Protection of Property 



Other Natural Resources Protected 



During 1995, ADC completed a project in cooperation with 

 the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) to protect 

 pronghorn antelope fawns in the northeastern portion of the 

 State. AGFD biologists targeted critical areas where 

 existing coyote populations were detrimental to pronghorn 

 fawn survival, and under the direction of AGFD and ADC 

 biologists, coyotes were removed from three game units by 

 aerial hunting. In past years, these efforts have resulted in a 

 significant increase in fawn survival. 



In Idaho, ADC cooperated with the Idaho Department of Fish 

 and Game in a project to remove predators from selected 

 study areas as part of a 5-year study to explore causes of 

 declining pheasant populations. Feral cats, striped skunks, 

 and red fox were designated as target species. 



ADC personnel recently completed the first stage of a 

 coyote control effort on the National Bison Range Wildlife 

 Refuge in northwestern Montana to increase antelope and 

 bighorn sheep survival. During the past several years, fawn 

 survival has been as low as 1 percent with the resident 

 population of only 60 does. ADC personnel removed 1 1 

 coyotes from the refuge and 5 others from adjoining private 

 land. 



The Fish and Wildlife Service requested assistance from 

 ADC to help control prairie dogs at the Ft. Niobrara National 

 Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska. Prairie dogs on the refuge had 

 increased to the point where they were competing with the 

 captive bison herd. ADC used the rodenticide zinc 

 phosphide to the prairie dog population in the area, and 

 provided Fish and Wildlife Service officials with information 

 so they could develop a management plan that would allow 

 both prairie dogs and bison to exist in a reasonable balance. 



ADC personnel worked cooperatively with officials from the 

 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency on a project to 

 reduce damage to a valuable bottomland hardwood forest 

 caused by beaver-induced flooding on the Shelby Forest 

 Wildlife Management Area. Losses included habitat for 

 many species of migratory birds and forest wildlife as well as 

 economic damage to timber resources. The primary 

 emphasis of the project focused on removing the beaver 

 dams to eliminate the flooding, followed by reducing the 

 beaver population to acceptable levels for the area. 



Near Wilcox, AZ, an adult female ostrich valued at $18,000 

 was confirmed by ADC specialists to have been killed by 

 coyotes. The bird had over a dozen eggs inside her which 

 would have been worth $1,000 each had they been laid. 

 ADC specialists removed two coyotes from the ranch and 

 provided the rancher with advice on how to maintain fences 

 to deter other predators. 



ADC was requested by the National Aeronautics and Space 

 Administration (NASA) to help find a way to prevent 

 woodpeckers from damaging space shuttle vehicles at the 

 Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Damage to the shuttle by 

 woodpeckers caused NASA to delay a scheduled flight for 

 several weeks until repairs could be made to the spacecraft. 

 ADC evaluated damage control strategies being attempted 

 by NASA and participated in a meeting to identify viable 

 alternatives. As a result of the meeting, a management plan 

 for controlling woodpecker damage at the Space Center was 

 developed by ADC and adopted by NASA. 



The Young Men's Christian Association in Hoquiam, WA, 

 contacted ADC for help in dealing with a pigeon problem at 

 the facility. Over time, a buildup of feces and nesting 

 material from the birds resulted in deterioration of the eaves 

 of the 5-story building. In addition, pigeons had gained 

 access to the building's duct system and were nesting there. 

 Repairs to the building cost $180,000. ADC provided 

 information on live-trapping methods and on ways to 

 exclude the birds from the building to prevent future 

 problems. 



Officials of the Burlington-Northern Railroad requested 

 assistance from ADC to deal with a beaver problem in 

 Grayson County, TX, in January. A colony of the rodents 

 had damaged a drainage structure adjacent to a section of 

 railroad track. The increased water level flooded the track 

 bed causing settling that required the railroad to lower train 

 speeds in that area from about 50 mi/h to about 10. 

 Damage was estimated at about $8,000. ADC specialists 

 removed 1 1 beavers from the area to prevent further 

 damage and reduce the safety threat. 



A white-tailed deer disrupted production in a paper mill in 

 Eau Claire, Wl, when it entered the mill and became 

 disoriented. ADC personnel responded to the request for 

 assistance by quickly immobilizing the animal with a 

 tranquilizer dart. The deer was later released unharmed on 

 a State wildlife management area. 



10MDC Program Highlights, 1995 



