Control of feral cats for nature conservation. III. Trapping

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Short ◽  
Bruce Turner ◽  
Danielle Risbey
Keyword(s):  
Effective Means ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Comparable Rate ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Shark Bay ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Scent Lures

We present comparative success of various trapping methods trialed during control of feral cats at a site for the reintroduction of threatened mammals at Shark Bay, Western Australia. Our results come from 31 703 trap-nights that caught 263 cats (an average of 0.83 per 100 trap-nights). Cats differed markedly in their vulnerability to trapping depending on whether they primarily scavenged at rubbish tips or around human settlement or whether they hunted for their food in the bush. Cage traps were an effective means of controlling the former, with 9.4 cats captured per 100 trap-nights. Scavenging cats included a higher proportion of sub-adults and kittens and lower proportion of adult males than hunting cats. Variation between years in capture success for hunting cats was largely explained by the abundance of rabbits relative to that of cats and whether the rabbit population was increasing or decreasing. These factors accounted for a nine-fold difference in trap success. The number of cats caught in any particular trapping session could be explained by location (rubbish tip or town versus bush), trapping effort (typically greater effort yielded higher captures), abundance of cats at the site (captures were highest when cats were abundant), and season (captures were highest in the first half of the year when the young of the year were becoming independent). Concealed foot-hold traps, in a range of possible sets, provided effective methods for capturing cats that hunt, except where capture of non-target species was a critical limiting factor. Cage traps caught cats at a comparable rate to foot-hold traps for standard sets, but caught a significantly different cohort. Concealed foot-hold traps caught a higher percentage of adult cats, particularly males, than did cage traps. Mouse carcases and rabbit pieces were significantly more effective as lures when rabbits (the major food of cats at the site) were at low densities, whereas the success of commercial scent lures was unrelated to food availability. Significantly more cats than expected were caught using food as an attractant at times of food shortage (late summer, autumn and early winter) for both scavenging and hunting cats. In contrast, scent lures caught significantly more cats than expected in spring and summer when cats were defending access to mates and/or territory. Hence, no single trap type, trap set, or lure provided unequivocally superior performance over others. Control is likely to be best achieved by a variety of trapping methods and lure types used in combination, supplementing well timed poisoning efforts. Trap success is likely to be maximised by trapping at times when the dominant prey of cats are scarce relative to the number of cats and are decreasing in abundance.

INFANTICIDE

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-90
Author(s):  
Martin Harris
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
American Museum ◽  
Relative Value ◽  
Demographic Survey ◽  
Female Children ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Per Se

According to a demographic survey of over 600 primitive populations carried out by William T. Divale of the American Museum of Natural History, there is an extraordinary consistent imbalance of boys over girls in the junior and infant age ranks (up to about 15 years old). [Divale says] that many primitive groups follow a practice of overt female infanticide. Female children are suffocated or simply left unattended in the bush. But more often infanticide is covert, and people usually deny that they practice it.... Warfare inverts the relative value of the contribution made by males and females to a group's prospects for survival. By placing a premium upon maximizing the number of combat-ready adult males, warfare obliges primitive societies to limit their nurturance of females. It is this, and not combat per se, that makes warfare an effective means of controlling population growth.... Lacking any safe and effective means of contraception or abortion, primitive peoples must focus their institutionalized means of population control on individuals who are already alive. Children are the logical victims of these efforts—the younger the better—since number one, they can't resist; number two, there is less of a social and material investment in them; and number three, the emotional ties to infants are easier to cut than those between adults. Anyone who finds my reasoning depraved or "uncivilized" should read about eighteenth-century England. Gin-soaked mothers by the tens of thousands regularly dropped their babies into the Thames or wrapped them in the clothing of smallpox victims, left them in trash barrels, rolled over on top of them during drunken stupors, and otherwise contrived to shorten their babies' lives by direct or indirect means.

RESPONSE OF THREE WARM-SEASON GRASSES TO VARYING FERTILITY LEVELS ON FIVE SOILS

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 657-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. TAYLOR ◽  
D. W. ALLINSON
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
P Fertilization ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

Animal production in New England has been limited by inadequate forage during mid- to late summer when cool-season grasses are in summer dormancy. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman), indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash] and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) are warm-season grasses that may be a perennial source of summer forage. Since production of these warm-season grasses would be limited to the less fertile soils of the region, a greenhouse study was conducted to examine the growth and quality of these species in five acid, infertile soils as well as fertilizer-amended soils. The soils were fertilized with limestone (L), limestone plus nitrogen (LN), limestone, nitrogen plus phosphorus (LNP), and limestone, nitrogen, phosphorus plus potassium (LNPK). Limestone was applied to adjust soils to a pH of 6.5. Fertilizer was applied at rates of 45, 117 and 111 kg/ha of N, P and K, respectively. First harvest yields were greatest for switchgrass and big bluestem, but indiangrass produced significantly greater yields than either of the other grasses in the second harvest. In both harvests, the yields of all grasses were greatest under the LNP and LNPK fertility regimes. Nitrogen, without P, did not significantly increase yields above the control treatment in the first harvest. Yield responses to P fertilization varied with soils. Although P appeared to be the limiting factor insofar as growth was concerned, the yield response from P fertilization would probably be limited without N fertilization. Indiangrass was significantly higher in crude protein and K concentration and significantly lower in Ca concentration than big bluestem and switchgrass. Phosphorus concentrations were below the recommended levels for ruminant nutrition.

Reproduction affects flight activity in female and male Daubenton’s bats, Myotis daubentoni

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dietz ◽  
E.K.V. Kalko
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Flight Activity ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Reproductive Condition ◽  
Small Individual ◽  
Pregnant Females ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Lactating Females

Nearly all mammals in the temperate zone breed in spring and summer when climatic conditions are favourable and food is abundant. Similar to other mammals, food requirements of female bats are particularly high during pregnancy and lactation and of males during spermatogenesis. Seasonal changes in energy demand and reproductive condition should therefore result in different foraging activity within and between sexes. This assumption was tested on 16 adult females and 13 adult males of the Palaearctic Daubenton’s bat, Myotis daubentoni (Kuhl, 1817), that were radio-tracked during pregnancy, lactation, and post-lactation periods. Pregnant females, as hypothesized, flew significantly longer (mean: 358.9 min; 70% of the night length) than males (mean: 228.5 min; 42.4% of the night length) during spring. In contrast, nightly flight time of lactating females decreased and was significantly less than that of pregnant females, but was similar to that of males during the same period. The longest flight times of males were registered during late summer when spermatogenetic activity is high. However, there were distinct differences in the use of foraging areas between female and male Daubenton’s bats. Female bats used small, individual foraging areas during pregnancy and lactation. The pattern was reversed in females after the young had been weaned and in males after they entered spermatogenesis. Overall, the results confirmed our proposition that flight activity reflects the higher energy demand and nutrition requirements in the different reproductive periods.

Feral Cats (Felis Catus L.) On New Zealand Farmland. Ii. Seasonal Activity.

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
NPE Langham
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Resident Population

The activity patterns of a resident population of 15 feral cats (Felis catus L.) on New Zealand farmland were investigated from March 1984 until February 1987 by radiotelemetry. Females could be divided into two separate groups: (1) those denning in barns and (2) those denning in the swamp and willows. Females denning in barns were mainly nocturnal except in spring and summer when rearing kittens. Barn cats moved significantly further between dusk and dawn, except in autumn-winter, than those denning in swamp and willows which were active over 24 h. When not breeding, related females occupied the same barn. In both groups, the home range of female relatives overlapped. Males ranged over all habitats, and dominant adult males moved significantly further and had larger home ranges than other males in all seasons, except in summer when they rested, avoiding hot summer days. Only adult males were active during the day in spring and autumn-winter. The importance of a Zeitgeber in synchronising cat activity with that of the prey is examined. The significance of female den site is discussed in relation to proximity of food, predators, social behaviour and male defence.

Control of Feral Cats for Nature Conservation. I. Field Tests of Four Baiting Methods

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle A. Risbey ◽  
Mike Calver ◽  
Jeff Short
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Secondary Poisoning ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Shark Bay ◽  
Flavour Enhancer

Four methods of baiting were evaluated on a radio-collared population of feral cats on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia. Dried-meat baits, baiting rabbits to kill cats through secondary poisoning, a fishmeal-based bait and a bait coated in the flavour enhancer Digest were tested. All proved to be ineffective for controlling feral cats. Future research should explore baits more ‘natural’ in appearance and the effect of visual lures, and possibly bait over a larger area to increase the number of cats exposed to baits.

scholarly journals Molt of the Gray Vireo

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 610-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Voelker
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Wintering Grounds ◽  
Dietary Shift ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Wintering Areas ◽  
Desert Regions ◽  
Northwestern Mexico

AbstractUsing museum specimens, I document the molt cycles and molting grounds of the Gray Vireo (Vireo vicinior). During prebasic molts, adult female Gray Vireos replace their primaries in 57 days, whereas adult males take 70 days; all body plumage is replaced during this molt. Prebasic molts occur almost exclusively on the breeding grounds; just 3 of 41 specimens replacing primaries were collected away from breeding grounds. No molting specimens were collected from wintering areas. Prealternate molt occurs on the wintering grounds, and appears limited to the replacement of innermost secondaries and a limited molt of body plumage. By performing prebasic molt on breeding grounds, the Gray Vireo differs from several other western breeding passerine species that use desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico to exploit late summer food resources. The areas of these southwestern desert regions used by other species form a small portion of the breeding grounds, and encompass the entire wintering grounds, of Gray Vireos. I hypothesize that this contrast in molting regions is not due to differences in the general timing of prebasic molts among these species; rather, the contrast may be due to constraints imposed on Gray Vireos by a dietary shift to fruit during winter and the need to defend winter territories.

Aluminum Stainless Steel Conductor Technology: Current Adoption by North American Transit Authorities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Forman
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
North American ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Late 20Th Century ◽  
Electrical Efficiency ◽  
Rail Systems ◽  
Steel Composite

Abstract Since the early years of railway electrification, 3rd rail conductors have evolved from steel to aluminum/steel composite to aluminum/stainless steel composition. Aluminum stainless steel (ALSS) conductors are currently in use in approximately 75% of the nearly 20,000 km of 3rd rail systems worldwide and continue to gain acceptance by North American transit authorities. Electrical efficiency improvement with ALSS ranges from 1.6 to 2.5 times that of steel aluminum and steel rails. At 33% of the weight of steel rail and 60% of aluminum-steel composite rail, ALSS offers considerable costs-savings in freight, handling, and installation. Though electrical efficiency and light weight are among the more widely known benefits of ALSS 3rd rail, durability has significantly improved since the introduction of ALSS technology in the late 20th Century. The implementation of signaling technologies such as CBTC has enabled increased train throughput; however the lack of necessary available power (voltage) to support these headways can be a limiting factor to capacity improvements. Upgrading legacy 3rd rail to ALSS is a cost-effective means of increasing available power with minimal disruption. Drop-in replacement profiles of ALSS 3rd rail have been developed for several common legacy profiles to include 150lb steel and 85C, facilitating replacement of existing 3rd rail. This paper examines the technical and economic aspects of aluminum/stainless steel 3rd rail and its adoption by several North American transit authorities. The author explains the characteristics, benefits and limitations of aluminum stainless steel 3rd rail with comparisons to legacy steel and steel-aluminum power rails.

Spatial Organisation of Urban Feral Cats (Felis Catus) in Jerusalem.

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Mirmovitch
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Mating Season ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Spatial Organisation ◽  
Similar Frequency ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Young Males

Feral cats were studied for 10 months in a residential area in Jerusalem and their spatial distribution compared during two 1-month periods, the first in the autumn prior to the mating season and the second during the mating season (winter). Cat locations were recorded by direct observations, and home-range sizes were calculated with the minimum convex polygon method. No significant change in home-range size of adult males or females was found between the 2 periods. Young males expanded their home ranges considerably during their first mating season. Home ranges of males were significantly larger than those of females in both periods (0.56 and 0.30 ha, respectively, in autumn; 0.75 and 0.27 ha in winter). The home ranges of both sexes overlapped considerably with individuals of the same sex. Overlap among home ranges of females indicated a group pattern. High overlap (80%) was found among females that fed from the same set of garbage bins with similar frequency. Lower overlap (20%) was found between individual females that shared only a subset of their food resources and used it with different frequency. It is suggested that the distribution of food patches (garbage bins), the amount of food available and the rate of food renewal determined the cats' spatial organisation.

Bears napping nearby: daybed selection by brown bears (Ursus arctos) in a human-dominated landscape

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Skuban ◽  
Slavomír Find’o ◽  
Matúš Kajba
Keyword(s):  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Human Settlements ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Brown Bears ◽  
North Central ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects

Daybeds are essential for the survival of brown bears (Ursus arctos L., 1758) and may represent a population-limiting resource in human-dominated landscapes. In this study, we demonstrate which land-cover types and bear characteristics affect daybed selection in north-central Slovakia. We used the positional and activity data of 21 bears acquired by GPS–GSM telemetry to identify 3864 daybeds. By use of K-select analysis and linear mixed-effects modelling, we explored how bears chose these places for their daytime resting. The most important drivers for daybed selection were the presence of dense regenerating forests and forest–shrubbery belts in farmland. Bears avoided resting in older forests without suitable undergrowth. Females selected daybeds differently depending on the presence of dependent cubs. During spring – early summer, females with cubs of the year avoided other bears by selecting more rugged terrain. These females also selected daybeds significantly closer to human settlements than adult males, possibly to avoid the risk of infanticide. In late summer – autumn, all bears selected daybeds closer to human settlements than in spring, probably because they were attracted by maize (Zea mays) fields and fruit trees. Many daybeds were located outside protected areas in farmland closer to people, which could increase bear–human conflicts.

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