Variety Of Baits Research Articles

DETERMINING FERAL PIG (SUS SCROFA) ATTRACTANT SELECTION PREFERENCE AND RESPONSE TO MOCK CORRAL TRAPS

Abstract Feral pigs are an invasive exotic pest that damage habitat and compete with native species. Trapping feral pigs using a variety of baits or lures is the primary method for eradication, with little success. The purpose of this study was to use a variety of lures, with and without the presence of a mock corral trap, to determine if there was a preferred lure selected even in the presence of a trap. We also identified non-target species attraction to the lures, to identify a preferred choice by feral pigs that minimized these non-target species. We deployed 10 stations from July 2017 to March 2018 and used trail cameras to assess feral pig visitation frequency. The majority of feral pig visitation events occurred at the orange flavored corn without a mock corral trap present (43.20%). There was no significant difference in feral pig visitation rates to stations based on presence or absence of corral, but there were differences based on lure: orange corn had a significantly higher visitation rate than any other lure type. The plain corn station without a corral had only 15% of the feral pig visitation events, while the majority of non-target species (i.e., axis – 45.93%, white-tailed deer – 39.42%, and raccoon – 85.38% of visitation events) were associated with this bait. For these reasons, we suggest that orange flavored corn may be the better primary attractant in feral pig management activities in south Texas.

Please come again: attractive bait augments recapture rates of capture-naïve snowshoe hares

Abstract ContextCapture–recapture sampling is one of the most commonly used methods for monitoring population demographics and is needed in a wide variety of studies where repeat sampling of individuals is desired. Although studies employing capture–recapture methods often assume unbiased sampling, it is well established that inherent capture biases can occur with these methods, including those related to baits. Reducing sources of sampling bias and augmenting recapture reliability is necessary for capture-dependent studies. However, few studies have examined the efficacy of baits on individuals with variable capture experience. AimsTo investigate the use of an attractant-augmented bait in enhancing capture–recapture probabilities for snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus). MethodsTo examine the efficacy of different attractant-augmented bait types, a variety of baits were created, with bait preference tested on a captive hare. Because a strawberry jam-based bait was preferentially consumed (in comparison with other tested baits), the effectiveness of this attractant in enhancing capture–recapture rates was subsequently examined in wild hares, using paired live-trapping field trials (n=6 trials). ResultsLive-trapping trials showed that although overall hare capture rates were not affected by the use of a jam-based bait, recaptures were 33.1% higher in capture-naïve individuals exposed to our attractant. This was not the case for hares with prior capture experience; such hares had an equal likelihood of being recaptured regardless of the bait type used. ConclusionsThe tested attractant improved recapture rates of capture-naïve hares. ImplicationsStudies relying on high recapture rates should use methods that maximise recapture rates wherever possible, including the use of baits that may augment recaptures in capture-naïve animals.

Evaluation of bait attractiveness for forensically important flies in lowland and montane forest in Peninsular Malaysia

Background: Blowflies (order: Diptera, family: Calliphoridae) and house flies (order: Diptera, family: Muscidae) are important indicators to determine postmortem intervals in forensic entomology. Knowledge of the ecology and bionomics of individual species is necessary for the use of these flies as forensic indicators. Baited trapping is often employed to collect flies for such studies. However, the effect of baits on the diversity and abundance of baited trap collections is not known. Objective: To compare the sampling effectiveness of several types of bait in terms of diversity and abundance of forensically important flies. Materials and methods: The effectiveness of belacan (fermented shrimp paste), sugar, beef, ox liver, and fish were tested in three locations at different altitudes in Malaysia; Gombak Field Study Station (about 200 m above sea level (a.s.l.); N3°19′28″, E101°45′09″), Awana (about 1100 m a.s.l.; N3°24′03″ E101°46′59″) and Bukit Cincin (about 1700 m a.s.l.; N3°25′58″ E101°47′05″). Results: Fish consistently attracted more flies and species than other baits. Beef and ox liver produced moderate or inconsistent results. Flies were rarely attracted to preserved baits such as shrimp paste or odorless baits such as sugar. At higher elevations, flies were attracted to a wider variety of baits. Meat may cause a bias towards mated gravid females and produce a biased sample of the true population. Conclusion: Fish produced the most consistent results in terms of highest number of flies collected and wide diversity of species sampled, odor, especially from rotting meat, is important in attracting carrion flies.

Progressing the Possum Pied Piper Project

Author(s): Kavermann, Matt; Ross, James; Paterson, Adrian; Eason, Charles | Abstract: Improving vertebrate pest control operations relies on increasing pest animal interactions with control devices (e.g., bait stations, bait bags, and/or traps). Interactions are encouraged using a variety of baits and lures that stimulate an animal’s visual, olfactory, or auditory sense, orientating the target species towards a control device. On a generalised spatial scale of conspicuousness, an auditory lure will function over a greater distance for mammals in forested ecosystems than both visual and olfactory lures, suggesting auditory lures could have the greatest luring potential. In New Zealand, there is an overabundance of the introduced Australian brushtail possum that is the subject of ongoing control. Ground-based control operations typically use visual (e.g., a flour blaze), and to a lesser extent olfactory (e.g., cinnamon) lures for attracting possums to control devices. However, the potential for an auditory stimulus remains largely unexamined and underutilised. Research presented here expands on previous studies with captive animals and examines the development and field testing of an audio lure for possum control. The results from three preliminary field trials show that possums found audio-lured devices sooner than un-lured devices, and that a greater proportion of lured devices were located over time. In addition, possums were recorded investigating lured sites at a higher rate compared to un-lured sites, suggesting that possums were more likely to interact with a control device if it has an audio-lure than if it does not.

An ecological survey for arboviruses in Almirante, Panama, 1959-1962.

SummaryA three-year survey was conducted to determine the arboviruses active in a tropical rainforest area of Panama. Materials for virus isolation attempts consisted of blood specimens from febrile patients, sera and tissues from domestic and wild vertebrates, blood-sucking insects taken on a variety of baits and sentinel mice exposed in the field. These specimens were collected or exposed in a variety of habitats which included upland tropical rainforest, swamp forest, open freshwater marsh and domestic and peridomestic habitats. Following is a list of the arboviruses isolated and the sources from which they were obtained: Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis: human blood, wild rodents, sentinel mice, adult birds, nestling birds, mosquitoes; Una: mosquitoes; Mayaro: mosquitoes; Bussuquara: sentinel mice, mosquitoes; Ilhéus: adult birds, mosquitoes, Phlebotomus sandflies; Caraparu: sentinel mice; Nepuyo: wild rodents; Ossa: human blood; Madrid: human blood, sentinel mice; BT 4971 (new group C agent): wild rodents, sentinel mice; BT 5012 (new group C agent): wild rodents, sentinel mice; Guama group: sentinel mice, mosquitoes; Cache Valley: mosquitoes; Guaroa: mosquitoes; Wyeomyia: mosquitoes; Vesicular stomatitis (Indiana): Phlebotomus sandflies; BT 436 (new arbovirus type): human blood, Phlebotomus sandflies.The report concludes with a discussion of annual cycles of virus activity and considerations on the habitat in relation to arbovirus activity.