Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

A turkey population was established near Auburn, Alabama, in 1965 by releasing 26 wild-captured birds that had been wing-tagged for individual identification. In 1967 and 1968, 76 unbanded descendants of the original stock were captured, wing-marked, banded and released at their capture points. There were also 22 recaptures. All turkeys were captured after being drugged with alpha-chloralose. Weights and some measurements of captured turkeys are presented. From March 1965 through December 1968, 294 trips involving 1,020 hours were made to the study area to observe, count, capture and recapture turkeys and to patrol to prevent poaching. A total of 764 positive identifications of individually marked turkeys was made. Continued observations on this population, most of which was marked, made it possible to estimate spring-breeding populations and late-summer populations each year from 1965 through 1968 on 7,293 acres of the study area.

While studying deer movements and ecology in a logged, floodplain habitat in southwestern Alabama, the investigator noted certain consistent responses by deer to food changes. One radio-instrumented deer shifted her range three times in response to changing food supplies (food plot to ear corn to spring greenery and back to food plot). The shifts were not great in magnitude, but they were distinct and were spread over a nine-month period. Diel movements were very concentrated when food was concentrated, but dispersed when the food supply was dispersed. Two deer were radio-tracked on the clear-cut area during cutting activities. One that was tracked during the summer when food was abundant on the cut area had a limited range and diel movements. The other was tracked during the late fall when food was becoming scarce, and her range was nearly three times as large and diel movements were more dispersed.

During the winters of 1967-68 and 1968-69, 1,015 common snipe (Capella gallinago) were banded on a fresh water marsh in north central Florida including 994 which were captured with mist nets. The most productive techniques were driving the birds into nets concentrated in areas of heavy snipe utilization, and intercepting snipe along regular flight lanes. Net type, mesh size, color, and field techniques are described. Other capture methods are briefly discussed. References on the general use of mist-nets to capture birds can be found but few describe a netting technique for snipe. McClure (1956) reviewed three methods of arranging nets depending on the habitat (shoreline, hillside, and marsh) to capture various species. Sheldon (1960) discussed the most successful net arrangements, mesh sizes, and hours of operation for mist-netting woodcock during the summer in Maine.

A study comparing various waterfowl census techniques was conducted to determine which is most suitable for use with the Florida Duck population. Counts made from an airplane, air-boat and helicopter, covering identical transects in the Kissimmee River Valley of Florida, were compared. Surveys made from the air-boat were the most accurate, but were found to be impractical for regular census work. Airplane surveys proved to be practical if their inherent inaccuracy was compensated for by multiplying actual counts by a conversion factor. A conversion factor of 2.5 was obtained by comparing airplane and air-boat counts of Florida Ducks on the study area.

A free flying, resident flock of Canada geese (Bl'anta canadensis) has been successfully established in Middle Tennessee. The flock is now composed of over 400 geese. It was initiated in the late 1950's by a private citizen via the release of three or four pair of game farm origin birds on a 1,200 acre estate. This improved pasture type farm, which has several large ponds, is typical of much of the agricultural land usage in Middle Tennessee. The goose population has increased, thus filling available nesting habitat on the original estate and has since expanded to nearby Old Hickory Reservoir. The Tennessee Game and Fish Commission has conducted production, mortality, and banding studies on the flock since 1966. The initial success of this nesting population indicates that the local flock concept has merit for establishment of Canada geese in the Southeast.

A total of 57 of 75 bobcats (Lynx rufus) available were utilized in an evaluation for determining age in this species. Pelage characteristics, body measurements, frozen eye lens weight, and epiphyseal closure of the forelegs and humeri were of little value in determining age. Skull measurements were used in determining three age classes: (1) kittens (0-12 months); (2) young adults (13-24 months); and (3) adults (over 25 months). Skull morphology was also useful in defining these classes. The number of cementum annuli in the upper canine was correlated with age and allowed a more accurate age to be assigned to each animal than the other methods evaluated. Comparing the cementum annuli with the skull measurements indicated that the tooth sectioning technique was far better. In general, by skull examination, bobcat ages were consistently underestimated.

This report summarizes existing information on the ecology of rabies in wildlife in the southeastern United States. Patterns of involvement of various wildlife species and their significance in the ecology of rabies are discussed. Other subjects that are discussed include factors involved in epizootics, barriers to interspecific spread, and various mechanisms which may maintain the rabies virus in populations during periods between epizootics.

Trial releases of three species of exotic game birds were made on nine areas in South Carolina by the South Carolina Wildlife Resources Department. The black francolin was released on four areas from 1960 to 1962. The Western Iranian black-neck pheasant was released on five areas from 1961 to 1968. The red junglefowl was released on three areas from 1965 to 1968. A study was made of seven of the release sites to determine population levels of the released birds and to survey the vegetation. The black francolin exhibited generally negative census results two years after the last release. The Western Iranian pheasant has continued to survive only on areas where annual releases were made. Although the red junglefowl has shown promise, it is too early to determine its chances of survival. The results of the study indicate that the introduction of exotic game birds in South Carolina thus far has not been very successful.

An intensive field study of the status and ecology of introduced Indian red junglefowl (Gallus gallus murghi Delacour) was conducted from March 22 to August 26, 1968 in Baldwin County, Alabama. A high incidence of junglefowl "hybrids", resulting from crossing with domestic chickens (Gallus sp.), was observed in six separate groups and eight broods. An average of 2.9 chicks per brood was observed from March 2 to August 22. A probable failure of junglefowl to establish a wild population is indicated. Two hatchery-reared groups of 30 junglefowl each were released during the study in varied habitat conditions to investigate factors influencing dispersal. Six hens were equipped with 27 megaHertz radio transmitters. Observations of these marked junglefowl, as well as of previously released birds, indicate that attempted establishment near farm sites was a result mainly of attractive edge conditions. A dense understory appeared to be a cover requirement.

During a five year study of cottontail reproduction in Alabama, frequent observations were made of activities and mortality of nestling cottontail rabbits in five 50' x 50' pens, in six 200' x 200' pens, and in five large enclosures ranging from 6 to 40 acres in size. During this study 371 cottontail nests were found in which 231 litters were born. Evidence, some of which is circumstantial, indicates that 68 whole litters and parts of two other litters were destroyed by fire ants. From these observations it appears that significant fire ant disturbances to cottontail nesting can be expected in pens and enclosures where fire ant populations are of medium to high density. This is not meant to imply that fire ant predation would seriously alter cottontail populations in an unrestricted natural environment containing fire ant populations.

Collection of 135 young females revealed a very low incidence of breeding by this segment of the cottontail populations in Georgia. These data question the significance of early adult breeding as a major factor in contributing to a higher incidence of young-of-the-year breeding. The influence of other parameters in the Southeast was suggested; soil fertility and hot, dry summer weather were most significant.

Cap-Chur-Gem was injected intramuscularly into 22 pen-reared and six wild trapped European wild hogs. In pen-reared hogs, complete immobilization occurred in 13 hogs (68 percent) at dosages of 1 cc./9.9 to 1 cc./18.6 pounds of body weight and incomplete immobilization occurred in six hogs within the same dosage range. The remaining three penreared hogs showed little or no effects when injected with dosages smaller than 1 cc./19.0 pounds. Three of the wild trapped hogs were immobilized at dosages of 1 cc./10 pounds and three were not immobilized at dosages of 1 cc. per 14 to 20 pounds. The tIme from injection to immobilization varied from 6 to 62 minutes and averaged 25.3 ± 8.4 minutes for penreared hogs. Time from injection to immobilization and recovery for wild trapped hogs averaged 27.7 and 79.0 minutes and varied from 2 to 69 and from 51 to 135, respectively. The recommended dosage is 1 cc./15 pounds body weight.

The objectives, methods, and study areas of the Carolina Sandhills mourning dove investigation are described as they apply to present and future research. Indexes to mourning dove nesting densities are gained by means of 25 call-count routes in a 10-county intensive study area and 45 call-count routes in a 33-county extensive study area. These indexes will be correlated with habitat characteristics to determine specific qualities of desirable dove nesting habitat and to gain insight into possible effects of widespread changes in land-use and agricultural practices on dove nesting populations. The 25 intensive-study-area routes were each run three times per year. In addition, several were covered weekly throughout each summer. Extensive-study-area routes were run only once per year. The average number of doves heard calling per intensive-study-area route was 47.39 in 1968 and 48.14 in 1969. Averages for the extensive study area were 38.80 in 1968 and 37.49 in 1969.

Hunters responding to a standard mail questionnaire reported more doves killed and more dove hunting trips than would be judged from the wings these same individuals submitted through the mail. A bare majority of these hunters stated that their questionnaire answers better represented their experience for the season than did their wing response. Those who sent in wings reported hunting more often and killing more doves than those who failed to send in wings. For some time, wildlife biologists have examined parts of game animals to establish the age, sex or species composition in the hunter's bag. Often hunters are asked to submit wings, tails or other parts through the mail for examination. The method provides useful biological knowledge at relatively low cost. For at least some of the characteristics of some species it is doubtful that a hunter can recognize the subtle differences associated with age or sex, and therefore the bag information is probably unselected.

Since 1966,1 a study has been conducted in earthen ponds of the Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama, to evaluate the potential of suspended cages for culturing catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), from fingerlings to marketable size, and to develop the basic techniques necessary for the extension of the culture. This paper presents the developments obtained in the study. Experiments on effects of stocking density per volume of cage, cage positioning relative to the environment and to other cages, and cage mesh size on production are discussed. Observations on feeding behavior, feeding enclosures, feed efficiency, cage materials, cage covers, parasites and disease and other aspects of cage culture are discussed to a limited extent. Stocking densities tested ranged up to 500 fish per mS of cage. The highest standing crop produced was 421 lb. per mS cage stocked with 500 fish. In a 40-day period these fish grew from a mean weight of 0.43 lb.

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of stomach contents of 263 white bass (Roccus chrysops) taken from Beaver Reservoir and its tributaries between February 1, 1969 and June 30, 1969 are reported. Fish are classified as pre, mid, and post-spawners based on their migrations into and out of the spawning areas. Stomach contents of white bass are enumerated by frequency occurrence, volumetric and gravimetric methods. Significant differences in the food habits were found between the different periods.