Review of issues concerning the use of reproductive inhibitors, with particular emphasis on resolving human-wildlife conflicts in North America

This manuscript provides an overview of past wildlife contraception efforts and discusses the current state of research. Two fertility control agents, an avian reproductive inhibitor containing the active ingredient nicarbazin and an immunocontraceptive vaccine, have received regulatory approval with the Environmental Protection Agency and are commercially available in the USA. OvoControl G Contraceptive Bait for Canada Geese and Ovo Control for pigeons are delivered as oral baits. An injectable immunocontraceptive vaccine (GonaCon Immunocontraceptive Vaccine) was registered with the Environmental Protection Agency for use in female white-tailed deer in September 2009. An injectable product (GonaCon Immunocontraceptive Vaccine) is registered for use in female white-tailed deer. Both products are labeled for use in urban/suburban areas where these species are overabundant. Several other compounds are currently being tested for use in wildlife in the USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand that could have promise in the future. The development and use of reproductive inhibitors for resolving human–wildlife conflicts will depend on a number of factors, including meeting the requirements of regulatory agencies for use in the environment and on the biological and economical feasibility of their use. Use will also be dependent on health and safety issues and on public acceptance of the techniques.

The Specific Status of the Narrow-Skulled Vole (Subgenus Stenocranius Kashchenko) in North America

On morphological and zoogeographical grounds, discussed in the present paper, it is concluded that the narrow-skulled vole in North America, previously designated Microtus (Stenocranius) miurus Osgood, is conspecific with the Eurasian M. (Stenocranius) gregalis Pallas. Fourteen subspecies in Eurasia and 5 in North America are now recognized, but it is probable that the number in Eurasia will be reduced through future investigation. The Eurasian subspecies of this vole comprise two major groups, of which one occupies the tundra zone and the other occurs across central Asia below latitude 60° N; their geographic ranges are largely separate but evidently become confluent in northeastern Siberia. The members of the northern group of Eurasian subspecies and the North American forms are closely related; the present distribution of the latter indicates post-glacial dispersal from the Amphiberingian Refugium. It is believed that the tundra-inhabiting voles in Eurasia likewise survived the Pleistocene glaciations in northern refugia, while the members of the southern group of subspecies probably represent populations that survived south of the limits of the continental glaciers. The ranges of the two Eurasian groups probably have become confluent during post-glacial time in northeastern Siberia as a result of the southward spread of the northern forms. At least, the subspecies having the intervening range closely resembles members of the northern group. Some of the ecological and ethological characteristics of these voles are briefly discussed. The chromosome number of one of the North American subspecies of narrow-skulled vole was determined to be 54; this is the first time that the chromosomes of a member of the subgenus Stenocranius have been investigated. A karyogram has been included. German abstract: Auf morphologischen und tiergeographischen Grundlagen, die in dieser Arbeit besprochen wurden, ist festgestellt worden, daß die schmalschädlige Wiihlmaus in Nordamerika, friiher Microtus (Stenocranius) miurus Osgood bezeichnet, mit der palaearktischen Art M. (Stenocranius) gregalis Pallas identisch ist. Zur Zeit gelten 14 Unterarten in Eurasien und 5 in Nordamerika als unterscheidbar; vermutlich aber wird die Zahl der palaearktischen Unterarten durch eingehendere Untersuchungen künftig vermindert werden. Auf Grund ihrer Verbreitung bilden die palaearktischen Unterarten zwei beinahe vollständig getrennte Gruppen. Die Wühlmäuse der nördlichen Gruppe bewohnen die Tundrazone, während die Vertreter der zweiten Gruppe über Mittelasien südlicher als 60° N.B. verbreitet sind. Die Verbreitungsgebiete der zwei Gruppen verbinden sich anscheinend. Die nordamerikanischen schmalschädligen Wühlmäuse sind mit den in der Tundrazone vorkommenden palaearktischen Formen nahe verwandt; sie haben sich wahrscheinlich während der Postglazialzeit aus dem Amphiberingschen Refugium verbreitet. Möglicherweise überlebten die tundrabewohnenden Wühlmäuse Eurasiens die Eiszeit ebenfalls in vereinzelten Refugien in Nordostsibirien, während die Formen der südlichen Gruppe sie jenseits der Grenzen des Festlandsgletschers überlebten. Wahrscheinlich wurden die zwei Verbreitungsgebiete dieser Art in Eurasien erst während der Postglazialzeit durch das Vordringen der nordischen Formen verbunden, da eine nähere Verwandtschaft zwischen den nördlichen und der dazwischenliegenden Unterart besteht. Einige ökologische und ethologische Eigentümlichkeiten dieser Wühlmäuse werden kurz besprochen. Es wurde festgestellt, daß eine der nordamerikanischen Unterarten der schmalschädligen Wühlmaus 54 Chromosomen hat; sie ist der einzige Vertreter der Untergattung Stenocranius, dessen Chromosomen untersucht worden sind.

Airport Bird Threat in North America from Large Flocking Birds (geese) (as Viewed by an Engine Manufacturer)--Part 1

In worldwide aviation operations, bird collisions with aircraft and ingestions into engine inlets present safety hazards and financial loss through equipment damage, loss of service and disruption to operations. The problem is encountered by all types of aircraft, both military and commercial. Modern aircraft engines have achieved a high level of reliability while manufacturers and users continually strive to further improve the safety record. A major safety concern today includes common-cause events which involve significant power loss on more than one engine. These are externally-inflicted occurrences, with the most frequent being encounters with flocks of birds. Most frequently these encounters occur during flight operations in the area on or near airports, near the ground instead of at cruise altitude conditions. This paper focuses on the increasing threat to aircraft and engines posed by the recorded growth in geese populations in North America. Service data show that goose strikes are increasing, especially in North America, consistent with the growing resident geese populations estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Airport managers, along with the governmental authorities, need to develop a strategy to address this large flocking bird issue. This paper also presents statistics on the overall status of the bird threat for birds of all sizes in North America relative to other geographic regions. Overall, the data shows that Canada and the USA have had marked improvements in controlling the threat from damaging birds - except for the increase in geese strikes. To reduce bird ingestion hazards, more aggressive corrective measures are needed in international air transport to reduce the chances of serious incidents or accidents from bird ingestion encounters. Air transport authorities must continue to take preventative and avoidance actions to counter the threat of birdstrikes to aircraft. The primary objective of this paper is to increase awareness of, and focus attention on, the safety hazards presented by large flocking birds such as geese. In the worst case, multiple engine power loss due to large bird ingestion could result in an off-airport forced landing accident. Hopefully, such awareness will prompt governmental regulatory agencies to address the hazards associated with growing populations of geese in North America.