Lecture Questions WILDLIFE FINAL EXAM Urban Wildlife and Wildlife Control 1 What influences the density and distribution of urban wildlife Habitat availability diversity Natural landscapes trees bushes ponds creeks Human landscapes sheds gardens barns dog food garbage but urban monoculture too much cement vegetation sparse home range too big 2 In general how are urban and rural bird communities different Exotic bird species Abundance HIGH in urban areas LOW in rural natural areas Usually Native bird species Abundance LOW in urban areas HIGH in rural natural areas GENERALISTS SPECIALISTS 3 What are the major components to consider when landscaping for wildlife Does it provide basic needs Food water cover space Structural components brush piles snags water feeders nest boxes Plant types Conifers grasses nut trees seasonal plants for butterflies hummingbirds bees 4 In general what kinds of problems are there with wildlife in urban areas In non urban areas Urban If too much wildlife may exceed cultural carrying capacity and become pests nuisance wildlife High contact rate between wildlife humans May be raccoon in trash geese poop on golf course Safety moose vehicles mouse nests fire hazard Non Urban Deer browsing in forest may affect understory and how water flows bears in corn fields wolves killing domestic livestock crows in crop fields 5 What are the important components of wildlife nuisance damage management that need to be considered to deal with it effectively Overabundant vs under abundant animals What kind of problem is it What is the magnitude of the problem Know review techniques 6 Know the various methods techniques used in animal damage management including examples and limitations Non lethal not direct Economic reimbursement for farmers husbandry mechanical barrier fences repellent habitat modification reintroduce predators disease chemo sterilant Trap relocate possibility of disease transmission mortality of relocated animals high because they don t know where the resources are Doesn t solve issue just moves it somewhere else Lethal shooting trapping poisoning 7 Why is prevention the key to effective wildlife damage management Pro active management is best anticipate problems Get at them when they re small and manageable take advantage of previous experience and knowledge Prevention is much easier and effective Q How would you deal with a request to solve the problem of unwanted flying squirrels in someone s attic A Is this population over the carrying capacity Is this species an endangered species figure out techniques people use to get rid of them Keep in mind are they active at night Set traps seal hole use poison Depends on what you re dealing with Wildlife Harvest 1 Define harvest as it should be used in wildlife conservation Any removal from the wild dead or alive 2 What is the difference between hunting commercial harvesting and poaching Hunting trapping Legal harvest of wildlife by individual citizen Commercial harvesting Legal harvest intended for sale Poaching Intentional killing out of season without permit license 3 What roles do hunting and trapping fill as people do it today 1 Consumption Food 2 Clothing Skins fur leather 3 Economic Individual income furs brush meat selling protection of livestock crop damage 4 Recreation 5 Social Social hunting rituals 6 Ecological Management Overpopulation endangered species management 7 Financial Political support Pittman Robertson Act excise tax on guns and ammo proceeds help conserve wildlife and generate financial support 4 Why is hunting and trapping so controversial Culture changing values more people living in urban areas History people follow the paths methods of their ancestors even if it is not current to today Experience depends on personal experience Tolerance 5 What do some people feel is wrong with hunting and trapping 1 Too many endangered species 2 Hunting trapping is unnecessary 3 Hunting has to do with guns some people don t like guns 4 Some means of harvest are inhumane or non sporting 5 Trophy hunting 6 Unethical morally wrong to take life of animals 7 No experience by much of society 6 From the biological and social perspectives how should we deal with hunting and trapping Take political and religious reasons into consideration Biologically identify the effects on population identify effects of overpopulation conduct Socially enhance law enforcement encourage open discussion be willing to pay understand sustainable management differing societal values Q How why should hunting trapping regulations differ between the U S and Mexico A Both countries have different species of animals and varying populations One specie may be more abundant in one country than the other Mexico has different traditions history economic policies which would make hunting regulations different Exotic Wildlife 1 What are exotic species A species not native to an are introduced by humans dingos in Australia 2 How did do exotic species get to new places Accidents travel on boats through things getting shipped internationally house mice wild horses Aesthetics people bring exotics in that they thing are pretty English house sparrow 3 What are the undesirable features of some exotic species They cause economic damage compete with native species predation hybridization 4 Contrast the success of introduced European starlings and crested mynahs European starling Unsuccessful attempt to introduce them into the U S in 1800 s Some guy who wanted to introduce all the European birds that appeared in Shakespeare s written work successfully introduced the European Starling to NY in 1890 By the 1920 s and on the bird population expanded westward and then into Canada They cause a lot of crop damage displace blue birds high densities SUCCESSFUL Crested Mynahs Native to Hong Kong where the days don t vary its warm year round Introduced UNSUCESSFULLY into Vancouver The mynahs could not survive because the mean temperature vs mean daily photo period how long the day is was much shorter colder in Vancouver 5 What are the characteristics of successful exotic species r fast selected breed fast and often Generalists with broad niches low territoriality 6 What conditions encourage colonization by exotics Abundant resources similar environmental conditions niche vacancies if some species disappears there is an ecological opportunity for the exotic to fit into that niche disturbed habitats urban habitats 7 Why are there niche vacancies for exotics It