Guy E. Connolly

Secondary hazard of livestock protection collars to skunks and eagles

We evaluated the potential secondary hazard posed by striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) scavenging carcasses of coyotes (Canis latrans) killed by Livestock Protection Collars (LPCs). These collars are filled with a formulation of Compound 1080 registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Skunks and eagles were fed diets containing 4.1 and 7.7 ppm 1080, respectively, for 5 days. Although the treated diets contained 2-3 times the highest concentration of 1080 detected in carcasses of coyotes killed by LPCs, no deaths occurred. Some eagles showed signs of 1080 intoxication including loss of strength and coordination, lethargy, and tremors. Both species reduced consumption of treated diets but resumed normal feeding on untreated diets within a few days