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Electric fences to reduce mammalian predation on waterfowl nests

January 1, 1982

We evaluated electric fences as predator barriers to reduce high losses of waterfowl nests to mammalian predation at Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). The work was done in 1978-81 on 3 paired sites in central North Dakota and western Minnesota. Resident mammalian predators were trapped from inside the exclosures. All 3 fences operated during the study period with few major maintenance problems. Nest success in the exclosures was 65% in North Dakota and 55% in Minnesota vs. 45 and 12% in the respective controls. Cover inside the electric fence produced 7.8 more young/ha than cover in control plots in North Dakota during the 3 years. Cover inside the 2 electric fences in Minnesota yielded 9.5 and 4.3 more young/ha than cover in control plots during the 3 years. Using construction costs only we estimated that each additional duckling produced in cover protected by electric fencing cost $0.65 in North Dakota and $0.87 in Minnesota.

Publication Year 1982
Title Electric fences to reduce mammalian predation on waterfowl nests
Authors J. T. Lokemoen, H. A. Doty, D.E. Sharp, J.E. Neaville
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Wildlife Society Bulletin
Index ID 1001252
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center