http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 720 https://escholarship.org/uc/vertebrate_pest_conference/rss Recent eScholarship items from Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference Fri, 15 May 2026 08:17:34 +0000 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3g67x1d5 Livestock-predator interactions are common-place on the millions of acres of public and private ranches throughout California. The toolbox to mitigate these interactions has ebbed and flowed over the years with changes in political climate and public interest in predators. The first California gray wolf in recent history crossed the California/Oregon state line border on December 28, 2011, thus making gray wolves the most recent predator to be added to the livestock-predator equation. With them came a whole new set of challenges as well as new rules for producers to follow as wolves are provided protection under the Federal and California Endangered Species Act. The California wolf population has currently grown to over seven known established packs that have established throughout the state. With this increase in wolves also came impacts to the state’s $3.63 billion range livestock industry including direct losses through depredation of cattle and sheep. University of California... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3g67x1d5 Tue, 9 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Snell, Laura K. Lile, David F. Macon, Dan K. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5s565885 Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, has been in California for over a century, infecting humans, animals, and fleas. The first human case in Southern California was reported in 1908 in the city of Long Beach, Los Angeles County. Since then, sporadic detections of plague have occurred in animals, fleas, and people across the region, including an urban outbreak that resulted in at least 32 confirmed human cases and 31 deaths in 1924 in Los Angeles. In preparation for the 1953 national Boy Scout Jamboree planned in Orange County, Y. pestis-positive fleas were detected in 1946 from a pool of 107 fleas collected from seven California ground squirrels at the planned event site. This discovery prompted extensive rodent and flea control efforts in 1952, with state and county health authorities closely monitoring the site to safeguard attendees. Following these measures, no plague-positive fleas or animals were detected at the location. In 1975, responsibility for plague surveillance... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5s565885 Thu, 3 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Krueger, Laura Cummings, Robert Nguyen, Kiet Semrow, Amber https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cc0s5f4 The Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management, established in 1995 (https:// www.fws .gov/international-affairs/trilateral-committee), has brought together the United States, Mexico, and Canada, for nearly three decades to foster common goals for conservation. The Trilateral Committee facilitates collaboration of the three North American nations’ wildlife agencies (Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service; Mexico – SEMARNAT; USA - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and their partners, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to promote projects and programs of mutual interest to protect and preserve biological resources and ecosystems across borders. Annually, delegates from each country come together in the spring to solidify partnerships, discuss on-the-ground projects, law enforcement issues, the exchange of ideas and resources, and work to develop shared information databases. Although the committee touches on a wide range of ecological... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cc0s5f4 Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Bergman, David L. Bodenchuk, Michael Casillas, Angelica Lydia Narvaez Charlton, Erica Cole, Dana Guevara, Jose Eduardo Ponce Lecuona, Luis Marlow, Michael Nichols, Gabby https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3mk83259 Invasive mammals pose a significant threat to native island ecosystems. However, detecting and removing mammals at low densities remains a costly and challenging endeavor. While camera traps (CTs) are effective detection tools they must be manually visited to collect data for analysis, confirmation of target animal detection, and subsequent management action. Deploying CTs in remote, inaccessible, or dangerous areas leads to delayed data collection and processing, hindering timely management efforts. To decrease time, costs, and risks associated with CTs Conservation X Labs developed a prototype automated monitoring system called the Sentinel. The Sentinel plugs directly into CTs, processes sequences of collected images to detect if animals are present using on-board machine learning models. Within several hours of CT the first trigger event, the Sentinel transmits text-based metadata of animal detections, termed insights, via low bandwidth satellite communication protocols to... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3mk83259 Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Sullivan, Timo Elzinga, Adam Will, David J. Kelly, Sam Cox, Henrik Wasmuht, Dante Francisco Bruch, James Mountcastle, Zane Gillings, Doug Bermant, Peter Asheim, Brandon Gallinat, Chad Dehgan, Alex Bunje, Paul Martin Eibs https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8rk360jf Approximately one third of all calls received by ACVCSD, Alameda County Vector Control Services District, are for rodents. One overlooked rodent species commonly encountered in Alameda County is the pocket gopher. In 2022, gophers accounted for the 8th-highest amount of service requests of 32 different vertebrate species-related services offered at Alameda County Vector Control. The potential monetary loss and physical damage caused by just one or two gophers is enough to cause significant distress to homeowners. Gophers are a particularly bothersome nuisance pest to homeowners, but are they only a nuisance pest, or are they also a vector? Pocket gophers can harbor ectoparasites, which can pass on diseases to other animals and potentially to people if exposed. However, because they live almost exclusively underground, gophers are not likely to encounter people, therefore the risk is likely minimal. To best control pocket gophers, it is essential to consider Integrated Vector Management... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8rk360jf Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Bohn, James Regent, Alex https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8bw9190s Rat population control is complicated by the rapid evolution of non-responsiveness to rodenticide treatment within populations. Population control using contraceptives could mitigate evolved resistance if non-responsiveness to contraceptives evolves more slowly than non-responsiveness to rodenticides. Our presentation has two parts. First, we use an age-dependent demographic model and classic data from natural populations to explore how contraceptives may control rat population size. We show that: (a) fertility reduction applied early in female lifetimes is effective in controlling rat population growth, and (b) is effective in controlling rat populations that are expanding. Consistent with model predictions, (c) field application of contraceptive bait decreased the total number of rats and the proportion of juvenile to adult rats observed in camera traps over a one-year urban study. Secondly, we illustrate a method for delaying and possibly eliminating the evolution of non-responsiveness... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8bw9190s Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Shuster, Stephen M. Dyer, Cheryl A. Boatman, Morgan Gonzalez-White, Aliana Mosher, Sheila Mayer, Loretta P. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9jn8p2r5 Over 2.2 million geese rely on California’s Central Valley for critical wintering habitat during the non-breeding season, with 80% over-wintering in the Sacramento Valley region. The wintering goose population has nearly doubled compared to estimates reported in 2006; notably, lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) make up over half of all wintering geese. Despite changes to hunting regulations, lesser snow goose populations remain consistently high and have resulted in human-wildlife conflicts with farming and livestock operations. Damage by geese to pastures and planted winter crops is not a new phenomenon in the Sacramento Valley, but many farmers and ranchers report that the problem has dramatically increased since 2018, with damages in 2023 the worst they have experienced. To quantify the financial impact that occurred in 2023 in Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento counties, we partnered with county Agricultural Commissioners to survey farmers and ranchers about their... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9jn8p2r5 Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Martinico, Breanna L. Busch, Roselle Maier, Gabriele Doran, Morgan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8bg1m2v5 In recent years, landowners and pest management professionals have expressed increasing interest in methods that can control burrowing rodents without the residual and secondary poisoning risk characteristic of many rodenticides. Carbon monoxide injectors constitute one method that meets those requirements. The author tested the BurrowRx® to determine the injection time needed to successfully fumigate burrows occupied by Richardson’s and Columbian ground squirrels in Montana. Efficacy for control of Richardson’s ground squirrels on combined locations was 80% with a 60-second injection time and 44% with a 180-second injection time for Columbian ground squirrels. Average number of burrows and relative size for both species was collected also. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8bg1m2v5 Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Vantassel, Stephen M. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7pz0x5ht Aleutian cackling geese are one of the greatest wildlife management success stories to date in North America. The Aleutian goose was listed as Federally endangered in 1967 with total population counts below 800 individuals into the mid-1970s before the population recovered to what it is today. This species of goose nests on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, USA and undergoes a 2000-mile transoceanic flight to and from California’s North Coast. The North Coast is an important staging area for the birds where they benefit from nutrient-rich agricultural pasture lands for energy reserves. Results from 2023 spring waterfowl surveys estimated the Aleutian goose population at 212,113 individuals, approximately 353% greater than the 60,000-bird population target of the Pacific Flyway Aleutian Goose Management Plan. Local agriculturalists have been integral partners in restoration efforts by providing habitat and protections for this species. After population recovery was declared and the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7pz0x5ht Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Stackhouse, Jeffery Doran, Morgan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/15g49868  Alameda County Vector Control Services District (ACVCSD) responds to requests for service regarding mesocarni­vores due to their proximity to humans and potential as a rabies vector. Mesocarnivore related calls are the most common wildlife related calls with striped skunks, raccoons, and Virginia opossums being the most common species. They are adapted to suburban and urban environments and readily exploit human resources. We investigated these requests for services and categorized them by call type. We looked at the frequency of call types related to potentially seasonal behaviors and created a histogram to determine if certain types of calls are seasonal and if they are seasonal, to determine the temporal range and peak frequencies. We then compared the frequency and temporal range of these call types with information from academic institutions. We used this information to create an estimated timeline when these behaviors occur in Alameda County. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/15g49868 Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kurniawan, Stephanie Daum, Kim Wannamaker, Macy Mooney, Bridget Tiburcio, Bea https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0d91s7qc In the United States, costs of wild pig damage to natural resources and control exceed $1.5 billion annually. Aerial gunning from helicopters can rapidly reduce wild pig populations, and understanding wild pig behavioral response to aerial gunning may offer insight into control measures to enhance efficacy of removal campaigns. We used camera trapping to quantify wild pig detection rates and activity patterns during four periods (Before, During, After, and Long After i.e., approximately one month after cessation) associated with a helicopter aerial gunning campaign that took place only during daylight hours. Relative to Before aerial gunning, daytime wild pig detection rates among study periods were similar but nighttime detection rates declined During, After, and Long After gunning. However, wild pig detection rates within closed canopy forests increased During and After the campaign relative to Before, suggesting that aerial gunning increased wild pig preference for overhead... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0d91s7qc Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Smith, Justine L. Conner, L. Mike Crawford, Daniel A. Golladay, Stephen W. Cooper, Perri Kruis, Faith E. Mengak, Michael T. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/68r593zz Invasive rodent species represent a principal threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, particularly on islands. The development of aerial dispersal of rodenticide bait from helicopters in the 1990s was a major innovation credited with driving an increase in the scale, scope, and pace of successful eradication attempts. Helicopter-based operations can, however, be logistically complex and prohibitively costly, particularly on islands that are small and remote. Uncrewed aerial vehicles (or “drones”) have been identified as a promising tool to enable bait distribution on sites for which helicopter or ground-based methods are unfeasible. We report on the early evolution of this tool, documenting six drone-assisted rodent suppression and eradication programs widely spread across the Pacific. Drones were transportable on aircraft, cars, and small vessels, offering cost savings and logistical efficiency when compared with helicopters. They also proved to be a viable means... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/68r593zz Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Will, David J. Smith, Donal Braaksma, Nicholas Clarke, Rohan H. Harper, Grant Horn, Stephen R. Oyston, Emmanuel D. Withers, Tehani https://escholarship.org/uc/item/63d731kh Beavers serve critical ecological functions and play the role of keystone species in wetland ecosystems. Yet, their ecological engineering can sometimes cause flooding or other damage to human infrastructure and agriculture necessitating management action. In an effort to preserve the ecological benefits of beavers while mitigating damages, many stakeholders increasingly seek non-lethal solutions that are part of the USDA Wildlife Services (WS) Integrated Wildlife Damage Management approach. Research at the Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center aims to expand this portfolio by investigating drivers of beaver damage and developing, evaluating, and refining effective tools for non-lethal beaver management. In this paper we provide an overview of non-lethal beaver management tools showing promise in field operations, including: 1) physically excluding beaver from key areas; 2) managing water flow around beaver impoundments; 3) translocating beaver colonies from damaging... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/63d731kh Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Robinson, Stacie Shiels, Aaron Taylor, Jimmy https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3q76n9qp Feral swine are an abundant invasive species that are heavily managed in the United States. We used DNA extracted from the bloodmeals of mosquitos to detect free ranging feral swine in south central Florida. DNA was of a sufficient quantity and quality that downstream applications such as genotyping or Sangar sequencing were feasible. Preliminary analyses were able to detect feral swine in blood-fed mosquitos. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3q76n9qp Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Wisely, Samantha M. Torhorst, Carson W. Atsma, Hannah Botero-Cañola, Sebastian Burkett-Cadena, Nathan Reeves, Lawrence E. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/083803pk We explored whether canine assistance would significantly improve efficiency and effectiveness of snap-trapping for non-chemical management of voles. We expected dogs’ abilities to indicate real-time vole proximity could improve efficiency enough to render snap-trapping a feasible management tool at limited scales and where use of rodenticides is inappropriate. Timing was a critical component of our approach. Trapping commenced early January and thence every 14 days through mid-March, intended to directly reduce reproductive capacity by removing potential breeders before onset of breeding season and reducing early-season damage. We compared dog-assisted trapper efficiency and effectiveness to an “unassisted” human trapper working to scout and trap plots of the same size within the same field. We compared trap success (# voles killed per # traps set), efficiency (# voles killed per minutes spent searching and marking holes), and total search time invested. A late (March) pilot... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/083803pk Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Sanchez, Dana M. Andrews, Nicholas Cruickshank, Jenifer Wiman, Nik Stock, Tim https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9gx4w4h9 The widespread use of anticoagulant rodenticide for controlling commensal rodent pests over the past 50 years has raised concerns about the development of genetic resistance that could diminish the efficacy of these toxicants. These rodenticides primarily target the VKORC1 protein synthesized by the Vkorc1 gene. Mutations in the 139 codon altering binding sites and conferring resistance. While studies in Europe and Asia have documented such Vkorc1 mutations and associated anticoagulant rodenticide resistance in commensal rodents, few investigations have explored this issue in the Americas according to the Rodenticide Resistance Action Committee (RRAC). This study is one of the first efforts to survey Vkorc1 resistance mutations in commensal rodents in eastern North America. The lack of genetic mutations in sampled Norway rats collected from Richmond, Virginia and Helsinki Finland provides a baseline for future monitoring as anticoagulant rodenticide selection pressure continues.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9gx4w4h9 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Voit, Anna M. Richardson, Jonathan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9480q9dn For grass and legume seed producers in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, the gray-tailed vole can cause yield losses of 50% or more. A study was conducted in the spring of 2023 to evaluate the effectiveness of diphacinone and chlorophacinone rodenticide baits applied in tamper-proof bait boxes for controlling voles. Eight treatments (5 rodenticide baits, non-toxic chicken feed, untreated control, and grower standard) were tested in a commercial tall fescue seed production field in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Motomco Titan bait boxes with IQ trays were used, which allowed activity inside each box to be detected. Boxes were placed in the damaged areas of the field in mid-April. Pre-weighed bait was replaced, and activity data was downloaded weekly for eight weeks. Crop growth was monitored with drone aerial imagery collected before, during and after the bait box treatments. To evaluate the impact of vole damage on yield, seed was harvested from 50 cm sections... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9480q9dn Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Tanner, K. Christy https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8977c3m9 Crows are omnivorous birds that feed on a wide range of natural and anthropogenic food sources. Consequently, they can cause considerable damage to crops and livestock feed; they also engage in garbage scavenging. The distribution of crow damage in environments with multiple fruits and vegetables is uneven, indicating potential food preferences. Although an understanding of food preferences is important for efforts to predict and mitigate the costs of damage caused by wild crows, few studies have investigated this phenomenon. We investigated the relationships between food preferences and foraging behaviors of wild-caught large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) through two experiments. Dry pet food for dogs (corn, meat powder, oils, and fats) and dried corn were used as favorable and less favorable experimental food types, respectively, based on previous field observations. In the first experiment, two feeding sites, each containing one of the food types, were placed at opposite... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8977c3m9 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Fujioka, Momoyo Yamamoto, Maki Shirai, Masaki https://escholarship.org/uc/item/78416619 Uncultivated habitats within and near farms can strongly affect the ecosystem services and disservices delivered by birds in agriculture. In winegrape vineyards, previous work suggests insect-eating birds have the potential to remove pests, but grape-eating birds can cause crop losses by damaging or removing ripe grapes. We conducted avian point counts and grape damage surveys at 20 and 6 vineyards, respectively, in Napa Valley, California in late summer 2023 to investigate the hypothesis that uncultivated habitats increase the abundance of grape-damaging birds and grape damage. We detected 22 bird species considered to potentially damage grapes. The three most common species – dark-eyed juncos, European starlings, and house finches – accounted for 45% of all detections. The number of potential winegrape damagers was, on average, 46% lower in vineyard interiors than near edges (>75 m or <30 m from vineyard edge, respectively). Overall, we observed very little (<1%) grape... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/78416619 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Adler, Katharina Martinico, Breanna L. MacDonald, Eleanor Kross, Sara M. Karp, Daniel S. Turner, Autumn Johnson, Matthew D. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3hr3g1m1 Feral swine are a threat to native species and their habitats as well as human health and safety. Feral swine destroy crucial habitat for migratory birds, reptiles, and other animals, especially endangered ground nesting species and protected snakes that are predated on or trampled by feral swine. Feral swine wallowing and rooting behaviors destroy native vegetation and lead to the spread of invasive plant species and soil erosion, which reduces water quality. They also compete with native species for resources such as food and space, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (Havasu NWR or refuge) was established in 1941 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. It encompasses 37,515 acres along the Colorado River, with 47% designated as wilderness. Feral swine escaped from nearby farms and were possibly released for hunting stock in the early 1900s and have since become invasive as their range expanded into Havasu NWR. The... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3hr3g1m1 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Bergman, David L. Meyers, Richard Burton, Valerie Sparks, Edwin Lutman, Mark Bodenchuk, Michael https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2bx272k2 Residents often hire a pest control service to rid themselves of commensal rat issues but their accompanying ecto­parasites can be overlooked. Tropical rat mites are commonly found among commensal rats within Alameda County, California. These hematophagous (i.e., blood feeding) mites are parasites of Norway rats and roof rats. Mite bites can reach an unbearable level, especially when their primary rat host is removed from a residence. They then disperse from vacant nests in search of a bloodmeal. Although these mites are not considered disease vectors, they can cause dermatitis and be a nuisance when they bite residents. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2bx272k2 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Lee, Wade Kwan, Flora De Villa, Augustine https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0jr4f9ch The rodent bait station is the central technology used in rodent control, and its history is not well known. We present part of a historical and anthropological study of rodent control in which we detail why the rodent bait station was designed the way it was and how it has been taken up by the industry over the last 70 years. The current ecological crisis of secondary poisoning because of anticoagulant rodenticide use is, we argue, better understood when one recognizes that the bait station system ensures widespread use because of the way it has been designed and embraced in pest control. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0jr4f9ch Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kelty, Christopher M. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0d0693xq In its most basic form, bird strike risk is comprised of a frequency component that reflects the likelihood of a collision and a severity component that reflects the cost (monetary or otherwise) of the incident. The bird strike risk model currently used by United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services to evaluate the risk posed by individual bird species at airports and establish priorities for management was developed in 2018. The model uses airport-specific data on the number of reported strikes for a species recorded in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s National Wildlife Strike Database as a measure of frequency and the species’ relative hazard score as a measure of severity. The model was tested against independent data, found to perform well overall, and is being implemented widely across the United States. However, the model has limitations, including that species known to pose risk to aircraft locally, but not present in the strike record database,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0d0693xq Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Ross, Caryn Blackwell, Bradley F. Begier, Michael J. DeVault, Travis L. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/08f422bj Pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae), voles (Microtus californicus), and mice (Mus musculus, Peromyscus spp.) incur major costs to agriculture in California and worldwide. Introducing natural predators, such as American barn owls (Tyto furcata), shows promise as a solution to help manage rodent pests in a variety of crop systems, including winegrape vineyards. However, little work has evaluated the cost and efficacy of this pest removal service. To fill this gap, we simulate the cost and efficacy of using barn owl nest boxes and compare it to estimates for that of lethal trapping in California’s winegrape vineyards. We found that it is cheaper to install barn owl boxes ($5.50 - $26.67 per acre per year) than to trap rodent pests ($72.57 - $227.52 per acre per year for gophers, and $237.57 - $552.67 per acre per year for voles and mice). However, the efficacy of using barn owls was only comparable to trapping if rodent densities were low, and even when nest boxes were deployed at their... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/08f422bj Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Larson, Katherine C. Baldwin, Roger A. Johnson, Matthew D. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/06q739pv Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents that are considered to be pests by humans due to their habit of building dams and the damage they cause to their surrounding ecosystems. Using a program known as NaxEnt, which is a statistical package that can determine the probabilities of species distributions based on surrounding environmental information, we analyzed both nusiance reports of beavers as well as crowdsourced information to create a habitat suitability model. It appears that beavers were most strongly associated with the land cover types of Powerlines/Utility, Non-Forested Wetland, Water-based Recreation, Cropland, and Open Land. Nuisance beavers are negatively correlated with human population density, while iNaturalist beavers were positively correlated. It appears that these models and the workflow for creating them has developed into a suitable base for future research, while also showing the effect that public participation can have on data. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/06q739pv Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mecray, Abrielle Gass, Nikki Myers, Madison Malloy, Brett Goldfarb, Benjamin Callahan, Michael Richardson, Jonathan L. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/80k9t3rg House mice and rats have been introduced to most countries and islands worldwide and represent serious threats to biodiversity, economic enterprise, and human health. Genome editing and gene drives are being explored as new genetic biocontrol methods to effectively suppress rodent pests. An essential step in the translation of this technology to field-ready tools is to administer breeding and behavioral trials with freely-interacting genetically modified (GM) rodents. Due to the potential impacts of unintended release of GM organisms, these trials will require biosecure animal facilities that are rigorously tested to ensure physical containment. This study was conducted to develop and evaluate the biosecurity of a physical containment facility for house mouse trials at USDA’s National Wildlife Research Center. First, we conducted >20 trials with 75 wild-caught (non-GM) house mice to test their ability to escape from small containment units (0.35 m2). During these trials that... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/80k9t3rg Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Shiels, Aaron B. Oh, Kevin P. Piaggio, Antoinette J. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/94g6f5g6 Expertise in wildlife and vertebrate pest management (VPM) within the U.S. University Land Grant system is increasingly rare, and very few Extension educators have the knowledge and tools to address VPM practices in this very specialized area. Yet, Extension educators (i.e., agents) receive a myriad of inquiries from the public searching for information on resolving conflicts associated with wildlife. Our team developed and launched an online survey to assess the needs of Extension educators in western region states and territories of the U.S. to determine the desired content and format of educational resources concerning VPM. We plan to review and compile current VPM educational materials (e.g., factsheets, videos, etc.), revealed in the needs assessment or recognized by our team, and determine their applications for wider use, or for revision/enhancement to address resource shortfalls. Our end goal is to use the survey data to identify current gaps in VPM resources and develop... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/94g6f5g6 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Vantassel, Stephen M. Kruger, Megan Buhler, Wayne Sanchez, Dana Curtis, Paul https://escholarship.org/uc/item/86v50767 Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are an invasive rodent that can cause substantial damage in citrus orchards. Their populations appear to be expanding throughout California, yet little is known about efficacious, cost-effective strategies to manage this invasive pest while minimizing pesticide use. Therefore, we developed two Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs based on results of recent studies that incorporated observations of roof rat movement patterns, compared monitoring tools, and tested trapping and baiting options. Both IPM programs utilized elevated bait stations containing 0.005% diphacinone-treated oats and trapping, and we compared those programs to a bait-station only approach to determine which strategies were most practical. Initial IPM plots included a combination of elevated bait stations followed by a brief snap-trapping program and a longer-duration trapping program with Goodnature® A24 traps to hopefully keep rat numbers at low levels (Trial 1). Although initial... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/86v50767 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Baldwin, Roger A. Meinerz, Ryan Shiels, Aaron B. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/75n731zr The eradication of black rats from Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO; 42 ha land mass) was completed in January 2022 through collaboration between USDA APHIS Wildlife Services and the National Park Service. Black rats had been documented throughout DRTO since the park was established in 1935. Rat predation of ground nesting birds at DRTO has included brown noddies and sooty terns. Additionally, black rats have damaged equipment and infrastructure throughout the park, and caused human health and safety issues in staff residences. For this eradication, WS chose to use a diphacinone-based rodenticide: Diphacinone-50 Conservation. Diphacinone was chosen instead of brodifacoum because it poses lower risks to non-target species (e.g., 100× less toxic to birds) and has less environmental accumulation over time. Diphacinone-50 Conservation was deployed throughout the park in bait stations placed on a 30m × 30m grid. Bait stations were baited and monitored daily for 14 days. Additionally,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/75n731zr Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Nicely, Alex W. Hall, Parker T. Shiels, Aaron B. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6vh8c40n Wild pigs have one of the widest global distributions of any invasive species, and damage associated with them has been documented for centuries. Previously, a field trial was performed in 2015 to evaluate the use of paraffin bait formulations containing warfarin to control wild pigs. While the results of this study were satisfactory, prior research suggests that a cracked corn-based alternative could successfully deliver warfarin to wild pigs and the authors indicated caveats associated with their study that should be addressed. For the current study, a field trial was conducted (2017), as a continuation of the prior research, to evaluate the use of a 0.005% warfarin cracked corn bait in reducing feral hogs, utilizing an alternative feeder type. Results indicated warfarin bait could reduce wild pig consumption and presence at feeders by 92-96.4%. The results also indicated that the feeder use during the current trial was superior in keeping non-targets from accessing the bait,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6vh8c40n Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Poché, David M. Poché, Richard M. Franckowiak, Gregory A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qf1z2b3 Traps are one of the most commonly used products for controlling wild pig populations, but every trapping product and process produces different results. Early sexual maturity, extraordinary reproduction rate, and high piglet survivability gives feral pigs the capacity to recover quickly from inferior control efforts which do not target all age classes at the same time. Many trapping efforts fail to accomplish whole-sounder success, creating an industry need to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness. The 2018 Farm Bill provided funding for pilot projects in 10 states to collect feral swine harvest data. Researchers did not collect data points to measure work production or product efficiency and missed an important opportunity to numerically analyze Best Management Practices (BMPs). Our research compared four different trap products using their individual trapping processes to determine which, if any, was more efficient. This project eliminated the total wild pig population from... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qf1z2b3 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Pinkston, Rod https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4582m851 The house mouse is a common indoor pest found in the urban environment. Low-income communities often have the highest house mouse infestation rates due to inadequate pest management practices. We conducted an 18-month long study evaluating the effectiveness of three house mouse management strategies in a low-income community in New Jersey, U.S. Six buildings containing 156 apartments were divided into three groups, T&B, T&B+E, and control. The T&B treatment included the installment of traps and rodenticide baits. The T&B+E treatment included using traps and rodenticide baits, plus interior and exterior exclusion of the buildings. Researchers applied baits and traps inside apartments, crawl spaces, and basements and followed up until no mouse activity was found. Exclusion was completed by contracted vendors with oversight from researchers. The apartments in the control group were serviced by an existing contractor which used rodenticides and glue boards for mouse... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4582m851 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Wang, Changlu Sarker, Souvic Yu, Jin-Jia Pan, Xiaodan Cooper, Richard Corrigan, Robert https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3n0944xs American barn owls (Tyto furcata; hereafter barn owls) are commonly attracted to breed on California farms for Integrated Pest Management; however, nesting barn owls face threats from the accelerating frequency and severity of heatwaves. Previous research has shown that the upper limit of a barn owl’s thermal neutral zone is 32°C (90°F) (Thouzeau et al. 1999). Negative effects of extreme temperatures on avian taxa include stunted nestling growth (Salaberria et al. 2014), delayed fledging (Cunningham et al. 2013), dehydration (Salaberria et al. 2014), hyperthermia (Thouzeau et al. 1999), and death (Hindmarch and Clegg 2024). We compared temperatures between two commonly used nest box designs to investigate heat mitigating attributes of size and shade panels. This study took place on a vineyard in the Central Valley of California, USA, with a Mediterranean climate where temperatures regularly rise above 38°C (100°F) in the summer (Table 1). The two box designs are freely available... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3n0944xs Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Phillips, Emily M. Martinico, Breanna L. Bourbour, Ryan P. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2n56j861 Since human arrival to the Hawaiian Islands, non-native predators have decimated native flora and fauna. In particular, native forest bird populations have suffered due to rat (Rattus sp.) depredation. To protect native species, conservation practitioners have been removing rats and other rodents from ecologically sensitive areas. Identifying reliable strategies for assessing the effectiveness of these control efforts is critical, particularly given limited resources for conservation. A common method used for monitoring rodents is baited ink-plates within a tunnel (hereafter ink-plates). While this method is widely used, its effectiveness has yet to be evaluated in many ecosystems, including montane rainforests. To evaluate the effectiveness of monitoring rat presence with ink-plates, we focused on the Alakai Plateau on the island of Kauai, which is home to several of Hawaii’s most critically endangered birds, and where over 300 Goodnature™A24 rat traps are currently in operation.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2n56j861 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Temple, Kathryn A. Fantle-Lepczyk, Jean Lepczyk, Christopher Crampton, Lisa H. Gitzen, Robert A. Reeves, Mari Gilb, Roy https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2dj3t0h9 Wild birds pose unique food-safety risks to agriculture as they may carry multiple zoonotic pathogens, are difficult to exclude, and most are federally protected. As a result, the fresh produce industry regularly expresses concerns about these risks, and growers are sometimes instructed to not harvest crops around wild bird feces, potentially causing yield reductions and food waste. Farmers thus have financial incentives to reduce bird fecal contamination on their crops. However, existing bird deterrent methods can be expensive, have significant deleterious conservation implications, and/or are often ineffective. Thus, it is imperative to develop a holistic understanding of the true food-safety risks associated with wild bird communities and to inform growers and industry professionals about which birds, if any, represent substantive food safety concerns. Here, we evaluate the food-safety risks of wild birds, from the point of entering farms through harvest of the crop via three... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2dj3t0h9 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Spence, Austin R. McGarvey, Jeffery Lee, SangIn Smith, Olivia M. Olimpi, Elissa M. Karp, Daniel S. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1gk7p365 Superior rodent management is critical to preserve the diversity of wildlife, and to mitigate environmental and social damage. Pest management strategies can employ 21st century methods to balance the human-animal conflict, especially regarding rodents. Non-toxic fertility control has several advantages over the use of poison when the following parameters are true: 1) rate of removal exceeds rate of population increase; 2) compounds do not bioaccumulate in the rodents or the environment; 3) non-lethal method targets both males and females; 4) animals can be detected at low densities; 5) cost analysis favors fertility control over lethality; 6) method has socio-political acceptance. Our fertility control system meets each of these requirements. Utilizing plant-root-based extracts from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, we have formulated a proprietary rodent feed pellet that is efficacious in reducing mice and rat populations in multiple settings. The pellets target rodents... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1gk7p365 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Mayer, Loretta P. Boatman, Morgan W. Gonzalez-White, Alaina Shuster, Stephen M. Mosher, Sheila Dyer, Cheryl A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9j8750sj Despite the lasting aversion many hold towards rats and mice owing to historical associations with diseases such as the plague, there exists a growing consensus among researchers advocating for a reappraisal of these creatures. A noticeable trend is emerging in Western Europe, wherein rodents are increasingly viewed as urban neighbors, challenging the prevailing negative perceptions. To explain the ongoing shift, we use examples from medicine, popular culture, science, and exhibitions. The recognition of rats and mice as sentient and intelligent beings necessitates human stewardship in the context of urban coexistence. We conclude that understanding the ecology and behavior of rats and mice in urban environments, as well as human behavior change, is a prerequisite for achieving harmonious urban coexistence. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9j8750sj Wed, 2 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 De Ruyver, Ciska Moons, Christel P. H. Tuyttens, F. Diederich, Claire https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8hm0k87f Hazing has been advocated as a non-lethal solution to human-predator conflicts, but the efficacy of hazing is not well documented, especially for mountain lions. We conducted a study of mountain lions throughout the state of California during 2001-2021 to determine if hazing with dogs has potential for deterring mountain lions from returning to sites of conflict. We used data on 76 mountain lions captured and equipped with radio collars; 34 lions were exposed to barking dogs during capture, then further exposed to barking dogs upon release (dog-exposed), and 42 lions were captured and released without exposure to dogs (control). We found that distance from the capture site was similar for dog-exposed and control mountain lions through 45 days following release, except for a slightly greater distance for dog-exposed lion shortly after release. Almost all mountain lions (94-98%) returned to within 6 km of the capture site during the 45 days following release, and most (77-88%)... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8hm0k87f Wed, 2 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Winter, Sierra Y. Van Vuren, Dirk H. Vickers, T. Winston Dellinger, Justin A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7vc0x6w8 Wild pigs arrived on the Bankhead Ranger District in the late 1980s and ‘90s. They proliferated and control efforts began in the early 2000s. In 2011, intensive efforts began, centered around whole sounder removal. By 2020, pigs were controlled at low densities throughout the District except for the rugged and remote Sipsey Wilderness Area. The area is 25,810 acres and surrounding environs remained off limits until a minimum resource analysis was completed, allowing for active management. The Sipsey Pig Project was born. An interagency team was formed, comprised of United States Forest Service (USFS), Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), and Animal and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) Wildlife Services personnel. Crucial funding and volunteer support was provided by several local organizations including the wilderness advocacy group. The project began in 2021, when ADCNR agreed to eliminate two special hog hunts on the District. Four technicians from... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7vc0x6w8 Wed, 2 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Jolly, Rollins Malone, Jackie Lord, Jacob Green, Zane https://escholarship.org/uc/item/79d2w5g3 Invasive commensal rodents are the source of significant harms across diverse ecosystems globally, including biodi­versity loss on islands, economic damage in agricultural settings, and disease spread in urban areas. Genetic tools can provide unique insights and solutions for rodent management or eradication, adding to the toolbox of integrated pest management opera­tions. In real world conditions, the utility of genetic tools for rodent management is constrained by ecological factors such as mating and dispersal behavior, landscape variation, and ongoing management strategies. Here we describe two distinct uses of genetic tools for rodent management and their ecological considerations. First, we describe how patterns of genetic connectivity can inform the establishment of functional management units, discern among scenarios leading to island eradication failure, and provide insights into rodent management outcomes. Second, we discuss the utility and risks of using gene drive... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/79d2w5g3 Wed, 2 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Combs, Matthew A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/704044r7 Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) have a long history of successful use in controlling vertebrate pest and invasive species. Despite regulatory efforts to mitigate risk, non-target wildlife may be unintentionally exposed to ARs through various trophic pathways, and depending on dose, exposure can result in adverse effects and mortality. Second-generation ARs (SGARs) are mixtures of cis- and trans-diastereoisomers (each including two stereoisomers) that exhibit similar in vitro inhibitory potency for vitamin K epoxide reductase in rodent microsomal assay systems. Some diastereoisomers and hence some individual stereoisomers are preferentially metabolized in vivo, resulting in residue patterns in exposed target rodents that differ from the bait formulations. Use of less persistent but equally potent SGAR stereoisomers in baits results in lower tissue residues in target rodents, which in turn constitutes lower risk when consumed by non-target wildlife. The toxicity of two brodifacoum... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/704044r7 Wed, 2 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Rattner, Barnett A. Erickson, Richard A. Lankton, Julia S. Benoit, Etienne Lattard, Virginie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wh4b254 Invasive house mice threaten native biodiversity on many of the world’s islands. Best practice for eradicating house mouse populations from islands currently relies on bait containing the anticoagulant rodenticide brodifacoum. These baits are typically either broadcast (by hand or by helicopter in natural areas) or placed in bait stations (in human infrastructure or in areas where open broadcast is not permitted). There have been many successful mouse eradications using these methods, including 29 of 36 attempts of islands being successful (81%) in New Zealand. Following recent failed mouse eradications on Gough Island (South Atlantic, 2021) and Midway Atoll (North Pacific, 2023), a workshop was convened with 24 people attending (16 in-person, 8 on-line) from 7 countries (Australia, Canada, France, NZ, South Africa, UK, US), to discuss some hypotheses for what may have contributed to these unsuccessful outcomes. The workshop was held in Palmerston North, New Zealand, between November... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wh4b254 Wed, 2 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Springer, Keith Wolfaardt, Anton Broome, Keith Callender, Andrew Thomas, Sophie Griffiths, Richard Will, David Shiels, Aaron Le Bouard, Fabrice https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9w52r9n0 Monitoring devices are used extensively for wildlife applications including tracking, home-range identification, and facili­tating the recapture of animals. In the spring of 2021, Apple Inc., began marketing the AirTag™. This small device costing $20.00 - $25.00 can be attached to items and located remotely using iPhones. While Apple Inc. indicates the AirTag™ is not intended for use on pets, there may be applications for monitoring animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of AirTags for animal tracking purposes on a college campus with urban and suburban-type environments. Initially, human subjects carried individ­ual AirTags (n=40) to 10 designated locations (n=40) within the 50-ha study area to simulate live tracking of individual devices. The actual location of the device compared to the location indicated on a stationary iPhone were recorded. In the second phase of the study, parameters related to the recovery of stationary devices... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9w52r9n0 Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Gallagher, George R. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9865z1x8 The brushtail possum, a marsupial native to Australia, was widely introduced in New Zealand (NZ) to develop a fur industry. Before the settlement of humans in NZ, there were no terrestrial mammals; therefore, the local species evolved without mammalian predators. This resulted in native species populations declining at alarming rates and many possibly facing extinction on the NZ mainland, especially large-bodied endemic birds. In response to this problem, private investors (supported by the NZ government) developed an initiative to eradicate key mammal predators (possums, rats, and stoats) on the NZ mainland by 2050 (PFNZ2050). As a result, control efforts have significantly expanded over the past decade, and there are now 17 PFNZ2050 landscape projects covering 757,000 ha. Research has looked at combining audio, visual and social lures to improve control efforts for possums. Early results indicate that a combination of lures increases both encounter and interaction rates around... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9865z1x8 Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Ross, James G. Graham, Brittany J. Pitt, Katie A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/82h6j9zq Recent increased regulatory restrictions on the use of a first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide, diphacinone, were put into place in California in January 2024 by the passage of California Assembly Bill 1322 in late 2023. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides were listed as California Restricted Materials in 2014, and their uses were further restricted in 2021 with the passage of California Assembly Bill 1788. As a result of the passage of AB 1322, diphacinone was added to the Restricted Materials list and prohibited for use in all areas of the state except for specific exceptional uses and sites. Specific requirements for rodenticide applicators using diphacinone are described, along with exceptions to restrictions, as well as other related regulatory requirements for rodenticide users. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/82h6j9zq Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Duarte, Edmund O. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7f55g59r Free-roaming cats (Felis catus) are considered one of the most damaging invasive vertebrate pests in natural areas globally and are a major source of mortality for small animals in suburban and urban environments. Domestic cats are also considered to be a nuisance and a source of disease transmission to pet cats and to wildlife. Historically, the most common method of managing free-roaming cats has been euthanasia, but non-lethal approaches, such as trap-neuter-return (TNR), are increasing in popularity with the public. TNR-sterilized cats, subsidized by regular human feeding, remain in the environment and continue to prey upon wildlife and to be a source of disease and nuisance. However, the extent to which these cats depend on wild-caught prey vs. provisioned pet food is not clear. Moreover, if TNR colonies are located in areas of intensive human development, predation by these cats may be focused on commensal or widespread prey species rather than native species of conservation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7f55g59r Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Deshpande, Saatvika Stapp, Paul https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6hp4g3h5 Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are invasive commensal rodents that pose a significant threat to both natural and manmade environments. Like other commensal rodents, roof rats are often controlled with rodenticides placed within bait stations, but rats can be slow to visit stations or avoid them altogether. We tested whether the addition of a scent lure (Airzonix; VM Products) would increase visitation and use of bait stations in 36 residential yards in Orange County, California. We placed two EZ-Secured (VM Products) stations, one containing a scent lure and non-toxic bait (treatment) and one containing bait only (control), in each yard, and monitored them continuously with digital game cameras for three weeks. We compared time to discovery and entry, bait consumption, and nightly roof rat activity between scent lure and control stations. The addition of a scent lure did not reduce time to discovery or entry significantly, nor did it increase bait consumption or rat activity, although... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6hp4g3h5 Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Bosarge, Miles A. Stapp, Paul Quinn, Niamh https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vc877j4 Wild pigs are among the most widespread invasive vertebrate species, having been introduced across the globe as a source of food and for sport hunting. Over the last few decades, the growing ecological and economic impacts of wild pigs have precipitated a shift in the perception and management of this species from a desired game animal to a destructive invasive species, resulting in substantial investments in wild pig management. Most notably, in 2014 the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program was established by the U.S. Congress, representing one of the most extensive management programs for a single invasive species in North America to date. This infusion of interest in wild pig control and resources to carry out these programs has spurred technological innovation, resulting in new and enhanced tools for locating, capturing, and removing wild pigs, as well as a surge in research on this species across its range. These investments have resulted in the elimination or presumed... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vc877j4 Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Beasley, James C. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/546385pm Australia’s National Feral Pig Action Plan 2021-2031 is the first national strategy to reduce the extensive and diverse impacts caused by feral pigs to Australia’s environmental, agricultural, cultural and social assets by actively suppressing feral pig populations over time. Its development was instigated in response to growing threats of an exotic disease incursion, particularly African swine fever to the Australian pork industry. It provides a national framework for alignment of state, regional and local strategic feral pig management plans. The Plan was endorsed by Australia’s National Biosecurity Committee in October 2021 and aims to encourage land managers to work together in coordinated groups on a landscape scale, cross tenure basis, and strategically apply the most appropriate combinations of best practice management methods for their region (National Feral Pig Action Plan 2021). Its 10-year time frame reflects the long time required to reduce impacts from feral pigs,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/546385pm Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Channon, Heather Anne Dybing, Narelle Amanda Lewer, Daniel https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3cb5j6wh The ability of coyotes (Canis latrans) to exploit resources in human-dominated environments has led them to increasingly come into conflict with people, for example by killing domestic animals or attacking children. Additionally, coyotes in these environments increase their exposure to anthropogenic threats, such as harassment, vehicle mortality, and rodenticides. Effective management of human-coyote conflicts requires a better understanding of how coyotes navigate the developed landscape. As part of a broader study of how the use of urban and suburban areas affects coyotes’ exposure to rodenticides, we examined movements and space use of coyotes across gradients of urbanization in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. We affixed GPS radio-collars to 12 coyotes (nine males, three females) and tracked them between August 2022 and December 2023. Radio-collars recorded location information approximately every 15 min, but we restricted our analyses to hourly locations. We used... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3cb5j6wh Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Day, Carolyn Stapp, Paul Quinn, Niamh https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xr915qh Use of a contraceptive (i.e., fertility control) is attractive for rodent management where lethal control is unwanted. Although population reduction is generally unachievable with small-scale, short-term contraceptive use, reduced juvenile recruitment is achievable. The injectable immunocontraceptive vaccine GonaCon (active ingredient: gonadotropin releasing hormone [GnRH]) was registered in 2022 by the U.S. EPA for controlling fertility of female prairie dogs (Cynomys, a type of ground squirrel) in urban/suburban settings. Here we: 1) describe past research, including a replicated field study in Colorado (GonaCon treatment vs. control sites) testing efficacy of GonaCon in prairie dogs, which gave rise to the EPA registration of this product, 2) outline future research needs for prairie dog population management with GonaCon–Prairie Dogs, 3) describe the steps required to possibly register GonaCon for additional rodent species, and 4) describe the other fertility control pesticide... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xr915qh Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Shiels, Aaron B. Ruell, Emily W. Bruemmer, Jason E. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2q635133 Interspecific interactions are crucial in shaping ecosystem dynamics (Connell 1983, Tilman 1987, Barbosa and Castellanos 2005). Non-native ungulates have been introduced across the globe (Ferretti and Lovari 2014, Volery et al. 2021) and in environments where multiple invasives thrive, these co-occurring sympatric species may shift spatiotemporal patterns to minimize interspecific competition (Schoener 1974, Chesson 2000). Spatiotemporal shifts can lead to cascading effects to the native flora and fauna (Simberloff and Von Holle 1999). Given the potential negative impacts, understanding these interactions is vital for effective management of these ecosystems. Two invasive ungulates, the wild pig (Sus scrofa) and the Philippine deer (Rusa marianna), have inhabited much of Guam since their introduction in the 1600s and 1700s (Intoh 1986, Wiles et al. 1999) and both have been associated with significant ecological damage throughout the island (Conroy 1989). Despite sharing similar... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2q635133 Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Koriakin, Kelly J. VerCauteren, Kurt C. Snow, Nathan P. Jolley, D. Buck https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0cx2v202 The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) established the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. The program funded $75M for 5 years, split evenly between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), both programs within the US Department of Agriculture. The agencies solicited joint programs from states with high densities of feral swine in two phases. In Texas, NRCS and APHIS submitted three multi-county project areas along watersheds for Phase I funding and one eradication effort along with two crop protection projects in Phase II. The eradication project was adjacent to a Phase I project area and after extensive surveillance, it was determined to be successful, the first such project in Texas. All the remaining projects were designed with a direct management effort, a self-help effort through trap loans and a damage assessment process. Landowner in-kind contributions were identified... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0cx2v202 Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Pipkin, David R. Leland, Bruce R. Garwood, Katherine Tschirhart-Hejl, Linda Bodenchuk, Michael J. Tomecek, John M. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/05m82210 Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are a successful invasive species worldwide because of their ability to exploit their commensal relationship with humans. They are opportunistic feeders that use a wide range of natural and anthropogenic food sources. Because some rodent control methods, such as traps and rodenticides, threaten non-target wildlife species, understanding the diets of roof rats can help develop targeted approaches to better control these pests. Our aim is to use stable isotope analysis and stomach contents analysis to determine the diets of roof rats collected in agricultural, urban, and suburban areas in California. We hypothesized that diets of roof rats trapped in agricultural areas would contain crop plants and food resources associated with the agricultural environ­ment (arthropods, mollusks), whereas those from urban and suburban areas, e.g., schools, residential zones, would consume a broader range of food sources, including anthropogenic foods such as pet food,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/05m82210 Fri, 6 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Guzman, Gaby Stapp, Paul Quinn, Niamh https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1f43s3n1 Editor’s Note: This paper is included in lieu of a Keynote Address. Authored by the founder of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, it was originally published in Wildlife in an Urbanizing Environment, a monograph compiled from papers presented at a symposium held in Springfield, MA in November 1973, sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Massachusetts. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1f43s3n1 Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Howard, Walter E. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3xq325bh Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is a vertebrate pesticide principally used to control unwanted introduced mammals in New Zealand and Australia. For 1080, over 260 publications during the last ten years supplement a body of scientific information regarding its mode of action, natural occurrence, toxicology, antidotes, metabolism, and fate in the environment. Multi-year studies have explored long-term outcomes for multiple native bird species. Numerous reviews on community attitudes stimulated by the Predator Free New Zealand (PFNZ) 2050 campaign conclude that 1080 use for conservation remains controversial. Further effort is needed to increase target specificity, avoid game species, and employ approaches with the highest public acceptance, including hunting, trapping, and species-specific toxins. Greater acceptance of the large-scale use of any pest control is likely when long-term goals and strategies for ecosystem recovery employ toxins as one-off treatments for eradicating pests... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3xq325bh Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Ross, James Eason, Charles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/99c7209s Attracting natural enemies to farms to reduce pests has long been a part of integrated pest management for insects, but knowledge of the impact of raptors on rodent and other vertebrate pests is comparatively sparse. Using wooden nest boxes to attract rodent-eating barn owls (Tyto alba and Tyto furcata) to farms has been practiced in many regions for decades, but to date there have only been a handful of studies comparing rodent numbers in the presence and absence of barn owl nest boxes, and none done within the Western United States. In this study, we surveyed rodents on winegrape vineyards in Napa California with and without occupied barn owl nest boxes by live-trapping for rodents and using the open-hole method for gophers. We collected data before the owl breeding season, when hunting pressure should be light, and again when adult owls were hunting actively to feed their chicks. We found that gopher activity declined from before to peak hunting pressure on the vineyard with... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/99c7209s Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Hansen, Ashley Johnson, Matthew https://escholarship.org/uc/item/92m994xh Rodenticides such as brodifacoum are more potent than first-generation anticoagulants. However, their field, farm, and outdoor use in urban settings have been linked to bioaccumulation and non-target impacts for more than three decades. Product development strategies focused on baits that yield good control of pests without residue risks to wildlife are few. To fill this gap, a bait containing a combination of diphacinone at 0.005% and cholecalciferol at 0.06% (D+C bait) has been developed as a multispecies bait for NZ use, that is effective at killing rodents and also possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), which are resistant to the toxin effects of first-generation anticoagulants. This bait was approved by the NZ Environmental Protection Agency and the product registered by the NZ Ministry of Primary Industries in 2019. A new bait is being considered with a lower dose of cholecalciferol. A bait containing half or a quarter of the loading concentration of cholecalciferol would have... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/92m994xh Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Eason, Charles Shapiro, Lee MacMorran, Duncan Ross, James https://escholarship.org/uc/item/84p5h3fk When a large animal dies on a farm or ranch, there are often few options for disposal. In California, there are limited legal options especially as rendering facilities have closed, and both regulatory burden and the number of predators on the landscape have increased. Livestock Mortality Composting could be a viable solution to address these challenges. Composting of mammalian tissue is legal in most states and recommended for on-farm disposal of livestock mortalities but is currently illegal in California. Instead, many ranches have opted to use “bone piles” to dispose of livestock mortalities. This option has been shown to attract large predators such as wolves, mountain lions, bears and others making it a hazard for livestock operations by increasing the likelihood of livestock-predator interactions. Removing these bone piles is the number one predator attractant removal recommended by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Mammalian tissue composting is also a viable option... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/84p5h3fk Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Stevens, Nicole O. DeAtley, Kasey L. Woodmansee, Grace L. Snell, Laura K. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/847923z8 Mule deer were first introduced to Santa Catalina Island, California, in the early 1930s and persist today. Other feral, non-native ungulates have been eradicated (goats, pigs) or significantly reduced in numbers (bison) over the past two decades. Effective management of the deer population is necessary to protect the island’s biodiversity but is dependent upon reliable estimates of population density and demography. We used annual summer spotlight counts, conducted in eight of the past ten years, to estimate deer densities in the island interior. In 2021, we also surveyed transects in the area around Avalon, the largest town on the island. Distance sampling (Program DISTANCE) was used to model density based on line transect data. Island-wide densities varied from 6.3 to 16.9 deer per km2, with an average of 10.2 per km2, and were positively correlated with July-June rainfall during the preceding year. Most (77-96%) of the identifiable deer were adults and most adults were does... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/847923z8 Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Stapp, Paul Hamblen, Emily Duncan, Calvin L. King, Julie L. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5756g6xx Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are a common invasive species within the Unites States. They are very destructive in nature and are a commonly known pest within tree fruit and nut orchards in California. Tools that are used to manage roof rats in agricultural fields include rodenticides, fumigants, traps, and habitat management. However, to manage for roof rats, monitoring techniques are needed to understand the effectiveness of these management tools. Monitoring techniques that are currently used include chewing indices, snap and live trapping, remote-triggered cameras, and tracking tunnels. All of these monitoring techniques require an attractant, but uncertainty exists as to which attractants are most effective. Thus, we established a study to compare commercially available soft bait (Liphatech Rat and Mouse Attractant™) and wax block (Liphatech NoTox™) attractants to creamy peanut butter to determine their attractiveness to roof rats in citrus orchards of the southern San Joaquin... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5756g6xx Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Wales, Kallista N. Meinerz, Ryan Baldwin, Roger A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3tj7h3m9 Controlling small mammal pests and their damage has always been a challenge for farmers. Farmers and researchers worldwide have been experimenting with deploying nest boxes to attract barn owls to their fields to remove rodent pests. While much research has focused on the potential for nest boxes and barn owls to benefit agriculture, comparatively little work has examined the impact of the practice on owls. In this study, we used a life table analysis and estimates of barn owl reproduction measured in winegrape vineyards in Napa Valley, California coupled with published estimates of survival from long-term studies in Europe to produce a demographic model of a population of barn owls using nest boxes. We then examined how manual perturbations of survival and reproductive rates affect whether the modeled population is stable, increasing, or decreasing. Based on our empirical estimate of reproductive success and literature-sourced estimates of survival, the population appears... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3tj7h3m9 Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Carlino, Jaime E. Chavez, Samantha D. Echávez, Laura M. Johnson, Matthew D. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/20q5j44s Norbormide is a uniquely selective rat toxicant for Rattus species, with rats being 100- to 150-fold more sensitive to norbormide toxicity than most other mammals and birds. Previously we reported that on completion of a 10-year program of targeted fundamental and applied synthetic chemistry and toxicology, taste aversion associated with this compound had been overcome. In 2020-2022, trials have been successfully completed on poultry farms with Norway rats and larger scale field trials were undertaken targeting ship rats using 1% norbormide paste baits. Firstly, the efficacy of norbormide-containing paste baits targeting rat infestations on poultry farms was proven with a 100% reduction of Norway rat populations on three different farms. Secondly, 100% reduction in ship rat abundance was achieved at two large field test sites; and no reduction was achieved at the untreated control site. These larger field trials are described in depth in this publication. Plans are progressing... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/20q5j44s Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Shapiro, Lee Kumar, Kirtana Rennison, David Brimble, Margaret MacMorran, Duncan Eason, Charles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1h06s11j In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of carbon monoxide-generating devices to control burrowing rodents. A pilot study was performed to determine how long a black-tailed prairie dog burrow needed to be fumigated with a BurrowRx® machine to obtain control. This pilot study obtained 92% efficacy with a four-minute injection, 86.7% with a 3:45-minute injection and 90% efficacy with a three-minute injection. Out of 59 burrows, 85% had only a single entrance. Of the nine that had two or more openings, six had only two, one had three openings, and two had five openings. Surface measurements from the treated opening to the furthest connected opening ranged from 10 feet to 43 feet with the average being 23.33 feet. The paper also discusses suggestions for further research and suggestions for practical use of the device. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1h06s11j Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Vantassel, Stephen M. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/04q7t6zk Prairie dogs are an accessible and enjoyed wildlife species in Colorado that require occasional surveys because populations can change abruptly due to plague outbreaks or human-induced control. We evaluated the use of small copter drones at four prairie dog colonies on Open Space and Mountain Parks lands, City of Boulder, to determine if this methodology improves efficiency over ground-based survey methods. We counted prairie dogs and burrows using two types of drones (DJI Matric 210 and Autel Evo II) at altitudes 100', 150', and 400' (burrows only). We recorded video and merged still images into orthomosaics prior to having USDA staff analyze this imagery. We then compared the drone imagery counts to those of our simultaneous ground-based counts of prairie dogs. We determined that 100' altitude mosaics produced using DJI Matric 210 drone were most accurate (closest to true, ground-based counts) for burrow abundance. We were not able to identify the best drone and altitude combination... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/04q7t6zk Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Shiels, Aaron B. Fischer, Justin W. Spock, Danika Allira, Meagan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7km15588 Recovery of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel (MGRS) will likely be long and challenging. Its limited habitat, isolation to Pinaleño Mountain range, and demographic characteristics restrict its ability to rebound quickly from threats that impact both the squirrel and its habitat. Currently, threats to the MGRS include habitat degradation and loss through high-severity wildfire, fire suppression activities, insect outbreaks, climate change, and human development, and predation, as well as competition with Abert’s squirrels. The most recent wildfire in 2017 impacted over 48,000 acres of already reduced habitat. A critical first step is to protect and manage the remaining population of the MGRS and its habitat. Management includes but is not limited to maintaining and improving the spruce-fir and mixed conifer biomes, while balancing the need to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire with the needs of the squirrel. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7km15588 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Morehead, Aaron R. Carrillo, Christopher D. Hicks, Holly Sanders, Wade Bergman, David L. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/72f1b8bj Roof rats and other rodents are a common pest in agriculture, causing extensive amounts of damage and losses. Poultry farms provide an abundance of resources that attract rodents but our ability to control them in these locations is limited. Bait stations can become sources of nesting or go unused if the target species only travels in aerial locations. Any uncontrolled rats will quickly overpopulate agricultural buildings due to their high reproductive rates. We tested alternative baiting devices at a large poultry farm to develop a station that was easily utilized in aerial locations and well accepted by roof rats. We deployed ContraPest®, a contraceptive liquid bait, in the devices and tracked consumption monthly. We monitored the rat populations for 16 months with remote cameras to measure changes in activity before and during ContraPest baiting using a general index approach. Linear regression showed a significant relationship between ContraPest consumption and the general... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/72f1b8bj Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Ray, Courtney N. Pyzyna, Brandy https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5d03p3hw The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 provides federal oversight and protection for feral horses (wild free-roaming; WFR horses) that inhabit designated areas on public lands in the western United States. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimated in 2019 that over 80,000 free-roaming equids inhabited 29 million hectares on 177 designated herd management areas. This population estimate exceeds the designated appropriate management level of 26,785. To provide BLM managers with insights regarding the U.S. public knowledge and perceptions about the management of WFR horses in the U.S., we surveyed the public using an online survey process. We hypothesized that respondents from the western U.S. would be more knowledgeable of the ecology and management of WFR horses, because of their proximity to most of the WFR horses managed in the U.S. We stratified the U.S. into five regions, with the intent to acquire at least 400 responses from each; we met this quota in four... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5d03p3hw Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Frey, S. Nicole Scasta, J. Derek Beck, Jeffrey L. Singletary, Loretta Snell, Laura K. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5b11303n A robust population of endangered San Joaquin kit foxes occurs in the city of Bakersfield, CA. In March 2013, sarcoptic mange was detected in this population and the disease quickly spread. In January 2019, mange also appeared in a smaller kit fox population in the neighboring town of Taft, CA. To date there have been more than 430 confirmed cases in and 100 confirmed deaths of kit foxes. An additional 118 unrecovered individuals are presumed deceased because there is no indication that kit foxes survive without medical intervention. These numbers are also presumed underestimations of the actual number of kit foxes that have contracted and died from mange. In addition to capturing and treating kit foxes, the Endangered Species Recovery Program has conducted a yearly citywide camera survey in Bakersfield since 2015 and Taft since 2019 to assess the occurrence of mange among kit foxes and the spatial pattern of spread. Based on the Bakersfield survey, the urban kit fox population... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5b11303n Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Kelly, Erica C. Cypher, Brian L. Westall, Tory L. Deatherage, Nicole A. Rudd, Jaime L. Clifford, Deana L. Foley, Janet E. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4wk4h3n7 In Japan, the jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) is a common problematic bird, causing significant economic damage. Previous attempts to mitigate conflict between crows and humans have generally been unsuccessful. Furthermore, it is not clear whether successful mitigation outcomes can be attributed to the effectiveness of control techniques. To directly examine the sensitivity of wild-caught jungle crows to a control technique, we observed their foraging behavior when auditory stimuli were applied to a single feeding patch (no-choice trial) or to one feeding patch but not the other (two-choice trial) in an outdoor cage. The auditory stimulus consisted of a low tone in the crow’s audible range (1 to 10 kHz), based on pink noise. In the no-choice trial, one feeding site was set up in a U-shaped experimental cage, and experiments were conducted under two conditions: 1) experimental sound presented at an 80 dB sound pressure level and 2) silence (i.e., control). In the two-choice... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4wk4h3n7 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Shirai, Masaki Ikeda, Kyosuke Fujioka, Momoyo Yamamoto, Maki https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22v1z9tv California Assembly Bill 1788 and establishment of the California Ecosystems Protection Act indicates the evolution of public opinion regarding rodent management products is moving away from the use of poison. Similar actions have taken place in the province of British Columbia and the state of Massachusetts, with initiatives in the states of Washington and Connecticut. These events signal a trend in pest management that requires attention. There are many aspects of California’s law that will require further refinements such as enforcement, best practices, and the economics of the action. The FYXX foundation 501c(3) non-profit organization has undertaken to assess these elements of alternate rodent IPM programs including any offsetting benefits of public and employee perceptions. Data was collected from three sites: two animal sanctuaries and a large commercial business district. Strategies were as follows; site #1, an IPM program including exclusion, fertility control, repellents,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22v1z9tv Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Mayer, Loretta P. Knox, Cynthia G. Dyer, Cheryl A. Ohmart, Thomas K. Barnes, Toni https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9hz0r85p Due to the economically and environmentally beneficial rodent control services birds of prey (raptors) provide, many property owners in North America and around the world install artificial nest boxes to attract breeding populations of barn owls as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. However, anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) and barn owl biocontrol are often concurrently used to limit damage from rodent pest species in agricultural ecosystems which could lead to secondary poisoning of these beneficial predators. Substantial global effort is currently underway to determine the efficacy and cost effectiveness of this IPM approach, while better defining the risk to barn owls from potential AR exposure. While these issues have received increased attention, there is little data describing the circumstances in which barn owls interact with AR compounds, as well as the potential sublethal effects of AR exposure in these settings that may hinder a barn owl’s ability... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9hz0r85p Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Phillips, Emily M. Martinico, Breanna L. Bourbour, Ryan P. Baldwin, Roger A. Kross, Sara M. Hull, Joshua M. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9h196385 In Modoc County, located in northeastern California, there is a high elevation sage-steppe rangeland ecosystem heavily populated by free roaming equids and managed primarily by the United States Forest Service (USFS) known as the Devil's Garden. Free roaming equid populations have significantly exceeded (roughly 2000 horses) appropriate management levels (206-402 horses) in the last decade and expanded their range outside of the designated territory (about 250,000 acres) and on to private and tribal lands (over 450,000 acres), degrading rangeland and threatening endangered species. Helicopter gathers in recent years have removed over 2000 equids from the Devil’s Garden. Due to an extensive collaboration between the USFS-Modoc National Forest, and local partners, many of these equids have found new homes. An early collaborative group developed unique strategies for placement of old (over nine years of age and historically characterized as unadoptable) and young horses. Modoc County... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9h196385 Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Snell, Laura K. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/99m7008k Roof rats cause extensive damage in orchards throughout the world. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems are the best option for managing rodents, yet few management systems have been developed and tested to control roof rats in agricultural settings. We initiated a study in 2020 to provide the foundation for an IPM program to manage roof rats in California citrus orchards. Our initial efforts centered on developing effective monitoring strategies for roof rats to determine when management actions are needed, assessing rat movement patterns to determine proper placement of management tools, and conducting initial tests of Goodnature A24 self-resetting traps and elevated bait stations containing 0.005% diphacinone-treated oats. We determined that the use of both tracking tunnels and remote-triggered cameras served as effective monitoring tools for roof rats in citrus orchards, and a smaller 3 × 3 grid placement of these monitoring tools was as effective as a 5 × 5 grid, indicating... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/99m7008k Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Baldwin, Roger A. Smith, Justine A. Meinerz, Ryan Shiels, Aaron B. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6vx9594m American black bears (Ursus americanus) can be considered vertebrate pests when they come in conflict with humans and create potential public safety situations that require intervention by local wildlife or animal control departments. Black bears are both omnivorous and highly intelligent, and this combination of characteristics make these animals prone to human habituation and developing an association between humans and easy sources of food. Foraging behaviors can put black bears in undesired or unsafe contact with humans when bears root through garbage on private and public lands, consume crops, prey upon small livestock or pets, cause significant property damage, and wander onto roadways leading to traffic accidents. An increasingly recognized cause of bear-human conflict is neurologic disease, such as that caused by infectious pathogens or toxicity, leading to cognitive or behavioral changes. A unique neurologic disease affecting black bears was first observed in 2014 near... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6vx9594m Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Sinnott, Devinn Shapiro, Karen Munk, Brandon LaHue, Nate Armien, Anibal Woods, Leslie Watson, Kate Gonzales-Viera, Omar https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6jm4g2qx Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are common invasive pests in both urban and agricultural sites as well as a significant public health threat. The use of anticoagulant rodenticides to help control the rodent population poses a risk of developing resistance to these products. Several reports have associated the non-synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (nsSNP) Tyr25Phe (Y25F) of the vitamin K epoxide reductase subcomponent 1 (Vkorc1) gene to anticoagulant rodenticide resistance (Diaz et al. 2021). We conducted a nsSNP screen in the population of Rattus spp. in Orange County to determine the prevalence of the Y25F nsSNP in the sampled rodents. Thirty-seven live rat traps were set throughout the county and the species of each trapped rat was determined by sequencing the cytochrome oxide I (COI) gene using primers previously described in Goulois et al. (2015). Twenty specimens were identified as R. rattus and 12 as R. tanezumi (Asian house rat); the other five specimens were non-Rattus... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6jm4g2qx Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Rangel, Daisy F. Janowiecki, Mark Quinn, Niamh M. Reyes, Kassandra Kreuger, Laura Semrow, Amber https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vz709dw Axis deer on the Hawaiian Islands of Maui, Lāna‘i, and Moloka‘i simultaneously experienced one of the most dramatic population crashes on record in 2020-2021, which coincided with extended drought conditions and prompted an emergency declaration for these islands. This phenomenon has been anecdotally documented during previous drought events in 2011-2012, but never formally studied. Newspaper articles document abundant deer becoming a nuisance to agriculture and natural resources, and then experiencing high mortality during droughts. This phenomenon fits Caughley’s (1970) operational definition of eruptive (sic) fluctuation “…as an increase in numbers over at least two generations, followed by a marked decline.” We examined available deer population and rainfall records over the time period of interest. Deer may have increased rapidly during favorable years with high survival and recruitment. During moderate drought, young of the year may experience high mortality, with little... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vz709dw Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Hess, Steven C. Sprague, Jonathan Muise, Jacob https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5r11137r The management of free-roaming horses (Equus ferus) and burros (E. asinus) in the United States has been referred to as a “wicked problem” because, although there are population control options, societal values will ultimately determine what is acceptable and what is not. In the United States, free-roaming equids are managed by different types of organizations and agencies, and the landscapes that these animals inhabit vary widely in terms of access, size, topography, climate, natural resources, flora, and fauna. This landscape diversity, coupled with contemporary socioeconomic and political environments, means that adaptive management practices are needed to regulate these free-roaming populations. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) currently manages free-roaming equids on 177 herd management areas in the United States by applying fertility control measures in situ and/or removing horses, which are either adopted by private individuals or sent to long-term holding facilities.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5r11137r Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Bechert, Ursula S. Turner, John W., Jr. Baker, Dan L. Eckery, Douglas C. Bruemmer, Jason E. Lyman, Candace C. Prado, Tulio M. King, Sarah R. B. Fraker, Mark A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/40c7067f California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus spp.) cause more economic damage to California rangelands than any other rodent (Baldwin et al. 2022). Burrow systems can undermine stock pond dams, ranch roads, and even hillslopes. However, forage loss is generally the primary concern. When asked, ranchers offer detailed qualitative descriptions of the damage ground squirrels cause and how it impacts the economic viability of their operations. Damage by ground squirrels can be particularly concerning because ranching operations are often on the margins of profitability. Unfortunately, few studies have quantified economic losses from ground squirrels. Additionally, ranchers commonly lease grazing land from public agencies. In many cases, agency employees have a limited understanding of ranching operations and generally do not allow for control of ground squirrels. Quantitative data on ground squirrel impacts to rangelands and ranching operations may help land management agencies better... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/40c7067f Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Rao, Devii R. Becchetti, Theresa A. Davy, Josh S. Larsen, Royce E. Mashiri, Fadzayi E. Ozeran, Rebecca K. Meinerz, Ryan Baldwin, Roger A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3xr2c4sn Secondary exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) remains a significant problem for wild carnivores living at the urban-wildland interface. Although direct mortality is the most obvious concern, AR exposure may also cause subtle, sub-lethal effects, such as reduced body condition and increased parasite loads, that ultimately contribute to poorer performance at the population level. However, relatively little is known about such effects on wild animals, or about the environmental factors that contribute to AR exposure. We examined relationships between levels of AR exposure, demographic factors, and landscape variables associated with urbanization, for coyotes (Canis latrans) from urban Los Angeles and Orange counties, California. AR exposure was estimated from residue assays of livers from 353 carcasses, collected opportunistically as road kills or euthanized nuisance animals from 2015 to 2018. We also conducted veterinary necropsies on a subset of 50 carcasses to investigate... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3xr2c4sn Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 McKenzie, Ariana Quinn, Niamh M. Stapp, Paul https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3hv2t4nd Small Indian mongooses are detrimental introduced predators in the United States, where they depredate native species, serve as vector of disease, and threaten public safety. Due to the risk of accidental introduction to mongoose-free islands, high cost and limitations to trapping, and no national (Section 3) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered toxicants for mongoose control, there is a need for an efficacious toxic bait for mongooses for use in conservation areas and at points of entry in the United States. Over the last five years, the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) worked to develop a toxic bait for mongooses for registration with the EPA. This paper outlines the development pathway to registration of a toxic bait for mongooses in the United States. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3hv2t4nd Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Antaky, Carmen C. Hess, Steven C. Leinbach, Israel L. Sugihara, Robert T. Ruell, Emily W. Siers, Shane R. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3980b91q Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic apicomplexan parasite that can cause severe morbidity and mortality in warm-blooded animals, including marine mammals like the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis). Felids, including free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus), can shed environmentally resistant T. gondii oocysts in their feces. Contamination of nearshore waters can occur following surface runoff that mobilizes oocysts from contaminated soil to water bodies. These oocysts can concentrate in invertebrates like sea urchins, oysters, and marine snails, which are common prey for otters. Certain genotypes of T. gondii (Type X and X variants) are associated with a higher likelihood of fatal infection in sea otters, and some of these genotypes have previously been isolated from felid tissues in the greater Monterey Bay region. However, T. gondii genotypes identified in tissues may differ from parasite genotypes in feces due to the possibility of mixed T. gondii infection in free-ranging... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3980b91q Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Zhu, Sophie VanWormer, Elizabeth Camp, Lauren Patel, Anika Shapiro, Karen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2w90v6fs In 1983, Savarie and colleagues did an extensive study of the toxicity of para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) in multiple species of mammals and birds (Savarie et al. 1983). They tested 15 species and found that PAPP was toxic to coyotes: the LD50 for coyotes via oral gavage in cod liver oil was 5.6 mg/kg. However, they also found that coyotes (and numerous other species) vomited after consuming PAPP and this vomiting likely decreased the efficacy of PAPP. They concluded that the induction of vomiting by PAPP must be addressed before it could be effective as a chemical to control coyotes (Savarie et al. 1983). Huo Ping Pan further investigated the effects of PAPP to coyotes in studies compiled in an internal report [Pan, unpublished report, National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC)]. In the study of Savarie et al. (1983), coyotes that consumed 150 mg PAPP in beef tallow baits vomited and recovered. Pan hypothesized that if the dose of PAPP was increased slightly, coyotes may succumb... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2w90v6fs Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Horak, Katherine Young, Julie Mitchell, Adam Bruemmer, Jason https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2r03s38j Landscape affordances, what the environment offers an animal, are inherently species-specific to the extent that each taxon has unique needs and responses to landscape characteristics. Wildlife responses to landscape features range on a continuum from avoidance to attraction, and quantifying these habits are the backbone of wildlife movement ecology. In anthropogenically modified landscapes, many taxa do not occupy areas heavily influenced by humans, while some species seem to flourish, such as coyotes (Canis latrans) and pigeons (Columba livia). Sufficient overlap in landscapes designed for human purposes (e.g., freeway underpasses, channelized waterways, and cemeteries) but which are also suitable for wildlife (e.g., by providing sources of food, shelter, and refuge) underlies wildlife persistence in urban areas and is increasingly important in the world’s largest metropoles. Studying these overlapping worlds of humans and wildlife in cities provides a rich foundation for broadening... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2r03s38j Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Niesner, Chase A. Blakey, Rachel V. Blumstein, Daniel T. Abelson, Eric S. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/24k8k5mp Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are semi-aquatic rodents native to South America that were introduced into many countries outside their native range for fur-farming. Nutria are considered a pest species in many regions primarily because of their feeding and burrowing activities that damage water control structures, agricultural crops, and marsh vegetation, but they are also capable of supporting parasites and pathogens that could present health risks to humans and other animals (Howerth et al. 1994, Michel et al. 2001). Nutria populations in the United States are found in the Gulf of Mexico coast, the Atlantic coast, and the Pacific Northwest, where they are managed as invasive species or euthanized through local eradication efforts. Nutria in California were reportedly eradicated after a small-scale effort in the 1970s, but recently reappeared in the Central Valley in 2017. Nutria in California inhabit rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds where they exist alongside native aquatic mammals... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/24k8k5mp Thu, 8 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Riner, A. Jane Clifford, Deana L. Woods, Leslie Gerstenberg, Greg Foley, Janet https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0wk164j5 Fleas infesting urban wildlife have been epidemiologically linked to the transmission of flea-borne rickettsial pathogens in urban and suburban areas of Orange County, California. To understand the prevalence of flea-borne rickettsioses caused by either Rickettsia felis or R. typhi, a survey of fleas from wildlife was conducted to determine the flea species composition of host animals and prevalence of rickettsial pathogens in fleas on host animals. This study reports flea abundance, species composition, and infestation intensity on unowned domestic cats and wildlife (i.e., coyotes, opossums, rabbits, skunks, squirrels, raccoons, and commensal rodents) collected in urban neighborhoods of Orange County. The survey revealed presence of the northern rat flea on eastern fox squirrels, and widespread distribution of the human flea on skunks and coyotes in Orange County. The flea index and prevalence of flea-bone rickettsioses in fleas has been used by the Orange County Mosquito and... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0wk164j5 Thu, 4 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Penicks, Amanda Krueger, Laura Campbell, James Fogarty, Carrie Rangel, Daisy Nguyen, Kiet Cummings, Robert https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9d8291tg Homeless encampments are a persistent feature in the city of Oakland, California. Unsanitary conditions in these camps can contribute to large populations of Norway rats and associated vector-borne disease. Alameda County Vector Control Services District has developed a surveillance program for safe and efficient data collection in these encampments. This program includes outreach to residents, effective live-trap ping, ectoparasite collection, vector species suppression, and coordinating with other agencies. The District’s operations around Oakland’s pilot “Tuff Shed” homeless shelter strategy are presented as a case study for Norway rat and Oriental rat flea risk assessment and control. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9d8291tg Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Mooney, Michael R. James, David K. Kirkpatrick, Bruce Why, Adena De Villa, Augustine Mendoza, Sergio Gutierrez, Alexandria https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97j0c5c7 Unmanaged cottontail rabbit populations can cause significant damage to drip irrigation tubing. Common integrated pest management strategies to reduce damage include trapping, exclusion, and repellent use. Trapping and exclusion, while effective at managing cottontail rabbits, are impractical when applied to large scale habitat restoration projects. To evaluate repellent use under these conditions, we conducted a preliminary conditioned avoidance field trial using anthraquinone applied to drip irrigation tubing installed in a riparian habitat undergoing restoration in Silverado, CA. The postingestive repellent, anthraquinone, was selected due to prior laboratory research indicating its effectiveness in inducing conditioned avoidance feeding behaviors in cottontail rabbits. Following a complete repair of the irrigation system, alternating sections of the irrigation tubing were treated. After the first treatment, there was an estimated 50% reduction in damaged tubing between the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97j0c5c7 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Anderson, Christopher T. Major, Matthew Blake, Alan Raff, Collin Quinn, Niamh M. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8n2100g9 Round-tailed ground squirrels are common residents of natural areas throughout most of the desert southwest region of North America. They live in colonies of several adults, subadults, and young, and are diurnal during the active season that ranges from March to September. They are well adapted to desert life and live in burrows they excavate in the ground, but will also modify and occupy burrows created by other animals. Round-tailed ground squirrels are frequently seen in many human community environments. Their burrowing is usually not a significant cause of concern, nor do they cause severe damage to humans or their property. However, they very often cause concerns due to human-wildlife interactions that may include the squirrels themselves, but also their predators such as rattlesnakes, coyote, feral dogs, and other large mammals. Another cause for concern is that round-tailed ground squirrels can be hosts for fleas and other parasites and could vector plague or other diseases... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8n2100g9 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Nair, Shaku Henry, Dominic Gouge, Dawn H. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8d5733vm Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies increasingly incorporate natural predators of pest species to reduce the abundance and persistence of pest species in agricultural settings. Specialist predators and parasitoids have been demonstrated to be successful tools to reduce the damage from invertebrate pest species, but less research has focused on the effectiveness of generalist predators to reduce the abundance of vertebrate pest species. To investigate this, we employed a case study of a globally used IPM tactic: the use of barn owls (Tyto alba) for rodent biocontrol. When used as a biocontrol agent, barn owls are typically recruited to the area through the installation of nest boxes in agricultural fields. Anecdotal evidence suggests that barn owls forage within the agricultural fields and reduce rodent pest populations, but no replicated studies that monitor both rodent and owl populations exist to date. We developed models of this system, parameterized using published... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8d5733vm Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Hiroyasu, Elizabeth H. T. Kross, Sara M. Baldwin, Roger A. Kendall, Bruce E. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/79x4v8nh The introduction of rodents to islands poses a threat to native fauna, which often have no adaptation to defend their offspring or themselves from predation. To combat predation of nests and brooding females, the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP) has deployed 425 Goodnature A24 self-resetting rat traps at two field sites where high densities of native forest birds remain. One site is fenced to exclude invasive ungulates. KFBRP conducts routine trap checks every four months to assess bait and trap function and count carcasses. Typically, we find 0-3 rat or mouse carcasses at a trap, but in November 2018, we found a dead bird under a trap at the fenced site. We assume that traps kill more animals than indicated by carcass counts, because 75% of traps have counters that record when traps fire, and counter tallies exceed carcass counts. Thus, we hypothesize that some carcasses are scavenged or decompose between trap checks, and as a result we are a) underestimating target... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/79x4v8nh Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Kreuser, Abigail Shiels, Aaron B. Lepczyk, Christopher A. Winter, Tyler A. Crampton, Lisa H. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6wt9n9xt The high toxicity and effectiveness of anticoagulant rodenticides have led to their widespread use for controlling rodent pests; however, significant concerns remain about the potential exposure of non-target wildlife species at the urban-wildland interface. Such species can be exposed by consuming toxic baits directly, or indirectly, by scavenging rodenticide-killed prey (secondary exposure). To investigate opportunities for secondary exposure, we used Reconyx digital game cameras to quantify the fates of 20 rat carcasses placed in residential backyards in Orange County, California. We anchored rat carcasses to the ground and then followed their fates for seven days or until carcasses were removed. We also recorded yard characteristics (e.g., vegetation density, permeability of exterior barriers, presence of pets, water, and anthropogenic foods) to help explain variation in carcass removal rates between yards. Rats were discovered fairly quickly, with 35% of carcasses visited... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6wt9n9xt Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Lotts, Brandon Stapp, Paul https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5v77s563 The City of Oakland is the largest city within Alameda County, the 8th largest city in California, and the 45th largest in the United States. Due to various socioeconomic factors, the number of homeless encampments within Oakland has been increasing over the past few years. A recently completed survey showed that there has been a 47.45% increase in the number of homeless living within the city limits. Approximately 4,071 people are now living in various encampments around the city, primarily concentrated underneath freeway/infrastructure overpasses and on adjoining lands. Surveillance by our staff found that several of these encampments also had active Norway rat populations as indicated by active burrows within and adjacent to the camps, as well as resident reports. Beginning in the fall of 2017, District biologists began live-trapping at a few of the larger encampments to try and ascertain the composition and load of ectoparasites on corresponding Norway rat populations. We... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5v77s563 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Why, Adena Biswas, Sutapa De Villa, Augustine Kirkpatrick, Bruce Gay, Robert https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4zg3k0p2 As of January 2019, a survey of homeless people in Alameda County, CA, documented 8,022 homeless individuals countywide, including 6,312 unsheltered people. Dozens of homeless encampments exist throughout the County, and most lack sanitation facilities (e.g., rodent-proof garbage storage and weekly waste removal; sanitary toilets; and running water for hand washing, showering, or laundry). This situation represents a breakdown of the sanitation interventions that can lead to the outbreak of vector-borne disease (e.g., 2020 outbreaks of flea-borne typhus in southern California). Some characteristics of surveyed encampments make them more or less suitable for Norway rat population establishment and the exhibition of problems associated with rodent ectoparasites. Many urban encampments are in parts of Oakland that have old infrastructure including sewers that support an endemic population of Norway rats and where there may be undetected sewer breaks that allow these rats into these... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4zg3k0p2 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Wilson, Daniel https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2fc4h522 Habitat manipulation is an important technique that can be used for controlling rodent damage in agricultural ecosystems. It involves intentional manipulation of vegetation cover in habitats adjacent to active burrows of rodents to reduce shelter and food availability and to increase predation pressure. The current study was conducted in the Pothwar Plateau region of Pakistan during respective non-crop periods of wheat-groundnut (post-harvested and un-plowed/non-crop fallow lands). The pur­pose was to assess the impact of reduction in vegetation height of adjacent habitats (field borders) on rodent richness and abun­dance. The study area was divided into two sites: treated and non-treated. At the treated sites, habitat manipulation was carried out by removing crop cache and non-crop vegetation over 10 cm in height to a distance of approximately 20 m from the fields. The trapping sessions carried out at both treated and non-treated sites adjacent to wheat-groundnut fields were... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2fc4h522 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Munawar, Nadeem Mahmood, Tariq https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1023p03m Urban coyotes are commonly exposed to rodenticides used to control non-native commensal rodents, but these rodents are rare in published accounts of their diets. An alternative source of rodenticide exposure is through the consumption of mesocarnivores that have themselves eaten either toxic bait directly or poisoned rodents or invertebrates. Carcasses of 311 nuisance and road-killed coyotes from suburban and urban areas of southern California were collected from 2016-2018. Stomachs were dissected and prey items were identified visually. Stomach contents containing tissue from suspected mammalian prey (N = 178) were homogenized and DNA was extracted. Genus-specific primers (123-366 bp) were designed for Virginia opossums, raccoons, and striped skunks, regionally common species that are known to be consumed by coyotes. PCR was performed for each primer pair, and presence of PCR products of particular amplicon lengths were determined by gel electrophoresis. Coyote stomachs containing... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1023p03m Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Shedden, Jennifer M. Bucklin, Danielle M. Quinn, Niamh M. Stapp, Paul https://escholarship.org/uc/item/073803nf In Modoc County, located in northeastern California, there is a high elevation sage-steppe rangeland ecosystem heavily populated by wild horses and managed primarily by the United States Forest Service (USFS) called the Devil's Garden Plateau. Wild horses have significantly exceeded (roughly 2,000 horses) appropriate management levels (206-402 horses) in recent years and expanded their range outside of the designated territory (258,000 acres) and onto private and tribal lands (nearly 500,000 acres). Increased pressure from wild horses on the multiple use mandate of Forest Service lands have put strains on livestock, wildlife, and the local rural economy. The Modoc National Forest has decreased grazing by roughly 5,000 AUMs (animal unit months) on the Devil’s Garden Plateau due to excessive wild horse use. Each lost AUM results in a decrease of $57.43 - $144.70 of income to Modoc County. Three helicopter gathers in recent years have removed over 1,500 horses from the Devil’s Garden... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/073803nf Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Snell, Laura K. Baldwin, Roger A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9hn303ph Zinc phosphide has been recently approved in Europe as a vole control product. Currently, only one formulation (lentils/pellets) is marketed with 0.8% Zn3P2. It is applied with a delivery device for burrow baiting. In many instances, zinc phosphide poisoning has been confirmed in non-target species (primary poisoning). In order to be prepared for potential non-target poisoning incidents in wildlife, the SAGIR network, FREDON Franche-Comté, and University of Franche-Comté conducted a field study on common voles to test the sampling method and storage impact under realistic field conditions on the detection of zinc phosphide. The toxicology laboratory of Vetagro Sup, member of SAGIR, worked on the improvement of the World Health Organization WHO technique in order to lower the Limit of Quantification (LOQ) and to validate the technique for the correct identification of field cases. The specificity was tested on 20 gastric content samples (100%), and the LOQ was established at 0.01... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9hn303ph Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Berny, Philippe Rouzoul, Léa Vey, Danièle Cardoso, Olivier Cœurdassier, Mickaël Couval, Geoffroy Levret, Aurélien Pizoli, Manon Caspar, Joël https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8zf6c2x9 Rangeland livestock operations in California and elsewhere are increasingly turning to livestock guardian dogs (LGD) to protect their herds from predators. LGD success depends on a variety of factors including social bonding, environmental and operational context, and individual behaviors. Observation and first-hand experience with LGD on foothill rangeland, Sacramento Valley cropland, and Sierra Nevada/Great Basin rangeland can provide practical evaluation of historic and current research regarding LGD efficacy, breed differences, and economic costs versus benefits. However, little is known about the relationship between LGD and livestock behavior and forage utilization. This article synthesizes current research, experiential knowledge from practitioners, and new frontiers for LGD research. An updated understanding of the principles of bonding LGD pups to livestock will improve LGD success rates and reduce costs for producers. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8zf6c2x9 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Macon, Dan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jd1n21w Predator issues related to interactions with livestock and poultry represent a state, national, and international issue. Predators are important for healthy ecosystems; however, with increased interactions between predators and agricultural animals there is also an increased likelihood of predator depredation. The 4-H Youth Development Program is a national nonformal youth education program. Annually, over 1.5 million youth participate in 4-H Animal Science projects, mainly agricultural animals. 4-H youth who raise agricultural animals face issues of predator-livestock interactions. A 4-H curriculum was developed to help youth learn about predator-livestock interactions and strategies to mitigate these issues through improved animal husbandry. Pilot research on the use of the curriculum revealed improved knowledge among participating youth, as well as the application of mitigation strategies to youths’ own practice and outreach to their communities through a service-learning project. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jd1n21w Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Smith, Martin H. Ankenman, Colette Quinn, Niamh