The Benefits 



stations throughout the United States. 

 Major research activities include devel- 

 oping data to support Environmental 

 Protection Agency registrations tor pes- 

 ticides and materials used to control ver- 

 tebrates; developing nonchemical 

 control techniques; evaluating the effec- 

 tiveness and safety of new and existing 

 control methods; studying the biology 

 and behavior of wildlife species that 

 cause damage: assessing wildlife dam- 

 age; and providing scientific information 

 on wildlife damage management to the 

 WS program, other governmental agen- 

 cies, and the public. 



Beavers cause damage through the flooding of property, 

 roads, crops, and forests. 



The efforts of APHIS' WS program often 

 result in higher economic returns to those 

 producing livestock or other products. 

 For example, 



• Mississippi catfish farmers spent 

 roughly $2.1 million to help control cor- 

 morants and other fish-eating birds caus- 

 ing an estimated $5.4 million damage. 



• WS activities directed toward depredat- 



ing birds in 12 cornfields in South Dakota 

 saved 123 bushels of corn per day. 



• Beaver control in Mississippi costing 

 about $1 1 ,000 saved an estimated 

 $198,600 in timber. 



• Beaver control in Kentucky and Tennes- 

 see costing $55,000 over an 18-month 

 period saved timber resources valued at 

 $1.5 million. 



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