In this issue:
- TWS 5th Annual Conf. Working Group Symposium and Workshop Summaries
- TWS 5th Annual Conf. Working Group Minutes
1999 Working Group Officer Candidate Biographies and Election Ballot
- Trapping Policy Committee Updates
- International Memberšs Contribution
My first visible responsibility as Chair of the Working Group (WG) will be this introduction for the Newsletter. My first comment is a big thank you to out going Chair Scott Hygnstrom. Not only did Scott provide 2 years of outstanding service to the WG he has also stretched his role beyond what should have been a transfer of leadership at the Buffalo TWS Conference.
That willingness to help me out is greatly appreciated. As some of you know I took on a new assignment for the University in June. For one year I will be Superintendent of a UW Research Station in a small town in northern Wisconsin. While its a fabulous natural setting and a welcome change of pace it does mean I only rarely get to my office in Madison where all my files references etc. are located. It has complicated things but I'll do my best to make it work with undetectable impact on the WG. Unfortunately the dual responsibilities kept me from attending the TWS Conference-the first one I've missed. However from everything I have heard it was another outstanding professional opportunity. Reports on the WG presence at the Conference (Symposium and Meeting) can be found elsewhere in the Newsletter. Please note that I have maintained the title for the Chairs introduction.
In reviewing past newsletters I noticed that Scott Hygnstrom put considerable thought into the title thus I will attempt to maintain it as a tradition. On the subject of the newsletter I also want to thank Art Smith for his willingness to continue as newsletter editor. It's generally a thankless task and a lot of work but Art is doing a great job.
(PS-Art is looking for a real job if any of you need a good hand!) I urge all of you as members of the WG to help Art out by providing material for the newsletter. Even in the electronic age information opinions updates new products research capsules----all are welcome and valuable to WG members.
As you all hopefully did on November 3 please exercise your right to vote. Candidate profiles for WG offices are included in this newsletter. To a person each candidate represents the enthusiasm professionalism and skill needed to keep the WG active and productive. I appreciate their willingness to run for office. I also thank Scott Hygnstrom Paul Curtis and Robert Schmidt for helping me put the slate of candidates together.
I still firmly believe that wildlife damage management is one of the few (if not the only) growth areas in the wildlife profession. There is ample supporting evidence in the form of conferences symposia APHIS-WS operations thousands of "NWCOS" university classes and programs research and the WG itself. Further trends in human population and land use and the surprising adaptability of some wildlife assure a bright future for those who work with wildlife human interactions. Bottom line- we have plenty to keep us busy as a WG!
There are numerous projects under way and several are discussed elsewhere in the newsletter. By the time you read this the new Urban Canada Goose Control manual should have rolled off the presses at Cornell University. Paired with the video on urban goose management produced by Paul Curtis this "package" should be very helpful to Communities parks neighborhoods or individuals struggling with goose problems. The WG played an important role in keeping this project going. Hopefully it can serve as a model for other efforts such as the urban deer initiative under the leadership of Anthony De Nicola. The ongoing effort to improve the handling of nuisance wildlife translocation led to a contribution from the WG in TWS Bulletin. A few comments have come back to me but disappointingly few.
I'm not sure where this effort is headed. Two proposals -one on bats and rabies headed up by Dennis Slate and Gary San Julian and one on public education headed up by Art Smith --have been sent to the program committee for the 1999 TWS conference in Texas. I'm sure NWCO certification and training professional development predator management animal rights and welfare and other issues will continue to keep us busy. Our annual meeting is held in conjunction with
TWS annual conference but we will continue informal gatherings at all conferences devoted to or featuring a session on wildlife damage management. Perhaps the best thing we can do is to stay in touch with each other. On that note I welcome comments ideas and any and all help furthering the interests of the Working Group. I can be reached at the Kemp Natural Resources Station at 715-356-9070 or at my UW Madison office at 608-263-6325. My email at srcraven@facstaff.wisc.edu will find me in either place. Surface mail should be sent to my UW-Madison address. Thanks and keep up the good work.
SUMMARY OF THE WILDLIFE FERTILITY CONTROL WORKSHOP AT THE 5TH ANNUAL TWS CONFERENCE
At The Wildlife Societys 5th Annual Conference in Buffalo New York the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group USDA-APHIS-National Wildlife Research Center and the Jack H. Berryman Institute at Utah State University jointly sponsored a workshop on The Status and Future of Wildlife Fertility Control. Co-organizers Paul Curtis (Cornell University) and Robert Warren (University of Georgia) assembled a group of 17 speakers to discuss various aspects of this controversial wildlife management topic. Presentations during the techniques session covered the biological principles of immunocontraception other fertility control approaches adjuvants and delivery systems and use of fertility control for disease management. In the future technology session participants learned about genetic engineering techniques for delivering antigens via viruses bacteria and plants. Also new methods for avian reproductive control were examined.
The use of fertility control agents for wildlife population management is currently experimental and participants reviewed the many regulatory barriers to implementing these methods on free-ranging wildlife during the regulations policy and public education session. Currently immunocontraceptive agents are not available commercially and any person using vaccines must be following the protocol in an FDA-approved Investigational New Animal Drug Permit. It will likely be several years before contraceptive vaccines become readily available for wildlife management applications.
Case studies describing the use of fertility control agents highlighted the limitations of this new technology. Some antigens adversely affect deer reproductive behavior and/or physiology and the long-term implications of these changes need further study. Although it has been established that some vaccines are very effective for limiting reproduction in individual deer population-level effects have not been clearly demonstrated.
In localized free-ranging deer herds where many females have been treated for several years the population has continued to grow at a slow rate. It appears to be very difficult to treat enough females in successive years to stabilize or reduce herd size.
Participants had ample time for questions and discussion with scientists testing new technologies. Dart-gun equipment and posters describing current projects were displayed at the evening Technology Fair. A half-dozen presenters then participated in a 2-hour discussion with workshop participants. Specific questions and issues were discussed in-depth. Participants indicated they would like to see a single clearinghouse or distribution center for research information related to wildlife fertility control. Also they strongly encouraged a moratorium on new fertility control research until on-going projects are completed and summarized.
A product of the workshop was a 200+ page workbook containing extended abstracts from each presenter and copies of selected references. About a dozen workbooks are still available and they can be purchased for $16 (the cost of production and shipping). To order a copy contact: Paul Curtis Cornell Cooperative Extension Room 114 Fernow Hall Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853-3001; e-mail: pdc1@cornell.edu. Paul Curtis
Public Health and Safety and Wildlife in Conflict the first symposium of the 5th Annual Conference of TWS was sponsored by the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group. The topics in the afternoon session ranged from deer-car interactions to rabies control to bird damage at airports. The underlying theme of the symposium was to make individuals aware of the dangers of wildlife-human interaction. Exact knowledge of the time of day and season of deer crossings significantly reduced accidents on a stretch of Utah highway. Our knowledge of wildlife rabies has increased markedly as we research ways to control the spread of the disease along our borders with Canada and Mexico.
If these studies are successful we may be able to contain the spread of the disease and ultimately reduce rabies along our east coast.
While bird strikes remain a serious concern at airports
statistics indicate that biologists and airport managers should be concerned with mammals as
well. Over 80% of deer strikes with airplanes resulted in structural damage with significant
damage occurring more than 50% of the time. Serious attacks on individuals by wildlife have
dramatically increased in the last 20 years with more fatalities than ever. This increase
most likely is a result of humans and wildlife losing their fear and respect of each other.
In the discussions following the presentations it was clear that wildlife professionals must
educate biologists managers and individuals about the consequences of wildlife in regard to
public health and human safety.
- Gary San Julien
The Wildlife Society Wildlife Damage Management Working Group 1998 Annual Meeting
September 23 1998 6-8 pm Buffalo NY
Welcome
President Scott Hygnstrom called the meeting to order and those in attendance introduced
themselves. Forty-six individuals signed the attendance sheet. Scott provided a one page
report of this groups notable accomplishments since the 1997 Annual meeting as was reported
to Council (see p. 5 - Editor).
A motion was made to wave the reading to last years meeting and it was seconded. The minutes had been published in the WDMWG newsletter and a copy was available at this meeting for those who wanted to read them.
Reports
Membership is currently at 218 with the WDMWG ranking in the top 3 for size. Members who want to change or update their address information were instructed to contact TWS directly. A current list of WDMWG membership was passed around for members to review. The audit/treasurer's report was given by Secretary/Treasurer Dave Williams. The current balance was $1242.46. Earlier in the day Grant Huggins audited the Secretaries records and found all accounting to be in order. The TWS rebates back to the WDMWG was $908.00 and accounted for all the revenue while expenditures to put out the WDMWG quarterly newsletter totaled $474.31.
A report on the status of progress made towards generating a position paper on translocation was lead by Scott Hygnstrom. Currently the document is a discussion paper that will be used to create a position paper on translocation for TWS. It was related to the group that Scott Craven (not in attendance) was not interested in working on this effort any longer.
The following individuals expressed willingness to assist in this project: Lynn Braband James Jones Robert Schmidt Dennis Slate and Gary Witmer. It was suggested that a note in the Wildlifer could generate additional comment and input.
Art Smith and Paul Curtis reported on the Urban Goose Management Task Force meeting held in Milwaukee 12/97. There were 18 people on this task force that reviewed a guide on managing urban geese. Discussion on producing a separate human dimensions document relative to this area took place. Art Smith handed out leaflets announcing the availability of the guide and video. Scott Hygnstrom asked if Council should fund the guide. Jim Miller indicated Council was interested in identifying who's publication it will be.
The Berryman Institute Cornell and University of Wisconsin/Madison will produce the publication. Bob Warren indicated Council's willingness to provide $2000 to support this publication. A motion was made and seconded for the WDMWG to request this publication cost from TWS - Council. Technical and financial acknowledgments should be made within the publication. Distribution could be handled like a white paper from TWS but shouldn't preclude other distribution mechanisms. Council was to act on this later in the conference.
An Urban Deer Management publication would parallel the Urban Goose Management publication. Tony DeNicola volunteered to chair a working group to develop an urban deer management technical guide. Others interested in contributing to this effort include: Robert Schmidt James Jones Art Smith
Scott Hygnstrom Gary San Julian Dwayne Etter Allen Rutberg Kathy Fagerstone Rebecca Christoffel Clay Nielsen and Chris Rosenberry. It was suggested to check the long list of names that worked on the Urban Goose Management Task in Milwaukee 12/97. This publication will be hybrid between a white paper and a technical review. Council needs to come to terms on the process.
Tom Barnes reported on the progress made on developing a position on NWCO certification/licensing in the newsletter 5(3).
Tom was not able to attend this meeting. At the International meeting the IAFWA thought it was premature for them to take a position on this until a final document comes from this group.
A draft policy statement on trapping for TWS has been developed by Bill Andelt with assistance from Dennis Slate Gary Nunley Dale Rollins and Claude Oleyar. Bill provided drafts to group members to review and provide comments. Bill is soliciting comments and the draft will appear in the newsletter if coordinated with Art Smith. This document has had 3 internal committee reviews.
After working group members have commented the document will be sent to Council. Kathy Fagerstone recommended that the old policy statement should be included with the new draft and Robert Schmidt suggested making it electronically available.
The 1998 TWS Annual meeting Symposia/Workshops were of excellent quality. The efforts of Dennis Slate and Gary San Julien for putting together the Public Health Symposia and Paul Curtis' effort in organizing the workshop on wildlife fertility control was acknowledged. The public health symposia was attended by 100 people despite being scheduled so early in the conference.
The focus of this session was deer/vehicle collisions rabies wildlife threats to aircraft operations and wildlife attacks on man.
The fertility symposia was of interest to many with 125 attendees (the maximum that could be accommodated). Symposia/workshops serve to open up people's minds increase their awareness and help students realize these (continued next page)
The 4 new incoming executive board members will be Rebecca Stout Russ Mason Bill Andelt and Scott Craven. Scott Hygnstrom asked for nominations for Chair Elect and Secretary/Treasurer.
Dale Rollins and Robert Schmidt each volunteered to serve on the executive board and Ken Garner was nominated to fill the Secretary/Treasurer position. The nominating committee will be working on filling officer and board positions. Currently these positions have strong representation from APHIS-WS and Extension; Scott Hygnstrom encouraged individuals from other groups/agencies to serve the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group in an official capacity.
Deadline for the WDMWG to submit symposia/workshop proposals for the 1999 TWS Annual meeting was October 15th. Dale Rollins suggested the areas of meso predators and meso predator releases. The theme for the 1999 conference is "Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship Through Science and Education". Art Smith suggested a half day session on educating the public about wildlife damage including a section on working with animal rights groups.
A contributed paper session topic suggested by Bob Sargent was control of nuisance wildlife at airports. This idea was expanded through discussion and thought was given to have our group and the Urban Wildlife Group develop an urban wildlife session. A call for papers will be announced in the Wildlifer.
Endangered species protection from predators and bats and the role they play in human exposure to rabies were also added to the list of potential symposia/workshops for our group to sponsor. The bat topic was identified as an appropriate topic because Bat Conservation International is located in Austin TX. Avian recruitment impacts by predators was suggested by Mike Conover.
The list was reduced by the group through a show of hands vote. All topics were viable but the group decided on a one day session that will cover educating the public and bat rabies and to address predator impacts on avian recruitment during a contributed papers session. Dennis Slate volunteered to head up the bat rabies symposia and Dale Rollins will find him help. Art Smith will chair the educating the public symposia.
Involvement of the WDMWG with the 2nd (1999) International Wildlife Management Congress was discussed. A proposal included having a working group member present a paper at a plenary session and perhaps having this funded by the WDMWG.
A Working Group report by Scott Hygnstrom outlined a potential paper covering a historical/future perspectives report on Where we Have Been and Where We Want to Go. This paper could be included in several conference proceedings such as the International.
The Urban Wildlife Management Companion Guide will outline the public process. This is seen as a parallel document to the Urban Goose Management Guide. It will help guide the public in the public process of making decisions. There are split opinions as whether individual documents are needed in this area or if a section on public process or human dimensions could be included in the Urban Goose Management paper. Rebecca Stout John Hadidian Gary San Julian Rick Wadleigh and Robert Schmidt all volunteered to work on a stand alone document.
Mike Conover gave an overview on Impacts of Predation on Avian Recruitment Task Force (PART). There are teams within PART formed by species with each group generating a white paper. A special edition of the Wildlife Society Bulletin will include white papers from PART in the year 2000. Conover invited WDMWG to contribute to or interact with (PART). Dale Rollins made a motion for the WDMWG to co-sponsor the special edition of the Wildlife Society Bulletin and forward the intention to Council. The motion carried and President Hygnstrom will submit request to Council. Richard Thompson has sent another letter to TWS critical of the WDMWG.
The letter is similar to the one he sent last year claiming that individuals on the board and committees are not TWS members. He continues to complain about APHIS-WS participation in the working group. The letter was rather derogatory and inflammatory. Scott Hygnstrom reported that at the time of this meeting 12 of the 13 executive board members were current members of TWS.
Thirteen of the Urban Goose task forcešs 18 members were TWS members and 11 members were from the WDMWG. Scott will work on a timely response to these latest allegations.
John Hadidian brought 10 copies of the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Training outline developed by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Wildlife Division.
Scott Hygnstrom requested if anyone had any other new items. Dale Rollins wanted a clarification from Scott regarding his request for increased communications. Dale suggested a web page. Grant Huggins inquired about the WDMWG potential role of Supporting the Great Plains and Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences. Scott directed people who have been involved with these conferences to follow through and contact the conference coordinators. A motion to close the meeting and a second was made at 8:24 pm.
- Dave Williams Secretary-Treasurer
If there are any items you wish to have included in the next newsletter please get them to me no later than 30 January. Thanks Art Smith. (608) 263-5687 - voice (608) 262-6099 - fax aesmith1@facstaff.wisc.edu - email.
CANDIDATES FOR THE WORKING GROUP OFFICERS - December 1998 The candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. The official ballot follows on page 9.
Education - B.A.. magna cum laude from Huron College South Dakota M.S. from South Dakota State University Ph.D. in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University.
Present Position - Associate Extension Professor & Wildlife Specialist; Department of Forestry University of Kentucky Lexington KY.
Dr. Barnes is an award-winning writer and photographer in addition to being Kentucky's Extension Wildlife Specialist. His area of expertise include urban wildlife conservation; biodiversity and ecosystems approach to natural resources management and wildlife damage management. Tom has published more than 50 scientific and extension publications covering his areas of expertise.
He is the author of the University Press of Kentucky book Gardening for the Birds and the award winning publication: Private Lands Wildlife Management: A Correspondence Course and Technical Guidance Manual.
Dr. Barnes has received the outstanding New Extension Specialist and M.D. Whitaker Award for Outstanding Extension Specialist from the Association of Kentucky Extension Specialists; the first annual KY State Nature Preserves Biodiversity Protection Award; KY Enrichment Award from the Garden Clubs of Kentucky Inc. and is listed in Strathmore's Who's Who in America Who's Who in Science and Engineering and 2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century. Dr. Barnes also served as chairman of the national 4-H wildlife habitat evaluation program which is an award-winning conservation education program. His articles and photographs have received numerous recognitions by various organizations and competitions.
Prior to his arrival at the University of Kentucky Dr. Barnes worked as a professional aide for the SD Game Fish and Parks Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a biological technician working on endangered species. He also taught biology at Huron College SD.
Education - B.S. (1972) and M.S. (1979) from Iowa State University.
Present Position -Recently sold his Critter Control franchise between jobs.
A Certified Wildlife Biologist Lynn worked for an Illinois-based environmental consulting firm specializing in avian population evaluations from 1972-76. He was on the biology faculty of Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester NY from 1980-86 and taught individual courses at several colleges for the past 12 years. In 1986 Lynn entered the wildlife damage management arena by opening an office for Critter Control Inc. While with Critter Control one of his personal goals was to facilitate the company to practice vertebrate pest control within the context of wildlife biology.
Lynn has been a member of the WDMWG since near its founding is a member of Cornell Cooperative Extension's statewide Community IPM Coordinating Council and has served on the Vertebrate Control Committee of the National Pest Control Association. He has served as Vice president of the New York Chapter of TWS and helped organize a Chapter meeting with a wildlife damage management theme. He has served on planning committees for the 2nd Eastern NWCO Shortcourse (1996) and the Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop (1993) the Certification Committee of NADCA and President of the NYS Wildlife Management Association (a state NWCO organization).
Education -B.S. in zoology from Colorado State University Fort Collins M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder
Present Position - Manager of the Product Development Research Program at the National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins Colorado.
In her current position Kathy oversees development of new technology for dealing with wildlife damage problems including repellent registrations drug authorizations and immunocontraceptive vaccines. She is also in charge of the registration process through the EPA and the FDA for these technologies. Her past research interests have been in the areas of risk assessment and small mammal ecology with research on prairie dogs ground squirrels and the black-footed ferret. She is past president of the Colorado Chapter of The Wildlife Society and has served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Wildlife Management.
John Hadidian
Education - B.A. in anthropology University of Arizona 1969 M.A. in anthropology (primatology specialization) in 1975 and Ph.D. in primatology in 1979 both from Pennsylvania State University.
Present Position - Director of Urban Wildlife Protection and Urban Wildlife Sanctuary Programs for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
Prior to coming to the HSUS he was with the National Park Service serving as the Regional Wildlife Biologist for the National Capital Regions Center for Urban Ecology. He conducted field studies of raccoon deer and squirrels during the twelve years he was with the federal government.
John has served on the U.S. Department of States Man and the Biosphere Program as a member of the Human Dominated Systems Directorate as chair the Montgomery County MD task force on white-tailed deer and as a member on the urban wildlife steering committee for The Wildlife Society. He chaired a symposium on urban wildlife research at the Third National Conference on Urban Wildlife in Seattle and co-chaired a symposium on urban damage wildlife issues for the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. He currently serves as an associate to the journal Urban Ecosystems.
Education - B.S. in fisheries and wildlife science West Virginia University M.S. in agriculture education from Clemson University Ph.D. in wildlife management Colorado State University.
Present Position - Professor of Wildlife Resources in the School of Forest Resources at Penn State University (PSU) Extension Wildlife Specialist in the area of Wildlife Damage Management for Penn State Cooperative Extension.
Gary taught junior high school and was a county agent in South Carolina prior to working as an Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Management at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo California. He was an Extension Wildlife Specialist for North Carolina State Cooperative Extension Service for 9 years. At the National Wildlife Federation Gary served as both the Vice President for Research and Education and for Affiliate and Regional Programs before coming to PSU as Southeast Regional Director for Cooperative Extension in 1995. Gary has been a certified wildlife biologist since 1981 and served on regional and national committees. He was a charter member of the Human Dimensions in Wildlife Study group. His current interests include wildlife damage management urban wildlife natural resources public relations human dimensions and environmental education.
Education - M.S. in Wildlife Ecology Oklahoma State University in 1980 Ph.D. from Texas Tech in 1983.
Present Position - Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist Texas A&M University San Angelo Texas
Dale is a native of Oklahoma and served as an Extension Range Specialist for Oklahoma State from 1983-87. In 1987 he took his current position as an Extension Wildlife Specialist with the Texas A&M University System. He has produced a number of projects relative to wildlife damage management (mostly predators); including videos on coyotes feral hogs and bobcats. Over the last 4 years Dale has trained over 1600 landowners via "Predator Appreciation Days." One of his most recent efforts has been a school enrichment program for elementary students called "Predators in the Classroom." He has been a member of TWS since 1978 and have served the Texas Chapter as President (1997) and been active on various committees. Dale has been a member of the WDMWG since its inception.
Education - BS in wildlife management from Ohio State University MS in wildlife biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and PhD in biological ecology from the University of California at Davis.
Present Position - Associate Professor and Wildlife Damage Specialist faculty in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Utah State University since 1991.
Prior to his position at Utah State University Robert was a Wildlife and Natural Resource Specialist with the University of California at Berkeley from 1986-1991. At Utah State Robert teaches courses in wildlife damage management techniques and wildlife damage policy. He is a charter member of the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group a past-president of the Western Section of TWS and a member of TWS since 1985. Robert is also a member of the National Animal Damage Control Association and a contributing columnist for Wildlife Control Technology magazine.
Education - B.S. in biology from the University of Redlands M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at UC Davis in the Ecology Graduate Group.
Present Position - Extension Wildlife Specialist and Superintendent at the University of Californias Research and Extension Center at Hopland
In Bob's current position he coordinates and promotes research in animal science wildlife management plant science range management public health and natural resources as well as leading applied research on aspects of predator damage management. Prior to returning to California in August 1987 Bob spent nine years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as Extension Vertebrate Pest Specialist and Associate Professor. During this time he edited the 1983 edition of the book Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage which he co-edited in 1994 with Scott Hygnstrom and Gary Larson.
He has authored and co-authored more than 90 publications concerning wildlife management and participated in professional activities in Australia Bangladesh Canada China Great Britain Kuwait and South Africa. He served as chairperson of the Vertebrate Pest Council from 1994 to 1996. He has been member of TWS since 1975 became a Certified Wildlife Biologist in 1981 and has been a member of the WDM Working Group since its inception and served as a Board Member in 1996-98.
Education - B.S. and Ph.D. from the Queensland University of Technology Australia.
Present Position - Extension Wildlife Specialist Dept. of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology University of California Davis.
Desleys doctoral research focused on developing an integrated strategy for management of rodent pests in Australia sugarcane. On completion of the research program in 1993 she accepted a one-year position at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico where she was involved primarily with research on pocket gophers in rangeland systems and rodent pests of sugarcane in the state of Veracruz. Following her return to Australia she was employed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage to undertake analyses of spatial vegetation and wildlife data sets as part of the Cape York Peninsula Land Use Study. In January 1995 Desley moved to Davis California to take up the position of Extension Wildlife Specialist in Vertebrate Pest Management.Her research and extension program has focused on resolving conflicts between endangered species conservation and vertebrate pest management; developing a strategy for management of Beldings ground squirrels in alfalfa; assessment of bird hazing techniques for use in oil spill situations; and the development and implementation of low-risk baiting strategies for control of California ground squirrels. Desley is a member of the Vertebrate Pest Council and served as program co-chair for the 18th and 19th Vertebrate Pest Conference. She is the current (1998) Chair of a Western Region Coordinating Committee for Wildlife Damage Management. Desley has been a member of TWS and the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group since 1995.
Gary Witmer
Education - Ph.D. in wildlife science from Oregon State University.
Present Position - Research wildlife biologist and projects leader USDA-APHIS-WS National Wildlife Research Center Fort Collins CO.
Gary's research focuses on resolving human-wildlife conflicts and has included ungulates carnivores and rodents. He is an affiliate faculty of Washington State University and Colorado State University . He has been a member of TWS for many years is a member of the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group and has served as president of the Pennsylvania and Washington chapters. Gary served as Chair of WCC-95 (Western Coordinating Committee for Vertebrate Pests of Agriculture Forestry and Public Lands). He is a member of NADCA and is currently the Region 2 (Southern Rockies) Director. He has authored more than 30 scientific publications and is active in teaching both undergraduate and graduate students.
1998-99 Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Officers
Chair: Scott Craven (608) 263-6325 fax (608) 262-6099 srcraven@facstaff.wisc.edu
Chair Elect: {to be elected}
Past Chair: Scott Hygnstrom (402) 472-6822 fax (402) 472-2964 shygnstr@unlinfo.unl.edu
Sec/Tres {temporary new to be elected}: Dave Williams (402) 434-2340
Board Members
Bill Andelt (970) 491-7093 fax (970) 491-5091 billan@cnr.colostate.edu
Dick Curnow (970) 223-1588 ex. 224
Russ Mason (435) 797-1348 mason@cc.usu.edu
Jim Miller (202) 401-4772 fax (202) 401-1706 jmiller@reeusda.gov
Rick Owens (615) 781-5418
Becky Stout (501) 671-2285 fax (501) 671-2185 rstout@uaex.edu
Newsletter Editor: Art Smith (608) 263-5687 fax (608) 262-6099 aesmith1@facstaff.wisc.edu
This ballot should be mailed before December 31 1998. Fold on the dotted lines tape it shut and
affix a 32 cent stamp. This will ensure delivery to the newsletter editor who will hold the ballots
for the elections committee. It is important that you vote for no more than one Secretary/Treasurer
one Chair Elect and three of the Board Members. Indicate your choices by CIRCLING the candidate's
names you are voting for.
CHAIR ELECT (vote for one)
Kathy Fagerstone CO Bob Timm CA
SEC/TREAS (vote for one)
Lynn Braband NY Gary Witmer CO
BOARD MEMBERS (vote for three)
Tom Barnes KY John Hadidian DC Gary San Julien PA
Dale Rollins TX Robert Schmidt UT Desley Whisson CA
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Department of Wildlife Ecology
1630 Linden Dr. Rm. #226
University of Wisconsin
Madison WI 53706
PLEASE PLACE
FIRST CLASS
UNITED STATES
POSTAGE
HERE
Art Smith
Department of Wildlife Ecology
1630 Linden Dr. Rm. #226
University of Wisconsin
Madison WI 53706
Most research and literature on wildlife damage management are focused on species and events
specific to North America. This is somewhat unfortunate since many of the problems we face are not
unique and are shared by others throughout the world. The following article was contributed by
members of this Working Group who live and work outside of North America. This is the second of at
least a 4-part series culminating in an overview which will be written by Jonathan Reynolds United
Kingdom. My thanks to those members who have already sent in their articles those which appeared
in the last issue and some of which will be appearing in upcoming issues.
Sika deer management in Nikko National Park Japan
-Current Status and Future Direction
Masaaki Koganezawa and Caitlin B. Angeli
Masaaki Koganezawa:
Associate professor of wildlife biology and management Utsunomiya University.
Previously served as chief curator of Tochigi Prefecture Museum for ten years and chief bulletin
editor for the Wildlife Conservation Society Japan the Wildlife Forum.
BS MS and Doctor of Agriculture Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.
Current research interests:
- Ecology and management of the Japanese monkey and sika deer in Nikko National Park.
Caitlin B. Angeli:
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
BS from Maryville University St. Louis Missouri
Interests:
- Nikko National Park Reintroduced Wolf Population Modelling Conservation Education and
International
Relations.
The area now known as Nikko National Park was designated as one of the first national parks in 1934.
It is located in Tochigi Prefecture central Honshu Japan about 120 km north of Tokyo and encompasses
140 km2 and harbors many mountains waterfalls a few large lakes and even some wetlands.
Elevation within the park ranges from 600 to 1200 meters. Vegetation types range from cool
temperate forests to alpine meadows all changing with the seasons. Six to 7 million tourists many
from the Tokyo
area come to experience this beauty every year. Nikko National Park supports many types of wild
birds and other wildlife including medium to large mammals such as the Japanese black bear sika
deer Japanese serow and the Japanese snow monkey. These animals are protected within the park as
no hunting is allowed.
Recently however damage by sika deer to both agriculture and forest plantations as well as to
natural forests has notably increased within the park. Such damage has involved the disappearance
of alpine and wetland vegetation large amounts of bamboo grass that normally covers much of the
forest floor and the death of a large percentage of the scenic fir forests. The damage that has
been caused has been very specific to plants favored by sika deer allowing plant species not
favored by the deer to radically expand their distribution. This in turn has evolved into a
significant social problem as many of the alpine plants in Nikko National Park are highly valued
aesthetically.
Sika deer originally existed in Nikko National Park but were limited to the Pacific Ocean side
where winter snow accumulation is limited. They did not historically inhabit Oku-Nikko located on
the Sea of Japan side where snowfall is heavy. The Pacific Ocean side of Nikko National Park is
known as Omotte-Nikko and is located on the eastern side of the park. This area is not only part
of the National Park but is also designated as National Forest. These designations make sika deer
protection a first priority in Omotte-Nikko but have also led to the construction of fences to
keep excess sika deer from migrating into the area and thus protect plantations. Outside the
park sika deer numbers and thus damage is controlled by legal hunting.
Based on our research the area now inhabited by sika deer in Tochigi Prefecture including Nikko
National Park harbors between 4900 to 6000 deer. Within the National Park in the summer time we
have documented an average of 20 deer per km2 and in the winter we have recorded densities of more
than 100 deer per km2 in some areas. Additionally in recent years we have seen the immigration of
deer into the Oku-Nikko area previously thought to be uninhabitable for deer.
This we discovered
through radio-telemetry work that revealed seasonal movement of sika deer to Oku-Nikko and the
subsequent establishment of a new wintering ground. These deer came from other areas such as Ashio
located more than 20 km south of the park and former wintering grounds such as Omotte-Nikko.
We believe there are a few reasons for this recent extreme increase in the sika deer populations.
1) Based on climatic records of the past 50 years winters in Nikko National Park have become
shorter and snow accumulation has decreased allowing sika deer to expand their range. However
because Nikko is located on the transition of climatic zones from the warmer climate with lighter
snow of the Pacific Ocean side to the colder climate with heavier snow of the Sea of Japan side
sika deer numbers are continually adjusted by the amount of snowfall which varies from year to
year. It has also been documented that winters of heavy snow occur about every 20 years causing
mass mortality in the sika deer populations.
2) There has been a remarkable increase in food resources in Ashio due to human efforts to recover
the area. For one hundred years between 1850 to 1950 one of the largest copper mines in Japan was in
operation in Ashio releasing large amounts of sulfuric acid gas. Although harmful mining techniques were ceased in 1960 and measures were taken
to remove the gas that was released the effects of the previous 100 years left Ashios ecosystem
heavily damaged. After 1960 damaged land was divided between the national and prefecture government
and recovery work was begun. The plants that were used were mainly exotic grass species
which quickly expanded their range and became an important winter food source for sika deer.
3) Nikko has been an area protected from hunting since its designation as a national park.
4) The Japanese wolf was exterminated about 100 years ago. This left Japan's ecosystem
without a top predator to control animals lower on the food chain such as sika deer.
In order to prevent sika deer damage to agriculture forest plantations and natural forests
Tochigi Prefecture decided that a special group was needed to determine what actions were
necessary. Thus in December 1996 researchers and administrators formed an investigation
committee and drew up a sika deer management plan. Before finally being decided upon the
plan was discussed at NGO and special wildlife discussion meetings.
The purpose of this plan was to control sika deer numbers and thus to control damage to agriculture
and forestry as well as to natural forests. This plan called for fences to be built to keep sika
deer out of agricultural lands and forest plantations. It also called for electric fences to be put
up to protect fragile alpine and wetland vegetation and nets to be put around fir and other large
trees to prevent them from being eaten by deer. In addition actual control of sika deer numbers
in and around the park by hunting was to be implemented. A density of 5 deer per km2 within the
park and 1 deer per km2 outside the park was set as the ideal density. The amount of deer killed
each year was to be determined by the amount killed the previous year in conjunction with the
results of yearly density estimates. After deer are killed monitoring was to take place which
would include the recording of sex and age (based on teeth analysis) and for females their
reproductive status.
Although this plan has been carried out for the past three years there are still a number of
problems.
The spread of the conservation movement and a decrease in younger people taking up hunting have
caused a decrease in the overall numbers and corresponding rise in age of the hunters resulting
in low hunter success rates. Another problem is an overlap of hunting areas with the breeding
grounds of rare birds such as the golden and mountain hawk eagles resulting in hunting bans for
those areas. Finally it is difficult to hunt in heavy snow areas and in steep mountainous terrain.
Damage by sika deer still exists today.
Deer damage in Tochigi Prefecture totaled 140 million yen in 1997. Compared to the revenue earned
from forestry and agriculture this is not a large sum. However damage levels are high enough that
it is resulting in a weakening of motivation of workers in these already declining fields
especially
among foresters.
All of these problems are a result of humans being
This is the 4th issue under my editorship (Wow!). Although I cannot mention everyone by name I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the many individuals who have helped me so far I'd also like to take this opportunity to find out what you think about the newsletter. This is your newsletter. Are there things you like? Dislike? Something you'd like to see included in future issues? Please let me know . Thanks for your time and enjoy! Art Smith editor WDMWG newsletter
During the 1997 Wildlife Damage Management Working Group meeting in Cincinnati Ohio a subcommittee was formed to review The Wildlife Society's policy statement on Traps Trapping and Furbearer Management and to update the policy if needed. The committee consists of Gary Nunley Claude Oleyar Dale Rollins Dennis Slate and myself. We drafted a proposed policy statement and circulated it at the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group meeting in Buffalo in September 1998. The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies currently is involved in an intensive trap testing program which is intended to result in a set of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for trapping. The BMPs will be a set of recommendations for improving trapping. After reconsidering the draft statement we believe that it is appropriate to place the revision on hold until the BMPs are completed in a few years. - William F. Andelt
Thanks to the following individuals for contributing to this issue: Bill Andelt Caitlin Angeli
Scott Craven Dick Curnow Paul Curtis Scott Hygnstrom Gary San Julien Masaaki Koganezawa and the
Working Group Officer candidates.
Art Smith
Department of Wildlife Ecology
1630 Linden Dr. Rm. #226
University of Wisconsin
Madison WI 53706
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