{"id":3534,"date":"2021-08-30T17:49:54","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T17:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/?page_id=3534"},"modified":"2021-08-30T17:49:54","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T17:49:54","slug":"pelican-damage-prevention-and-control-methods","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/?page_id=3534","title":{"rendered":"Pelican Damage Prevention and Control Methods"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/icwdm.org\/species\/birds\/american-white-pelican\/\">Identification\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/icwdm.org\/species\/birds\/american-white-pelican\/pelican-biology\/\">Biology\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/icwdm.org\/species\/birds\/pelican-damage-identification\/\">Damage ID<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/icwdm.org\/pelican-damage-prevention-and-control-methods\/\">Management<\/a>\u00a0| Resources<\/p>\n<h2>Overview of Damage Prevention and Control Methods<\/h2>\n<h3>Habitat Modification<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Eliminate water from loafing sites<\/li>\n<li>Eliminate open wetland sites<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Exclusion<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Mesh wire<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Frightening<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Spotlights<\/li>\n<li>Pyrotechnics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Repellents<\/h3>\n<p>None registered<\/p>\n<h3>Toxicants<\/h3>\n<p>None registered.<\/p>\n<h3>Shooting<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Shotgun (12 gauge or larger)<\/li>\n<li>Centerfire rifle (.22-cal or larger)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Trapping<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Foothold traps<\/li>\n<li>Rocket nets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Other Control Methods<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Nest destruction<\/li>\n<li>Egg oiling or addling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Damage Prevention and Control Methods<\/h2>\n<h3>Habitat Modification<\/h3>\n<p>Removal or elimination\u00a0of\u00a0water from loafing sites (e.g., flooded fields) can\u00a0cause\u00a0pelicans\u00a0to abandon\u00a0a site.\u00a0Other modifications may include\u00a0eliminating open wetland sites by planting perennial woody vegetation.<\/p>\n<h3>Exclusion<\/h3>\n<p>Exclusion may prevent pelican predation and disease transfer.\u00a0Selection of a barrier system depends on the size of facility and whether the barrier will interfere with other operations. Other considerations include possible damage from severe weather and the barrier\u2019s effect on site aesthetics in visually sensitive areas.\u00a0Care must be taken to construct any physical barrier so that it does not become a lethal object to\u00a0non-target\u00a0birds, especially threatened and endangered species. The barrier\u00a0material\u00a0should be visible to birds to minimize accidental entrapment and\/or injury. Avoid using loosely hung, small mesh netting such as mist netting, as it will cause excessive bird loss and draw public and regulatory attention.<\/p>\n<p>Although often cost prohibitive, near total exclusion can eliminate up to 90% of pelican access to individual ponds. One aquaculturist in south Mississippi used a combination of overhead grid wires, perimeter electric fencing, and harassment to exclude about 90% of brown pelicans from landing or entering his fish ponds. The producer reported a cost of \u201cnearly $3 million\u201d to set up the exclusion devices at five 6-acre ponds.<\/p>\n<p>In general, enclosing ponds and raceways to exclude all fish-eating birds requires 1- to 2-inch\u00a0mesh netting secured to frames or supported by overhead wires. In addition, gates and other openings must be covered. In areas with harsh winter conditions, nets must have an adequate framework or support cables to prevent ice or snow accumulation from ripping the netting.<\/p>\n<p>Some hatchery operators use mesh panels placed on the raceway walls above the water to effectively exclude birds. Secure small mesh wire or net less than 1 inch to wood or pipe frames to prevent feeding through the panel. Design panels to accommodate demand or automatic feeders and feed blowers that feed through mesh-covered raceways. Since panels may interfere with feeding, cleaning, or harvesting operations, they may be more appropriate for seasonal or temporary use.<\/p>\n<p>All exclusion structures must be strong enough to prevent the weight of large birds and their activities from making the net sag to within feeding distance of the water. Construct all exclusion structures to allow use of fish maintenance equipment and, if necessary, to withstand wind and the accumulation of snow and ice.\u00a0Nonrigid\u00a0exclusion structures such as suspended netting may need lines, pulleys, and counterweights to facilitate lifting and lowering during adverse conditions or maintenance.<\/p>\n<p>Although\u00a0complete exclusion\u00a0may not be practical, various barrier techniques may limit pelican access to ponds or to the fish in these ponds.\u00a0Nets\u00a0suspended over catfish farm levees can prevent pelican depredation. However, use of these nets is impractical as most catfish farm levees\u00a0are not wide enough to accommodate support structures\u00a0for the net\u00a0and still allow vehicle access. Plastic and wire grids over catfish ponds can deter pelican flocks from landing and taking off, but do not necessarily\u00a0exclude individual birds.\u00a0Some success with simple parallel overhead wires spaced on\u00a026-foot\u00a0centers has\u00a0been reported, but in other\u00a0studies,\u00a0birds simply landed on the levees and walked under the wires into the ponds.<\/p>\n<h3>Frightening Devices<\/h3>\n<p>Frightening devices and techniques modify behavior and discourage birds from feeding, roosting, or gathering at a location.\u00a0American\u00a0white\u00a0pelicans are\u00a0typically\u00a0diurnal foragers,\u00a0but often forage at night,\u00a0especially in areas where daytime harassment is effective. During daylight hours, pelicans forage mainly during early morning and late afternoon and\u00a0loaf during mid-day. However, pelicans quickly adapt to standardized harassment schedules. Pelicans have been observed leaving a loafing site\u00a0to forage at catfish farms\u00a0less than\u00a015 minutes\u00a0after the harassment person left the facility for lunch\u00a0and returning to\u00a0their loafing site about 10 minutes\u00a0before the harassment person returned. Alternating harassment methods typically is most effective, especially\u00a0harassing the birds at their loafing sites near catfish farms cause\u00a0the birds to abandon the site and often reduce\u00a0or eliminate\u00a0predation at nearby facilities.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In south\u00a0Louisiana,\u00a0bright spotlights\u00a0have been successful\u00a0in\u00a0dispersing\u00a0nocturnal foraging pelicans from catfish ponds.<\/li>\n<li>Pyrotechnics can be effective in dispersing pelicans from foraging and loafing sites if other techniques are available as needed. Possession and use of pyrotechnics may require a permit from the local, county, and\/or state fire marshal. Harassment by personnel on foot, ATVs, boats, or other vehicles combined with pyrotechnics can be effective. Lethal reinforcement is often necessary when pelicans become habituated to other techniques such as pyrotechnics and propane canons. As pelicans begin to ignore harassment techniques, shooting one or two pelicans often will cause the entire flock to leave the area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Repellents<\/h3>\n<p>None registered.<\/p>\n<h3>Toxicants<\/h3>\n<p>None registered.<\/p>\n<h3>Shooting<\/h3>\n<p>As with all firearms,\u00a0make sure\u00a0it is safe to discharge a firearm in a particular area.\u00a0Because American\u00a0white\u00a0pelicans are large birds,\u00a0accuracy is essential to ensure\u00a0immediate death.\u00a0Dispatch wounded birds\u00a0quickly.\u00a0Use\u00a0a\u00a0shotgun,\u00a012-gauge\u00a0or larger, with\u00a0T-shot or larger.\u00a0Use a\u00a0centerfire\u00a0rifle of .22-cal or larger\u00a0(e.g. .223,\u00a0.22-250)\u00a0for shooting individual birds.\u00a0Shot birds\u00a0should be\u00a0disposed\u00a0of as soon as possible\u00a0in accordance with permit instructions. Leaving bird carcasses on a facility can\u00a0attract\u00a0other predators, can be illegal,\u00a0and generally\u00a0is\u00a0viewed as poor management by the public.<\/p>\n<h3>Trapping<\/h3>\n<h4>Foothold Traps<\/h4>\n<p>Modified padded foothold traps, such as the Victor No. 3 Softcatch (use of trade names does not imply endorsement), are effective in capturing pelicans and other wading birds (Figure 10). Replace the factory springs with the springs of the weaker Victor No. 1.5 Softcatch to lessen the initial impact of the closing jaws on the pelican\u2019s leg. In addition, replace the factory chain with an 8-inch length of 0.15-inch aircraft cable and a 12-inch elastic shock-cord to minimize injury to captured birds. Attach additional box and stake swivels to increase the flexibility of the swiveling system (see Figure 10).<\/p>\n<p>Set these modified foothold traps in areas of high bird densities, typically flooded fields, pond levees, or loafing sites near colonies.\u00a0Traps set in the water\u00a0should be completely submerged\u00a0but in water shallow\u00a0(3\u00a0to\u00a06 inches)\u00a0enough that birds could step into them.\u00a0Slowly approach potential capture sites, flush the birds, and set traps\u00a010\u00a0to\u00a013 feet\u00a0apart along transects.\u00a0Drive trap\u00a0stakes flush with the substrate, and\u00a0conceal the\u00a0elastic shock\u00a0cords and swivels\u00a0by pushing them\u00a0into the mud or covering them\u00a0with sediment.\u00a0On land, set traps within 3 feet of\u00a0the water\u2019s edge.\u00a0Traps on levees can be set using a basic dirt-hole set similar to that used for coyotes.\u00a0Once set, traps should be monitored constantly.\u00a0Captured animals should be removed from traps\u00a0immediately.\u00a0When properly used,\u00a0these modified traps\u00a0are\u00a0safe and humane\u00a0for\u00a0capturing\u00a0pelicans.<\/p>\n<p>Each modified trap currently costs approximately $30.<\/p>\n<h4>Rocket nets<\/h4>\n<p>A portable rocket-net system\u00a0can be modified\u00a0by building\u00a0a\u00a0box out of\u00a00.12-inch\u00a0aircraft aluminum (Figure\u00a011).\u00a0The box, net, and rockets can be set in water\u00a00.8\u00a0to\u00a01.6 inches deep with the box open\u00ading angled out of the water. This system can be used on an exposed mud flat, pond levee, or other loafing site.\u00a0Fold the net into the box prior to placing it at the capture site. Large nets\u00a0(60\u00a0x\u00a040\u00a0feet\u00a0or\u00a050\u00a0x\u00a030 feet) with 2\u00a0to\u00a04 rockets can be used depending on the box design. The net, stakes, and rockets can be stored in the box and the entire device easily transported by two people or by an ATV. The box, rockets, charges, and net currently cost approximately\u00a0$2,000.<\/p>\n<p>As with other fish-eating birds, American white pelicans are attracted to bodies of water containing sick or dying prey. However, pelicans wintering in the southeast US are wary of humans; logistically, developing and maintaining a bait site to attract birds has proven very difficult.<\/p>\n<p>The use of foothold traps and\/or\u00a0rocket-nets requires\u00a0permits from the Migratory Bird Office, USFWS,\u00a0and state wildlife agencies. The use and storage of rocket net charges may be controlled by\u00a0the\u00a0US\u00a0Occupational\u00a0Safety and\u00a0Health\u00a0Administration,\u00a0US\u00a0Department of Transportation,\u00a0and\u00a0US\u00a0Bureau of\u00a0Alcohol,\u00a0Tobacco,\u00a0Firearms, and\u00a0Explosives.<\/p>\n<h3>Handling<\/h3>\n<p>Pelicans are large birds; be careful\u00a0when approaching live birds. Pelicans have sharp edges along their upper bill. One of the pelican\u2019s defense mechanisms is to snap or bite. The edges of the bill can cause knife-like cuts. Always first grab a live pelican by its bill (both\u00a0upper and lower)\u00a0using one hand\u00a0and do not allow the bill to move in your hand.\u00a0Remember that the bird cannot\u00a0go anywhere without its bill and head.<\/p>\n<h4>Relocation<\/h4>\n<p>Only two known attempts have been made to relocate pelicans from a damage site. Both attempts had good short-term success but long-term usefulness is not known.\u00a0Pelicans captured and relocated\u00a012 miles\u00a0from\u00a0one\u00a0aquaculture facility did not return to the facility for at least 3 weeks.<\/p>\n<h4>Translocation<\/h4>\n<p>Not known.<\/p>\n<h4>Euthanasia<\/h4>\n<p>Euthanasia\u00a0recommendations are intended to serve as guidelines, and they require the use of professional judgment for specific situations. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of those carrying out euthanasia to assure that it is done in the most humane manner possible.\u00a0Shooting, decapitation, exsanguination, chemicals (carbon dioxide, lethal injections), and blunt force trauma (stunning)\u00a0to the base of the skull, followed by cervical dislocation are approved\u00a0methods of euthanasia for large birds,\u00a0such as pelicans.<\/p>\n<h4>Disposal<\/h4>\n<p>Check your local,\u00a0state, and federal\u00a0regulations regarding carcass disposal.<\/p>\n<h3>Other Control Methods<\/h3>\n<h4>Nest destruction<\/h4>\n<p>Pelicans are protected by the\u00a0MBTA.\u00a0Removal of\u00a0nests\u00a0and any human activity\u00a0in nesting colonies\u00a0during the\u00a0breeding season\u00a0are\u00a0regulated\u00a0by the USFWS and state\/provincial\u00a0agencies.<\/p>\n<h4>Egg Oiling or Addling<\/h4>\n<p>Any nest removal, egg oiling,\u00a0or addling\u00a0activities\u00a0in nesting colonies\u00a0is regulated\u00a0by the USFWS and state\/provincial\u00a0agencies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Identification\u00a0|\u00a0Biology\u00a0|\u00a0Damage ID\u00a0|\u00a0Management\u00a0| Resources Overview of Damage Prevention and Control Methods Habitat Modification Eliminate water from loafing sites Eliminate open wetland &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/nwco.net\/?page_id=3534\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Pelican Damage Prevention and Control Methods<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":3523,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3534","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3534"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3534"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3535,"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3534\/revisions\/3535"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwco.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}