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The brushtail possum, a marsupial native to Australia, was widely introduced in New Zealand (NZ) to develop a fur industry. Before the settlement of humans in NZ, there were no terrestrial mammals; therefore, the local species evolved without mammalian predators. This resulted in native species populations declining at alarming rates and many possibly facing extinction on the NZ mainland, especially large-bodied endemic birds. In response to this problem, private investors (supported by the NZ government) developed an initiative to eradicate key mammal predators (possums, rats, and stoats) on the NZ mainland by 2050 (PFNZ2050). As a result, control efforts have significantly expanded over the past decade, and there are now 17 PFNZ2050 landscape projects covering 757,000 ha. Research has looked at combining audio, visual and social lures to improve control efforts for possums. Early results indicate that a combination of lures increases both encounter and interaction rates around control devices. In particular, the combination of audio and visual lures was consistently the top performer in both captive and small-scale field trials. Large-scale field trials are currently underway to confirm these initial results, investigating the effectiveness of combination lures paired with multi-kill AT220 possum traps. Additionally, the lures are being assessed at different times of the year and with varying possum densities. With the drive to PFNZ2050, pest mammal monitoring has markedly increased as researchers attempt to evaluate competing management control strategies. Traditionally, this has relied on single-use plastic monitoring devices such as chewcards and tracking tunnels. An investigation of pest-animal interaction with chewcards indicates that approximately 12% of plastic deployed ends up as microplastic pollution. Another NZ government initiative seeks to ban all single-use plastics, and research is currently investigating the efficacy of non-plastic (biodegradable) alternatives. This research also includes a cost-effectiveness analysis and the reliability of identifying animal bite marks on both plastic and non-plastic chewcards.

Possum numbers have been significantly reduced in many regions of New Zealand. However, research has indicated some unexpected consequences of possum control. At some sites, rat numbers have more than doubled 2 years after possum control. What this suggests is that the removal of a direct competitor has enabled a rapid increase in rat numbers relative to slower possum recovery. This has serious implications, as high rat numbers could inhibit ongoing possum ground control. To investigate this, an experimental trial was run where we tested the following research hypotheses by manipulating the rat density: i) Null hypothesis (H0) ‒ rat density has no influence on possum foraging behaviour around bait stations, ii) Alternative hypothesis (H1) ‒ rat density indirectly influences possum behaviour by removing all bait before possums can access it, and/or iii) Alternative hypothesis (H2) ‒ rat density directly influences possum behaviour by physically excluding them from bait stations. The experimental site was divided into 2 parts, a treatment block and a control (non-treatment) block. Rat control was undertaken using Victor® kill traps and 96 rats were removed over 6 nights (density estimated at 4.6 rats/ha). To quantify the effect of rat density on possum foraging behaviour, non-toxic bait stations were stapled to a tree every 10 m along 18 monitoring lines (n = 50). Possum behaviour was then monitored using both modified tracking cards and IR camera traps. Prior to trapping, 92% of all the baits were removed by rats on the first night. Following trapping, this reduced down to 8% in the treatment block. Rats turned up earlier than possums at the majority of the monitored sites (~1 hour before sunset). Before trapping, baits were only available 33% of the time when a possum visited a bait site (n = 15), and no baits were removed. After trapping, baits were available 100% of the time and 2 baits were removed by possums. These results support H1 and suggest that the smaller-bodied competitor can dominate food resources in NZ forests. This has the potential to make possum ground control more difficult when using control techniques that do not target rodents.

The Australian brushtail possum is a pest in New Zealand, as it has caused the decline of a number of native bird species and has become the greatest barrier to the eradication of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) from livestock. As such, possum populations are reduced (i.e., controlled) at a cost of millions of dollars every year. Yet, control is still timely, costly, and not always 100% effective. Behavioral changes in possums have the potential to substantially affect the ability to control possum populations. For example, it is currently unknown whether possums change their behavior, such as den-site use, following control. How possums use dens is an important consideration in controlling bTB, as dens are a potential infection reservoir for both possums and livestock. Knowledge of any changes in den-site use may allow the design of more targeted and efficient control operations that identify potential increases in transmission risk. To investigate changes in den use due to control, possums were fitted with VHF devices, and were tracked to their den sites before and after a control operation that killed approximately 54% of the adult population. The total number of dens they used and the number of times they changed dens were recorded. Density reduction resulted in an increase in the number of times possums changed dens. However, den use was more strongly influenced by the sex of an individual, with males changing their dens more often than females. Density reduction did not appear to result in a change in the number of dens used. Instead, this behaviour was also largely driven by the sex of an individual, with males using more dens than females. This potential increase in transmission risk does not mean that control strategies should not be undertaken, but that managers should keep in mind the likely responses of possums to control and adapt their strategies accordingly. For example, control measures may need to be targeted towards those individuals that use more dens, such as males. This research also further highlights the need for efficient control that reduces populations to very low densities, to negate this potential increase in transmission risk.

The brushtail possum, introduced to New Zealand in 1858, is a significant conservation pest and a major vector of bovine tuberculosis. Previous control-simulation studies have suggested that aerial delivery of bait containing sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is the most cost effective (large scale) possum control strategy. Over the past decade, considerable improvements in groundcontrol techniques have been developed by private contractors and bait manufacturers. These techniques are not reliant on 1080, and there have been major cost reductions as the new baits and delivery mechanisms have been optimized. In addition to this, our research team (in collaboration with Connovation Research Ltd.) have recently developed a new bait station design that has the potential to be left out in the field for up to 5 years without the need for servicing. These devices are self setting and have the ability to deliver gel or liquid spray, and ‘target-specific’ toxicants. Preliminary cost analysis suggests that this new bait station design has the potential to save NZ$21 million per annum from the amount currently spent on possum ground control.

The brushtail possum is a significant conservation pest and major vector of bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand. Previous control simulation studies have suggested that aerial control with bait containing sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) is the most cost-effective large-scale possum control strategy. However, there is a growing awareness that the survivors of 1080 control can develop ‘bait shyness’, and this can markedly alter the efficacy of ongoing 1080 control operations. Several alternative toxicants are registered for possum control but all are ground based, differ in their mode of action, and are more expensive than aerial 1080 control. A new possum control simulation model was developed to assist in identifying the most cost-effective control strategy that would achieve a sustained 80% population reduction, given bait-shy behaviour and immigration from adjacent non-controlled areas. The simulation results indicated that it is possible to achieve a sustained 80% population reduction (over a 10-year period) using a 1080-based control strategy, provided at least 90% of all ‘susceptible’ possums are killed in each control operation. In the event of an unsuccessful 1080 control operation (i.e., only a 60% kill), cyanide bait plus trapping, or brodifacoum bait provided the most cost-effective strategy of ‘mopping up’ 1080 bait-shy survivors. However, sufficient numbers of traps must accompany the cyanide bait to ensure that the majority of 1080 bait-shy possums are targeted. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the most important variable influencing the overall success of any control strategies was the rate of re-colonization following control. With the high rates of immigration that are sometimes observed in small forest reserves (i.e.,

Examined national Youth Risk Behavior Survey data and state and local surveys of high school students to investigate behaviors contributing to unintentional injuries, violence, substance use, age at initiation of risk behaviors, substance abuse on school property, sexual behaviors contributing to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, dietary behaviors, and physical activity. High numbers of adolescents nationwide practiced behaviors that placed them at risk for serious acute and chronic health problems. (SM)

The 1998 National Alternative High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey measured health risk behaviors at alternative high schools. Many alternative students engaged in behaviors that made them high-risk for serious problems (e.g., motor vehicle safety, violence, nutrition, sexuality, exercise, and substance abuse). Their prevalence of high risk behaviors was significantly higher than the prevalence among regular high school students. (SM)

Summarizes results from 1999 national school-based surveys and trends during 1991-99 in selected youth risk behaviors as well as 33 state and 16 local school-based surveys. Prevalence of several injury-related behaviors and sexual behaviors have improved. Current smoking rates may be declining. Certain risk behaviors are more common among particular subpopulations of students. (SM)

Summarizes results from the 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and trends from 1991 to 1997 in selected risk behaviors. Results indicate that many high school students still practice behaviors that place them at risk for serious health problems, with some behaviors more likely among particular subgroups. Some behaviors vary considerably from city to city and state to state. (SM)

Six articles describe the background, design, methods, findings, and implications of the 1986-89 Teenage Health Teaching Modules Evaluation study which (1) determined whether one comprehensive secondary school health education curriculum could positively affect student health knowledge, attitudes, practices, and self-reported behaviors; and (2) examined how to implement curricula more effectively. (SM)

BACKGROUND: The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2006 examined 8 components of school health programs: health education, physical education and activity, health services, mental health and social services, nutrition services, healthy and safe school environment, faculty and staff health promotion, and family and community involvement. All 8 components were assessed at the state, district, and school levels. Two components, health education and physical education and activity, also were assessed at the classroom level. METHODS: Computer-assisted telephone interviews or self-administered mail questionnaires were completed by state education agency personnel in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and among a nationally representative sample of school districts (n = 538). Computer-assisted personal interviews were conducted with personnel in a nationally representative sample of elementary, middle, and high schools (n = 1103), with a nationally representative sample of teachers of required health education classes or courses (n = 912), and with a nationally representative sample of teachers of required physical education classes or courses (n = 1194). RESULTS: This article provides a detailed description of the development of the questionnaires; sampling; data collection; and data cleaning, weighting, and analysis. CONCLUSIONS: SHPPS 2006 is the largest and most comprehensive study of school health programs ever conducted. Fielding a study of this magnitude provides many challenges, and several recommendations for future studies emerged from the experience. Keywords: data collection; interviews; questionnaires; schools; surveys; telephone surveys., The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2006 was conducted by the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers [...]

School connectedness includes liking school and positive relations with teachers and peers. School connectedness is associated with a variety of positive health outcomes. The goal of this study was to identify characteristics of students, schools, and school neighborhoods that are related to school connectedness. In the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study, school connectedness was reported by 13,207 students (grades 6-10) in 340 schools. HBSC measured a variety of student characteristics. Characteristics of schools were culled from data maintained by Quality Education Data, and school neighborhood characteristics were derived from the 2000 decennial census. Associations between connectedness and student, school, and school neighborhood characteristics were estimated using hierarchical linear models. Characteristics of students, schools, and school neighborhoods were associated with school connectedness. Connectedness was greater among younger students, females, students with better academic performance and greater extracurricular involvement, students with greater self-rated physical attractiveness, students with more friends, students from 2-parent families, and students whose parents were more involved with school. Connectedness was greater in smaller schools, more racially homogeneous schools, and schools with more students from relatively wealthy households. School connectedness was higher in neighborhoods with a greater percentage of non-US citizens. As the percent of renters in the neighborhood increased beyond 20%, school connectedness tended to decrease. The findings point to possible strategies for fostering school connectedness., School connectedness has been defined in different ways, (1) but common indicators include liking school, a sense of belonging at school, positive relations with teachers and friends at school, and [...]

Only by knowing where we are can we determine where to go and how best to get there. This simple philosophy motivated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [...]

In recent years, public health officials increasingly have recognized the role of school physical education in public health initiatives to promote child and adult health.(1,2) This partnership between those responsible [...]

The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) is the first study to examine school health policies and programs for multiple components of the school health program[1,2] at the state, [...]

A widespread assumption in education suggests educational curricula can be more effectively implemented and subsequent student outcomes improved if teachers are first properly trained in using the curriculum. Thus, teachers [...]

Among other findings, the preceding article discussed the effect of a structured training program on teachers who subsequently used the Teenage Health Teaching Modules (THTM) for the first time. Compared [...]

Throughout the 1980s, accountability was watch-word of public policy. Health, social service, and educational programs are--more than at any time in history--being required to demonstrate their effectiveness. The Teenage Health [...]

The School Health Education Evaluation (SHEE) published in 1985 provided evidence about the effectiveness of health education at the elementary school level. (1) Based on evaluation of four curricula, the [...]

Intensive ground-based searches for white-tailed deer carcasses were conducted in the Dart Valley/Routeburn catchments following the aerial application of 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) cereal pellets as part of the 'Battle for the Birds'/ Tiakina Ngā Manu predator control program in August 2014. Four 100 ha areas were searched over four days. The detection rate of simulated carcasses allowed an estimation of the success rate for finding deer carcasses. All white-tailed deer carcasses located were confirmed to have muscle tissue containing traces of 1080 (range: 0.41–1.06 mg/kg). The detection rate of simulated carcasses was 78% (312/400). The adjusted number of dead white-tailed deer was 3.85 ± 0.85 (95% CI) over the 400 ha (0.96 deer/km2) suggesting a potential mortality of 146 ± 32 (95% CI) white-tailed deer in the predator control area of 15,215 ha. These results suggest that recurrent predator control operations may have implications for sustainable hunting of white-tailed deer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carabidae (Coleoptera) are commonly used as indicators of ecosystem health due to their high diversity, conservation value and relative ease of identification. Carabids were monitored at Ahuriri Scenic Reserve, Port Hills, Canterbury, from August 2007 to September 2008 using pitfall traps. Carabid captures, species richness and distribution across the reserve were compared with those found in a similar study in 1977–1978. Monthly carabid captures were highly correlated with average temperature in both studies. There was little evidence of carabids responding to habitat factors, such as leaf litter depth, pH or ground cover. However, Megadromus antarcticus was positively associated with canopy openness and ground cover, whereas Holcaspis angustula was more abundant where canopy cover was extensive and there was a relatively high incidence of bare rock. Thirteen species of carabid were recorded in 1977–1978, of which six were absent, four had decreased, one was stable and two species increased in abundance from collections made in 2007–2008. The loss of one Banks Peninsula and five New Zealand endemic beetle species from this reserve is of concern, and future work should aim to gain more detailed information on the habitat requirements of these species to assist conservation management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]