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Fences disturb the movements of terrestrial species, altering migration patterns, limiting access to vital resources, and reducing genetic diversity. With almost 40% of the Earth's land surface converted for agriculture, farm fencing to protect crops and corral livestock is expected to stretch into the millions of kilometers. As semi‐terrestrial ectotherms, freshwater turtles are threatened by fences that limit access to resources and increase risks of desiccation, entanglement, and overheating, often resulting in death. To determine the effect of fences, we quantified the movement patterns for a population of eastern long‐necked turtles (Chelodina longicollis) inhabiting an agricultural landscape near Armidale, New South Wales, Australia from November 2022 to September 2023. There was considerable variation in the distance traveled, home range size, and movement corridor selection between turtles that was not explained by the morphological factors of size, mass, or the loss of a limb (likely due to predation attempts). On average, 38% ± 4.70 (x¯ $\bar{x}$ ± SE) of turtle movements were terrestrial (overland) during their active season (spring and summer) during which they encountered fences frequently because of a complex matrix of paddocks. Fence design dictated the distance turtles traveled to locate a suitable passage point. The majority of fences allowed turtles to pass (turtle‐friendly fences, 71.4% of total fence distance) as opposed to turtle‐unfriendly fences (28.6% of total fence distance). Turtles were required to travel almost 4 times the distance to locate a suitable crossing point (a gap or fault in the fence) when they encountered an unfriendly fence (85.32 m ± 29.81) compared to a turtle‐friendly fence (25.85 m ± 3.58). Our results highlight the need for land managers to avoid small‐diameter exclusion fencing and fence designs containing chicken wire that extend to or below ground level. In settings where small‐diameter wire fencing is required, we recommend the installation of turtle gates for small terrestrial fauna or elevating bottom wires at least 50 mm above ground level to facilitate fence permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The range of the threatened American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in the United States is limited to the southernmost parts of Florida. As this species has recovered concurrently with an increasing human population, human–crocodile conflicts have also increased. Resolving conflicts can involve translocating crocodiles; however, they often return to the site from which they were removed. We examined the effects of translocation on crocodile movements, habitat use, body condition, and survival in Florida, USA, in 2018–2019 to refine recommendations for managers considering translocation to resolve human–crocodile conflict. We captured and attached global positioning system (GPS) units to 17 crocodiles, 10 of which served as a reference group (free‐ranging crocodiles released at their capture site) and 7 served as a treatment group (crocodiles that were translocated 14–158 km from their capture site). We collected location data from individual crocodiles for 34–661 days (x¯ $\mathop{x}\limits^{̅}$ ~ 250 days for each group). Body condition was similar for both groups. Corticosterone levels measured periodically during handling indicated that crocodiles experienced increasing stress levels during handling. Three crocodiles translocated ≤45 km from their original capture site returned to that location within 13 days. Three crocodiles translocated ≥110 km did not return. One female translocated 152 km was recaptured 0.42 km from its original capture site 965 days after its release. We identified 2 states of characteristic movement patterns: state 1 indicated individuals moving slowly and somewhat randomly, and state 2 indicated individuals exhibiting fast, active directional movement. Translocated individuals were more likely than reference individuals to switch to, and stay in, state 2. Because of concerns regarding return rates and heightened stress as a result of capture and translocation, we suggest crocodile translocations have limited conservation value and may only be worth considering once all other reasonable options are exhausted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocation of animals, especially for threatened and endangered species, is a currently popular but very challenging activity. We translocated 158 adult Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii), a threatened species, from the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, in the central Mojave Desert in California, USA, to 4 plots as part of a long‐distance, hard‐release, mitigation‐driven translocation to prevent deaths from planned military maneuvers. We monitored demographic and behavioral variables of tortoises fitted with radio‐transmitters from 2008 to 2018. By the end of the project, 17.72% of tortoises were alive, 65.82% were dead, 15.19% were missing, and 1.27% were removed from the study because they returned to Fort Irwin. Mortality was high during the first 3 years: >50% of the released animals died, primarily from predation. Thereafter, mortality declined but remained high. After 10.5 years, survival was highest, 37.50% (15/40), on the plot closest to original home sites, whereas from 2.56% to 23.68% remained alive on the other 3 release plots. Surviving tortoises settled early, repeatedly using locations where they constructed burrows, compared with tortoises that died or disappeared. Models of behavioral and other variables indicated that numbers of repeatedly used locations (burrows) were a driver of survival throughout the study, although plot location, size and sex of tortoises, and distance traveled were contributors, especially during early years. Because >50% mortality occurred, we considered this translocation unsuccessful. The study area appeared to be an ecological sink with historical and current anthropogenic uses contributing to habitat degradation and a decline in both the resident and released tortoises. Our findings will benefit design and selection of future translocation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shed antler hunting (i.e., collecting cast cervid antlers) has increased in popularity during the past decade, but little is known about how this recreational activity affects ungulate movements and space use. We placed geographic positioning system (GPS)‐collars on 133 female and male bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), bison (Bison bison), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) to quantify their movements and space use during shed antler hunts compared with those behaviors during helicopter surveys in Utah, USA, from 2012 to 2015. For each species, we calculated means and 95% confidence intervals for distance moved during 90‐minute segments (16 points/day) pre‐event (control, 7 consecutive days prior to event), event (1–2 days), and post‐event (7 consecutive days after event) for shed antler hunts and helicopter surveys. We also compared use of space for each species during these events. Female bighorn sheep did not increase distance moved or substantially change space use during shed antler hunts and helicopter surveys. Male bighorn sheep increased distance moved 41% on average during shed antler hunts and by 2.02 times during helicopter surveys but did not change space use during those events. Female bison increased distance moved 15% on average during shed antler hunts and 30% during helicopter surveys. Mule deer increased distance moved and altered space use the most during shed antler hunts; females increased distance moved 97%, and 54% of females moved a mean distance of 742 ± 642 (SD) m (range = 9–3,778 m) outside of their home ranges during those hunts for a mean of 9.2 ± 9.4 hours (range = 1.5 to 41 hr). Male mule deer increased distance moved by 2.10 times on average during shed antler hunts, and 82% of males moved a mean distance of 1,264 ± 732 m (range = 131–3,637 m) outside of their home ranges during those hunts for a mean of 12.6 ± 7.6 hours (range = 4.5–33 hr). Our results provide timely information about how legal shed antler hunting affects movements and space use of female and male ungulates, especially mule deer, and can guide the conservation of ungulate populations and their habitat. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. : During legal shed antler hunts, mule deer moved the farthest and were displaced the most and for the longest time from their home ranges. Our results will help wildlife managers understand the effects of shed antler hunting on movement and space use of ungulates and provide timely information that can help conserve ungulate populations and their habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many parts of North America, deer (Odocoileus spp.) have adapted to live in urban areas and are a source of negative human‐wildlife interactions. Management strategies such as culling, immunocontraceptives, sterilization, and translocation have been implemented to manage urban deer populations. In the East Kootenay region of southern British Columbia, urban mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations have been increasing, whereas non‐urban mule deer populations have decreased. In 2014 a non‐urban mule deer research project began in the area and in 2016 an urban deer translocation trial was approved in the same region. We fit 121 non‐urban deer with global positioning system (GPS)‐collars and translocated 135 urban mule deer to non‐urban areas, of which 57 were fit with GPS‐collars. We tested if annual survival between urban translocated (i.e., translocated) and non‐urban deer differed, and if translocated deer survival increased in subsequent years after translocation. We also determined if age, body condition, release site, capture area and distance between capture and release sites affected translocated deer survival. We evaluated if translocated deer exhibited different movement behaviors than non‐urban deer by comparing probability of migration, maximum net displacement, home range size, and probability of crossing a paved road. Finally, during our study we observed some translocated deer return to a municipal area after translocation and assessed if any covariates such as age, release site, or capture city could help predict this behavior. Annual survival of translocated deer was 0.48 and was significantly lower than survival of non‐urban deer, which was 0.77. We observed 20 of 57 collared translocated deer return to a town after translocation. Translocated deer had larger net displacements and larger seasonal home range sizes than non‐urban deer. Non‐urban deer were more likely to migrate than translocated deer and crossed fewer paved roads than translocated deer. The management effectiveness of translocation to reduce urban deer densities is mixed because annual survival of translocated deer may be lower than may be acceptable to some stakeholders. Additionally, some translocated deer returned to an urban area, and the large distances traveled by deer after translocation may unintentionally spread disease. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. : Urban translocated mule deer exhibited greater movements but lower survival than non‐urban mule deer in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada, 2016–2018. A subset of translocated deer also returned to an urban area after translocation, thereby reducing the effectiveness of translocation as a way to reduce urban deer densities and conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral and movement ecology of broods are among the most poorly understood aspects of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) reproductive ecology. Recent declines in wild turkey productivity throughout the southeastern United States necessitate comprehensive evaluations of brood ecology across multiple spatial scales. We captured and marked 408 female wild turkeys with global positioning system (GPS)‐transmitters across 9 pine (Pinus spp.)‐dominated study sites in the southeastern United States during 2014–2019. We evaluated various aspects of the behavioral and movement ecology of 94 brood‐rearing females until brood failure or 28 days after hatch (i.e., when poults are classified as juveniles). We found that 34 (36.2%) females had broods (≥1 poult) survive to 28 days after hatch. Broods moved >500 m away from nest sites the day after hatching, and then moved progressively farther away from nest sites over time. Daily movements increased markedly the first 3 days after hatching, and broods moved >1,000 m/day on average thereafter. Females roosted broods an average of 202 m away from nest sites the first night after hatching, but distances between consecutive ground or tree roosts were variable thereafter. Daily core areas increased from 0.8 ha the day of hatch to 4.6 ha by day 28, and range sizes increased from 6.9 ha to 27.9 ha by day 28. Broods tended to consistently select open land cover types, whereas selection for other land cover types varied temporally after hatch day. Broods spent 89% of their time foraging. Predicted daily survival for broods decreased rapidly with increasing distance moved during the initial 3 days after hatching and showed less variation during the subsequent 2 weeks post‐hatch. Our findings parallel previous researchers noting that the most critical period for brood survival is the first week after hatch day. Previous researchers have attempted to identify vegetative communities used by broods under the assumption that these communities are a primary factor influencing brood success; however, our results suggest that brood survival is influenced by behavioral decisions related to movements during early brooding periods. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. We report that predicted daily survival for wild turkey broods decreased with increasing distance moved during the initial 3 days after hatching. Although our results parallel previous researchers noting that the most critical period for brood survival is the first week after hatch day, they suggest that brood survival is influenced by behavioral decisions related to movements during early brooding periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The Illinois River Valley (IRV) in central Illinois, USA, provides migratory stopover habitat for millions of waterfowl during autumn and spring in the Mississippi Flyway. Mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos) are the most abundant species of waterfowl during autumn migration and the most harvested duck in Illinois. We investigated mallard migration ecology in central Illinois, USA, to address information needs of biologists and managers in the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lake Region Joint Venture and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Our objectives were to document daily movements and identify factors affecting inter-wetland movements, investigate lengths of foraging flights, assess home range size during stopover, describe habitat use and identify factors associated with wetland use, estimate survival and cause specific mortality, and evaluate proportional use of refuges and areas open to hunting in and nearby the IRV by mallards. We employed standard radio-telemetry techniques to achieve our objectives during autumns and early winters 2009 and 2010 ( n = 86 F and 56 M mallards). The mean movement distance between locations collected on consecutive days was 2,822 ± 120 (SE) m ( n = 1,862; max. = 56,966 m) across age, sex, and months. Female mallards ( n = 35) traveled 2,708 ± 191 m during evening foraging flights ( n = 145) to agricultural fields and emergent marshes. Mean home range size (95% minimum convex polygon) was 21,306 ± 1,925 ha across sex and age classes ( n = 81 mallards). We documented 43 mortalities of 142 radio-marked mallards (2009: 28.2%; 2010: 32.3%) with 85.0% and 69.6% of deaths attributed to hunting in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Body condition, hunting period, age, year, minimum daily temperature, and daily movement distance were important variables affecting survival, but differences were most pronounced for year and hunting period. Overall survival was greater in 2010 ( Ŝi = 0.62) than 2009 ( Ŝi = 0.39) and daily survival rates were 0.8% and 0.4% greater during closed than open hunting periods in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Mallards used open water most frequently across years (49.4% daily locations), followed by corn (dryland, flooded, standing, or harvested; 16.3%), herbaceous (10.6%), woody (10.5%), and other wetlands and upland cover types. Use of areas closed to hunting was low (18.7%) and most diurnal locations of mallards occurred in wetlands open to hunting (81.3%; i.e., not designated as refuge by statute). Similar to diurnal habitat use, female mallards returning from evening foraging flights ( n = 138) used areas open to hunting (81.9%) more than refuges (18.1%). Refuges that were primarily composed of open water received low use by autumn-migrating mallards in the IRV. Restoration or rehabilitation of moist-soil and emergent wetlands within statutory refuges protected from unnatural flood regimes may improve foraging habitat quality and increase survival for mallards and other ducks during migration. © 2017 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Translocation of problematic individual animals is commonly used to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, especially to reduce the presence or abundance of raptors within airport environments, where they pose a risk to safe aircraft operations. Although this method has strong public support, there have been no scientific evaluations of its efficacy or to determine which factors might influence the return of translocated birds to the airport. We conducted a study to determine which biological and logistical factors might influence the return of red-tailed hawks ( Buteo jamaicensis) translocated from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) during 2010-2013. We live-captured and translocated red-tailed hawks various distances from the ORD airfield and monitored for returning birds. We found the odds of hawk return increased by 2.36 (95% CI = 0.99-5.70) times for older birds (>1 yr of age) relative to younger birds (≤ 1 yr of age). Odds of hawk return went up 4.10 (95% CI = 0.75-22.2) times when translocations were conducted during the breeding season relative to the non-breeding season. The odds of hawk return increased 11.94 (95% CI = 3.29-43.38) times for each subsequent translocation event involving the same hawk. The cost of 1 translocation event to the release sites that were 81, 121, 181, and 204 km from ORD was $213, $284, $362, and $426, respectively. Management programs that use release sites 80 km from the airport minimize translocation events to include only younger birds during the non-breeding season, and undertake only 1 translocation event for an individual hawk would increase program efficacy and greatly reduce program implementation costs. The decision matrix regarding the use of a raptor trapping and translocation program involves a variety of biological, logistical, economic, and sociopolitical variables. This study represents an important first step in providing a scientific foundation for informing such management decisions. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Juvenile survival and recruitment has not been studied extensively for greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus). Because there is scant information on this vital rate, the implications of management actions on specific population demographics remain unknown. We re-captured, radio-marked, and monitored the survival and recruitment of 183 domestically hatched and wild-hatched juvenile sage-grouse from 1 September to 31 March 2005-2008 at 2 study areas in northwest Colorado, USA: Axial Basin and Cold Springs Mountain. Juvenile females had higher survival than juvenile males, and survival for each was higher in Axial Basin compared to Cold Springs Mountain. Domestically hatched juveniles had comparable survival to wild-hatched juveniles. We documented differences in survival between adult females and juveniles from September to March. Juvenile survival was lowest during September and October, coinciding with brood independence and movements to winter range and integrated flocks. Average survival from hatch to recruitment into the natal breeding population (Mar) varied between areas. Our findings provide an estimate of juvenile survival and recruitment so managers can better understand and model sage-grouse population dynamics. We recommend long-term (≥3 yr) research to better understand spatial and temporal variation in demographic rates. © 2017 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Postfledging survival of neotropical migrant songbirds has been linked to seasonal and annual changes in the environment and to individual condition. Understanding what influences variation in postfledging movements may provide insight into the differential value of habitat across life-history stages. We conducted a radio-telemetry study of postfledging ovenbirds ( Seiurus aurocapilla; n = 45) and Acadian flycatchers ( Empidonax virescens; n = 62) in mature-forest fragments from 2012 to 2015 in Missouri, USA. We documented variability in behavior and space use and used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate the relationship of postfledging movement rates to individuals' condition, temporal variables, and local habitat variables. We found effects of age and season on movement distances for both study species. Additionally, daily movements of fledgling ovenbirds were negatively related to understory foliage density, a characteristic previously linked to increased survival. Habitat features are useful in predicting the postfledging movements of ovenbirds. By including behavioral development (age) and season in movement models, we were able to isolate and detect habitat effects on movement of ovenbirds and Acadian flycatchers. We suggest researchers use models of daily movement to further strengthen resource quality hypotheses generated by habitat selection and survival studies. © 2016 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Resident (non-migratory) Canada goose ( Branta canadensis) populations in suburban environments pose risks to human health and safety. Specifically, the relatively large size and gregarious behavior of geese combined with an overlap in aircraft flight space pose substantial risk of property damage and human fatalities from goose-aircraft collisions. We estimated home range and core use areas of resident Canada geese and evaluated goose movements to better define the risk of goose-aircraft collisions around Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. We placed satellite transmitters on 16 of 763 neck- and leg-banded geese to identify and track individuals over an 18-month study period. The frequency of satellite-tagged goose movements peaked daily within the first 2 hours after sunrise (28.1%) and again near sunset (27.2%). All in-flight goose movements occurred ≤64 m above ground level. Geese flying at these altitudes posed a risk to aircraft in the take-off and landing phases of flight. For all in-flight movements, the number of movements per day was 0.13 during the molt (1 Jun-15 Jul), 0.42 during early post-molt 2008 (16 Jul-31 Oct), 0.36 during late post-molt (1 Nov-31 Jan), 0.58 during breeding/nesting (1 Feb-31 May), and 0.58 during the early post-molt 2009. Satellite-tagged geese traveled a mean distance ranging from 2.0 km (SE = 0.3) to 4.9 km (SE = 0.4) per day, depending on sex and season, which supports the need for intensive goose management within a minimum distance of 8 km from airports. Mean fixed 95% kernel home range and 50% core use area were 991.8 ha (SE = 241.1) and 120.4 ha (SE = 24.6), respectively. Additionally, we monitored site recolonization of nuisance geese after the controlled removal of 60 resident geese from 1 site, which eliminated 24.2% of those initially banded at the site in 2008, but other geese began to recolonize the site within 27 days. Rapid recolonization of the removal site suggests that lethal removal should be conducted at all molt locations within a minimum distance of 8 km of suburban airports and any additional removal or management resources should be applied to greater distances to prevent recolonization of these sites by geese in close proximity to the removal site. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rio Grande wild turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) nests suffer high predation rates exceeding 65%, which may limit recruitment. We evaluated post-nesting movements of reproductively active female Rio Grande wild turkeys. We monitored 194 nesting attempts between 2005 and 2010 and documented 17% and 32% overall apparent nest success for the Edwards Plateau and Central Rio Grande Plains study regions, respectively. Rio Grande wild turkey hens move approximately 1.2 km (SD = 0.7) between nesting attempts within a nesting season and approximately 1.4 km (SD = 1.6) between initial nesting attempts among years. Rio Grande wild turkey hens selected open areas with moderate woody cover for nesting ( ${\bar {x}}$ = 37.7%; range = 3.0-88.2%). Patchiness of vegetation in the nesting landscape also was borne out by typically low edge-to-area ratios ( ${\bar {x}}$ = 0.20; range = 0.040-0.732). We found no clear pattern in movement distance and either landscape composition or edge-to-area ratio for within or between breeding season nest site selection for either the Edwards Plateau or Central Rio Grande Plains study region. Based on our results, movement distances post-nest failure do not seem to influence habitat selection. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads affect wildlife in many direct and indirect ways. For ungulates, roads may inhibit seasonal migration and may cause an effective loss of habitat due to avoidance. On the other hand, roadsides and associated agricultural lands offer high quality forage that may attract ungulates and increase the frequency of car accidents. Mitigating actions require detailed knowledge on space use in relation to roads. Using data from 67 global positioning system (GPS)-marked red deer in Norway, we quantified 1) scale of avoidance of roads, 2) crossing frequency, and 3) selection of crossing sites. Red deer avoided roads only on a very local scale and only during daytime, with minor influence of variation in road size (traffic burden). Marked red deer crossed roads, on average, 2 times per day. Females crossed more frequently than males and crossings were most frequent during autumn and winter and during night. Deer selected forested crossing sites close to agricultural pastures, reflecting that roads are crossed most often on nightly feeding excursions. Our findings imply that red deer in our study area have adjusted to exploit feeding habitat close to roads at times of low traffic burden. The high frequency of crossings suggests a limited influence on seasonal migration patterns. The frequency at which red deer cross highways suggests that mitigation measures to reduce road mortality may be effective if targeted in the right areas. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movements of male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are of great concern with respect to spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) across landscapes because most yearlings males disperse and adult males have higher prevalence of CWD than do females and younger deer. We radiocollared and monitored 85 male white-tailed deer in the middle Missouri River Valley of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, USA from 2004 to 2008. Average size (±SE) of fixed-kernel annual home ranges (95%) and core areas (50%) for resident deer were 449 (±32) ha and 99 (±7) ha, respectively. Resident deer exhibited a highdegree of fidelity to their home ranges. Mean overlap between consecutive annual home ranges and core areas was 81% and 74%, respectively. Average dispersal distance was 17.7 ± 4.5 km (range = 3-121 km) for 22 radio-marked and 6 ear-tagged yearlings. Mean spring dispersal distance (25 km) was 150% greater than fall (10 km). Dispersal direction from Desoto National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR) was bimodal on a northwest to southeast axis that followed the Missouri River corridor. Of 22 yearlings that dispersed 18 (82%) established adult home ranges within the river valley. Dispersal movements of yearling males represent the greatest risk for rapid spread of diseases from infected source populations. Disease management efforts in riparian habitats should target male fawns and yearling males for removal in areas within or immediately adjacent to river corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations in the Midwestern United States experienced historic declines due to habitat loss and exploitation but have rebounded in recent decades. We investigated natal dispersal of juvenile bobcats from a population in south-central Indiana, USA, from 1999 to 2006. We radiocollared 16 juvenile bobcats (11 M, 5 F) and monitored them for 237-1,014 days (¯x = 506). One female (20%) and 11 males (100%) dispersed from natal home ranges that averaged 14.6 km2 in size. Most juveniles (70%) initiated dispersal from mid-February through March, late in their first year. Only 5 bobcats (42%) ultimately established a final home range 63 ± 35 km2 in size 13-92 km (¯x = 44) from their natal range 140 ± 45 days after initiating dispersal. Survival did not differ (P = 0.93) between dispersing (S = 0.73) and philopatric (S = 0.75) individuals, although 4 bobcats (3 M, 1 F) were killed in collisions with vehicles. We found dispersal of bobcats in fragmented landscapes is prolonged and often unsuccessful; the ability of dispersers to locate suitable vacant habitat patches may be vital to the continued growth of bobcat populations recolonizing the agricultural Midwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movements of wolves (Canis lupus) during summer 2003 and 2004 in the Superior National Forest were based around homesites but included extensive use of territories. Away from homesites, wolves used different areas daily, exhibiting rotational use. Mean daily range overlap was 22% (SE = 0.02) and that of breeding wolves was significantly greater than for nonbreeders (¯= 25% and 16%, respectively). Rotational use may improve hunting success. Managers seeking to remove entire packs must maintain control long enough to ensure that all pack members are targeted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a pilot study to test the usefulness of Global Positioning System (GPS) collars for investigating wolf (Canis lupus) predation on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns. Using GPS collars with short location-attempt intervals on 5 wolves and 5 deer during summers 2002-2004 in northeastern Minnesota, USA, demonstrated how this approach could provide new insights into wolf hunting behavior of fawns. For example, a wolf traveled >1.5-3.0 km and spent 20-22 hours in the immediate vicinity of known fawn kill sites and >0.7 km and 8.3 hours at scavenging sites. Wolf travel paths indicated that wolves intentionally traveled into deer summer ranges, traveled >0.7-4.2 km in such ranges, and spent <1-22 hours per visit. Each pair of 3 GPS-collared wolf pack members were located together for <6% of potential locations. From GPS collar data, we estimated that each deer summer range in a pack territory containing 5 wolves >1 year old and hunting individually would be visited by a wolf on average every 3-5 days. This approach holds great potential for investigating summer hunting behavior of wolves in areas where direct observation is impractical or impossible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population reduction (PR) and trap-vaccinate-release (TVR) were used to control an outbreak of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) variant of rabies in Ontario, Canada, during 1999. Raccoon density declined significantly following PR; however, density increased significantly 9-10 months post-PR. Recolonization of PR areas with raccoons marked in TVR areas was very low with only 1.8% (32/1,759) of those raccoons dispersing into PR areas during 1999-2000. In addition, the number of raccoons dispersing from TVR areas into PR areas was not significantly greater than the number of raccoons dispersing into treatment areas where population reduction had not been implemented during 1999-2000. Raccoon movements in this study, determined by mark-recapture, averaged <4.0 km during 1999-2000 and did not differ among treatments (with or without PR). In summary, there was not a mass exodus of raccoons from TVR areas to PR areas during 1999-2000, suggesting there was not an immediate, dramatic, vacuum effect drawing raccoons into areas devoid of raccoons due to PR. However, one year post-PR, raccoon populations were near or above pre-PR densities (due to a high reproductive rate of resident raccoons), suggesting that PR would have to be an annual event if rabies is not eliminated from an area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highways have significant direct and indirect impact on natural ecosystems, including wildlife barrier and fragmentation effects, resulting in diminished habitat connectivity and highway permeability. We used Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry to assess Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) permeability across a 30-km stretch of highway in central Arizona, USA, currently being reconstructed with 11 wildlife underpasses, 6 bridges, and associated ungulate-proof fencing. The highway was reconstructed in phases, allowing for comparison of highway crossing and passage rates during various stages of reconstruction. We instrumented 33 elk (25 F, 8 M) with GPS receiver collars May 2002 to April 2004. Our collars accrued 101,506 GPS fixes with 45% occurring within 1 km of the highway. Nearly 2 times the proportion of fixes occurred within 1 km of the highway compared with random. We think elk were attracted to the highway corridor by riparian-meadow foraging habitats that were 7 times more concentrated within the 1-km zone around the highway compared with the mean proportion within elk use areas encompassing all GPS fixes. Elk crossed the highway 3,057 times; crossing frequency and distribution along the highway were aggregated compared with random. Crossing frequency within 0.16-km highway segments was negatively associated with the distance to riparian-meadow habitats (rs = -0.714, n = 190, P < 0.001). Mean observed crossing frequency (92.6 ± 23.5 [SE] crossings/elk) was lower than random (149.6 ± 27.6 crossings/elk). Females crossed 4.5 times as frequently as males. Highway permeability among reconstruction classes was assessed using passage rates (ratio of highway crossings to approaches); our overall mean passage rate was 0.67 6 0.08 crossings per approach. The mean passage rate for elk crossing the highway section where reconstruction was completed (0.43 ± 0.15 crossings/approach) was half that of sections under reconstruction and control sections combined (0.86 ± 0.09 crossings/approach). Permeability was jointly influenced by the size of the widened highway and associated vehicular traffic on all lanes. Crossing frequency was used to delineate where ungulate-proof fencing yielded maximum benefit in intercepting and funneling crossing elk toward underpasses, promoting highway safety. Use of passage rates provides a quantitative measure to assess permeability, conduct future pre- and postconstruction comparisons, and to develop mitigation strategies to minimize highway impacts to wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fitted radiotransmitters to 68 lilac-crowned parrot (Amazona finscbi) fledglings from 1996 to 2003 to determine the survival and development of juveniles during their first year after leaving the nest. Overall, first-year survival was 73% (CI = 53 94%) and all mortalities occurred within 5 weeks of fledging, with highest mortality in the first week postfledging. Survival varied between years, influencing recruitment of independent young in the population. Nesting lilac-crowned parrots produced 0.70 independent young per egg laying pair during 1996-2003. Lowest productivity of 0.25 independent young per pair occurred in 2003, with 40% postfledging survival. Juvenile development after fledging was characterized by variations in mobility, distance from the nest, and separation distance between siblings. Mobility and distance of young birds from the nest increased linearly with months postfledging. The first 2-3 weeks alter fledging were characterized by low mobility and survival of young parrots, making this the most critical phase postfledging. The dependency period for young parrots extended to 4-5 months postfledging and was characterized by increased mobility and low separation between siblings, as juveniles traveled in family groups. Independence occurred in month 5 and was marked by a significant increase in mobility and separation between siblings, indicating the break-up of family groups. The first weeks alter leaving the nest were crucial for survival and highlight the need for secure habitats where fledglings can improve flight and locomotory skills. The 4-5-month dependency of young parrots may be a key period for development, enhancing survival, and establishment in the breeding population. Release programs need to replicate learning and development acquired during the postfledging dependency phase to enhance survival of captive-reared psittacines. Researchers should conduct surveys of parrot group sizes during the dependency period 1--4 months after the end of nesting to provide reliable demographic data on annual recruitment of wild populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We captured and radiocollared 57 pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) fawns in western South Dakota, USA, during May 2002-2003 mid radiotracked them through 15 months of age, by which time all surviving individuals had established a permanent home range. We classified 56% (n 19) of fawns as dispersers and 44% (n = 15) as residents. Eighty four percent (n 16) of dispersers departed natal home ranges in late October and occupied winter home ranges for 102-209 days before dispersing to permanent home ranges during April 2003 and 2004. Dispersal distances from natal ranges to permanent home ranges varied from 6.2-67.0 kin. Winter home-range sizes tot all individual pronghorns varied from 39.4-509.6 km². Permanent home-range size for all individuals varied from 15.5 166.1 km². Mean 95% permanent home range size differed (P = 0.06) between residents(x̄ = 97.3 ± 15.5 km²) and dispersers (x̄ 48.6 ± 16.0 km²),but was similar (P = 097) among sexes. Mean dispersal distance from natal to permanent home ranges was similar (P = 0.35) for males (x̄ 54.2 ± 21.0 km²) and females (x 26.3 + 19.9 km). We suggest that habitat quality (i.e., patchiness) and pronghorn density, in part, stimulated dispersal. We hypothesize that as habitat patch size decreases, home range sizes and distance traveled during predispersal and dispersal movements by pronghorns will increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolves (Canis lupus) have expanded their distribution into areas of the midwest United States that have not had wolves for several decades. With recolonization of wolves into agricultural areas, there is increasing concern of wolf-livestock conflicts. To assess the risk wolves may pose to livestock, we initiated a 3-year study investigating the activity patterns, movements, habitat use, visitation to livestock pastures by wolves, and the occurrence of depredation events in an agricultural-wild/and matrix in northwestern Minnesota, USA. From June 1997 to November 1999, we captured 23 wolves, including pups, from 3 packs; we radiocollared 16 of these wolves. We tracked radioed wolves intensively on a 24-hour basis during the spring, summer, and autumn of 1998 and 1999. We found wolves passed directly through a pasture containing cattle on 28% of the nights of tracking; 58% and 95% of the wolf locations were ≤1 km and ≤5 km from a pasture, respectively. Space use of wolves showed that while they visited livestock pastures during the 24-hour tracking sessions, they apparently were passing through these pastures with cattle and not preying on livestock. When compared to random simulations of movements, wolves appeared to encounter livestock pastures randomly. Thirty percent of random movements passed directly through a pasture; 65% and 95% of random movements were within ≤1 km and ≤5 km of a pasture, respectively. Wolves were more active at night than during the day. Wolves avoided pastures during the day and visited pastures at night when depredations were most likely (i.e., human presence was low). Visitation of livestock pastures was not related to any discernible characteristics of the pastures (i.e., pasture size, cattle density, distance to human habitation, percent forest cover, index of deer abundance). However, pastures in which livestock were killed by wolves contained more cattle than pastures without depredations, but in 1998 only. While the risk of wolf predation on livestock was potentially high (wolves were within < 1 km of a pasture on 58% of nights), few livestock were actually killed. During the 3-year study, only 8 animals (aft young or vulnerable livestock) were depreciated by wolves. Maintaining healthy wild prey populations, removing offending wolves that kill livestock, and encouraging effective and proper husbandry practices (e.g., disposal of carcasses) among livestock producers, should allow for the persistence of wolves in northwestern Minnesota, USA, while minimizing their impact to farmers in this agriculture-wild/and matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of thinning young (35- to 45-yr-old) Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests on density, survival, body mass, movements, and diets of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) in the northern coast range of Oregon. We used a repeated measures, randomized block design with 3 treatments (control, moderate thinning, and heavy thinning) and 4 replicates to study diets and population characteristics from 1994–1997. Densities of flying squirrels were variable in space and time, hut they were positively correlated to biomass and frequency of fungal sporocarps, suggesting they were responding to food resources rather than forest structure. Fungal sporocarps comprised a major portion of the squirrel's diet, and other vegetative material made up the remainder of the diet. Several fungal genera including Gautieria, Geopora, Hymenogasteg, Hysterangium, Melanogasteg, and Rhizapogon were found more frequently in diets than on the trapping grids and therefore appeared to be selected by the squirrels. Flying squirrel movements were negatively correlated with the frequency of occurrence of fungal sporocarps at trap stations, suggesting that squirrels traveled greater distances to find fungal sporocarps where these food items were more sparsely distributed. We hypothesized that flying squirrel densities would be relatively low in these young, structurally simple forests; however, densities on some of the grids were >1.5 squirrels/ha, which was comparable to densities described for the species in late-successional forests. Our results indicated that commercial thinning did not have measurable short-term effects on density, survival, or body mass of flying squirrels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A captive Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri; APC) breeding program was initiated in 1992 to avoid extinction of the APC, currently one of the most endangered birds in the United States. We addressed the efficacy of using pen-reared birds to supplement wild populations or to establish new populations. From 19 July 1996 to 30 October 1997, we released 119 pen-reared APC on Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (APCNWR) and Galveston Bay Prairie Preserve (GBPP), in an effort to supplement wild populations. We used radiotelemetry to determine survival, movements, and reproduction of pen-raised APC. We evaluated the effects of acclimation period, date of release, transmitter style, and release habitat on post-release survival. Birds held in acclimation pens for 14 days experienced higher 6-month survival than those held for 3 days (47.4% and 19.4%, respectively). We did not observe a difference in survival for different date of release, release habitats, or transmitter styles. Survival 2 weeks post-release was similar for birds released in 1996 and 1997 on APCNWR (61.7% and 50.8%, respectively) and on GBPP (75.0% and 81.8%, respectively). Movements and monthly ranges for juvenile males and females were similar to those of wild APC. Overall site and year nest success was 44%. Recruitment on APCNWR was zero, while recruitment on GBPP was unknown. Future research is needed to determine why broods did not survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mid-air collisions with black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) regularly cause substantial damage to military and civilian aircraft. Information concerning the flight behavior of black and turkey vultures potentially could improve predictive models designed to reduce bird strikes by aircraft. We examined the flight behavior of black and turkey vultures at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina, USA, and deter- mined whether flight characteristics were predictable with respect to weather and time variables. We captured birds at their primary roost and subsequently relocated them via aerial telemetry from 11 February 2002 through 29 January 2003. One hundred eighty of 326 locations (55%) for 8 black vultures and 129 of 206 locations (63%) for 5 turkey vultures were of flying birds. Black vultures flew at an average altitude of 169 ± 115 (SD) m above ground level, whereas turkey vulture flight altitude averaged 163 ± 92 m. Our results contrast with those of previous studies that reported less frequent and lower altitude flights. The flight behavior of both species appeared to be influenced minimally by weather and time variables. However, we were unable to construct useful models predicting aspects of flight behavior using the variables we measured (all models had R² or pseudo R² values <0.10). We suggest that other factors, such as food availabiIity, inter- and intra-specific interactions, and physiological demands play a larger role in vulture flight behavior than the variables we measured. Our results suggest that the development of bird avoidance strategies by aircraft operators should consider the variability of flight behaviors of black and turkey vultures across their ranges. Future research emphases should shift from examinations of the effects of local conditions on flight behavior to the elucidation of factors contributing to differences in flight behavior among regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]