Dog Predation Research Articles

Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) From Tasmania, With Particular Reference to Mucor amphibiorum infection.

Over a twelve month period, 25 platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) were presented for necropsy. The most common causes of mortality were dog predation (40%), road trauma (28%), starvation and/or exposure (16%) and Mucor-mycosis (8%). Mucor amphibiorum is the only disease agent known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in free-living O. anatinus in Tasmania. This fungus causes a severe, granulomatous, commonly ulcerative, skin condition in this species. A study was conducted to define the nature and extent of the granulomatous dermatitis caused by M. amphibiorum. The mycotic granulomatous dermatitis of O. anatinus appears to be confined to streams in the north and midlands. The prevalence of the disease at two infected sites was 36% (n=36) and 66% (n=3). Lesions included abscesses, ulcers, granulation tissue and nodules. Of the 17 diseased animals captured, II were adult male, 5 were adult female and 1 was a juvenile female. Thirteen isolates of M. amphibiorum were cultured from skin lesions, all were of the positive mating type. Mucor amphibiorum was not isolated from 40 faecal or 8 skin samples from O. anatinus. No M. amphibiorum was isolated from 14 environmental samples. Mucor circinelloides and M. saturninus were isolated from soil, and M. circinelloides and M. hiemalis were isolated from faecal samples from O. anatinus.

Multiple Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus deaths caused by dog attacks at a high-altitude study site on Pic Ningua, New Caledonia

SummaryDog predation has been cited as an important factor in the decline of the threatened Kagu of New Caledonia but direct evidence of predation was restricted to single kills. Here we report the first documented case of multiple Kagu deaths caused by dogs, which occurred at our 200 ha, high-altitude (800-1,300 m) study site on Pic Ningua. The deaths were discovered because we were radio-tracking Kagus there as part of our behavioural study on the birds. In 1993 we found 20 Kagus either dead (15) or wounded (5; one survived) from dog attacks in four distinct episodes over a 14-week period from late April to early August. Two other birds whose older remains were found also probably died from dog attacks. Of the 22 birds 18 wore radio transmitters; the four non-radio-tracked birds were found by chance. Dogs errant from a nearby tribal village were strongly implicated in carrying out most, if not all, of the attacks. They climbed around 1,000 m in altitude to reach the study site and attacked birds there on repeat visits to the site. The apparent recent disappearance of Kagus in forest neighbouring the study site suggests the dogs caused the deaths of most of the birds on the peak. Dog predation is probably an ongoing problem for the Kagu and the attacks at Pic Ningua are probably not an isolated incident. Protecting birds outside Riviere Bleue Park from dogs will require: (1) establishment of additional intensively managed reserves; (2) continuing education of the public and administrators about the need for Kagu protection and associated dog control; (3) involvement of tribal communities in Kagu conservation; and (4) enforcement of dog control laws. The events at Pic Ningua demonstrate the necessity for additional and non-connected reserves to safeguard against catastrophes and increase the probability of long-term Kagu persistence in the wild.

Population demography of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) at Hamilton, Victoria

Totals of 32 female and 53 male Perameles gunnii were caught 241 and 330 times, respectively, during 4340 trap-nights at Hamilton, Victoria. Residents comprised 75.3% (n = 64) of the sample. Morphometric comparison indicates that P. gunnii is sexually dimorphic. Sex ratios (expressed in percentage of females) of 55% (dependent juvenile), 45% (independent juvenile) and 37.9% (adult) were determined. The age structure of the live-trapped population changed substantially between July 1989 (42.9% juvenile, 9.5% subadult and 47.6% adult) and August 1990 (46.2% juvenile, 15.4% subadult and 34.6% adult). The mean age of captured female bandicoots increased during the study, from 9.8 months in July 1989 to 15.8 months in August 1990. In all, 24 of 32 females produced 145 pouch young in 66 litters, with a mean W e . ) litter size of 2.2+/-0.1 (n = 66). The number of females that were lactating each month was high throughout the study (85%) and peaked during spring and autumn when all captured females were lactating. Sexual maturity for males and females occurred at about 5 and 3.5 months of age, respectively. The causes of mortality of P. gunnii between 1980 and 1990 included road death (63%, n = 85), cat predation (17.8%, n = 24), disease (8.1%, n = 11), trap death (5.2%, n = 7), machinery (3.7%, n = 5) and dog predation (2.2%, n = 3). A total of 25 P. gunnii died from unknown causes. Cat predation of P. gunnii may be high amongst juveniles and subadults but low for adults. A net emigration rate of 18% of individuals known to be alive indicates that the Hamilton Municipal Tip is a source for dispersal to other subpopulations. The 1990 distribution of the population was about 169 ha, within the City of Hamilton and adjacent Shire of Dundas, Victoria. There has been a decline in distribution and some local extinctions of P. gunnii in several areas between 1988 and 1990.

Dog Predation of Domestic Sheep in Ohio

Dog Predation of Domestic Sheep in Ohio

An Assessment of Coyote and Dog Predation on Sheep in Southern Iowa

A questionnaire survey, field necropsies, domestic-animal claims, and a postcard survey were used to assess coyote and dog predation on sheep in southern Iowa. Forty-one percent of 1,251 questionnaire respondents reported they had sheep killed by dogs or coyotes (Canis latrans) during 1975. Of the total losses reported, 41% were attributed to predation, 30% to disease, and 13% to unknown causes. Three percent of all sheep owned by the questionnaire respondents allegedly were killed by coyotes, and 1% were killed by dogs. Both field necropsies and domestic animal claims showed that dogs killed more sheep per incident and sheep per operator than did coyotes. Almost 60% of the postcard respondents attributed sheep losses to predation during 1976 and 1977. Coyote predation varied during summer and fall, with 80% of the incidents occurring from 1 May to 1 October; dog predation did not follow a distinct chronological pattern. Field necropsies of 227 alleged predator-caused sheep losses revealed that sheep producers correctly assessed the cause more than 94% of the time. The results of the questionnaire and postcard surveys were similar. Domestic-animal claims underestimated the actual number of losses that occurred. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 45(4):883-893 Intensive predator control measures implemented by early settlers drastically reduced the number of coyotes in Iowa (Van Hyning and Pellett 1910, Scott 1937, Bowles 1975). During the past 20 years, however, the coyote population in Iowa and the incidence of reports of livestock losses due to coyote predation have increased considerably (Boggess 1975, Bowles 1975, Andrews and Boggess 1978). Concurrently, fur prices have increased dramatically (Andrews and Boggess 1978), making the coyote an important resource for hunters and trappers. Boggess et al. (1978) found that, since 1970, alleged sheep losses caused by dog predation have decreased at about the same rate that losses due to coyote predation have increased. This suggests that coyotes may be blamed for some losses actually caused by dogs (Denney 1974). Recent field studies (Henne 1975; McAdoo 1975; DeLorenzo and Howard, unpubl. rep., U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Denver, Colo., 1976; Nesse et al. 1976; Nass 1977; Tigner and Larson 1977) and surveys (Nielson and Curle 1970; Reynolds and Gustad, unpubl. rep., U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Denver, Colo., 1971; Early et al. 1974; Meduna and Robel, unpubl. data, 1976; Nesse et al. 1976; Gee et al. 1977) have explored the impact of coyote predation on the sheep industry in western states. However, similar research has been needed in the midwestern farm states, where livestock husbandry practices, habitat, dog and coyote densities, and predator control methods are quite different from those in the West. Before implementation of a management plan for the coyote in Iowa, the extent of sheep losses and the factors influencing losses caused by coyotes and dogs needed to be assessed. We are grateful to all who assisted in this project. H. Bal, R. Bishop, R. Coffey, W. Downing, A. Farris, W. Franklin, J. Heer, E. Johnson, E. Klaas, M. Ryan, R. 1 Joint contribution: Iowa Conservation Commission Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Project W115-R-4 and 5, and Journal Paper J-9778 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, Project 2031. J. Wildl. Manage. 45(4):1981 883 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.159 on Sun, 18 Sep 2016 06:02:57 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 884 COYOTE AND DOG PREDATION ON SHEEP* Schaefer et al. Schaefer, C. Steffen, T. Wickersham, L. Wing, and A. Wywialowski provided valuable criticism throughout the study and preparation of the manuscript. J. Prescott, C. Roberg, and R. Sayles assisted in data coding, and H. Cook, J. Kienzler, and V. Wright were extremely helpful with the questionnaire design and data analysis. We also thank the coyote hunters, trappers, and sheep producers in southern Iowa for their cooperation.