White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) numbers on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas have increased in recent years and are a cause of urban-related accidents (e.g., deer-vehicle collisions, negative interation with humans). Safety personnel for the JSC are interested in reducing human-deer interaction by a reduction in overall population numbers. My overall study objectives were to (1) estimate population parameters for JSC deer, (2) develop a computer simulation model for the JSC deer, and (3) evaluate 2 management strategies to control JSC deer numbers a priori using the JSC deer model. The 2 management strategies I evaluated were the efficacy of SpayVac immunocontraceptive vaccine (sterilization) and trap and translocation (deer removal) efforts in managing white-tailed deer on JSC. In general, single treatments of removals or sterilization (less than 75 percent of female deer treated) were not effective in reducing population growth (R greater than 1). Approximately 50% of female deer needed to be removed annually to reduce population growth whereas approximately 25% of female deer needed to be treated annually with SpayVac for the same effects. A combination of trap and removals and sterilizations was effective in reducing population growth when applied to approximately 25% of the female population annually. I recommend the use of sterilization annually (25%) or a combination of sterilization and removal (25%) to achieve the goals of JSC in maintaining current deer numbers. Removing or sterilizing > 50% of the female deer annually caused the JSC deer population to decrease to a level near eradication.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the development and initial use of Texas Cooperative Extension’s (TCE) White-tailed Deer Management Module (WDMM) delivered over the Internet. The results of this study will provide suggestions about future online wildlife management modules. Data were collected from two populations using questionnaires. A sample of six county Extension agents (CEA’s) and four Extension specialists were selected by an Extension wildlife specialist who perceived them to be professionals in the fields of wildlife and range management. This first sample is also referred to as change agents. The second sample, also known as early users, consisted of 27 anonymous CEA’s and landowners within TCE’s District 10. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect and analyze data. The results are as follows: Thus, the development of WDMM was the responsibility of the Extension specialist and researcher. The Extension specialist and researcher did seek professional opinions on content and layout information. Results suggested that CEA’s and Extension specialists agreed the WDMM would be a beneficial educational tool for new landowners. Overall, WDMM was perceived to be user friendly, visually appealing, and provided useful content. Although most change agents responded positively to most questions, there were a few that would like to see more educationally challenging questions. For example, there were a few questions that respondents felt were of the “elementary” and “kindergarten” level. They would like more questions concerning management. The majority of early users were in support of WDMM. Data gathered from the WDMM Feedback Questionnaire agreed with data gathered from change agents. In general, most early users said that they were pleased with the WDMM. Recommendations were made based on these findings to expand the WDMM. Some of these include: 1) Expanding WDMM; 2) Replicating this study using random sampling; 3) Collecting computer knowledge and skills and demographics on future studies; 4) Developing similar modules to see if they gain the same positive response.

No description available.

No description available.

The overall objective of this thesis is to provide an enhanced understanding of the epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis in the Greater Riding Mountain Ecosystem (GRME) and provide a scientific basis for disease management from a systems perspective now and into the future. M. bovis prevalence has been consistently higher in elk compared to white-tailed deer, and higher within a defined Core area compared to areas outside. Prevalence in both species declined significantly between 2003 and 2013. Only one infected elk was detected in 2013; the last infected white-tailed deer was detected in 2009 and the last infected cattle herd was detected in 2008. Parallel interpretation of three blood-based assays resulted in effective selective culling of elk within Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) with predictive value negative of 100%. A lymphocyte stimulation test (LST) was the most sensitive single blood-based assay, but was difficult to perform under field conditions. Combinations of humoral antibody tests and cell-mediated tests performed better than any single test, likely detecting the broad spectrum of host pathology present. Seven of 14 risk factors were identified for wild cervids testing culture positive with the three being most strongly associated with culture positivity being geographical location (within core area), elk density and year category (sampling phase). Age, sex, and surveillance method were also significant factors, but species was not. A rapid decline in elk density in combination with fencing of hay storage yard and non-selective culling were likely key factors resulting in the M. bovis prevalence decline observed in elk, and an overall decline in prevalence from 1997 for both species. Elk were the primary reservoir species in this episystem, but are now considered a spillover host, while white-tailed deer have always been a spillover host due to lower densities and shorter life expectancy. Very limited strain diversity exists within the GRME with one spoligotype restricted to cattle and associated with a limited outbreak in five herds in the early 1990’s, and three other shared strains between cattle and wildlife. A single monomorphic type was present in white-tailed deer. Significant spatial overlap of wildlife and cattle isolates delineated a core area where management activities are now focused. The relative simplicity of this episystem has allowed significant progress on control and management to be achieved, despite being located within a national park. Wildlife surveillance will need to continue until at least 2022 in order to achieve a 95% probability of freedom using three different surveillance streams. Latent cases are likely to be extremely rare in future and unlikely to result in ongoing transmission as the factors that created this wildlife reservoir no longer exist. Wild cervids should not be considered ideal maintenance hosts for M. bovis in North America but rather facultative hosts; acting either as a reservoir or spillover host dependent on regional/local density and presence/absence of baiting and feeding.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-98).

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Agricultural Economics, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on June 19, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-96). Also issued in print.

Thesis (M. S.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on June 19, 2009) Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 196 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-186). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.