Predator Control to Predator Control to Increase Waterfowl Increase Waterfowl

ProductivityProductivityPrepared By: Daniel S. BarrettPrepared By: Daniel S. Barrett

What Animals are Predators to What Animals are Predators to Waterfowl?Waterfowl?

Predators of Nesting Waterfowl Predators of Nesting Waterfowl Continued:Continued:

What About Coyotes?What About Coyotes?

Man has tried to control Man has tried to control coyote populations for coyote populations for the last century. This the last century. This has affected the ecology has affected the ecology of the prairie pothole of the prairie pothole region.region.

The reduction in coyotes The reduction in coyotes have led to higher red have led to higher red fox populations which fox populations which affects waterfowl affects waterfowl production.production.

Can Coyotes be Good?Can Coyotes be Good?

• Managing canid populations to favor Managing canid populations to favor coyotes and reduce red fox coyotes and reduce red fox populations, have potential to populations, have potential to positively affect nest success over positively affect nest success over large areas of landscape according to large areas of landscape according to a USGS study.a USGS study.

• Coyotes also may suppress raccoon Coyotes also may suppress raccoon densities.densities.

• Coyotes? A good management tool? Coyotes? A good management tool?

What is Predator Control?What is Predator Control?

Predator control is the Predator control is the removal or removal or confinement of confinement of predators by either predators by either lethal or non-lethal lethal or non-lethal means.means.

The removal or The removal or control of predators control of predators can be carried out can be carried out by many different by many different techniquestechniques

How does predator control How does predator control work?work?

Predator control falls into 2 groups: Lethal Predator control falls into 2 groups: Lethal and Non-lethal predator control.and Non-lethal predator control.

Lethal methods seem to be the most cost Lethal methods seem to be the most cost efficient and successful forms of predator efficient and successful forms of predator control.control.

Non-lethal methods can work but are more Non-lethal methods can work but are more time and labor intensive. They don’t seem time and labor intensive. They don’t seem to be quite as effective as lethal methods.to be quite as effective as lethal methods.

Lethal Methods Lethal Methods

ToxicantsToxicants TrapsTraps ShootingShooting

Non-Lethal MethodsNon-Lethal Methods

RelocationRelocation Barrier FencingBarrier Fencing Supplemental Supplemental

FeedingFeeding Taste AversionTaste Aversion Anti-fertility DrugsAnti-fertility Drugs

Where does the majority of predator Where does the majority of predator control for increased waterfowl control for increased waterfowl

production take place?production take place? Predator control typically takes place in Predator control typically takes place in

the prairie pothole region in the northern the prairie pothole region in the northern mid-western U.S. and southern Canada.mid-western U.S. and southern Canada.

Why?Why?

The prairie pothole region is considered to The prairie pothole region is considered to be the nation’s duck factory.be the nation’s duck factory.

More than 50% of North American More than 50% of North American Waterfowl depend on the potholes for Waterfowl depend on the potholes for feeding and breeding grounds.feeding and breeding grounds.

In recent years waterfowl numbers have In recent years waterfowl numbers have been on the downfall. Due to habitat loss been on the downfall. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, agriculture and and fragmentation, agriculture and increased predation.increased predation.

Predator control was a way to increase Predator control was a way to increase duck production in this dwindling habitat.duck production in this dwindling habitat.

Nesting Ducks of the Nesting Ducks of the PrairiesPrairies

Predator Removal StudiesPredator Removal Studies

One study conducted in South One study conducted in South Dakota for a 6 year period focused Dakota for a 6 year period focused on predator removal.on predator removal.

Over that period of time, nest Over that period of time, nest success reached 94% with the success reached 94% with the removal of predators.removal of predators.

Predator Removal Studies Predator Removal Studies

A study completed on a 36 square A study completed on a 36 square mile tract in North Dakota yielded mile tract in North Dakota yielded some significant results.some significant results.

Predators were removed by trapping.Predators were removed by trapping. In 2000, nest success was 66% while In 2000, nest success was 66% while

in a control area it was 16%.in a control area it was 16%. In 2001, nest success was 73% while In 2001, nest success was 73% while

in a control are it was 27%. in a control are it was 27%.

Removal of Predators Removal of Predators Works!Works!

Studies show that reduction of Studies show that reduction of predator numbers leads to an predator numbers leads to an increase in waterfowl production. increase in waterfowl production. Numbers don’t lie.Numbers don’t lie.

Removal works! What’s the Removal works! What’s the Problem?Problem?

Removal of predators from the Removal of predators from the ecosystem causes serious ecosystem causes serious controversy from many different user controversy from many different user groups.groups.

It is time and labor intensive.It is time and labor intensive. Must be done every year.Must be done every year. Quick fix mentality.Quick fix mentality.

What about Non-Removal What about Non-Removal Methods of Predator Control?Methods of Predator Control?

Electric fence barriers have been Electric fence barriers have been effective at excluding predators from effective at excluding predators from waterfowl nest sites.waterfowl nest sites.

Construction of islands.Construction of islands. Peninsula cut-offs to make islands.Peninsula cut-offs to make islands. All these methods help in predator All these methods help in predator

exclusion and in turn produce an exclusion and in turn produce an increase in production.increase in production.

Wetland Islands and their Wetland Islands and their ConstructionConstruction

What’s the Problem?What’s the Problem?

Construction of Islands, and installing Construction of Islands, and installing of barriers such as an electric fence of barriers such as an electric fence can be extremely expensive as well can be extremely expensive as well as time and labor intensive.as time and labor intensive.

What’s the Answer to More What’s the Answer to More Waterfowl?Waterfowl?

HabitatHabitat Predator control is an effective Predator control is an effective

management tool in certain management tool in certain situations to increase nest success.situations to increase nest success.

Habitat acquisition and provision Habitat acquisition and provision needs to be the main goal in needs to be the main goal in waterfowl management.waterfowl management.

Habitat Loss has posed Habitat Loss has posed predator problems.predator problems.

This graph shows the loss of This graph shows the loss of grassland from the 1860s to 1980.grassland from the 1860s to 1980.

Habitat Use vs. AvailabilityHabitat Use vs. Availability

What’s the answer for more What’s the answer for more ducks?ducks?

For an increase in waterfowl numbers an array For an increase in waterfowl numbers an array of management practices need to be of management practices need to be implemented, including predator control.implemented, including predator control.

Keep in mind that the only way to really boost Keep in mind that the only way to really boost waterfowl numbers long term is to provide and waterfowl numbers long term is to provide and preserve more quality nesting habitat.preserve more quality nesting habitat.

Even with the absence of predators only so Even with the absence of predators only so much nesting habitat is available.much nesting habitat is available.

Waterfowl can’t nest successfully on concrete!Waterfowl can’t nest successfully on concrete!

More Ducks!More Ducks!

Sound, adaptable management Sound, adaptable management decisions will result in an increase of decisions will result in an increase of waterfowl.waterfowl.