The perception of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) both as a nuisance species and a keystone species presents a significant challenge to land, livestock, and wildlife managers. Anticoagulant and nonanticoagulant rodenticides are commonly employed to control prairie dog populations throughout their range. Chlorophacinone, and to a lesser extent zinc phosphide, are widely used in northwestern Kansas for controlling black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) populations. Although zinc phosphide poisoning of gallinaceous birds is not uncommon, there are few published accounts of nontarget chlorophacinone poisoning of wildlife. We report three mortality events involving nontarget rodenticide poisoning in several species, including wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), a raccoon (Procyon lotor), and an American badger (Taxidea taxus). This includes the first documentation of chlorophacinone intoxication in wild turkeys and an American badger in the literature. The extent of nontarget poisoning in this area is currently unknown and warrants further investigation.
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January 01 2011
Intoxication of Nontarget Wildlife with Rodenticides in Northwestern Kansas
Mark G. Ruder;
Mark G. Ruder
6
1 Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
6 Corresponding author (email: mgruder@uga.edu)
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Robert H. Poppenga;
Robert H. Poppenga
2 California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Toxicology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
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John A. Bryan, II;
John A. Bryan, II
1 Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
5 Current address: Biological Resource Management Division, National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525, USA
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Matt Bain;
Matt Bain
3 Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Colby, Kansas 66701, USA
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Jim Pitman;
Jim Pitman
4 Research and Survey Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Emporia, Kansas 66801, USA
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M. Kevin Keel
M. Kevin Keel
1 Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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J Wildl Dis (2011) 47 (1): 212–216.
Article history
Received:
November 25 2009
Accepted:
August 03 2010
Citation
Mark G. Ruder, Robert H. Poppenga, John A. Bryan, Matt Bain, Jim Pitman, M. Kevin Keel; Intoxication of Nontarget Wildlife with Rodenticides in Northwestern Kansas. J Wildl Dis 1 January 2011; 47 (1): 212–216. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-47.1.212
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