Another calendar year is winding down on the way to a new century. The year for the Wildlife Damage Working Group ended in September in Austin, Texas at The Wildlife Society's Annual Conference. The annual meeting of the working group garnered the highest turnout of members of any working group, both in absolute numbers and percentage of membership. The minutes of the meeting are reproduced in this newsletter. In general we had a productive meeting with lengthy discussions on the future of wildlife damage conferences, symposia ideas for Nashville in 2000, working group publications, and other topics of interest.
TWS leadership is extremely pleased with the level of activity in our group. So much so that TWS Council asked me to speak at the TWS Leaders Luncheon on the subject of working group motivation and activity using wildlife damage as a model. I credited our success to previous leadership, membership willing to "do the work", a hot topic, and other factors. Hopefully, the comments were well received and may help other working groups struggling with membership.
An excellent symposium outline has been submitted for the Nashville 2000 conference. Terry Messmer and Michael Conover have taken the lead on a full day session entitled "Wildlife and Highways: Seeking solutions to an ecological and socioeconomic dilemma". The line-up of speakers and topics looks terrific and the session should have broad appeal in the Profession. Thanks to Terry and Mike for their efforts.
As I noted there was considerable discussion of the future of wildlife damage conferences. Similar discussion took place at the recent Extension Specialists workshop in Maine. The discussion centered on the number of conferences, available papers, difficulty and expense associated with attendance, etc. This is not a new issue, but the consensus now seems to be that with the long running Vertebrate Pest Conference in CA in even numbered years and with our success at offering symposia at the annual TWS conference, the interests of wildlife damage management would best be served by one additional conference held in odd numbered years east of the Rockies. This means the "Eastern" and "Great Plains" would be combined and restructured after the upcoming Eastern in Pennsylvania.
There is also a proposal for the working group to assume leadership for this new, as yet, unnamed conference. The working group would serve as a Board of Directors with probable tasks including soliciting and reviewing proposals from prospective hosts, publicity in conjunction with the host, and serving as a repository for funds between meetings. Robert Timm has prepared a careful analysis of the various conferences; very similar to work done previously by Grant Huggins. We have reproduced much of a recent article for "The Probe" by Bob Timm for your consideration. The officers of the working group will continue to work on this idea and how it might be implemented. We would appreciate your feedback. Thanks to Bob for his efforts.
There will be an election coming up this winter for 3 new board members to take office next September in Nashville. Gary Witmer has agreed to another term as secretary treasurer and Kathy Fagerstone will become chair-elect in Nashville following the tie vote with Robert Timm last year. If you are interested in being a Board member or know someone who might be, please let me know. Watch for a ballot in a subsequent newsletter and please vote.
Thanks again for everyone's efforts on behalf of the working group - we truly are a group that gets the job done. TWS is pleased with our efforts - keep up the good work. scott carven
The meeting was opened at 4 pm, September 8, 1999, by Scott Craven, Chair. About 45 persons were in attendance, including officers and board members Scott Craven, Robert Timm, Gary Witmer, Dale Rollins, Gary San Julian, and newsletter editor Art Smith. Scott made opening comments about the Working Group (WG) and the several wildlife-human conflict sessions and symposia of the TWS Annual Meeting with two sponsored by the WG. He noted that, clearly, wildlife damage management is a growth industry in the wildlife profession. The minutes of the 1998 meeting were voted on and accepted. It was reported that the WG membership stands at 235, remaining the second largest working group of TWS. The WG has $2,221.68 in its checking account; the main costs have been newsletter production, while the main income has been membership dues. The membership and treasury reports were voted on and accepted. Dick Curnow agreed to conduct an audit of the WG checking account. Art Smith will continue as newsletter editor; past issues were made available to those in attendance. It was requested that e-mail addresses be added to the membership list; e-mailing or use of a website for distribution of the newsletter to most members would reduce costs considerably, but not everyone has access to e-mail/internet. The next issue should be out in October and submissions are welcome. Jim Miller gave the TWS Council,s perspective on the WG. He commented that the Council was pleased with the size and productivity of the WG. He noted that this arena is complex and controversial and requires continued professional involvement. The WG was the first to submit a working group publication (urban goose management) for TWS endorsement and support, and now a second (urban/suburban deer management) is in draft form. The special Wildlife Society Bulletin (WSB)
Unless this is your first issue, you have probably noticed the new format of the newsletter. With the continued growth and success of this Working Group, and what with a new year approaching, I figured changes would be appropriate. Additionally, referring to this as The Wildlife Society Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Newsletter (TWS WDMWG Newsletter for short) was encumbering and awkward. Therefore, I decided to give the newsletter a name, INTERACTIONS, and while I was at it, give it a face-lift. I hope you like the changes. Positive comments can be forwarded to me, negative ones you may keep to yourself! Enjoy! - Art Smith issue on overabundant deer was so popular that the TWS will reissue about 500-1000 copies in 1999-2000. The TWS will sponsor a special session at the next North American Wildlife Conference on the human dimensions of human-wildlife conflicts; contact Donna Minnis (601/325-0989) if interested in submitting an abstract. Food for thought from Jim and the Council is how the wildlife profession interacts with other professions (i.e., economists) involved in some aspect of wildlife management; do they need to be included in the certification program?
Old business included an update on WG publications. The urban goose management guide was a good cooperative effort and over 3000 have been sold. Art Smith (608/263-5687) could use reviewers of the draft urban/suburban deer management guide; it was before the Council for review as well. Action on the TWS¹s trapping policy will be deferred until the international trap standards effort is further along. Although there has been little feedback on the translocation policy since the WSB publication on the topic, several members feel it should be pursued so that a policy and guidelines on when and where to do could be produced. An educational brochure could be produced. Mike Conover and Gary Witmer will take the lead, but could use help on this project. An executive summary of the wildlife fertility group (a subgroup of the WG) was submitted and accepted by Council; the subgroup will produce a publication. Interested persons, as writers or reviewers, should contact Kathy Fagerstone. The subgroup will need publication funds. Jim Miller suggested that a TWS policy be written based on the technical review of feral cat impacts; Scott Craven felt that a policy document would complete work in that area. Tom Barnes noted that while the WG supports Nuisance Wildlife Control Officers and a certification program for them, there will probably be no further involvement in that area by the WG. Scott Hygnstrom and Dallas Virchow are investigating the possibility of a website for the WG, but neither were in attendance to report on progress; they will be encouraged to put an update in the
You will find in this issue:
- 1999 Working Group Annual Meeting Minutes
- Working Group Officers List
- Raccoon Roundworm Brochure Availability
- Pigeons Droppings and E. coli in Massachusetts
- North American Wildlife Damage Conferences Discussion
- Stupid Pest Tricks
- Wildlife/Human Interaction Internet Lists Summary
- Upcoming Conference Listings
- Newsletter Name Change
There was a discussion of the future of wildlife damage management (WDM) conferences. Both Grant Huggins and Robert Timm have surveyed wildlife professionals on the subject. Perhaps there should only be two: the VPC in even years and an East/Midwest one in odd years. Sponsorship of the latter would be needed to maintain quality and consistency. Meanwhile, Gary San Julian (814/863-0401) has agreed to host the 9th Eastern WDM conference at Penn State University in August, 2000. WG members were encouraged to support and participate in that effort. Mike Conover (435/797-2436) noted that the Berryman Institute and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies will produce a special WSB issue on predation and avian recruitment; contact him if you'd like to submit an article as there is room for a few more.
New business included a discussion of possible WG involvement in the next TWS Annual Meeting (Nashville, TN, Sept. 2000). Several topics were proposed, including nonlethal techniques to resolve urban wildlife-human issues (with the Humane Society and the Urban Wildlife WG; contact John Hadidian; 301/258-3144), deer-vehicle issues (with FHA/DOT; contact Terry Messmer; 435/797-3975), wildlife economics (with the Wildlife Economics WG; contact Webb Smathers; 864-656-3223), research needs for wildlife-human conflict resolution (contact Dick Curnow; 970/266-6036), and the use of nuisance wildlife in food banks. It was noted that several of these may be too narrow in focus; also that preliminary proposals must be submitted to TWS by October 16. The WG board would need to see proposals by very early October to review.
Elections were the next topic: it was voted and accepted that Kathy Fagerstone would be the Chair-elect (assuming her willingness) given that there was an exact tie in the last election for Chair-elect between her and current Chair-elect Robert Timm. Art Smith and Gary Witmer agreed to continue in their roles as newsletter editor and secretary/treasurer, respectively. An election will be needed to fill three board positions; the current board will develop a list of nominees, but suggestions from the general membership are welcome. Contact any board member on this matter. It was mentioned that the USDA National Wildlife Research Center will be hosting its third symposium in August, 2000, in Fort Collins, CO. The theme will be socioeconomics of wildlife damage; a call for papers should be out soon (contact NWRC website: www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc/esympbot.htm). It was noted that several small companies are looking for wildlife professionals to conduct efficacy trials on new compounds to reduce wildlife damage; small amounts of funding are usually available. The WG will not become involved in this matter, but individuals may wish to pursue it on their own.
The annual meeting was adjourned at 5:40 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Gary Witmer, Secretary/Treasurer,Sept. 20, 1999.1999 WILDLIFE DAMAGE MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP OFFICERS:
Chair: Scott Craven (608) 263-6325, fax (608) 262-6099, srcraven@facstaff.wisc.edu
Chair Elect: Robert Timm (707) 744-1424, fax (707) 744-1040, rmtimm@ucdavis.edu
Past Chair: Scott Hygnstrom (402) 472-6822, fax (402) 472-2964, shygnstr@unlinfo.unl.edu
Sec/Tres: Gary Witmer (970) 266-6095, fax (970) 266-6089, gary.w.witmer@usda.gov
Bill Andelt (970) 491-7093, fax (970) 491-5091,billan@cnr.colostate.edu Russ Mason (435) 797-1348, mason@cscfs1.usu.edu Dale Rollins (915) 653-4576, fax (915) 658-4364, d-rollins@tamu.edu Gary San Julian (814) 863-3439, jgs9@psu.edu Robert Schmidt (435) 797-2536, fax (435) 797-1871, rschmidt@cc.usu.edu 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
Mr. Stacy Surgenor graduated in 1998 from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Management. He is currently searching for a graduate program in wildlife and fisheries science/management or a related field such as zoology. He would to like earn a Master of Science and a Ph.D, and is primarily interested in studying in the Southeast US. His research interests include: Non-game wildlife management (especially dealing with herptiles), effects of urbanization on wildlife and fisheries (highway construction, altering the flow of waterways), and wildlife damage and its prevention. He is a certified scuba diver and has interests in artificial reef construction and the effects these reefs have on previously barren undersea environments, improving inshore marine sportfishing, and estuarine ecology.
He is looking for a research assistantship that is related to the interests described above. Stacy would greatly appreciate any information that anyone could provide, such as programs that may have a vacancy for a student, or contact information of colleagues that may be able to assist him. Mr. Stacy Surgenor can be contacted at: 108 Seaboard Street, Rockingham, NC 28379, (910) 895-8919. WILDLIFE DAMAGE CONFERENCES: WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY?
Since the 1980's, three recurring conferences that focus on wildlife damage problems and solutions currently occur in North America: the Vertebrate Pest Conference (in California), the Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop, and the Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference. In addition,, the Annual Conference of the Wildlife Society includes sessions and individual papers dealing with wildlife damage issues.
Vertebrate Pest Conference (VPC): Originated in 1962, its purpose was to improve communication among those working in wildlife damage, as well as to provide a published Proceedings as an outlet for those who wished to publish in this field. Since the 4th Conference, it has been held every 2 years during the first week of March of even--numbered years. Traditionally, it has been held within California, however in March 2002 it will be in Reno, NV. It is the largest of the three conferences and most diverse in scope, with significant participation among attendees and speakers from throughout the U.S. and from a number of foreign countries. The Conference is organized and managed by a non-profit, incorporated Vertebrate Pest Council, comprised of approximately 30 members primarily representing California institutions and agencies. Since 1986, 1-day training workshops in wildlife damage techniques, formerly incorporated within the conference, have been held at 2 or 3 locations in March of odd-numbered years. For the past two cycles, these workshops have been sponsored jointly by the Pesticide Applicators Professional Association (PAPA), and in 1999 these workshops drew more than 1,200 attendees.
Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop ("Great Plains"): Founded in 1973, it was nominally sponsored by the Great Plains Agricultural Council until 1995, after which this Council (a consortium allied with Land Grant Universities in the ten Great Plains states) disbanded. From 1987 through 1997, it occurred in the spring of odd-numbered years. At its initiation it was largely an informal workshop for discussion and sharing of issues among Extension Specialists and invited state and federal agency personnel. Topics typically focused on issues of interest in the Great Plains region.
Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference ("Eastern"): From its inception in 1983 through the 8th Conference in 1997, it was held in the fall of odd-numbered years. Topics covered largely represent subject of interest in those states east of the Mississippi River. As with the Great Plains Workshop, its occurrence has been dependent upon the willingness of Extension Specialists or other associated professionals to organize and host the event, as well as to publish its Proceedings. Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society ("TWS"): Since the first Conference in fall 1994, this annual meeting has included a significant number of papers related to wildlife damage. Some of these occur within sessions organized by the Society's Wildlife Damage Management Working Group. For example, at the most recent TWS Conference held in Austin, Texas in September 1999, an entire session dealt with the topic of bats and bat management, rabies, and public health risks. While no Proceedings from the TWS Annual Conference is published, abstracts of wildlife damage-related papers given at this meeting have been re-printed in The Probe and this newsletter in recent years. The Wildlife Society Bulletin has also demonstrated an increased willingness in recent years to publish papers on wildlife damage topics.
In addition to these conferences, other more specialized meetings and symposia have occurred in recent years. For example, the 5th annual Wildlife Control Technology (WCT) Seminar was held in February 1999, focusing primarily on issues pertinent to the private nuisance wildlife control industry. In May 1999, the Bird Strike Committee USA held its 9th annual meeting (this time in conjunction with its Canadian counterpart), drawing an attendance of more than 300 persons focused on the specialized topic of bird-aircraft hazards.
Increasing interest and activity dealing with wildlife-human conflict have appeared during the 1990's, sometimes in more focused and specialized ways. Considerably growth in the private wildlife industry has occurred, in response to the public's need for professional assistance with nuisance wildlife problems in urban and suburban habitats.
Current Issues Despite this increasing interest in studying and managing wildlife-human conflicts, two of the ongoing wildlife damage conferences, the Great Plains and Eastern Conferences, have experienced increasing difficulty in organizing, funding, and hosting these events on a predictable and continuing basis. This problem has been noted and discussed for several years. At the same time, persons wishing to attend and participate in such conferences often are limited by time and travel funds. Hotel costs, as well as meeting registration costs, have continued to climb. Participants must therefore choose among the various opportunities.
The difficulty in maintaining three continuing conferences was discussed at the recent Working Group annual meeting (see the minutes of that meeting within this newsletter issue). A similar discussion was held at a workshop of Cooperative Extension wildlife, fisheries, and aquaculture specialists in Portland, Maine in early October. Within the discussions, it was clearly recognized that many professionals who deal with wildlife damage couldn't easily attend such conferences if they are held a great deal of distance from the person's place of employment.
From both discussions, a consensus was reached that the most viable alternative would be to hold a combined Great Plains / Eastern conference in the spring of odd-numbered years beginning in 2003. Representatives of the Berryman Institute at Utah State University have offered their assistance in co-planning and coordinating future wildlife damage conferences, and additionally have suggested the idea of starting a new peer-edited journal of wildlife damage management as a possible replacement for the proceedings from current conferences. The leadership of the TWS WDM Working Group is considering this group's possible future role in conference organization and sponsorship.
Working Group members who have interests and opinions on the topic of continuing wildlife damage conferences can express these to any of the Working Group officers. For contact information of these persons, see the Officers Directory within this newsletter issue. - Bob Timm
Friday, October 29, 1999 -- (BELCHERTOWN, MA) - Pigeon droppings, washed into a water tower during a driving rainstorm, was to blame for the E. coli contamination of the Belchertown Water District's drinking water supply this month, according to health and water officials. Judy Metcalf, health director of the Quabbin Health District, which includes Belchertown, said the discovery was a surprise because public health experts with the state Department of Environmental Protection did not think pigeons carry E. coli bacteria. The contamination was initially found in the water distribution system Oct. 1, and a boil order was later issued for all 830 customers of the water district. The boil order was lifted Oct. 10. Timothy Lofland, water district superintendent, said he determined the source of contamination by eliminating other possible sources and by proving the presence of E. coli bacteria in the pigeon droppings. By analyzing the strength of the E. coli contamination in various sections of the water system, the source was pinpointed at the Park Street water tower, Lofland said. The World Health Organization's publication "Control of Communicable Diseases in Man" lists only man and cattle as reservoirs of harmful strains of E. coli, and some other mammals as hosts for other E. Coli strains. "New research is finding E. coli in species where we didn't think it existed," Metcalf said. Any warm-blooded animal might be a carrier, she said. - Stephen Hill, Staff Writer, Belchertown paper STUPID PEST TRICKS - (or what your best extension call was all about)
I would like to start a new series of articles covering the funniest extension or pest stories anyone has personally experienced or heard about. I know the stories are out there because I have heard several of them, and they were great! If you have a story, send it to me and I will probably print it (profanity, and racial or sexual degradation should be avoided or will be removed). Making fun of politicians and lawyers, as always, is encouraged. To start the ball rolling, here are a couple I ran across while on the web. I will not vouch for their validity, morals, techniques, or anything else. - Art Smith
A housewife's battle with a cockroach landed her husband in the hospital with a broken pelvis, broken ribs and severe burns. The battle began when the wife caught a roach in her living room, stomped on it and then tossed it in the toilet and finally subduing the pest with an entire can of aerosol bug spray. Her husband, upon returning home, threw a lit cigarette butt into the toiled bowl, igniting the insecticide vapors and seriously burning his private areas. Paramedics, shaking with laughter at the incident, dropped the stretcher down the stairs, causing the man to break his pelvis and ribs before finally arriving at the hospital. -------------------------------- In rural Carbon County, PA, a group of men were drinking beer and discharging their firearms from the rear deck of a home owned by one of the men. They were firing at a raccoon that was wandering by, but the beer apparently impaired their aim, as they fired around 35 times but the raccoon escaped into a 3 foot diameter drainage pipe some 100 feet away from the deck of the house. Determined to terminate the animal, one of the men retrieved a can of gasoline and poured some down the pipe, intending to smoke the animal out. After several unsuccessful attempts to ignite the fuel, the man emptied the entire 5 gallon can of fuel down the pipe and tried to ignite it again, to no avail. Not one to admit defeat by wildlife, he proceeded to slide down feet-first approximately 15 feet down the sloping pipe to toss the match. The subsequent rapidly expanding fireball propelled the man back the way he had come at a much higher rate of speed. He exited the angled pipe "like a polaris missile leaves a submarine", according to one witness. The launchee was shot directly over his own home, right over the heads of his astonished friends, onto his front lawn. In all, he traveled over 200 feet by air. There was a Doppler Effect to his scream another witness reported, followed by a loud thud. Amazingly, he suffered only minor injuries. "It was actually pretty cool,"said the human cannonball, "like when they shoot someone out of a cannon at the circus. I'd do it again if I was sure I wouldn't get hurt."
There is still no word about the raccoon.Recently, there have been many informational resources made available on the web for those interested in human/wildlife interactions. Each source has its specific focus, and together provide a wide variety of issues and discussion. The next 2 pages are a compilation of the more widely known electronic informational sources and discussion lists pertinent to the wildlife damage field. If you think other sources should be listed in future issues, send me an email (more electronic communications, you know)! - Art Smith
This listserv can probably be considered the "granddaddy" of the wildlife damage lists. WDAMAGE is devoted to discussions regarding human/wildlife interactions. It is an active list, with 5-20 submissions per day. Contributors to the list include private, state/provincial, and federal researchers, private wildlife control operators, animal rights/welfare group members, extension personnel, and others. Topics of discussion may be philosophical, technical, informational, ethical, environmental, or economical in nature. The unmoderated list is coordinated by Robert Schmidt, Utah State University. Inappropriate submitters will be warned and eventually removed from the list if their behavior continues.
To subscribe, send the following command to WDAMAGE@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
For those interested in receiving WDAMAGE as a digest send the following command to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
set wdamage digest
The Urban IPM listserv is an email discussion forum for issues related to integrated pest management in homes, schools, industries, businesses, and public places. It is not nearly as active as WDAMAGE and most of the questions are of a horticultural or entomological nature. The listserv was created and managed by the Cornell Community IPM Program. This is a relatively new emphasis within the broader Cornell IPM Program which is one of the leading agricultural IPM programs in the country. The mission of the Community IPM Program is to educate and encourage public and private sectors to manage pests by using a combination of methods that pose minimal risk to human health, are environmentally sound, and attain aesthetic quality. For more info, please check the web site http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ipmnet/ny/urban/. THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE MANUAL
The techniques manual, the Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage, prepared by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, provides one of the most useful sources of information on wildlife control techniques currently available. These manuals are regularly updated and are available at: http://www.ianr.unl.edu/wildlife/solutions/handbook/
"Human dimensions" is a general term used to describe the application of the social sciences and humanities to natural resources-related problems and issues. "In its simplest form, a human dimensions approach can be described in two parts. The first emphasizes acquisition of sound information that explains human thought and action regarding wildlife using the concepts and methods of social science. The second part is determining how to use that information in wildlife decision making" (Manfredo et al. 1995. Human dimensions of wildlife: basic concepts. Pages 17-31 in R. L. Knight and K. J. Gutzwiller, eds. Wildlife and recreationists: coexistence through management and research. Island Press, Washington, D.C.).
HDWILD was initiated in October 1996 to provide a forum for the regular and efficient exchange of information on the human dimensions of wildlife. As of October 30, 1998, there were 424 subscribers to HDWILD. HDWILD is headquartered at Mississippi State University and managed by Dr. Donna Minnis, Assistant Professor, Human Dimensions, Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.
USES AND PURPOSES OF HDWILD: There is a broad spectrum of appropriate uses of HDWILD, including the following: posting inquiries about research and teaching in human dimensions of wildlife,-sharing empirical findings from human dimensions research, alerting subscribers to interesting publications, upcoming meetings, and funding opportunities related to the human dimensions of wildlife, posting job announcements related to human dimensions of wildlife, and other information related to human dimensions.
The benefits of this list will include the following: -avoiding "reinventing the wheel" in research projects, creating and strengthening the network of human dimensions professionals, facilitating job searches both on the part of the employers and prospective employees.
To subscribe to HDWILD send the following 2-line message (the "subject" line should be left blank) to Majordomo@magnolia.cfr.msstate.edu subscribe hdwildlist END FERALCAT Listserv
The following is an announcement about a feral cat listserv Susan Greene is managing. She imagines its emphasis will end up being primarily rescue-based, so people with a lot of email may not be interested in tolerating all the medical/resocialization discussion that might go on. There is now a new listserv for those who work with feral cats on a daily basis. The primary goal of FERALCAT is to promote humane handling of feral cats within the experience and needs of individual list members. FERALCAT is first and foremost an information network where community members may seek answers to their practical questions. This list does not exclusively promote any one method of "rescuing" cats. It is understood that list members may personally adhere to differing or overlapping opinions on Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR), resocialization, or euthanasia. For example, members might include administrators of large feral cat rescue organizations, individual caretakers of feral cat colonies, wildlife control agents who capture feral cats at the request of private landowners for a fee, veterinarians who are willing to work with feral cats, students and staff at college campuses who have managed feral cat colonies, staff of traditional or no-kill animal shelters, etc. Therefore the utmost professional conduct is required of all subscribers to FERALCAT. If you are an animal rights proponent and cannot tolerate questions from a wildlife control agent who wants advice on transporting cats to a shelter for euthanasia, or you are an animal control officer who cannot tolerate questions about T/N/R, you should not join FERALCAT. The point is to promote the MOST HUMANE HANDLING of feral cats in any possible situation. Ethical discussions are permitted on FERALCAT, and community members can debate the pros and cons of different rescue or management methods. But hostile posts will not be tolerated, and repeat offenders will be removed from the list. Ethical discussion is secondary to providing practical advice, and if ethics discussions become so lengthy they interfere with the primary purpose of FERALCAT, they will be prohibited. Appropriate topics include: Trapping technique, medical questions, fundraising ideas, resocialization methods, methods and responsibilities of TNR, interorganizational cooperation, feral cat/wildlife issues, cat adoption, community education, involving volunteers, and personal liability. To subscribe to FERALCAT, send a message to: majordomo@lists.ithaca.edu (subject line is blank). In message type: subscribe FERALCAT youremailaddress (Replace "youremailaddress" with your own address) The address to post messages will be FERALCAT@lists.ithaca.edu Wait until you receive confirmation of your subscription before posting to the FERALCAT address.
The Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA) is up and running. Membership inquiries should be addressed to Tim Christie, 1352 South Wild Rose Place, West Terre Haute, IN 47885. Charter Memberships are available until the end of 1999 for $25.00 and $100.00 more for Founding Charter Member. Information can be requested by email at tjulien@iquest.net or tchristie@iquest.net. The Governing Board will send regular membership dues and benefits in the beginning of December. The plan for the newsletter publication is bi-monthly opposite the bi-monthly Wildlife Control Technology Magazine which will be offered to members. To submit articles, photos, stories, or comments, contact the newsletter editor Stephen Vantassel, PMB 102, 340 Cooley St., Springfield, MA 01128, fax (413) 976-7819, email admin@wildlifedamagecontrol.com.
Oversight program guidelines for NWCOs
NWCOA's board of directors has published a set of recommended guidelines to help state agencies create or update their oversight programs for NWCOs. These guidelines include three policy statements on NWCOA's position on Relocation, Euthanasia, and Definition of Humane. The guidelines can be considered NWCOA's position statement on oversight of the NWCO programs nationally. If you are involved with the state agency that regulates NWCO activities, check with your state fish and game Director to insure they have received a copy. If you are in a related field and would like to comment on the guidelines please send me a private reply to this email with your name and address. NWCOA thanks this list for its invaluable exchange of ideas. All comments are appreciated. Thank you.
- Tim Julien, President, NWCOA,
The Health and Safety Committee of the California NWCO Association has just produced a very attractive, informative, and helpful 8-page brochure on the raccoon roundworm. It was prepared for NWCOs, private citizens, and just about anyone interested in knowing more about this disease. The brochure covers the life cycle of the roundworm, including a life cycle diagram, a case history, information about the eggs, human responses to infection, clean-up procedures, and prevention of raccoon problem strategies. An order form may be downloaded at the California NWCO Association¹s website (www.cnwcoa.org). The cost per brochure is about a quarter each, and the Association promises a speedy response to the orders. Program Announcement and Call for Papers
Ninth Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference "Changes in Wildlife Damage Management for the 21st Century"
October 5-8, 2000 The Nittany Lion Inn State College, Pennsylvania
visit our Web Site: http://wildlife.cas.psu.eduThe need for innovative, humane, and effective methods of resolving conflicts between humans and wildlife increases daily. Wildlife damage management practitioners continue to seek approaches and techniques that provide efficient treatment of wildlife concerns while meeting society's expectations. This meeting will include symposia, field trips, exhibitors, contributed posters, and papers focusing on the critical issues in wildlife damage management.
Proposed session topics include: Sustainable Ecosystem Management: The Course for 2000 … Forested landscapes … Suburban and urban landscapes … Agriculture … Community values versus scientific fact Wildlife Wars: Writing the Peace Agreement for the New Century … Human health and safety issues … Economic, social, and political aspects … Identifying stakeholders … Public relations … Conflict resolution 20/20: The Latest News on Wildlife Damage Control … Wildlife damage education and curricula … New techniques and technology … Collaborative decision-making and partnerships … Ecological needs assessments … Standard protocol and techniques Population Dynamics: When is Enough Enough? … Management issues for deer, geese, turkey, and cormorants Origins, Innovations, and Futures of Wildlife Damage Management … Innovative presentations
Paper presentations will be 20 minutes in length, followed by 5 minutes for questions. Papers from students are encouraged. An award will be made for the best student presentation. Authors of accepted papers will be notified by April 14, 2000, and are expected to submit a final paper for printing in the proceedings before the conclusion of the conference. Full-length manuscripts must follow the Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM) style; specific guidelines can be requested from The Wildlife Society at (301) 897-9770. The final papers should be submitted both as hard copy and on a 3.5" computer disc in Microsoft Word. Final papers not received by October 8, 2000, will not appear in the proceedings.
Poster presentations will be displayed for the first two days of the conference during breaks and receptions. Authors are requested to attend their posters for a minimum of two hours. Posters will be displayed on boards limited to a 4' x 6' in size.
Guidelines for Preparing Abstracts An abstract submission form must be submitted with an abstract. Provide all of the information requested on the form. Presenters of papers and posters should send an abstract in JWM form for review by the program committee for consideration. Questions related to abstract submission may be addressed to the program chair: Jim Parkhurst Telephone: (540) 231-5573, Fax: (540) 231-7580, E-mail: jparkhur@vt.edu BEYOND 2000: REALITIES OF GLOBAL WOLF RESTORATION
February 23-26 Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center Duluth, MN
Hosted by University College, University of Minnesota-Duluth and the International Wolf Center. The conference will feature presentations by biologists, researchers, and professionals exploring the complex and emotional issues associated with wolf recovery around the world. Topics will include: Status of Wolves Around the World, Conflicts Between Wolves and Humans, Effect of Wolves on Natural Prey, Legal Policy Issues Affecting Wolves, Environmental Ethics in Wolf Restoration, Education and Public Attitudes Regarding Wolves, New Discoveries in Wolf Behavior and Ecology, and The Wolf in Human Cultures. Speakers will include L. David Mech (U.S.), Anders Bjarvall (Sweden), Luigi Boitani (Italy), Y. Jhala (India), and Christoph Promberger (Germany). For more information, visit the website http://www.d.umn.edu/wolf2000 or contact Beyond 2000, University College Duluth, UMD, 251 Darland, 10 University Dr., Duluth MN 55812-2496, email wolf2000@d.umn.edu, phone (218) 726-6296, fax (218) 726-6336.
Thanks to the following individuals for contributing to this issue: Lynn Braband, Scott Craven, Debra Ellis, Paul Gorenzel, Susan Greene, Stephen Hill, Tim Julien, Bruce MacKinnon, Kristi Sullivan, Bob Timm, and Gary Witmer, and Andy Galvin for lending me his ³Page layout designing for idiots² book, which was somehow appropriate. P lease, take some time to renew your 2000 TWS membership.
San Diego Mission Valley Hilton San Diego, CA 92108 6-9 March 2000
We would like to bring to your attention the upcoming Vertebrate Pest Conference (VPC). Check out our web site at: http://www.davis.com/~vpc/welcome.html
The web site has been recently updated and now includes information on conference registration, hotel registration, a preliminary program, and other local information. Pre-registration runs through 4 February 2000. With a pre-registration fee of $110 (US), the VPC is one of the best bargains around. Student registration is $25. The conference includes three days of papers, a commercial display and vendors forum, an evening buffet, and a copy of the proceedings. At this time, 93 papers are scheduled for presentation. There is also an optional all-day field trip scheduled for Monday, 6 March, to view vertebrate pest problems in the local area. Cost of the field trip is $35 and includes lunch. To make the whole process easy, you may download both conference and hotel registration forms.
For those of you who are not familiar with the VPC and want to learn more, we have included a summary from the 18th VPC held in 1998 which includes a listing of the 84 papers presented. There is also a listing of past conference proceedings available for purchase along with a convenient order form. The proceedings represent a comprehensive collection of some of the best information on vertebrate pest management.
San Diego is an exciting place to visit in March with a very pleasant climate and many other activities and attractions in the local area. Remember to check our web site in the next few weeks for updates with more information about the field trip itinerary, a public/media relations workshop, and speaker guidelines. We hope to see you next March!. - W. Paul Gorenzel
If there are any items you wish to have included in the next newsletter, the Winter 2000 issue, please get them to me no later than 31 January. Thanks. Art Smith (608) 263-5687 - voice, (608) 262-6099 - fax, aesmith1@facstaff.wisc.edu - email. Art Smith Department of Wildlife Ecology 1630 Linden Dr., Rm. #226 University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706 NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID MADISON, WI PERMIT 2783
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