Wildlife-Cattle Interactions in Northern Michigan: Implications for the Transmission of Bovine Tuberculosis

Bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) was discovered in northern Michigan white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 1994, and has been known to exist in Michigan cattle herds since 1998. Despite efforts to eradicate the disease in cattle, infection and re-infection of farms continues to occur, suggesting transmission among cattle, deer, or other wildlife reservoirs. The goals of this study were to document wildlife activity on farms and evaluate the possible role wildlife play in the ecology of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Michigan. Visual observations were conducted on farms in a 5-county area of northern Michigan to document direct wildlife-cattle interactions (i.e., <5 m between individuals) and indirect interactions (e.g., wildlife visitations to food stores and areas accessible to cattle). Observations were conducted primarily during evening and early morning hours between January and August, 2002, and on a 24-hour schedule between January and August, 2003. Total observation time accumulated through the duration of the study was 1,780 hours. Results indicated that direct interaction between deer and cattle was a rare event; no direct interactions were observed during the first year, and only one direct interaction was observed during the second year. However, through the duration of the study 21 direct interactions were documented between cattle and turkey, and 11 direct interactions were documented between cattle and mammals other than deer. In total, 273 indirect interactions by deer, 112 indirect interactions by turkeys, and 248 indirect interactions by mammals other than deer were observed during the 2 field seasons combined. These data supported the hypothesis that indirect interactions among wildlife and cattle are a potential mechanism for the transmission of TB in Michigan. If direct interactions were important mechanisms of TB transmission to cattle in northern Michigan, my data suggested that feral cats were the species of most concern, even though there were more observations between turkey and cattle. Unlike cats, which can become infected with and transmit TB, there is no evidence for such pathogenesis in turkey.

Block & Bridle Annual 1956-1957

Charles Adams (Faculty Advisor), Delbert Kuhlman, John Klingenberg, Ardyce Haring, Harvey Jorgensen, Roy Volzke, Billie Reed, Paul Yeutter Prof. Loeffel, Carolyn Hall, Byron Kort, Larry Paul, Elwin Mosier, Charles Corkle, Kay Robohm, Daniel Stilwell Duane Stokebrand, Gary Briggs, Walt Patterson, Wendell Mousel, Keith Smith, Darrel Zessin, Richard Bonne, Donald Kasbohm, Bruce Skinner Bob Discoe, Doyle Hulme, Jim Smith, Carl Lorenzen, Jay Cook, Gary Berke, Bob Volk, Roger Hild Donald Kuhl, Russell Person, Ray Cada, Ray DeBower, Bob Dannert, Phil Starck, Kay Knudsen, Jerry Brownfield, Allan McClure, Wally Bierman Morris Ochsner, Warren Mitchell, Ed McReynolds, Gerald Dart, Arza Snyder, Mervy Schliefert, Arley Waldo, Tom Hoffman, John Wink, Virgil Gellermann, Duane Neuman

Block & Bridle Annual 1957-1958

Gary Briggs, Paul Yeutter, Ray Cada, Darrel Zessin, Byron Kort. Louis Welch, Kay Robohm, Darrel Eberspacher, Elwin Mosier, Ardyce Haring, Carolyn Hall. Larry Lutz, Maurice Bonne, Max Waldo, Duane Stokebrand, Ted Klug, Prof. Richard B. Warren (Faculty Advisor). Eli Thomssen, Phil Starck, Ray DeBower, Gary Berke, Jay Cook, Roger Hild. Russell Person, Morris Ochsner, Del Kuhlman, John Wink, Jerry Dart, Tom Kraeger.

Block & Bridle Annual 1959-1960

President Roger Wehrbein Vice President Ted Klug Secretary George B. O'Neal Treasurer Ralph Hazen Marshal Bud Reece Historian Tom Kraeger Co-Historian John Zauha Ag. Executive Representative Larry Williams Faculty Advisor Dr. E. B. Peo, Jr. George Ahlschwede Richard Hahn Henry Beel Ralph Hazen Gary Briggs Gary Heineman Leslie Cook Max Hauser Richard Eberspacher Buce Jameson Russ Edeal Leon Janovy William Ehresman Alan Jorgensen Rolland Eubanks John Joyner Mickey Evertson Marshall Jurgens Jesse Felker Ron Kahle Mylon Filkins Donald Kavan Richard Frahm Max Keasling Roger French Ronald Kennedy Angus Garey Ted Klug Ed Gates Herb Kraeger Gerald Gogan Tom Kraeger Gerald Goold Fernando Lagos Jay Graf Gerald Lamberson Lloyd Langemeier Ralph Langemeier Gerald Loseke Donald Meiergerd Lowell Minert John Oeltjen George B. O'Neal Don Ormesher Larry Ott Bud Reece Ron Sabatka Keith Smith Ronald Smith Donn Simonson Daryl Starr Galen Stevens Eugene Turdy Ernest Thayer Charles Thompson Jerry Thompson Eli Thomssen William Watkins Allen Trumble Robert Weber Lawrence Turner Dan Wehrbein Reginald Turner Roger Wehrbein Vance Uden Dick White Max Waldo Billy Williams Blair Williams Larry Williams D. Patrick Wright John Zauha

EC78-1737 Broadleaf Trees for Nebraska

This extension circular shows and describes broadleaf trees that will grow in Nebraska. It should prove valuable when selecting a tree best suited for a specific area and purpose. Most of this publication is devoted to detailed descriptions of tree species. In addition, the main points of tree placement, tree planting and tree care are discussed.

SELLING BIRD CONTROL

The remarks that I have prepared deal with direct contacts selling pest and bird control programs. I am going to limit my remarks to what I feel are the more important aspects of selling Bird Control. I think it is safe to say that one of the most difficult aspects of selling for most sales personnel is prospecting, that is, finding accounts to call on. Our sales personnel have to more or less come up with their own leads. They have to find out who to contact once they get there. I have found that the best prospect most of us have for selling Bird Control accounts are our present pest control accounts. Generally speaking, we try to main¬tain contact with our applicators in the field, who are in these accounts every day, asking them if there are any of their accounts that are having bird control problems. Another method of finding potential accounts, is driving around looking. It is more difficult to drive around and look for rat and/or roach problems, but generally speaking if a building or some type of business has a bird problem, it is fairly easy to locate. Another thing we can do is call on specific accounts. There are generally cer¬tain accounts that just by the manufacturing process do attract birds, for example: food plants, mills, beet plants, grain elevators, food processors, and so on. Other type operations which lend themselves to bird problems are industrial plants because of the super-structure (physical plant) that they have. Sub-stations and power plants are very attractive to birds. Some other situations that should be checked for bird problems are lumber yards and contractors' storage buildings. After deciding on a contact we get into what I call my basic four. There are four basic things that I try to impress upon our personnel to keep in mind when they go in to make a contact. The first one is the interview or actually making the contact so that you get an opportunity to have the interview, either calling for an appointment or making a "cold" call. The second one is closing for the survey. The third one is making the survey and preparing a proposal. The fourth and last one is the proposal presentation and closing of the sale. An additional item which would make a basic five is after you make the sale don't forget to follow up on the sale.