Proceedings of Southeastern Fish and Wildlife Conference

Prior to 2013, SEAFWA published the Proceedings of annual conferences. In 2014, SEAFWA began publishing the peer-reviewed Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

View articles by author

 

1051 - 1100 of 4522 articles | 50 per page | page 22

 

Article Year

Black Bear Damage to Agricultural Crops in Coastal North Carolina

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.

Robert C. Maddrey, M. R. Pelton

Pages 570-579

Details | Download

1995

Reliability of Established Aging and Sexing Methods in Ruffed Grouse

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.

Peter I. Kalla, R. W. Dimmick

Pages 580-593

Details | Download

1995

Variation in Band-recovery and Survival Rates of Mottled Ducks in Florida

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.

Fred A. Johnson, D. H. Brakhage, R. E. Turnbull, F. Montalbano,III

Pages 594-606

Details | Download

1995

Distribution Patterns of American Black Ducks Wintering in Tennessee

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.

Michael A. Sanders, D. L. Combs, M. J. Conroy, J. F. Hopper

Pages 607-617

Details | Download

1995

Improving Wood Duck Survival Estimates in the Mid-Atlantic Region by Using Nest Box Banding Programs

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.

David L. Otis, W. F. Dukes, Jr.

Pages 618-628

Details | Download

1995

Nesting Ecology of the American Alligator in Southeastern Louisiana

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.

Steven G. Platt, R. W. Hastings, C. G. Brantley

Pages 629-639

Details | Download

1995

Sex Ratios of Naturally-incubated Alligator Hatchlings: Field Techniques and Initial Results

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.

Walter E. Rhodes, J. W. Lang

Pages 640-646

Details | Download

1995

Evaluating Environmental Education Programs

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.

James B. Armstrong, P. T. Bromley, J. C. Impara

Pages 647-655

Details | Download

1995

Land Management Ignorance and What to do about It

U.S. agriculture has become so efficient in modern times that <1.6% Americans gather our food and fiber. As society moves farther from the land, it understands less and less about land management. This has resulted in a protectionist attitude, instead of a "use—but use wisely" philosophy. Agriculturists, foresters, and fish and wildlife managers are all affected by society's land management ignorance. Instead of fighting with each other, or with extreme anti- groups, we should combine resources to attack the real target enemy—land management ignorance.

James L. Byford

Pages 656-661

Details | Download

1995

Arrowhead Environmental Education Center: A Partnership in Education

Wildlife education is an important component of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division's mission. Funding for educational positions and programs are difficult to obtain. A partnership between local school systems and the Game Management Section at its Region I headquarters near Rome, Georgia, successfully initiated a wildlife education center. The Game Management Section provided facilities such as a nature trail, classroom, and lab. The school systems jointly funded a coordinator/teacher position.

Noel Z. Holcomb, K. E. Mehaffey

Pages 662-664

Details | Download

1995

JAKES Event—A Cooperative Approach to Conservation Education

Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics, and Sportsmanship (JAKES) is a National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) youth program designed to help pass on the tradition of hunting, teach the principles of turkey population and habitat management, hunting ethics, and safe and responsible hunting principles, and to instill land and resource conservation ethics. The USDA Forest Service often cooperates with the NWTF in co-sponsoring JAKES Events on National Forest lands.

John Edwards, R. A. Smith

Pages 665-668

Details | Download

1995

Managing Disturbance-adapted Ecosystems: an Information and Education Challenge

The Florida Ocala National Forest's sand pine scrub supports 26 species of endangered, threatened, or sensitive wildlife and plants as well as a thriving population of white-tailed deer. Scrub is adapted to a cycle of burning and regrowth, and scrub wildlife benefits from clearcutting and fire. Clearcutting in sand pine scrub is a successful and profitable method for ecosystem management because it simulates the effects of fire. Disturbances are negatively perceived by many in the general public.

Laura C. Lowery, R. D. Lowery

Pages 669-675

Details | Download

1995

Becoming an Outdoors Woman Success Stories in the Southeast

Women have typically been underrepresented in the numbers of hunters and anglers. A 1990 workshop, "Breaking Down the Barriers to Participation of Women in Angling and Hunting," held at the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, identified 21 reasons for their low participation in these activities. These barriers, ranging from childhood conditioning to ill-fitting equipment and clothing, have kept women from enjoying outdoor activities as fully as do men. Fourteen barriers related to lack of information. To address that problem, Dr.

Diane Humphrey Lueck

Pages 676-680

Details | Download

1995

Wetlands in Coastal North Carolina: a Multimedia Education Program in Progress

Thousands of multimedia titles are being developed for education purposes, many on environmental topics. Learning potential is very high, because if a program is engaging and interesting, people will spend many hours with it. Ariel Training Design and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formed a partnership with 28 local, state, and federal agencies to develop an interactive multimedia educational program on wetlands in coastal North Carolina. The project is in progress.

Jane Krupnick, B. Gasaway

Pages 681-691

Details | Download

1995

The Role of Covert Operations in Modern Wildlife Law Enforcement

Covert, or undercover, investigations have been utilized by various state and federal law enforcement agencies for decades to detect and prosecute surreptitious and organized forms of criminal activity. Historically, wildlife law enforcement divisions have relied almost exclusively on overt, or uniformed modes of enforcement, both as a means of effecting voluntary compliance, and to detect and prosecute instances of noncompliance.

Thomas H. White, Jr.

Pages 692-697

Details | Download

1995

Management of Wildlife Law Enforcement Operations Within the Concept of Community Oriented Policing

Traditional wildlife law enforcement epitomizes the concept of community oriented policing. Many problems of supervision, performance tracking, evaluation, and uniformity in front line law enforcement operations arise because the nature of conservation law enforcement is remote in terms of territory, communication, and routine operations. The successful implementation of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's Five Point Plan is bringing about a paradigm shift. Supervisory training, performance evaluation, and law enforcement ethics receive top priority under the plan.

N. Tyson Laney

Pages 698-701

Details | Download

1995

Profile of Road Hunters in Tennessee Observed During the Use of Decoy Deer

Hunters shooting white-tailed deer from roadways, illegal in Tennessee, is a problem that, among other things, creates a bad image and publicity for sport hunting. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has used decoy deer to help apprehend violators and combat this problem. We evaluated the use of this technique by designing and distributing survey forms to TWRA wildlife officers. We collected survey forms (N = 100) from 21 different counties.

James A. Dooley, D. L. Combs

Pages 702-711

Details | Download

1995

Environmental Partnerships in Habitat Conservation—Project EAGLE

In spring 1994 the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the state agency charged with the conservation of Florida's freshwater fish and wildlife resources, recognized the need to better involve the community with solutions to current environmental problems: more specifically, community involvement in resolving with littering problems on public lands and waters. Toward that end, the Division of Law Enforcement developed Project EAGLE (Enhancing a Great Living Environment), a half-day voluntary cleanup of some of Florida's most sensitive public lands and waterways.

Bruce H. Hamlin

Pages 712-717

Details | Download

1995

Presidential Address

Sam Polles

Pages 1-3

Details | Download

1994

Attitudes Will Chart the Course: NRA's Perspective

Susan R. Lamson

Pages 4-8

Details | Download

1994

Attitudes Will Chart the Course: Forestry Industry Perspective

Mark A. Suwyn

Pages 9-13

Details | Download

1994

Differential Winter Distribution of Ross' Geese and Snow Geese in Texas

Ross' goose and snow goose populations have increased in the last 20 years and now show extensive range overlap. Winter population surveys conducted by state and federal resource agencies in Texas do not distinguish between the 2 species, and their distribution and population trends are assumed to be similar. We examined the relative distributions of Ross' geese and snow geese in the riceprairie and coastal marsh regions of southeast Texas.

Douglas N. Harpole, D. E. Gawlik, R. D. Slack

Pages 14-21

Details | Download

1994

Time Budgets of Mallards and Wood Ducks Wintering in a Flooded Bottomland Hardwood Forest

Flooded bottomland hardwood forests are critical habitat for mallards (Anasplatyrhynchos) and wood ducks (Aix sponsa) during winter. How these species allocate their time in such habitats is unknown, however. Therefore, diurnal time budgets of 48 mallards and 330 wood ducks wintering in such a forest were examined during a 554-hour sampling period from 19 January through 31 March 1991. Time budgets of the species differed (P<0.001). Mallards spent more time feeding, resting, and alert, and less time locomoting and perching than wood ducks.

Hugh B. Clark, R. M. Whiting

Pages 22-30

Details | Download

1994

Breeding Waterbird Use of Louisiana Rice Fields in Relation to Planting Practices

Rice (Oryza sativa) fields are managed wetlands that have high potential value to wildlife, especially waterbirds. To better understand factors influencing use of rice fields by breeding waterbirds, we compared nest densities in waterand dry-seeded rice fields in southwestern Louisiana, May-July 1993. Densities of waterbird nests in dry- and water-seeded plots were similar (paired t = 0.69, df = 13, P = 0.505). Minimum density of waterbird nests surveyed in Louisiana rice fields averaged (±SE) 37.2 ± 4.4 nests/km2 (N = 28, range = 0-92.7).

William L. Hohman, J. L. Moore, T. M. Stark, G. A. Weisbrich, R. A. Coon

Pages 31-37

Details | Download

1994

Seed Yields of Four Moist-soil Plants on Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

Emphasis on use of moist-soil management for waterfowl has increased in recent years. One component of this form of management which is not well documented are seed yields of many native plants produced. Seed yields of 4 moistsoil plant species were measured during the growing season of 1985 and 1986 on the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi. Seed yields of 3 species, Polygonum hydropiperoides (Michaux), Polygonum densiflorum (Meissner), and Rhyncospora corniculata (Gray), were measured using a specially designed seed trap.

Stephen C. Brock, D. H. Arner, D. E. Steffen

Pages 38-47

Details | Download

1994

Population Dynamics of the Canaan Valley West Virginia Canada Goose Population

The Canaan Valley, West Virginia, Canada goose (Branta canadensis) flock is a discrete population that resulted from birds released in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This flock is the only flock in West Virginia that regularly migrates out of the state during winter and returns for nesting. It remains discrete even though other populations exist within 27 km to the east and west. This is the southernmost migratory flock of geese in the eastern United States.

Edwin D. Michael, C. M. Zielske, W. A. Lesser

Pages 48-54

Details | Download

1994

Preference for Selected Forage Plantings by Captive White-tailed Deer

While researchers recently have begun to examine production and nutritional quality of forage plantings for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), little research has been done to determine deer preference of commonly planted forages. Due to lack of research, some forages are being inappropriately recommended to supply forage during times of the year they are not productive or preferred. We employed a timed observational method to determine captive whitetailed deer use of commonly planted forages from 1989-1991 at the Auburn University Deer Research Facility near Auburn, Alabama.

Neil A. Waer, H. L. Stribling, M. K. Causey

Pages 55-68

Details | Download

1994

Reproductive Ecology of White-tailed Deer on the Welder Wildlife Foundation, Texas

Long-term reproductive, physiological, and population data are not commonly available for deer herds. In Texas, there is little data on populations that are not commercially hunted. Data were recorded from 943 white-tailed does (Odocoileus virginianus) collected from 1961-1992 on the Welder Wildlife Foundation. Age class, eviscerated carcass weight, kidney fat index, density, and rainfall were correlated with reproductive performance including birth dates, pregnancy rates, and counts of corpora lutea and embryos. Deer densities averaged 33/km2.

Terry L. Blankenship, D. L. Drawe, J. G. Teer

Pages 69-77

Details | Download

1994

Review of Exotic Ungulates: A Case Study in Florida

Little is known about exotic ungulates in Florida. This study evaluated the status of this industry in Florida and its potential for detrimental impacts on native wildlife. The exotic ungulate industry in Florida was surveyed by mail questionnaires to exotic ungulate permittees, phone interviews, interviews with exotic ungulate owner/managers, interviews with law enforcement wildlife inspectors, review of permit application forms on file with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, and review of the International Species Inventory System list.

Robert C. Belden

Pages 78-87

Details | Download

1994

Economic Impacts of Hunting in the Southeast

Hunting is a popular and traditional pastime. However, natural resource managers are increasingly called upon to defend the use of hunting as a wildlife management tool and as a source of public recreation. The purpose of this study was to produce economic information to help resource managers and the public gain a better understanding of the economic contributions of hunting, to justify conservation and management expenditures, and help shape beneficial regulatory actions.

Robert I. Southwick

Pages 88-98

Details | Download

1994

The Controversial Aspect of Wildlife Management: Case Studies from Delaware

Wildlife agencies are challenged to conserve wildlife populations while supporting a persistent recreational and commercial demand for the resource. Conservation of some populations may require harvest restrictions to prevent over-exploitation. Hunting restrictions are often unpopular and create confrontations between user groups and wildlife agencies. The success of conservation measures, however, rests on shaping public opinion to accept reductions in consumptive use of the resources.

Eugene G. Moore

Pages 99-108

Details | Download

1994

A Funnel Trap for Rio Grande Turkey

A safe, efficient, low-manpower method of capturing Rio Grande turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) sustainable over long periods of time was needed as an alternative to drop nets and rocket nets. We trapped 549 turkeys during a 3-year study of breeding chronology in Rio Grande turkey hens in Texas. We captured 107 birds (19.5%) using a rocket net and captured the remaining 442 birds (80.5%) using 4 x 8 x 10-ft. wire funnel traps. The funnel trap became the method of choice after its efficiency became apparent.

Billy D. Davis

Pages 109-116

Details | Download

1994

Movements of Wild Turkey Gobblers in Central Mississippi

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is an important game species throughout the Southeast. While many long-term research projects have provided quantitative data on wild turkey ecology, information on daily gobbler movements is lacking. Because data on gobbler mobility may affect habitat and population management, we studied gobbler movements by radio-telemetry (N = 2,775 locations) on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Mississippi.

K. David Godwin, G. A. Hurst, B. D. Leopold

Pages 117-122

Details | Download

1994

Habitat Use of Wild Turkey Hens in Northwestern West Virginia

Little is known about effects of selective harvesting on home range and habitat use of wild turkeys. Such knowledge is needed to develop sound wild turkey management plans. Thirty-two eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) hens were monitored by telemetry in Wetzel County, West Virginia, from 15 April to 18 August 1990-1992. Spring home range (N = 24) averaged 532 ha; hens (N = 6) nesting in selectively harvested habitats had significantly smaller (344 ha) home ranges than hens (N = 18) nesting in unharvested forest (609 ha) (P = 0.01).

David A. Swanson, J. C. Pack, C. I. Taylor, P.W. Brown, D. E. Samuel

Pages 123-133

Details | Download

1994

Spring Burning for Wild Turkey Brood Habitat: An Evaluation

Increased interest in and use of growing season prescribed burning has caused concern among sportsmen and biologists as to the potential impact on ground nesting game birds. We used radio-telemetry and invertebrate sampling to evaluate early growing season (April-May) prescribed burning to provide wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) brood habitat in the Coastal Plain pine (Firms spp.) forests of south Georgia from 1988 to 1990. None of the 14 hen-poult groups monitored were ever located in spring burns.

D. Clay Sisson, D. W. Speake

Pages 134-139

Details | Download

1994

Ear Tag Loss in Gray Squirrels and Fox Squirrels

Wildlife population studies that involve marking of animals assume that the "mark" will remain with the animal for the duration of the study. Violations of this assumption may contribute to biased estimates of population parameters. Thirty-six gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and 16 fox squirrels (S. niger) were marked with ear tags and toe-clipped to study ear tag loss in these species. Fortynine percent of all squirrels lost at least 1 ear tag, whereas 15% lost both tags. Fox squirrels lost ear tags at twice the rate of gray squirrels.

Philip A. Tappe, J. W. Edwards, D. C. Guynn, Jr.

Pages 140-144

Details | Download

1994

Assessing Swamp Rabbit Distribution in Kentucky

Significant declines in forested bottomlands are a basis for concern about the status of swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) in Kentucky. Current swamp rabbit distribution was determined through staff surveys and field investigations. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) personnel were surveyed to document their knowledge of swamp rabbit occurrence. County maps were marked to show areas where swamp rabbits were (1) thought to currently exist; (2) extirpated; and (3) areas which had potential habitat but unknown status of occupancy of swamp rabbits.

Jeffery D. Sole

Pages 145-151

Details | Download

1994

Territorial Behavior of Beaver in the Piedmont of South Carolina.

Territorial behavior of beaver (Castor canadensis) has not been well documented in the Southeast. Study of this behavioral mechanism may lead to methods which may aid in the control of nuisance beavers in economic and environmentally sensitive areas. Territorial behavior was evaluated for beaver in 4 study areas in the Piedmont of South Carolina by monitoring scent marking and movements of adjacent colonies. Scent marking was observed during January 1982 to June 1985 on 1 area with high (≥ 0.8 beavers/ha) and 3 areas with low densities (≤0.3/ ha), of beaver.

J. Rickie Davis, D. C. Guynn, Jr., G. W. Gatlin

Pages 152-161

Details | Download

1994

Seasonal Habitat Use by Gray Foxes on the Savannah River Site

Thirteen radio equipped gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were located by triangulation during 24-hour tracking periods on the Savannah River Site, Aiken, South Carolina, between 22 March 1985 and 24 May 1986. Diurnal and nocturnal habitat use was evaluated for each sex within seasonal (pup rearing N ~ 6, dispersal and mating N = 9, and denning N =1) and comprehensive (N = 13) home ranges. Proportional use of available habitats was not observed for 13 of 16 sex-temporal groupings (P < 0.05).

David T. Sawyer, T. T. Fendley

Pages 162-172

Details | Download

1994

Evaluation of Southeastern Coyote Diets During the Wild Turkey Reproductive Season

The role of coyotes (Canis latrans) as predators of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) remains unclear. We determined proportion of wild turkey and other prey species in coyote scats collected during the wild turkey reproductive and non-reproductive seasons from 4 study areas with wild turkey populations. Wild turkey constituted only a small portion (x = <4%) of coyote diet on all study areas. Wild turkey increased in coyote diet during the wild turkey reproductive season, but the differences were not significant.

Guy D. Wagner, E. P. Hill

Pages 173-181

Details | Download

1994

Factors Affecting Scent Station Visitation Rates of Raccoons and Bobcats

Scent stations are assumed to be a simple and economical method to index furbearer populations, but recent literature challenges the reliability of this technique. We examined several variables that could affect visitation rates of 2 commonly indexed species. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) and bobcat (Felis rufus) visitation rates of scent stations were monitored on the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge in western Tennessee during summer and fall 1991. Factors tested included placement from water and roads, attractant type, and within-habitat variability of scent-station visitation rates.

D. A. Elrod, R. E. Lizotte, Jr., R.E. Kissell, Jr., Timothy M. Gabor

Pages 182-190

Details | Download

1994

Perceptions by Alabama Livestock Producers of Coyotes

During the last 20 years, coyote populations in the Southeast have increased. Information about livestock producers' perceptions towards coyotes and about economic and actual damage caused by coyotes in the Southeast was needed. We mailed questionnaires to 825 members of the Alabama Cattleman's Association (ACA) and to 189 members of the Alabama Lamb, Wool, and Mohair Association (LWMA) to evaluate knowledge and attitudes of Alabama cattle, sheep, and goat producers towards coyotes; and determine real or perceived economic losses caused by coyotes.

M. Chad Philipp, J. B. Armstrong

Pages 191-200

Details | Download

1994

Changes in Northern Bobwhite Habitat and Populations in a Southern Mississippi Wildlife Management Area: 1955-1992

Empirical case histories that relate long-term northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population declines to changing habitat conditions are rare in the scientific literature. We examined long-term (38 years; 1955-1992) changes in habitat conditions and bobwhite population trends at Copiah County Wildlife Management Area (CCWMA), Mississippi. Between 1955 and 1992, proportion of CCWMA in old fields declined from 70% to 20%, proportion of area in forest with <50% canopy cover declined from 18% to 0%, and proportion of forests with >50% canopy cover increased from 19% to 78%.

Jeffrey M. Lee, L. A. Brennan

Pages 201-207

Details | Download

1994

Temporal Patterns in Cause-specific Mortality of Northern Bobwhite in Northern Missouri

Northern bobwhite populations have been declining throughout most of their range. Population declines imply that mortality consistently exceeds production and therefore a thorough understanding of the causes and temporal distribution of mortality is important. We present Heisey-Fuller estimates of monthly survival and cause-specific mortality rates of 1,001 radio-marked bobwhite on private lands in northern Missouri during 1989-1992.

E. W. Kurzejeski, Loren W. Burger, Jr., M. R. Ryan, T. V. Dailey

Pages 208-219

Details | Download

1994

Effects of Deer Browsing on Important Quail Food Plants

Some land managers think that the effects of increasing numbers of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on habitat have been a factor in the long-term decline of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations in the Southeast. We studied effects of deer browsing of selected quail foods in northern Florida on an area managed for quail and supporting a population of about 40 deer/km2. Periodic observations of permanently tagged plants indicated use of some taxa by deer, especially in early autumn.

Sammy W. Stokes, Jr., P. E. Hale, A. S. Johnson, D. C. Sisson, G. D. Balkcom

Pages 220-226

Details | Download

1994

Arthropod Response to Strip Disking in Old Fields Managed for Northern Bobwhites

In the southeastern United States northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have declined rapidly during the past 3 decades. Deterioration of suitable habitat conditions has been suggested as a major cause of this decline. Habitat management efforts typically focus on production of fall/winter foods (i.e., seeds). Management efforts are seldom directed at production of breeding season foods (i.e., arthropods) for bobwhites.

Scott W. Manley, R. S. Fuller, J. M. Lee, L. A. Brennan

Pages 227-235

Details | Download

1994

Success of Single-parent Mourning Dove Nests in September

Little information is available on the success of single-parent mourning dove (Zenaida macwura) nests after 1 September, the time period when hunting usually begins. To answer this question, data from single-parent nests were collected on the Texas A&M University Campus during September 1979. Data for 44 nests where 1 parent was removed were compared to 31 control nests. Success of single-parent nests with young 0-6 days of age was reduced.

Albert E. Bivings, IV, N. J. Silvy

Pages 236-239

Details | Download

1994

Primary Foods of Northern Bobwhites Inhabiting Disposal Areas of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

Although numerous studies have been conducted on food habits of the Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), there is a paucity of information on food items taken by quail on severely-disturbed land bases. To collect more information, crop content analysis was conducted on 1,015 hunter-harvested northern bobwhites from 1982 to 1992. Quail were collected from disposal areas created by the deposition of spoil material during construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. These disposal areas are classified as severely-disturbed due to edaphic and pedogenic conditions.

Jeanne C. Jones, D. H. Arner, C. H. Bucciantini

Pages 240-246

Details | Download

1994

Evaluation of Breakaway Radio Collars on Black Bears in Florida

Using radio collars on black bears (Ursus americanus) has greatly increased our knowledge of this species. Excessive body growth of collared bears can result in neck injuries from radio collars, however; therefore, techniques have been developed to resolve such problems. Three types of breakaway devices were used on black bear radio collars in Florida. Forty-eight collars (Telonics breakaway, TV = 10; surgical tubing breakaway, JV = 11; leather spacer breakaway, TV = 27) were placed on bears in the Apalachicola and Ocala National Forests.

Steven G. Seibert, J. B. Wooding

Pages 247-251

Details | Download

1994

Effects of Vegetation Composition and Land-use Variables on Bait Station Visitations by Black Bears

Bait stations have proven effective in monitoring black bear (Ursus americanus) population changes. However, little research has been conducted to investigate influences of habitat characteristics on bait station visitations. Vegetation (N = 20) and land-use (N = 3) variables were evaluated at bait stations visited (N = 27) and not visited (N = 25) by black bears on 2 islands in Arkansas. Overstory, midstory, and understory vegetation composition were assessed by nested circular plots centered on bait stations.

Darren A. Miller, H. A. Jacobson, B. D. Leopold

Pages 252-260

Details | Download

1994