Predator-resembling aversive conditioning for managing habituated wildlife
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Published source details
Kloppers E.L., St Clair C. & Hurd T.E. (2005) Predator-resembling aversive conditioning for managing habituated wildlife. Ecology and Society, 10, 31.
Published source details Kloppers E.L., St Clair C. & Hurd T.E. (2005) Predator-resembling aversive conditioning for managing habituated wildlife. Ecology and Society, 10, 31.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Scare or otherwise deter mammals from human-occupied areas to reduce human-wildlife conflict Action Link |
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Scare or otherwise deter mammals from human-occupied areas to reduce human-wildlife conflict
A controlled study in 2001–2002 at a town and surrounding forest in Alberta, Canada (Kloppers et al. 2005) found that after being chased by humans, the average distance of elk Cervus canadensis from the town increased more than it did for elk chased by dogs Canis lupus familiaris or for elk that were not chased. The average distance of elk from the town boundary increased for all treatment groups but the increase was larger for elk chased by humans (after: 1,130 m; before: 184 m) than for elk chased by dogs (after: 1,041 m; before: 535 m) or for elk that were not chased (after: 881 m; before: 629 m). Twenty-four elk were radio-collared. Each was assigned to being chased by humans, chased by dogs or not chased, 10 times, from November 2001 to March 2002. Chases lasted 15 minutes and covered averages of 1,148 m when humans (shooting starter pistols) chased elk and 1,219 m when two border collie dogs chased elk. Non-chased elk moved an average of 49 m during 15 minutes. Capture and collar-fitting may have produced some aversive response though animal handling was uniform across groups. Displacement from the town boundary was calculated from daily sightings or radio-signals, from September 2001 to March 2002.
(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
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