute realistic shoot/don't shoot situations. We further prepare our wildlife officers to become and maintain themselves as survivors through our physical fitness program.

The enforcement of the nontoxic shot regulation for migratory waterfowl has been a continuing problem for wildlife officers due to the problem of apprehending hunters with lead shot shells in their possession. The specialized forensic metal detector allows the wildlife officer to inspect the hunter's daily bag either in the blind or at his vehicle and to determine in the birds contain lead shot pellets, steel shot pellets, no shot pellets (neutral), or a combination of lead shot pellets and steel shot pellets. The forensic metal detector has made a definite difference in the compliance rate for nontoxic shot regulations.

Interrogation can be, at times, the most important part of an investigation. If an officer did not observe the violation, has very little evidence, and witnesses are unwilling to testify, interrogation may well be the only route to successful prosecution. An interrogator may enhance his chances of success by studying and practicing interrogation techniques. The positive approach is a technique which makes it difficult for the suspect to deny knowledge of the violation as statements and questions are phrased to make it appear that his guilt has already been established. This technique also incorporates asking questions that are designed to increase the suspect's tension and to elicit verbal and non-verbal responses which are indicative of innocence or guilt. It is to the officer's and agency's benefit that we become more skilled interrogators.

The author explains how he involved high school FFA students in wildlife depredation control, hunter education, and wildlife habitat improvement programs in a large, rural west-central Arkansas county.

The professionalism of an officer and his department is established through the values and principles he chooses to live and work by. The quality of the individual, the family, the dependent, and the community depends on his code of ethics. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the importance of high ethical standards in a law enforcement officer's work and in his every day life.

The Verbal Tactics Training program was developed to teach both new Missouri Department of Conservation agent trainees and veteran agents how to use verbal skills as a force option to control or defuse dangerous situations. This program is a key aspect of our sequential training for officer survival. The training is conducted by means of lecture, group discussion, role playing, and simulated field checks. Verbal Tactics training strengthens officer awareness during field confrontations.

The role of the Wildlife Officer has changed dramatically over the years, due to expanded police powers, growth in population, endangered and threatened species enforcement, and environmental degradation. In South Florida, specialized enforcement activities have been established to protect Florida panthers on several highways in the Big Cypress Preserve. The West Indian manatee receives considerable attention during the winter months. Endangered sea turtles receive special enforcement efforts during nesting season. Environmental problems associated with dumping and pollution are increasing dramatically throughout the state.

The concept of accreditation for law enforcement agencies became a reality in 1983 when the first agencies were accredited with the newly formed Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. Accreditation provides a means for all law enforcement agencies, regardless of primary function, to document their commitment to the furtherance of professionalism in services provided to the public.

A cooperative agreement among the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and 5 other organizations led to a unique conservation educational experience for visitors to the Unicoi County Heritage Museum (UCHM) in northeastern Tennessee. The adjacent grounds were designated a Wildlife Observation Area that provided an opportunity to view wildlife in natural situations. A quarter-mile nature trail and accompanying audiocassette guide were developed. A natural history exhibit featuring plants, animals, and geologic material was added to the museum. Local school groups and other citizens have taken advantage of this outdoor education experience through participation in Conservation Education Now for Tennessee Students (CENTS) and Project WILD activities.

Sixth-grade students (N = 2,916) attending 127 Missouri public schools were surveyed (86% response) to detennine their behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge about fishing and the aquatic environment. Data were collected using a stratified random sampling procedure. Most students enjoyed fishing (82%), although a few students did not want to fish again (7%). Student scores reflected a need for more education about aquatic ecology (67%), aquatic resource management (62%), and water topics (45%). An analysis of variance indicated students' knowledge scores significantly differed for gender, region, population, swimming ability, and parent's fishing experience. Although about one-third ascribed animal-rights philosophies to fish, students are more likely to develop "no kill" values than to avoid sport fishing.

Striped bass (Marone saxatilis) from the Apalachicola River, Florida; Chattahoochee-Flint River, Georgia; Ogeechee River, Georgia; Savannah River, Georgia; Santee-Cooper River, South Carolina; Tallapoosa River, Alabama; and Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, were examined for polymorphism in their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genotype. The Xba I site loss that is supposed to identify individuals with matemallineage from Gulf Coast stocks was found in some fish from the Apalachicola and Chattahoochee-Flint rivers, as well as one individual from the Ogeechee River. Additionally, a unique Bgl I site gain was found in these same populations. Several rare genotypes found in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint system were also rare genotypes in Chesapeake Bay. Several unique genotypes of low frequency were found in the Ogeechee River. Fish from the Santee-Cooper River were fixed for a unique Dra I genotype.