This newletter includes :
Chair: Scott Hygnstrom (402) 472-6822
Chair Elect: Scott Craven (608) 263-6325
(608) 262-6099 fax
Past Chair: Paul Curtis (607) 255-2835
(607) 255-2815 fax pdc@cornell.edu
Sec/Tres: Dave Williams (503) 231-6184
Board Members
Jim Miller (202) 401-4772
Rick Owens (615) 781-5418
Dick Curnow (303) 236-7820
Kathy Fagerstone (303) 236-2089
Frank Boyd (205) 844-5670
Bob Timm (707) 744-1424
Newsletter Editor:
Art Smith (608) 263-5687 (608) 262-6099 fax
aesmith1@facstaff.wisc.edu
Welcome back to the Working Group! It has been some time since we have been able to convey thoughts through the newsletter. As many of you are aware Gene Kelly had to step down from his editor post. We appreciate his efforts and wish him well in his new administrative position. After the shock waves subsided I started discussing likely candidates for replacement with other board members. It took quite some time for me to make the necessary arrangements but I am now happy to introduce you to Art Smith the new editor of the Working Group newsletter. Art is currently a research intern working with Don Rusch at the University of Wisconsin. Art has a ready and able personality that should lend itself well to the task at hand. Of course editors need support so I encourage you to provide Art with articles and information that can be included in future editions. Members of the Working Group were quite active this past year addressing committee and board charges. Our symposium on predation management at the 1997 TWS meeting in Snowmass was a big hit with over 200 people present at the opening session. We cosponsored the symposium with the Berryman Institute. Spurred on by past success we discussed hosting another symposium or workshop at the TWS meeting in Buffalo. One thing led to another and soon members were scrambling to develop proposals for two workshops. Paul Curtis and Robert Warren will head up efforts on a program on fertility control while Dennis Slate and Robert McLean are constructing a session on wildlife-transmitted disease and human health and safety. Some rumblings went through the TWS membership last fall when a letter that was critical of TWS Council staff and our Working Group was circulated widely to TWS members. Sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie but I have included the official TWS response in this edition at the request of several working group members.
I was nearly overwhelmed with the response to my request to form a task force on urban/suburban deer/goose management. Thirty-four individuals from diverse back grounds participated in the first informational meeting held in conjunction with the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in Milwaukee December 1997. In addition I received several other commitments by phone and email. All present agreed that the first task at hand is to come up with a better name for the group! We are open to suggestions. I look for great things to come from this group in the future.
Finally several committees have been working on various projects throughout the year. Take time to get involved. Its nice to be back on line again. Please contact me or any of the board members if you have any issues that you would like the working group to address. Scott Hygnstrom
Old Business
Secretary/Treasurer Dave Williams reported that current membership is at 199. A printout of the membership was passed around for those in attendance to check on their membership status and to update or correct addresses etc. Current balance of the WDMWG is $1008.00. Prior to the meeting Dick Curnow conducted an audit of the WDMWG account. He reported to the audience that he found all records and receipts in order.
Symposium on Predation and Predation Management on Saturday was coordinated by Terry Messmer and Kathy Fagerstone. Scott Hygnstrom announced that the fee to attend this session was waived to enhance student participation. The waiver was made possible through the TWS Program Committee contributing $500.00. Scott encouraged all Working Group members to attend this session.
A list of current paid members was passed around which has doubled in the past year. The Wildlife Damage Management Group is now the third largest working group in the TWS. Anyone who must renew their group membership should do so by filling out the standard TWS application and send their dues to headquarters of TWS.
The issue of the accuracy of the allegations made by Richard Thompson regarding officers of the Working Group failing to be up-to-date on membership dues was brought up. Scott Hygnstrom reported that at the time of the allegation nine of ten officers were current on paying dues and the tenth officer has complied with membership requirements since then.
Committee reports and updates included: Translocation Committee Chair Scott Craven relayed to the group that the final position document development is dragging on. The original document was introduced in Portland during the annual meeting in 1995. There have been no communications for over a year. We are waiting for this document to be printed in the bulletin. Harry Hodgdon should be made aware of this by letter and get this issue in the bulletin. Anyone interested in helping in the finalizing of this document should contact Scott Craven.
TWS WDMWG was recently surveyed to find out if three Wildlife Damage Management conferences was too many and may dilute papers (quantity and/or quality). The survey reached no consensus. There was some regional bias in opinions. The group recommended maintaining the current scheme of the Eastern Great Plains and Vertebrate Pest conferences. However there are no governing bodies for the Eastern or Great Plains conferences. Perhaps the TWS WDMWG could assume a role in assigning hosts and coordinators.
The njurious geese committee report was presented by Paul Curtis. TWS submitted the committee recommendations to the USFWS.
Private Industry Certification and Licensing Guidelines:
This is a hot topic and the NADCA
had submitted their guidelines. Rex Marsh expressed the opinion
that structural PCO's who do most of the ³Wildlife² control are represented by our group.
Tom Barnes surveyed State agencies and reports that the states support privatization of nuisance Wildlife control.
The group voiced the opinion that our working group should provide comments relative to the scientific merits of NADCA's
recommendations but should not provide suggestions on regulatory issues. We do need to ensure that wildlife agencies are
aware of the direction the NWCO industry is going but we should not attempt to dictate a certification process.
Tom Barnes Paul Curtis Rick Owens and Rick Griffiths will review the NADCA document on behalf of TWS WDMWG.
TWS Trapping Policy Review:
Tom Barnes stated the current policy is outdated and needs to be
reviewed again. Tom will work with Dennis Slate on the policy. The statement of the Society will be reviewed
by Dale Rollins Claude Oleyar and Gary Nunely.
School Curriculum Development:
Dale Rollins invited people to review his Predators in the classroom
program. Larry Sullivan expressed interest in working on this project. Discussion included focusing on elementary
age and being careful not to exclude 4-H and other education venues. Also interested in this effort is Catherine
Grace and Dallas Virchow.
Wildlife Contraception:
Kathy Fagerstone is preparing a technical review or white paper for TWS Council.
A pre-conference symposium (Buffalo NY meeting) covering contraception in wildlife needs to be submitted by October 15 1997.
Victoria Fervar and Paul Curtis will be involved with this. The International has asked the Berryman Institute and NWRC
to provide guidance for wildlife agencies. A pre-conference conference on wildlife contraception was suggested for
next yearıs annual meeting. A rabies session was also suggested.
Additional old business:
Scott Craven passed out copies of his new cat control publication.
The Wildlife Damage Management Working Group:
The group was founded December 31 1994. Charter and
new members were identified.
A response to Richard Thompsonıs letter was discussed at the members forum and taken up by this working group at this time. The group recommends putting Harry Hodgdon's response in the newsletter. In his letter Richard Thompson was concerned that the injurious geese recommendation was prepared by the WDMWG for the Society. Jim Miller pointed out that the Council came to the WDMWG for our recommendation and he believes the group did respond in a professional manner:
Working groups must have officers representing all sections of the society and all Board members must be members of TWS.
Chair and Co-chair of the Communications Committee were represented by Scott Hygnstrom. He announced that Gene Kelly had stepped down as Newsletter Editor. Art Smith and Grant Huggins have expressed interest in assuming this role. Newsletter Editor is a time consuming job so the concept of co-editors was discussed. Scott Hygnstrom will confirm a new editor.
The University of NE has a grant to go through Utah State to establish a Web site. Updates of Web sites are required. A Web site could save on mailing expenses on newsletters. Due to a large membership newsletter mailings have run up to $202.00. Scott received approval from the group to pursue a Web site.
Nomination Committee Chair Dick Curnow announced the need for six candidates to fill three positions. Each section (West/Central/East) must be represented. Incoming Board member nominees: Pete Windler and Bill Andelt for the West section. The Nominating Committee will identify additional nominees and a note will be sent to the membership identifying candidates. Elected officials will be announced in the newsletter.
Management of Deer/Geese in Urban/Suburban areas is an area that Tom Franklin would like this group to work on. Paul Curtis indicated he had some money to develop a video on geese. Mike Conover's publication on "Urban Goose Management Options" was identified. A full package should be developed for distribution. Many people have volunteered to be on this "committee" effort. It was suggested that the upcoming Midwestern meeting would be a good opportunity for a committee or group to convene and work on this effort. Art Smith indicated he would be willing to chair a group and Clay Nielson Paul Curtis Gary SanJulian and Gary Witmer volunteered to be part of the group.
The use of WDMWG cash reserves of $1008.00 was discussed. Some uses of the cash included: Start up costs for conference workshops mailings of correspondence ballots and newsletters. In reality we don't have much cushion so no new expenditures were supported.
Bob Warron was acknowledged for his good work in editing the TWS Bulletin and special edition of "Over Abundant Deer Populations".
Harvey Nelson addressed the group on IAFWA activities. The IAFWA Wildlife Damage Management Committee recommendations include a task force report on predation on avian recruitment. This task force goes by the acronym P.A.R.T. and was established in 1995. It will be looking at the sociological economical and biological evaluation of predation on game birds. Put together for state and federal wildlife management agencies the Berryman Institute is providing oversight of the P.A.R.T. Team. Four groups of birds including: quail pheasant turkey and waterfowl will be analyzed for the impact of predation. A report or white paper will be developed that managers and administrators can use to make decisions. Additional groups of birds will be analyzed.
A copy of this meeting's attendees will be sent to Rick Owens.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted
Dave Williams
Secretary-Treasurer
The Predator Avian Recruitment Team (PART) established in 1995 serves as a task force of the Wildlife Damage Management Committee of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency. The purpose of PART is to help natural resource agencies and conservation organizations examine the biological sociological economic and policy questions regarding the potential impacts of predation and predation management on avian recruitment in altered and unaltered landscapes. During the formative stages PART has been guided by a seven member Interim Executive Committee with Harvey Nelson serving as Chair. The Berryman institute Utah State University serves as the PART administrator. Initial funding has been provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Audubon Society and the National Trappers Association.
At the September 5 1997 PART meeting four initial species working groups were established. Those who have committed to help organize and lead three of the working groups are: Terry Riley Wildlife Management Institute (Pheasants); Roger Wells Quail Unlimited (Quail); and George Hurst Mississippi State University (Turkeys). Procedures for establishing a lead organization and Chair for the Waterfowl Group is being discussed. It was recommended that this task be assigned to the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Jamestown ND.
The working groups will analyze the current impact of predation and predation management on these groups of game species. They will provide a science-based overview to help future actions. Group Chairs will recruit qualified and interested members to assist with completion of the evaluation and preparation of an overview document or "white paper." Draft guidelines were approved at the September 5 meeting to establish a standardized approach for conducting species analyses and developing the overview document. Tentative time frames for completion of working group tasks were also established. Report submitted by Harvey K. Nelson
If you are interested in volunteering to work with urban/suburban human/white-tailed deer conflicts PLEASE drop a line to Scott Hygnstrom. There are people willing to form a committee however is no chair as of yet.
After the initial organizational meeting in Milwaukee during the Midwest Fish & Wildlife conference work has started on urban/suburban Canada geese. A total of 34 individuals attended the meeting of which 18 volunteered to serve on this committee! The magnitude of this response was unexpected but entirely welcomed.
The formation of this committee is a result of Tom Franklin's request to the WDMWG to work on the Management of Deer/Geese in Urban/Suburban areas. During the WDMWG annual meeting at Snowmass the working group agreed that forming a task force would be the best route to follow. At Milwaukee the attendee's consensus was to separate our efforts at least initially along species boundaries creating a goose and a deer committee. Inclusion of other species such as raccoon bats and coyote was discussed but eventually dropped in favor of focusing efforts on white-tailed deer and Canada geese.
Art Smith is chairing the committee with Gray Anderson Jon Bergquist Charlie Brown Scott Craven Paul Curtis Debra Doncaster John Hadidian Martin Lowney Barry MacKey John Maestrelli Clay Nielson David Reinhold Gary San Julian John Sullivan Phil Whitford Steve Wilds and Gary Witmer serving as committee members.
The initial task of the committee is to describe the basic problems associated with urban human/goose conflicts and define tools which may alleviate those problems. If the tools are not already in existence the committee may develop them or at least pass along recommendations that they be developed. Committee results will be forwarded to the WDMWG which in turn will give the recommendations to TWS Council.
Currently the committee members are reviewing a manual created by Art Smith and Scott Craven which will eventually be paired with a video being developed by Paul Curtis. The manual "A Techniques guide for the management of Canada geese in the urban environment" is being published through the combined efforts of the Berryman Institute Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin. It is being considered by the committee for its ability to fill informational voids in urban human/goose conflicts.
Results of the committee's work will be presented at the WDMWG annual meeting at TWS 5th annual conference in Buffalo NY. - Art Smith
The following is a letter sent to the TWS Council by Scott Hygnstrom dated 21 September 1997. Harry Hodgdonıs original letter was considered for this issue however it's length (3 pages) prevented its inclusion - editor.
On 18 August 1997 Richard L. Thompson sent a letter to members of The Wildlife Society that was extremely critical of officers of the TWS and the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group. The following quotes reflect his accusations:
"TWS is being subverted through the WDMWG into an advocacy group for USDA's animal damage control agenda." "Our trust has been betrayed by a small group whose interests are clearly politically self-serving." "I purposely bypassed the WDMWG with my complaints of unethical behavior for fear they would be merely denied and covered up." "Unethical behavior has not been accidental or random but premeditated and reoccurring."
I respectfully submit as a 15-year member of TWS Certified Wildlife Biologist and Chair of the WDMWG that the previous statements are incorrect and that the content of the letter was inappropriate and insulting to the officers and members of TWS and the WDMWG.
The concerns of Mr. Thompson precipitated from a draft statement developed by a task force of the WDMWG relative to a draft environmental assessment on "Permits for Injurious Canada Geese." The WDMWG does not routinely develop position statements for TWS. On this occasion however Council requested the WG to review the draft EA at the 1996 Annual Meeting of TWS. We formed a task force and asked for the active participation of any members present. Mr. Thompson was critical of the review and claims that it was biased by USDA-APHIS-ADC (now Wildlife Services) personnel. The six volunteers who served on the task force however were from a broad range of backgrounds including the USDA-APHIS-ADC US Air Force Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Missouri Department of Conservation Cornell University and private industry. I provided a final review before passing our statement on to the TWS Policy Director. No agenda was intentionally promoted by USDA-APHIS-ADC nor any other agency or organization.
Continuing with his conspiracy hypothesis Mr. Thompson examined the occupational status of the board members of the WDMWG claiming that all are employees of USDA-APHIS-ADC or USDA Extension Services. In truth the board consists of three university faculty five USDA-APHIS-ADC personnel and two USDA Extension Service employees. Working Groups provide TWS members with similar interests the opportunity to identify issues and work together to achieve common goals. It is not surprising that people with similar interests would be employed by the same agencies. Mr. Thompson further stresses that members of the task force and the WDMWG board were not current members of TWS. Task forces are not restricted to members to allow for the contributions of external specialists. Five of the six task force members however were TWS members. In addition as of 1 January 1997 nine of the ten WDMWG officers and board representatives were TWS members. The remaining officer submitted his membership renewal notice on 7 March 1997.
I appreciate Mr. Thompson's concern about the ethics and activities of TWS and the WDMWG but I also must question his motives. He appears to have some unresolved issues with USDA-APHIS-ADC the agency from which he recently retired. I encourage him to take up these matters with them rather than involving the WDMWG in a sensational letter writing campaign. The members of the WDMWG appreciate the confidence and support of TWS Council and hope that this recent incident does not negatively influence the attitudes of TWS members toward the WDMWG.
- Scott Hyngstrom
The Jack Berryman Institute for Wildlife Damage management requests nominations for
its new awards program. The awards will recognize superior work directed towards the Institute's goals of
enhancing human-wildlife relationships by resolving conflicts between humans and wildlife.
The Institute will grant three annual awards:
1) research
2) communications and
3) program achievement.
The research award is designed to recognize superior achievement in the creation of new knowledge. This could be based on a journal publication book or other scholarly accomplishment.
The communication award will recognize superior achievement in fostering communication. It can be based on a publication video symposium editorship book or another accomplishment that enhances communication.
The program achievement award is designed to reward a superior "hands-on" effort or program that deals with or helps resolve a wildlife damage management problem or a human-wildlife conflict.
To nominate someone send a letter stating why your nominee is worthy of the award and a copy of description of the nominee's accomplishment. Individuals organizations or groups can be nominated for these awards. Nominations may be send in throughout the year. Send nominations to: Dr. Michael Conover Berryman institute Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5210.Limited supply of the 212 page document includes all poster and paper abstracts and abstract index. Copy price of $10 (Maryland residents add $.50 sales tax foreign orders add $2/copy) to: 1997 Abstracts The Wildlife Society 5410 Grosvenor Lane Bethesda Maryland 20814 fax: (301) 530-2471
Proceedings of the 7th North American Crane Workshop 1996
262 page book provides synopsis of research and management of sandhill
and whooping cranes breeding biology captive management genetics reintroduction migration wintering
population dynamics harvest and mortality. Copy price of $25 to:
International Crane Foundation PO Box 447 Baraboo Wisconsin 53913.
Proceedings of the 76th Annual Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conference 1996
385 page book covers a variety of western United States and Canada wildlife issues. Copy price of $10 made
payable to "Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies" mailed to: Larry L. Kruckenberg WAFWA c/o Game and
Fish Dept. 5400 Bichop Blvd. Cheyenne Wyoming 82006 tel: (307) 777-4569.
At the 5th TWS meeting in Buffalo September 22-26 1998 the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group will host a workshop and symposia.
The workshop is entitled The Status and Future of Wildlife Fertility Control and will be conducted over a day and evening. Paul Curtis from Cornell University William Porter from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Robert Warren from the University of Georgia will direct the workshop.
The symposia is entitled Public Health and Safety and Wildlife in Conflict? and will be conducted over half a day. Dennis Slade from USDA-APHIS-WS and Gary San Julian from Pennsylvania State University will direct the symposia.
If there are any interesting events or other items you wish to have included in the next newsletter please send them to me by April 30. My mailing address appears on the back page. Thanks Art Smith newsletter editor.
March 2-5 1998 Doubletree Hotel Costa Mesa California. Field trip March 2 plenary and concurrent sessions covering rodent bird predator and other vertebrate pest issues on March 3-5. Pre-registration (before Feb. 6) $110 students $25 field trip $30. Hotel reservations due Feb. 7 rooms w/ 1-4 persons $90. Contact: Sydni Gillette DANR-North Region UC Davis Davis CA 95616 tel: (503) 754-8491 conference email: vpc@davis.com web site: http://www.davis.com/~vpc/welcome.html.
March 20-24 1998 Omni Rosen Hotel Orlando Florida. Contact: L.L. Williamson Wildlife Management Institute 1101 14th St. N.W. Ste. 801 Washington DC 20005 tel: (202)371-1808.
May 3-8 1998 Lord Forrest Hotel Bunbury Western Australia. Focuses on research extension management and administration of vertebrate pests in Australia and New Zealand. Contact: Promaco Conventions Pty Ltd. PO Box 890 Canning Bridge Western Australia 6153 tel: 08 9364-8311 email: promaco@promaco.com.au web site: http://www.promaco.com.au.
June 16-18 1998 Holiday Inn Lakeside / Burke Lakefront Airport Cleveland Ohio. Focuses on wildlife control techniques new technologies land-use issues engineering standards and habitat management. Pre-registration (May 1) $60 after $75. Hotel reservations call (216) 241-5100 for room rate of $89 mention BSC-USA. Contact: Betsy Marshall USDA-APHIS-WS Sandusky OH tel: (419) 625-0242 fax: (419) 625-8465 email: nwrcsandusky@lrbcg.com.
22-26 September 1998 Buffalo New York. Plenary paper and poster sessions workshops symposia working group meetings student activities exhibits photo contest field trips and members forum. February 10th deadline for contributed papers and posters abstracts must be submitted with the official abstract form. Instructions and form can be found in the September-October 1997 issue of The Wildlifer. Contact: TWS tel: (301) 897-9770 email: tws@wildlife.org web site: http://www.wildlife.org.
Salt Lake City Utah - An animal rights activist was sentenced to 2 years in jail for freeing thousands of farm-bred minks many of which died of stress or were run over by cars. Clinton Colby Ellerman 21 pleaded guilty to burglary and theft in the attack in July at the Holt Mink Ranch in South Jordan 20 miles from Salt Lake. - wire service
Tallahassee Florida - Cilicia H. Crawford trying to rescue a loon in the middle of the road jumped back after being pecked by the bird and was run over and killed by a car Tuesday (December 23 1997) while her 13- and 11-year-old stepchildren watched. - wire service
LaCrosse Wisconsin - A 55-pound dog that got into a fight with two timber wolves surprised a veterinarian by surviving despite wounds that were 2 inches deep. Wes Pierce a cranberry farm manager in southeastern Jackson County found his wounded dog Dec. 18 after his two teen-age children boarded a bus for school. The Department of Natural Resources investigated the wounds and the battle site and with the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture DNR mammalian ecologist Adrian Wydeven concluded the dog had dueled a pair of wolves. The fight did not occur far from home Pierce said. "It's private land and my dog wasn't five miles out in the woods chasing deer or anything. He was pretty much on his home turf." Wisconsin has an estimated 150 wolves generally descendants from animals that have wandered into the state from Minnesota the DNR says. - Associated press
Atlanta Georgia - Four people died of rabies from bats last year in the United States two of them after failing to seek medical attention that could have saved their lives the government said Thursday (January 15 1998). The deaths took place in Montana New Jersey Texas and Washington. - wire service
Edwards Air Force Base California - A pilot's attempt to avoid birds caused last year's collision of two military jets that killed two pilots one British the Air Force said Thursday (January 29 1998). The fatal collision occurred October 22 over the Edwards test range as an F-16B Fighting Falcon and an AT-38B Talon were taking part in a test bombing run with a B-1B Lancer bomber. - wire service
And finally although unrelated to wildlife damage I couldn't pass this one up. - editor
Honolulu Hawaii (February 18 1998) - Despite protests the state's House Agriculture committee is willing to legalize cockfighting -- as long as the fighting roosters wear tiny little boxing gloves into the ring. Illegal cockfights normally duels to the death are believed to be common in Hawaii. - wire service
Art Smith
Department of Wildlife Ecology
1630 Linden Dr. Rm. #226
University of Wisconsin
Madison WI 53706
5410 Grosvenor Lane Bethesda MD 20814-2197 * Phone: (301) 897-9770 Fax: (301) 530-2471 email: TWS@wildlife.org
NAME (Print)_________________________________________________ HOME PHONE (___) ___-___________
ADDRESS _________________________________________________OFFICE PHONE (___) ___-___________
CITY _______________________ STATE/PROVINCE __________ COUNTRY _____ POSTAL CODE ________
FAX ________________________ EMAIL __________________________________________________________
Annual basic membership dues are $39.00 of which 15% pays for the bimonthly newsletter The Wildlifer. Dues for full-time students are $20.00. TWS accepts U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank only or by credit card.
WITH YOUR PAID MEMBERSHIP you may subscribe to the Wildlife Society Bulletin for an additional $18.00. The Journal of Wildlife Management with Wildlife Monographs for an additional $25.00 or ALL publications for an additional $42.00. Members may also join a section chapter and/or working groups. MEMBERSHIP: Regular @ $39.00 Student @20.00
WORKING GROUP DUES ($5.00 each)
01 - Wildlife Planning & Administration 10 - Population Ecology & Management
02 - Wildlife Economics 11 - Sustainable Use of Ecosystem Resources
03 - Biological Diversity 12 - Wildlife Damage Management
04 - Biometrics 13 - Wildlife Toxicology
05 - College Univ. Wildlife Education 14 - Urban Wildlife
06 - Furbearer 15 - Wildlife Nutrition
07 - Geo. Info. Syst. & Remote Sensing 16 - International
08 - Habitat Restoration 17 - Public Conservation Education & Extension
09 - Native People's Wildlife Management