Peter J. Savarie

Determination of Acetaminophen Residues in Whole Body Brown Treesnakes

Abstract Acetaminophen was extracted from brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) and analyzed by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Acetaminophen was quantified by UV absorbance at 250 nm. Recoveries were determined by analyzing acetaminophen‐fortified blank homogenized tissue. The mean recovery of acetaminophen in whole body brown treesnakes was 87.9% ± 5.9% and 92.2% ± 5.8% for the fortification levels of 20 and 2400 µg/g, respectively. The methods limit of detection (MLOD) with UV detection was 0.70 µg/g.

Evaluation of methods for detecting nonfluorescent colored flakes and flake persistence in coyote scats

Effective markers are needed to investigate coyote behavior, especially in areas of feeding and bait acceptance. We evaluated three methods for detecting nonfluorescent colored flakes in coyote scats and the persistence of flakes in stored scats. Captive coyotes were offered tallow baits with 100 mg each of red, green, blue and a mixture of red and green flakes. Scats deposited daily for 5 days after bait consumption were examined for flakes on the surface, after crushing and after washing in nylon bags. Post-baiting, correct-colored flakes were detected for an average of about 212 days in both surface and crushed-scat examinations and for nearly 4 days in washed scats, which was significantly longer. Preparing bags and washing must be done carefully. The flakes were persistent in scats — no color fading or color separation from the silver-colored bases was observed during 8 months of weathering and storage. The flakes made durable coyote-scat markets that were reliably detected with simple, inexpensive materials. The scat-washing technique described would probably be useful in detecting most inert particles delivered in baits.

Tools for managing invasions: acceptance of non-toxic baits by juvenile Nile monitor lizards and Burmese pythons under laboratory conditions

Nile monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) and Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are large, invasive, predatory reptiles, which are now well established in south Florida. Acetaminophen was recently shown to be lethal to both animals and therefore has potential for inclusion in an integrated pest management effort to control these species. However, acceptable bait matrices for both species are still needed to deliver the toxicant. We tested nine candidate bait matrices on juvenile Nile monitor lizards and Burmese pythons in the laboratory. Baits were tested fresh and also after aging at 30°C and 50% relative humidity for 24 h. Six of the nine baits were well accepted by the monitors in both fresh and aged conditions (dead neonatal mouse, dead quail chick, ground turkey, chicken liver, tilapia, and zebra finch egg). Only the fresh dead neonatal mouse and fresh dead quail chick were well accepted by the pythons. As far as we are aware, these tests are the second of such bait matrix preference tests conducted for reptiles. The implications of our results are discussed regarding further development and testing of baits in a natural setting.