Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

The age-size structure of gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) from Ft. Pierce, Florida, to Grand Isle, Louisiana, was examined. Otolith sections from 432 fish collected in 1991 to 1993 were used to compare 2 methods (direct proportion and regression) of back-calculation of size at age. The observed age range was 1 to 25 years and the size range was 236 to 764 mm total length. Differences were observed in back-calculated sizes at age between the 2 back-calculation methods, between sexes and geographic divisions. The back-calculated size at age was larger for ages 1 to 10 years from the direct proportion than from the regression method. Males were larger than females for ages 4 to 15 years using the direct proportion method, but only for ages 13 and 14 years using the regression method. Northern fish were larger at age than southern fish using both back-calculation methods.

A landowner shortcourse entitled "Wildlife and Forest Management for Profit and Recreation" was developed to teach South Carolina landowners the basics of forest management that can be used to improve wildlife habitat. Between 1991 and mid-1994, 9 shortcourses were held throughout the state. Over 260 landowners and resource managers attended who owned over 40,000 ha or managed over 190,000 ha of land, respectively. Ninety-one percent of the respondents rated the shortcourses favorably. In addition, shortcourse participants indicated that they believed the knowledge gained as a result of the shortcourse will help them earn a total of $2,282,500 on their lands in the future. Plans are being made to expand the shortcourse in response to clientele suggestions.

We investigated the usefulness of focus groups, an interview methodology, in human dimensions research. We used a focus group to interview people interested in wildlife conservation to determine the technique's efficacy in assessing public perception of wildlife habitat management on electric transmission line rights-of-way (ROWs). Most respondents had some basic knowledge of wildlife habitat needs and considered ROWs as potentially useful to wildlife. Respondents were concerned about the use of herbicides and generally preferred mechanical treatments. There was considerable distrust of information generated via government chemical approval processes, private company research, and popular media. While additional groups are needed to fully assess the range of attitudes this and other publics hold on this subject, our results suggest that focus groups can be an effective tool for baseline public perception of wildlife studies or as a precursor to quantitative surveys.

In the fall and spring of each year, the Talladega National Forest becomes a classroom for second and fifth grade students. Students hike a 2-mile trail stopping at 6 to 7 learning stations. Students receive instruction on wildlife management, fisheries management, botany, forestry, fire prevention, litter control, and outdoor ethics. The program is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Forest Service, Talladega and Sylacauga school systems, the Alabama Forestry Commission, and the Pinecrest Garden Club. Since 1989, over 4,000 students have attended the Talladega Open Air Classroom. This hands-on concept of environmental education is well received by students, teachers, parents and community volunteers.

Recreational fishing has been on a decline. This can be attributed to various reasons such as increasing numbers of single parent families, increased urbanization, and less leisure time. To help reverse this trend, the Sportfishing Promotion Council (SPC) is combining the marketing expertise of industry with the fishery management expertise of agencies into state-level partnerships that are successfully introducing more people to fishing and teaching about the conservation needs of aquatic habitats. Through programs such as youth fishing derbies, toll-free telephone systems, and mass media communications, the SPC is currently providing state agencies with increased public outreach capabilities and new methods of interacting directly with constituents. With funding provided by Sportfish Restoration funds and industry contributions, the SPC program is free to state agencies and 20 state partnerships have to date been assembled.

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC), comprised of Preaching Rock Wildlife Education Center (PRWEC), Marben Public Fishing Area (PFA), and Clybel Wildlife Management Area (WMA), is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division to serve a variety of user groups, including students, hikers, teachers, anglers, hunters, birdwatchers, and others. The area contains 2,438 ha (6,023 acres) of land, 29 ponds, and a 2-ha (5-acre) rock outcrop. This paper outlines the site development plan for PRWEC and discusses programs and facilities that are to be developed. The mission of PRWEC is to educate Georgia's youth and adults about wildlife, natural resources, and outdoor skills to help them become wise stewards of the environment. Proposed youth education programs include a 3-day residential program, a wildlife outreach program, and a day-use program.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources conducted a survey of students from 38 high schools (1,459 useable respondents) to ascertain the effects of the Conservation Education Program. Of the surveyed individuals, 15.7% had attended Department classes and camps, 55.3 % had attended Department classes only, and 29% had not attended any Department programs. The students were asked questions on the environment, attitudes toward outdoor recreation including hunting and fishing, and their own potential for supporting outdoor recreation. Results showed that students who had attended Department programs were significantly more interested in: environmental issues, participating in outdoor recreation, and encouraging their own children to participate in outdoor recreation.

In 1993, the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), National Trails Fund Act (NRTFA), Georgia Cooperative Extension Service (Georgia 4-H), Georgia Department of Natural Resource (DNR), Georgia Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), and United States Forest Service (USFS) combined forces to provide jobs for youth and maintain Georgia's recreational trail structure. Project Opportunity (PO) was designed to provide 14- and 21-year-old youth with much needed jobs. PO also provided youth with on-the-job training, job-seeking skills, knowledge about the environment, and remedial programs in mathematics and reading. PO had a positive impact on participants in terms of knowledge, attitude, and skill development, and 105 km of trails were maintained and augmented. Although PO was designed as a pilot program for youth in the North Georgia area, it can easily be modified to address the specific needs of groups in other areas of the United States.

In January 1992, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission purchased an 11-m trailer mounted aquarium for use in its Aquatic Resources Education Program. Although quite costly and very labor intensive, this project has proven to be one of the finest public relations tools anyone could have imagined. Over .5 million people per year have viewed the 13,250-1 display in its first 2 years of operation. The display is erected at fairs, schools, boat shows, town festivals, fishing seminars, clinics, etc. It is often stocked with 25 or 30 different species of fish, all indigenous to Arkansas waters. The Aquarium provides an excellent tool for teaching various fishing techniques, lure demonstrations, and fish behavior.

We studied seasonal movements of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in northeast Georgia in relation to agricultural food plots during years of varying oak (Quercus spp.) mast production. In total, 2,381 radio telemetry locations were collected from 12 does from 1987 through 1989. Fall and winter home ranges were larger (P < 0.1) during a high oak mast productivity year compared to a low productivity year. There were no differences (P > 0.1) in spring home range sizes under 3 different oak mast conditions. All radio-collared does had ranges which included 1 or more food plots. Most deer were located within 800 m of a food plot during all years and all seasons.

We evaluated standing crop, nutritional quality, and use of 3 legumes planted to provide forage during summer, which is a nutritional stress period for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in southern Texas. Average standing crop of lablab (Lablab purpureus) from 861 to 2,250 kg/ha exceeded (P ≤ 0.05) that of soybeans (Glycine max) and cowpeas (Vigna sinsensis). Phosphorus (P) of lablab and cowpeas exceeded (P ≤ 0.05) soybeans. Lablab crude protein was not different from cowpeas and soybean crude protein, but soybean was greater (P ≤ 0.05) than cowpea in 1990. In 1991, lablab and cowpea leaf crude protein was greater (P ≤ 0.05) than soybean during August and October. Percent use of cowpeas and soybeans exceeded (P ≤ 0.05) percent use of lablab in 1990. In 1991, lablab percent use was similar to that of cowpeas and soybeans during July-September and greater (P ≤ 0.05) than cowpeas in November.

Radio-collared white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; 7 males, 13 females) were tracked from 1984 to 1989 on the Marion County Wildlife Management Area in southern Mississippi. Alternating halves of the study area were planted with 66 0.1-ha and 20 0.4-ha cool-season and 20 0.4-ha summer agronomic forage plots. Mean annual production and utilization (air-dry) of cool-season forages were 1,904 kg/ha (SE = 59) and 1,107 kg/ha (SE = 41), respectively. Summer forage production and utilization were 664 kg/ha (SE = 50) and 586 kg/ha (SE = 48), respectively. Annual 95% convex polygon home ranges averaged 691 ha for 6 adult (≥ 3 years) bucks and 343 ha for 12 adult does. Significant (P < 0.05) seasonal differences in home range size were observed for does, but seasonal differences for bucks were not significant (P = 0.12). Significant movements both toward and away from the planted side of the study area were observed for some individual deer.

We compared production, utilization, and protein levels of 3 ladino clovers (Trifolium repens) in northeastern Georgia. Three 0.2-ha clover plots were planted side by side in 2 separate fields on Chestatee Wildlife Management Area. Samples were clipped, weighed, and analyzed monthly for a 26-month period beginning in April 1990. All clovers were utilized very heavily by deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and other wildlife averaging 392 kg/ha per month dry weight totalling 10,210 kg/ha for the study. With data for both fields combined, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in wildlife (predominantly deer) usage among the 3 varieties: Regal (428 kg/ha/month), Imperial Whitetail Mix (383 kg/ha/month), or Osceola (367 kg/ha/ month). Overall use of all varieties was higher in a field (P < 0.01) with no other food plots were nearby.

Sixteen adult bobcats (11 females, 5 males) (Felis rufus) were monitored using radio-telemetry from 1 January 1989-31 December 1992 in Mississippi to determine habitat components influencing core use area (CUA) location and size. Male bobcat CUA size (x = 26.5 km2, SE = 6.1) was larger (P = 0.047) than females (x = 11.8 km2, SE = 2.8). Habitat components of bobcat CUA's did not differ (P > 0.10) by sex. There was a higher (P < 0.01) proportion of pine plantations and agricultural habitats in CUA's than in random areas. There was a lower (P = 0.06) proportion of hardwood stands in CUA's (x = 0.23: SE = 0.03) than in random areas (x = 0.36, SE = 0.04). Occurrence of creeks, roads, and pine stands were not significantly different (P > 0.10) between CUA's and random areas. We propose prey abundance influenced location of bobcat CUA's and thus home ranges on our study area.

Scent stations, passive hair-snaggers and howl surveys were evaluated as possible survey methods for monitoring relative abundance of coyotes (Canis latrans) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) prior to the reintroduction of red wolves (Canis rufus) from January 1990 to April 1991. Scent station nights (N = 198), passive hair-snaggers (N = 70), and howl surveys (N = 197) produced 1 (0.5%), 0 (0.0%), and 35 (17.8%) coyote responses, respectively. Scent stations and hair-snaggers proved ineffective for monitoring coyotes at current population levels. Howl surveys elicited responses from approximately 21 coyotes at 12 locations indicating the feasibility of designing and implementing a standardized survey to monitor the relative abundance of coyotes over time or from area to area. Twenty-seven responses were elicited from coyotes in the Cades Cove section of GSMNP for a coyote index of 22.9% and 8 responses from coyotes outside Cades Cove for a coyote index of 10.1%.

Nine bobcats (Felis rufus) trapped from the Coastal Plain of Georgia in fall 1989 were fed weighed amounts of cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus), hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinesis), domestic rabbits, a juvenile feral hog (Sus scrofa), and adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to develop correction factors to convert mass of prey remains in scats to an estimate of mass of prey consumed for different prey types. Dry matter digestibility increased with increasing prey size except for white-tailed deer. For prey under 4.5 kg, we developed a regression equation (r1 = 0.75, P < 0.0001) to estimate correction factors for different sizes of prey. With this information, percent biomass consumed of different prey species in bobcat diets can be estimated from remains in bobcat scats.

We examined 8 years of data concerning female bobcat (Felis rufus) reproductive characteristics and kitten growth parameters. Estrus in adults occurred in February and March, peaking in February, while yearlings cycled later (Mar to Jul). Two litters/female/year was the maximum observed, although 3 estrous cycles were observed within a single breeding season. Recycling occurred 12-14 days following kitten loss. Gestation length averaged 64 days, with parturition occurring between April and May. Litter size ranged from 1-5 kittens (x = 2.3), with a sex ratio of 1.24 M : 1 F. Mean birth mass of kittens was 150.27 g and the mean daily mass increment was 6.1 % to 34.4%. Patterns of tooth eruption and morphological characteristics relative to age are summarized.

Spatial relationships of radio-monitored gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were examined over a 5-year period. Marginal overlap (<10%) of convex polygon home ranges of same sex adult foxes with adjacent home range boundaries provided evidence for territoriality. Extensive overlap was observed between juveniles and adults of opposite sex. Mean home range overlap of suspected mated pairs was 61% ± 13%, providing evidence of pair bonding between the sexes. Territory size (home range) may provide a useful measure of population density. Assuming 2 adult foxes inhabit the same range, adult gray fox population density in areas of suitable habitat in the lower Gulf Coastal Plain can be expected to range from 1 adult fox per 183-308 ha.

We determined the density and characteristics of natural cavities suitable for wood duck (Aix sponsa) nest sites in an old-growth longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forest in Thomas County, Georgia, in 1991 and 1992. Of 17 suitable cavities found on the 72-ha study area, 6 had been recently occupied by nesting wood ducks. Although this density (0.24 per ha) was low compared to northern hardwood forests, it was similar to the densities reported in Mississippi bottomland hardwoods and greater than the density reported for bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) and tupelo gum (Nyssa aquatica) stands in the southeastern United States. The extensive distribution of this forest type before logging in the early part of this century suggests that longleaf pine forests could have once been an important source of wood duck nest sites.

Recruitment in prairie duck populations is correlated with annual wetland conditions, but a similar relationship has not been demonstrated for wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Therefore, we studied the influence of variable water levels on wood duck recruitment at Sloughs Wildlife Management Area in western Kentucky during 1988 and 1989. In 1989, when water levels were higher (P < 0.0001), nest initiation was earlier, the nesting season lasted approximately 3 weeks longer, and mean brood sizes were greater (P < 0.05). Results suggest high water levels should be maintained during years of drought.

To better understand habitat features on rivers that are important to wood ducks (Aix sponsa), I measured brood density for sections of 12 rivers (329 km) in Tennessee nightlighting during spring 1990 and 1991. Sixteen habitat variables were evaluated for each river and the relationship to brood density was tested. Brood density ranged from 0 to 1.8/km (x = 0.7 on unchannelized rivers). No broods were found on 61 km of channelized rivers. Brood density was positively correlated to aquatic vegetation, mud flats, logs and limbs in the water, large overhanging trees, rapids, and islands and was negatively correlated to exposed mud banks and small trees. River channelization and certain agricultural practices degraded riparian habitat and had a negative effect on brood density. Where habitat for wood duck broods is to be maintained or improved, streams should be protected from channelization and from land management practices which remove tree cover and destabilize riverbanks.