James P. Gionfriddo

The Single-Shot GnRH Immunocontraceptive Vaccine (GonaCon TM ) in White-Tailed Deer: Comparison of Several GnRH Preparations

Problem  An effective, single‐injection, multi‐year, GnRH contraceptive agent is needed to control reproduction in overabundant white‐tailed deer populations.

SUMMER HABITAT USE BY MOUNTAIN SHEEP.

Summer habitat use by mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) was examined in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness (PRW), Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona, during 1982 and 1983. Diurnal sheep activity was concentrated in areas 550 m of escape terrain. Sheep selected nonprecipitous open oak (Quercus spp.) woodland associations. Slopes of 59-79% and elevations of 1,098-1,341 m were selected on upper slopes of drainages or on the tops of ridges or mountains. Ewe-juvenile groups selected more precipitous areas than ram groups and mixed groups. Groups with lambs used steeper and lower areas than groups without lambs. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 50(2):331-336 Mountain sheep habitat in the PRW of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona, may be affected by extensive suburban development on privately owned land abutting the wilderness boundary. Development is 50.6 km of the most heavily used mountain sheep habitat. The impact of human encroachment on mountain sheep abundance, distribution, and habitat use should be monitored carefully. Our study provides information on mountain sheep habitat use prior to encroachment. Financial support was provided by the Estes Co. and the Univ. Arizona, School Renewable Nat. Resour. S. D. Seidler assisted in all phases of the fieldwork. S. W. Carothers, R. W. Mannan, J. E. Rodiek, W. W. Shaw, and V. C. Supplee provided ideas throughout the study and offered constructive comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. J. C. deVos, Jr., S. R. Lawry, R. C. Miller, and R. J. Olding of the Ariz. Game and Fish Dep. and P. W. Karp and C. E. Kennedy of the U.S. For. Serv. provided technical assistance. B. D. Leopold and M. C. Wallace provided statistical and technical ad-

Grit color selection by house sparrows and northern bobwhites

Granule color may be an important factor influencing avian exposure to granular pesticides when they are mistakenly picked up as grit, and is clone of the most easily altered characteristics of pesticide granules. We studied colored grit use by house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) by offering captive birds a grit mixture consisting of equal amounts of 8 colors (red, brown, yellow, green, blue, black, white, clear), either on a light-brown or a dark-brown soil background. After 7 days, gizzards of both species consistently contained more yellow and white particles and fewer black and blue particles than expected by chance (sparrows: P < 0.025; bobwhites: P < 0.001). Soil background color was not an important influence on grit color selection by either species. To examine the influence of food color on grit color selection, we repeated the experiments (on dark soil only), using birds maintained on food dyed to match 3 of the 8 grit colors (red, yellow, blue). Grit color use again was nonrandom (P < 0.001). Overall, house sparrows preferred brown, yellow, and white grit, and northern bobwhites preferred yellow and green house sparrows preferred brown, yellow, and white grit, and northern bobwhites preferred yellow and green grit. Black again received little use by both species. Food color did not influence grit color selection by house sparrows, but was associated with small but statistically significant differences in the use of black and clear grit by northern bobwhites. Our results suggest that the colors black andd blue should be tested further if the goal is to design pesticide granules in colors unattractive to birds. On the other hand, if the goal is to deter avian consumption of pesticide-treated granules by applying a mixture of unattractively-colores, treated particles and attractively-colored, untreated ones, then yellow (and perhaps white and green) should receive further study as colors likely to attract birds.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Single-Shot GnRH Immunocontraceptive Vaccine (GonaCon™) in White-Tailed Deer: Comparison of Several GnRH Preparations: SINGLE-SHOT GNRH IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION IN WHITE-TAILED DEER

Problem  An effective, single‐injection, multi‐year, GnRH contraceptive agent is needed to control reproduction in overabundant white‐tailed deer populations.