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Capture–mark–recapture (CMR) population parameter estimation utilizing DNA analysis from remotely-collected hair samples to identify individuals and generate encounter histories has become the standard methodology for estimating abundance of American black (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bear (U. arctos) populations. However, few published studies have examined the time frame for efficiently collecting high-quality hair samples. Our objectives were to examine several measures of hair trapping success and sample quality, such as DNA amplification rates and the mean number of black bear hair samples collected per trap visit, from hair-snare samples collected in 2 non-overlapping, multi-interval sampling frames conducted during 2005 and 2006 at Fort Drum Military Installation in northern New York. Through our data analyses and a review of 12 other bear CMR studies using remote hair sampling, we emphasize that temporal sampling frame is a crucial consideration in study design. To avoid biased populati...

We monitored a maternity colony of little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus on Fort Drum Military Installation in northern New York in 2009 and 2010 for impacts associated with white-nose syndrome. Declines in colony numbers presumed to be caused by white-nose syndrome were initially discovered in the spring 2009. Although colony numbers have continued to decline, we determined that a minimum of 12 individual banded female little brown myotis survived over multiple years despite exposure to white-nose syndrome. Our results also provide evidence that 14 of 20 recaptured female little brown myotis were able to heal from wing damage and infection associated with white-nose syndrome within a given year, and seven of eight recaptures from within both 2009 and 2010 showed evidence of reproduction.

American Woodcock singing-ground surveys (SGS) have been conducted annually on Fort Drum Military Installation since 1992 (excluding 1993 and 2000). These SGS indicate Fort Drum has a stable to slightly increasing breeding woodcock population, with average numbers of males heard per route ranging between 13.00 and 22.58 birds. These numbers are significantly higher, and in stark contrast, to many parts of the American Woodcock's range, where numbers have been in decline for over 30 years. We suggest that current forest management practices and military training create favorable successional regimes that satisfy all necessary life-history requirements and help sustain these densities of breeding woodcock at Fort Drum.

The control of feral goats (Capra hircus) was studied on Aldabra Atoll, Republic of Seychelles, from October 1993 to May 1994 and November 1994 to May 1995. A total of 832 goats was killed on Aldabra using the Judas goat technique and traditional hunting methods. Twenty-eight goats equipped with radio transmitters (Judas goats) were used to locate and kill other feral goats. The remnant goat populations on Ile Picard (n=13) and Ile Malabar (n=19) were eradicated during the first season. On Grande Terre, a total of 798 (374 M : 424 F) goats were killed. Mean group size was 3.2 with a range of 1–20. Judas goat hunting became increasingly important over time with 18.0% (n=85) of goats killed in the presence of Judas goats in the first season compared to 42.3% (n=126) of goats killed during the second season. The overall kill rate for the project was almost 2 times greater for Judas goat hunting (0.61 goats killed/h) than traditional hunting (0.32 goats killed/h). The home range size of each Judas goat and the number of goats killed in association with it was significantly related. Using the Leslie–Davis removal method of population estimation, 84 goats were estimated to remain on all of Grande Terre at the end of thebreak project.