Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

A better understanding of population dynamics leads to more informed wildlife management decisions. Investigations of mortality rates and their causes for maturing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are lacking in the Coastal Plain of the Southeast. We captured 36 (18 male and 18 female) fawns with rocket nets and radio-collared them on Westvaco's North Whitener tract in Jasper County, South Carolina, from October through December 1992. We radio-tracked these deer during the 1993 calendar year to investigate mortality rates in a coastal area under a quality deer management program. Calendar year mortality rates, estimated with the Kaplan-Meier product limit method, were 0.389 (SE = 0.115) for females and 0.410 (SE = 0.119) for males. Sex-specific survival functions did not differ within the year (P = 0.906) or within either age-period analyzed (fawn period, 1 Jan-31 May, P = 0.300; yearling period, 1 Jun-31 Dec, P = 0.229).

Population estimates of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) based on marking individuals and resighting them at later times require assumptions about observability that are rarely verified. Yet the accuracy of estimates depends on meeting the assumptions. At Remington Farms on the eastern shore of Maryland, we tested accuracy of mark-resight population estimates from the heterogeneity model (Mh) of the CAPTURE program against a known abundance of a marked subpopulation of the herd. We also tested the assumption of heterogeneous capture probabilities. We conducted evening road counts to resight animals marked with collars and used radio-telemetry observations to estimate sightability of individual animals. Estimates of observability were biased high, and concomitant population estimates were biased low by between 25% to 35%. Estimates determined from radio telemetry of the observabilities of different individuals ranged from 0.04 to 0.45, an 11-fold difference.

We conducted this study to determine efficiency of archery equipment in conjunction with tracking dogs for harvesting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on Medway Plantation in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Twentytwo experienced archers hunting from elevated stands over corn feeders shot 61 deer. A tracking dog was used whenever deer did not fall within sight of the hunter (41 of the 61 deer shot). Immediately following each hunt, the hunter completed a questionnaire to determine equipment used, shot conditions, and deer reaction. We recovered 60 of the 61 deer shot (98%) within 24 hours of being hit. Comparison of shot situation variables (draw weight, deer activity, alertness, reaction, position, number of deer present, arrow penetration, and number of broadhead blades) with shot placement and distance traveled after the shot revealed few significant associations.

Wildlife researchers often assume capturing and marking do not influence marked animals' behavior, but this assumption is seldom tested. Therefore, we investigated effects of capture on reproductive success of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in east-central Mississippi. Hens were captured by cannon net, wing-tagged, radio-marked, and released between January and March 1990-1993. Marked and unmarked hens were observed at July and August bait sites 1990-1993; those observed with ≥ 1 poult were classified as reproductively successful. Hens captured during January-March, prior to the reproductive period, were less likely to be reproductively successful than either unmarked hens (P = 0.009) or hens captured in previous years (P = 0.048). We concluded that some factor in the capture process affects turkey reproduction in year of capture, but that this effect diminishes over time.

Identification of poult mortality agents and associated rates are critical to management of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), particularly in coastal plain pine forests where reported mortality rates are greater than those documented in other environments. We studied rates and specific causes of mortality for wild turkey poults in south Georgia and north Florida from 1988-1993. During the period, 34 of 344 poults from 39 broods survived to 28 days post hatch and yearly mortality rates averaged 90.8% ± 1.8. Predation accounted for 88% of the 106 identified deaths with raccoons (Procyon lotor) the leading cause of mortality.

A population of eastern wild turkeys {Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) was studied in the lower coastal plain of South Carolina to determine if intensively managed short-rotation pine plantations have a detrimental effect on reproductive success. Reproductive parameters including nesting chronology, nest success, hen success, clutch size, and hatchability were estimated from 50 radio-instrumented hens monitored during 1988-1990. Predation during nesting and brooding periods was the major cause of nest and adult hen losses (55%). However, illegal kills were as high (45%). Median dates for incubation initiation and hatching were 8 May and 3 June, respectively. Nest success (% hatched ≥1 egg) was 57.9%. Proportion of hens in the population expected to produce poults was 50%. Clutches averaged 9.8 eggs with 82% hatchability. Number of poults produced/hen averaged 4.0. Nest sites were located in all stand types in proportion to their availability.

Many pine (Pinus spp.) and pine-hardwood forests in the Southeast have been, and are being, converted to short-rotation (35 years) even-aged pine plantations. Effects of forest type conversion on wild turkey reproductive parameters have not been documented. Therefore, we compared reproductive performance of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in central Mississippi between a forest system dominated by short rotation loblolly {P. taeda) pine plantations (Kemper County) and Tallahala Wildlife Management Area (TWMA), a more "natural" forest system managed by the U.S. Forest Service, during 1987-1994. TWMA experienced higher nest and renest initiation rates. Kemper County had higher initial nest success rates. Mean clutch size was higher on TWMA than on Kemper County, but total productivity did not differ.

To determine effects of land use and management practices on wild turkey {Meleagris gallapovo) populations, managers need reliable, low-cost methods to estimate absolute and relative densities. Therefore, we evaluated estimation ability of 4 models using wild turkey capture data from 1986-1993 and summer bait site observations from 1990-1993 in Kemper County, Mississippi. Capture-markrecapture models performed worse (i.e., higher coefficients of variance) than capture-mark-resight models. Estimates from 1 resighting model were biased from non-homogenous capture probabilities in most intervals (4 of 6) for both sexes. Estimates from a second resighting model required restriction of marked population to active radio-equipped hens. This model performed well in 1990 and 1991, but likely overestimated population size in 1992 and 1993 when marked/sighted samples were only 9 and 4 individuals. A 3-stage resighting-based sampling design was suggested for turkey census.

Disease eliminated American chestnut (Catenea dentata), mast production from most North America forests before objective data could be collected on its use by wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). This study evaluated wild turkey use of American chestnut, chestnut hybrids, and other selected hard mast. Feeding responses of free-ranging wild turkeys to American and Chinese chestnuts was compared to 22 other mast species during winters 1993 and 1994. Turkeys were presented measured amounts of mast during 20 feeding trials. Chestnuts were readily accepted as a food. There were no differences (P = 0.0001) in preferences for 11 oak species, 4 pine species, and small Chinese chestnuts. Turkeys showed no preference (P = 0.0001) among 5 diameter classes of Chinese chestnuts presented alone, selected (P = 0.0001) corn, American chestnuts, and chinkapins, over chestnut cultivars and selected (P = 0.0001) corn, American chestnuts, red oak and white oak to Chinese chestnuts.

Providing habitat to recruit young into a population with high rates of annual turnover is vital if stable populations are to be maintained. We studied habitat selection using radio-tagged northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) with broods ≤ 2 weeks old on 2 intensively managed quail hunting plantations in southwest Georgia from 1992 to 1994. Habitat selectivity was analyzed using 1,443 locations from 75 broods. Fifty-eight of the 75 broods preferred fallow fields with use greater than expected (P ≤ 0.05). Insect abundance in fallow fields was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater than in other potential brood habitats. Fallow field management for bobwhite brood habitat is discussed.

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have declined on a continental scale. One factor implicated in the decline is habitat loss through agricultural modernization. To better understand the relationship between northern bobwhite and modern farming, and to examine farm habitat improvement methods, we monitored bobwhite (N = 218) from April to September 1993 and 1994 on two study areas, western (WSA) and eastern (ESA), each divided into one filter strip (FS) (treatment) and one non-filter strip (NFS) (reference) section on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge's farming units in Dare County, North Carolina. Filter strips were 9.4 m wide planted and natural vegetation buffer zones surrounding drainage-ditches in crop fields. Using radio-telemetry, we followed bobwhite, identified nest incubations and hatchings, and monitored hatched broods.

Potential dietary differences between adult female and male northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) during the breeding season may influence habitat use and thus require special habitat management. The bobwhite literature contains only meager quantitative information, and no statistical evaluation, of adult female and male bobwhite diets during the breeding season. Therefore, we collected bobwhites and quantified their food use to test the null hypothesis that diets of male and female bobwhites were similar during the breeding season. In 41 female and 47 male bobwhites collected in eastern Mississippi from April-September 1968-1978, we found that females consumed greater (P <0.001) numbers and biomass of animal matter (primarily arthropods and snails) than males. There was no difference (P >0.05) between the sexes in number or biomass of plant material in the diet. Animal foods may play an important, and previously overlooked role in the diet of breeding bobwhites.

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)-dominated fields provide poor northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) brood rearing habitat. Burning, disking, and herbicide applications have been recommended to improve bobwhite habitat within fescue-dominated fields. We implemented fall burning, fall disking, spring burning, spring disking, spring herbicide application, summer burning, and summer disking in fescue-dominated fields on 4 wildlife management areas across Kentucky. We sampled invertebrate populations and vegetative structure in summers 1992 and 1993 to determine if bobwhite brood rearing habitat quality was improved. We considered forb-dominated fields with high plant species richness, high invertebrate populations, and sufficient bare ground as providing the best brood rearing habitat. Fall disked plots provided significantly greater invertebrate abundance (¯x = 2199.4 ± 331.5; p ≤ 0.05) than control plots (¯x = 824.0 ± 264.5) in 1992.

Depredation to crops and livestock by coyotes (Canis latrans) is a subject of much concern to agricultural producers in Alabama. This concern suggested a need for an efficient mechanism for producers experiencing perceived coyote damage to report losses. We tested a combination self-reporting/field verification technique to determine proportion of coyote damage complaints actually attributable to coyotes, determine species responsible for reported coyote damage, and collect descriptive data on coyote damage in Alabama. A toll-free telephone hotline was established, and calls concerning coyote damage were received from June 1992 to September 1993. Two hundred and sixty-three calls (214 livestock, 49 crop) resulted in only 44 field investigations. This technique of self-reporting/field verification did not prove effective as a data collection method to assess coyote damage.

The mountain lion (Felis concolor) is legally classified as a nongame mammal in Texas within the broad scope of wildlife regulatory authority delegated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Lions are not subject to any specific protective regulations; however, mountain lions are recognized as an important part of the native fauna of Texas. The Department is currently collecting mortality and sighting data by ecological region to determine current distribution and population status of Texas lions. Sighting data are reported by county with the date, number and estimated age of lions, and location. Mortality data includes the above information plus weight, length, and reason for death. Over 1,500 mortalities and 1,400 sightings were reported from 1983 to 1994. Sightings were recorded in all ten ecological regions and mortalities in all ecological regions except the Blackland Prairies and Post Oak Savannah.

Reproduction, mortality rates, dispersal, and survival of young lions are among the most basic factors affecting lion populations. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) initiated a research study to investigate home ranges, population dynamics, genetic variability, and diets. We captured 19 mountain lions (Felis concolor) on Big Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) 22 January 1993 through 9 March 1995, using trained hounds or leg-hold snares. All captured lions were examined, aged and sexed, and a series of body measurements were recorded. Two lions— 1 adult female and 1 subadult male—died during capture. A subadult male orphaned as a kitten and sent to a wildlife rehabilitor was returned to the study area, but was later killed off the study area. Fifteen lions—5 adult females, 1 subadult female, 7 adult males and 2 subadult males—were fitted with radio transmitters. Three of the collared lions—1 adult female and 2 adult males—were killed north of the study area.

Black bear populations of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) are threatened by continuing habitat destruction, necessitating development of techniques to monitor population trends. Bait station surveys have proven successful for monitoring other southeastern bear populations. We conducted experimental bait station surveys during May-August 1992 and 1993 to evaluate effect of bait type (fish, sardines, meat), sampling duration (4 and 8 days), and sampling month on bait station visitation rates by black bears. In 1992 and 1993, visitation rates by black bears were 11.4% and 27.2%, respectively. Highest visitation rates occurred using fish bait in August with an 8-night sampling period. We recommend conducting MAV bait station surveys in August using fish bait. Bait stations should be conducted annually where visitation rates allow monitoring of population trends and every 3-5 years in low bear density areas to provide baseline distributional information.

Damage to agricultural crops by black bears (Ursus americanus) is a widespread problem in coastal North Carolina. We examined extent and duration of damage to 1,802 ha of corn crops using aerial surveys conducted during summer 1993. Additionally, we obtained 1993 crop damage estimates and attitudes towards bears using a mail survey of farm operators on the Neuse-Pamlico peninsula in 1994. Greatest corn damage occurred in middle to late July during early stages of kernel ripeness. Aerial survey results showed that bears damaged approximately 0.6% of the corn crop compared to 1.2% estimated by farm operators. Most farm operators (77.8%) enjoyed seeing bears on their farms, but 45.4% worried about crop damage. Farm operators who had received crop damage were more likely to view bears as nuisances. Corn was the major crop damaged with estimated losses exceeding $27,000.

Published methods for aging and sexing ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) have not been tested on a large sample of birds from the Southeast. We evaluated several methods in a hunter-donated sample of 268 birds from eastern Tennessee. Age and sex determined by individual techniques were compared to necropsy findings. Results of aging techniques ranged from 3.3% to 39% error. Sexing error ranged from 1.3% to 24%. Results were generally not as accurate as those reported from the northern United States due largely to juveniles with adult traits and females with male traits. Use of most traditional methods may lead to underestimates of juveniles and females. The sample was classified 39% juvenile and 45% female.

The failure to recognize heterogeneity in band-recovery and survival rates can lead to biased estimates and spurious inferences regarding population status. We examined band-recovery data for sources of variation in recovery and survival rates of mottled ducks (Anas fuhigula) in Florida. Distances between banding and recovery sites were small (median = 38 km), suggesting that mottled ducks live much of their lives within the same drainage basin. Recovery rates varied among regions of banding, perhaps because of spatial heterogeneity in bandreporting rates. Cohort-specific survival rates also may have varied by region, but data were inadequate to test these hypotheses. Fledged and unfledged young had similar recovery distributions and rates. Young of both sexes had higher recovery rates than adults, but age-specific survival differed only among males.

Since 1970, over 40% of all American black ducks (Anas rubripes) observed during mid-winter waterfowl surveys in the Mississippi flyway occurred in Tennessee. Local differences in distribution, migration chronology, and annual variation in abundance have not been investigated within the state. We used Tennessee recovery records from 1970-1987 to evaluate breeding locations of black ducks wintering in Tennessee and waterfowl survey data collected by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 1955-1992 to evaluate trends in geographic distribution and abundance, migration chronology, and influence of winter temperature on numbers of black ducks wintering in Tennessee. The inland subpopulation of black ducks is primarily confined to the Mississippi flyway. The primary breeding areas of black ducks recovered in Tennessee were within the Mississippi flyway, especially Michigan, Wisconsin, and Manitoba, Canada.

Previous work by LeMaster and Trost (1994) and Otis (1994) developed and evaluated statistical models for incorporating wood ducks (Aix sponsa) banded between 15 April and 30 June into band recovery analyses to estimate survival and recovery rates. In this study, we analyzed wood duck band recovery data from 1982-1992 in the proposed mid-Atlantic wood duck management unit and evaluated the impact of past early season banding on precision of the estimates. Based on statistics compiled from the wood duck nest box program in South Carolina, we then used computer simulation to evaluate potential impact of state and regional scale banding of adult females in nest box programs. Additional early season banding in the mid-Atlantic region could slightly improve estimates of annual and summer survival rates for adults, but replacement of preseason banding with early season banding to achieve banding quotas can result in substantial decreases in precision of some parameters.

Nesting ecology of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) has been extensively studied in southwestern Louisiana, but little data exist from other parts of the state. Nesting ecology was investigated in an intermediate salinity marsh in southeastern Louisiana during 1987 and 1988. We located and examined 53 nests. Nesting habitat included spoilbanks, bulltongue (Sagittaria lancifolia) and wiregrass (Spartina patens) marshes. Floating marsh was not used. Mean clutch size was 29.4 ±1.7 eggs and mean egg mass was 64.1 ± 0.3 g. Nest temperatures were within the optimal range of 31 to 32 C. In 1987, 3 (75%) nests on spoilbanks and 4 (36.6%) nests in bulltongue marsh were successful. Remaining nests were destroyed by raccoons or flooding. Nest predation was not observed in 1988, but all nests were lost to flooding from tropical storm Beryl on 9 August.

In American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), sex determination is dependent upon incubation temperature of the egg prior to hatching. Information about hatchling alligator sex ratios is equivocal, however. Moreover, numerous surveys of juveniles and adults show a male-biased ratio, although a female-biased ratio has been reported for hatchlings from Louisiana. We outline a technique for estimating sex ratios in naturally-incubated alligator nests, and present the initial results from impoundment habitats in South Carolina. In 1994, we located 33 nests and sexed and released 778 hatchlings from 25 nests. The observed sex ratio was 1M:3.8F. Hatchling sex ratios are likely to vary temporally and spatially; therefore, long-term studies in representative habitats are required.

We use a case study to illustrate how challenging it can be to apply rigorous evaluation procedures of environmental education programs in a real world setting. We report here our experiences in conducting 2 major evaluations. In Case Number 1, the identity of the client is not disclosed for reasons that will become obvious. This client was a national, non-profit conservation organization that requested an independent evaluation of an educational program designed for volunteer use. Case Number 2 reviews the evaluation of the Virginia Hunter Education program conducted in the early 1980s.