thumbnail

Electric fences to reduce mammalian predation on waterfowl nests

Wildlife Society Bulletin
By: , , , and 

Links

  • The Publications Warehouse does not have links to digital versions of this publication at this time
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

We evaluated electric fences as predator barriers to reduce high losses of waterfowl nests to mammalian predation at Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). The work was done in 1978-81 on 3 paired sites in central North Dakota and western Minnesota. Resident mammalian predators were trapped from inside the exclosures. All 3 fences operated during the study period with few major maintenance problems. Nest success in the exclosures was 65% in North Dakota and 55% in Minnesota vs. 45 and 12% in the respective controls. Cover inside the electric fence produced 7.8 more young/ha than cover in control plots in North Dakota during the 3 years. Cover inside the 2 electric fences in Minnesota yielded 9.5 and 4.3 more young/ha than cover in control plots during the 3 years. Using construction costs only we estimated that each additional duckling produced in cover protected by electric fencing cost $0.65 in North Dakota and $0.87 in Minnesota.

Suggested Citation

Lokemoen, J.T., Doty, H.A., Sharp, D., Neaville, J., 1982, Electric fences to reduce mammalian predation on waterfowl nests: Wildlife Society Bulletin, v. 10, no. 4, p. 318-323.

ISSN: 1938-5463 (online)

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Electric fences to reduce mammalian predation on waterfowl nests
Series title Wildlife Society Bulletin
Volume 10
Issue 4
Year Published 1982
Language English
Publisher U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Contributing office(s) Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Description 6 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Wildlife Society Bulletin
First page 318
Last page 323
Additional publication details