Influence of striped skunk removal on upland duck nest success in North Dakota

摘要: Duck production in the mid-continent prairie pothole region is severely limited by mammalian predation on eggs (Cowardin et al. 1983, 1985). In North Dakota and adjacent states, mammals with greatest impact upland nests are striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Franklin's ground squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii); other important duck nest predators badger (Taxidea taxus), coyote (Canis latrans), raccoon (Procyon lotor) (Sargeant Arnold 1984). production, as measured success (Duebbert Kantrud 1974, Duebbert Lokemoen 1980) or brood counts (Balser 1968) has increased substantially where intensive nonspecific predator control been conducted. However, little information available relative to a single species controlled. Ellig (1955) reported that nesting small area Montana skunks were removed; studies less conclusive (Kalmbach 1938, Keith 1961, Lynch 1972). I assessed influence of removing from waterfowl areas (WPAs) ducks.