Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Factors influencing the effectiveness of canada goose relocation in georgia, usa(Montana State University, 2021) Beard, Sarah Elizabeth; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Tracy M. SterlingAn iconic species of North American waterfowl, Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have established an overabundant resident population in Georgia, USA. As a consequence, wildlife managers respond to a growing number of complaints from landowners in urban areas where Canada geese pose a threat to property and human safety. Some landowners rely on relocation when other methods are unsuccessful at sites with nuisance Canada geese; however, some studies show that relocation may be ineffective when geese return to their original capture site. To analyze factors that may influence returning geese that were relocated in Georgia, I gathered data from USDA-APHIS on nuisance Canada geese that were captured, banded, and relocated to rural, hunted areas within Georgia from 2010 to 2019. I compared the nonrecaptured population with the recaptured population for differences in age, sex, and relocated distance. I found a relationship between age and recapture status (X2 (1, N = 4,058) = 14.17, p = .0002) as well as relocated distance and recapture status (X2 (2, N = 4,059) = 9.54, p = .0085), but no evidence of an association between sex and recapture status. There were fewer juvenile Canada geese than expected among the recaptured sample. In addition, among the recaptured sample, there were fewer than expected geese that were relocated greater than 250 kilometers away. I found an overall 2.5% recapture rate by USDA-APHIS personnel at nuisance sites. I recommend continuing relocation efforts at distances greater than 150 kilometers and at least 250 kilometers when possible. Due to nuisance complaints at recurring sites throughout the 10-year period, I recommend increasing initiatives to educate urban landowners in preventive and pre-planned measures (e.g., egg addling, predator decoys) to manage nuisance populations.Item Testing competing hypotheses for the seasonal variation in nesting success of a late-nesting waterfowl(Montana State University - Bozeman, Graduate School, 2014) Pokley, Kalen John; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Peggy Taylor.Populations of lesser scaup and greater scaup have been below the North American Waterfowl Management Plan goal of 6.3 million since 1984. As of 2013, scaup populations are down 12% from their long term average (1955-2013) of 4.7 million birds (Walker 2005). Nesting success has shown to be an important factor in determining population growth. If the mechanisms of nesting success can be identified wildlife managers can make the necessary changes to increase scaup nesting success and thus increase the population. Nests were located during nest searches conducted from May through July and monitored until fate was determined. Nest age, nest location, vegetation height, distance to water and depth of water were recorded at each nest. Program MARK was used to determine known fate models. The model that incorporated both nest age and the effect of nest date showed the greatest support. I found a greater influence of date on nesting daily survival rate than age during this study, although both positively influenced scaup nest daily survival rate. The positive relationship between scaup nest daily survival rate and date, provided support for the nest concealment hypothesis. This posits that increasing vegetation height and density throughout the nesting season decreases predation. Sugden and Beyersbergen (1987) found similar results that artificial nests in tall, dense nesting cover escaped predation from crows for longer than those in sparse cover. The positive effect of nest age on nest survival supports the nest heterogeneity hypothesis, i.e., that low quality nests are depredated at a higher rate than nests of higher quality. Although these results have been supported by others (Klett and Johnson 1982) it has not received unanimous support. It is possible that these results might be influenced by the lack of heterogeneity in vegetation and differences in predator community at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge compared to other sites.Item Duck population responses to water development in north central Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1992) Bayless, Shawn RoyItem Production and habitat use by Canada geese at Freezout Lake, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1973) Hook, Daniel LeeItem Effects of road construction on wetlands in a dead-ice moraine(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1972) Surrendi, Carl RaymondItem Vegetative characteristics of two water areas in Teton County, Montana, in relation to waterfowl usage(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1960) Knight, Richard R.Item Food habits, movements and nesting of gulls on a waterfowl area, Freezout Lake, Teton County, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1960) Rothweiler, Robert A.Item Waterfowl production on three age-classes of stock ponds in northcentral Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1980) Hudson, Michael ScottItem Waterfowl and hunter use of Freezout Lake game management area, Teton County, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1979) Lorang, Kenneth DavidItem The influence of habitat features in waterfowl productivity on stock reservoirs in south Valley County, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1980) Miller, Mark Gerard