PCA-VERTEBRATES ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is the responsibility of the PCA in regards to vertebrate pest? find and recommend appropriate solutions that protect the producer from economic loss without compromising the safety of the surrounding non-target animal populations Other then the likelihood of success against the target animals, what should be consider too before using measures? the possible impact on the total system, particularly against non-target animals In what way do vertebrate animals differ from insects and earthworms? they have a jointed spinal column composed of a series of bones called vertebrae, include fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals Give the definition of an agricultural vertebrate pest? any native or introduced wild or feral, non-human vertebrate animal that limits or decreases yield potential of agricultural or natural resource products What is a major yield constraint of sheep? mountain lion but keeps ecological control of elk and deer Should a PCA strive to eliminate every member of pest population? they should strive to minimize agricultural economic loss as they bring pest populations down to acceptable levels Most problems with vertebrates occur as result of what? habitat modification and it is this modification that permits some species to increase in number to the point that they compete with human interest PCA should be familiar with what before control is initiated taxonomy distribution biology natural history behavioral characteristics What is the primary goal of any vertebrate pest control program in an agricultural production system? alleviate the pest problem while protecting non-target plants and animals What can happen with improper control methods it may not only create deserved criticism from the public but also stimulate emotional opposition to any control , regardless of the the justification what are the five basic steps for solving a vertebrate problem? 1. define problem ify the species involved mine the potential environmental impact and human relationship involved der land ownership status and its impact on control options der all available control methods, based on the most current existing knowledge and evaluate the effects of the technique used in order to recommend future control measures Federal lands preclude the use of what? poison but on private lands control measures may be less restricted. However, wildlife on private lands is still consider to be property of the state natural control native populations of all living things, both plant and animals, rain more grass more bunnies equals more coyotes what are the two forces that effect local environment? physical conditions(temp, rainfall, and protective cover) biological factors(food plants, predators, parasites) Regulatory control regulatory measures seek to prevent a particular pest from entering AZ by excluding them legally Environmental management changes the living conditions of a given pest animal to the point that populations cannot develop to destructive levels -fencing -reducing favor plant species -removing or thinning out protective plant coverage Behavior manipulation the use of techniques and equipment to reduce or eliminate vertebrate pest damage, causing them to act in manner that is not consistent with their normal behavior -repellants, physical (noise makers, nets)or chemical (taste, smells Competitive displacement creating an environment that is attractive to predators may help to reduce a pest population to acceptable numbers Population reduction physical remove selected numbers of individuals from the environment through acceptable legal means such as trapping, shooting, the use of chemical posions Current AZ law states that wildlife mammals, may be taken only during daylight hours and should not be taken at night with the aid of artificial light except? raccoon, and non-game mammals, predatory, and fur-bearing animals may be taken by trap day or night All wildlife living within the state of AZ are managed by the state. As publicly managed resource are protected by state and federal lands unless held by legal, private ownership or located on tribal lands Any person suffering property damage from wildlife may exercise all reasonable measures to alleviate such damage, except reasonable measures shall not include injuring or killing game mammals, game birds or wildlife protected by federal law or regulation unless authorized under Many vertebrate animals can be agricultural pests, but some species routinely cause significant economic damage which are birds and mammals What are the common bird pest red-wing black bird European starling horned larks crowned sparrows house sparrows house finch woodpeckers flickers sapsuckers crows ravens feral pigens What game birds are occasionally agricultural pest morning doves and white doves Common mammal agricultural pest include pocket gophers, ground squirrels, rats, mice, and rabbits, javelina, elk and deer, coyotes and feral dogs All birds cause economic damage loss in agricultural productive systems, but significant damage only occurs when high populations are present Main damage by birds to agricultural interests 1. predation and destruction of agricultural products mination of foodstuff 3. transmission of disease, especially to poultry and dairy animals methods for bird control frightening devices, sticky chemicals on ledges and roots mechanical barriers repellents trapping shooting