Identifying Problems Caused by Wildlife

1. Identifying Problems Caused by Wildlife Reminder: student learning activities are at the end of this power point.

2. Next Generation Wildlife/Common Core Standards Addressed! • HS‐LS2‐6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem. [Clarification Statement: Examples of changes in ecosystem conditions could include modest biological or physical changes, such as moderate hunting or a seasonal flood; and extreme changes, such as volcanic eruption or sea level rise. • HS‐LS2‐7. • Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’ chances to, survive and reproduce. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on: (1) distinguishing between group and individual behavior, (2) identifying evidence supporting the outcomes of group behavior, and (3) developing logical and reasonable arguments based on evidence. Examples of group behaviors could include flocking, schooling, herding, and cooperative behaviors such as hunting, migrating, and swarming.

3. Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource Standards Addressed • NRS.04.02. Diagnose plant and wildlife diseases and follow protocols to prevent their spread • NRS.04.02.02.a. Classify causes of diseases in wildlife and aquatic species and determine the correct authorities to whom some diseases should be reported.

4. Bell Work/Learning Objectives • Describe human health problems associated with wildlife. • Explain other problems related to wildlife. • Identify laws related to wildlife control.

5. Terms • Brucellosis • Bubonic Plague • Chronic Wasting Disease • Disease • Lyme Disease • Rabies • Wildlife • Zoonosis

6. Can big problems come in small packages? • Take a look at pictures of mosquitos and black-legged ticks. • Take a look at pictures of vehicle, crop and other property damages caused by wildlife. • Discuss this problems.

8. Crop Depredation by Livestock! • Wildlife depredation creates millions of dollars of loss for American Agriculture producers. • In eastern and central portions of the country White Tailed Deer are the major problem for producers. • In western regions of the country Mule Deer, Elk and Pronghorn Antelope all contribute to crop loss. • The range of the coyote has expanded to all parts of the country. Coyotes prey upon domestic livestock. Sheep and goats are especially susceptible to predation by coyotes. • Western states also experience predation from Mountain Lions and Wolves. The reintroduction of the wolf into New Mexico has been especially problematic for livestock producers in the western potion of our state.

9. What human health problems are associated with wildlife? • Many diseases that cause illness and death in humans are carried and transmitted by wildlife. • Some diseases are carried by animals but cause no symptoms. • Zoonosis are diseases transmissible from animals to man. There are over 200 such diseases.

10. What human health problems are associated with wildlife? Lyme disease • Caused by bacteria and is transmitted by different species of black legged ticks. • The highest risk area for this disease is along the Mid Atlantic and northern U.S. • Wear protective clothing when outside. • Cover all exposed skin. • Lyme disease is not common to NM but has been reported on occasion.

11. What human health problems are associated with wildlife? • Lyme Disease • Mosquitoes feed on infected birds • The infected mosquitoes then bite humans and animals. • Even if bitten by an infected mosquito, you have less than a 1% chance of infection.

12. What human health problems are associated with wildlife? • West Nile Virus • Caused by mosquito bites • Affects people, horses, and birds most commonly. • Symptoms include low-grade fever, rash or death. • WNV was first diagnosed in the U.S. in 1999. • WNV has been increasing in New Mexico each year. All ages are susceptible but the young and especially are impacted by the disease.

13. What human health problems are associated with wildlife? • Bubonic Plague • A disease that is transmitted by fleas that are infected by their host rodent. • Symptoms include swollen and very tender lymph gland, accompanied by pain, fever, chills, and headache. • The average occurrence has been 10-20 cases per year. • Most of the plague occurrences that occur take place in New Mexico. Most cases are found in northern NM especially in the four corners area.

14. What human health problems are associated with wildlife? • Rabies • Transmitted by contact with the saliva of an infected animal (bite or scratch). • Although humans can get rabies from wild animals, the most common way to get it is from infected domestic dogs.

15. What other problems are related to wildlife? • Bats • Use high frequency sound waves to navigate and find food. • They are nocturnal • Something that sleeps during the day and is active at night. • They scratch and crawl through attics and walls, damaging the walls and leaving droppings behind.

16. What other problems are related to wildlife? • Deer and smaller mammals, they consume tree seedlings and other crops. • Birds can decimate grain and sunflower fields. • Predators attack livestock and other domestic animals.

18. What other problems are related to wildlife? • Economic Problems • In 1999, sheep and goat producers lost an estimated $19.9 million due to predation. • In 2000, cattle producers’ losses to predators were worth $51.6 million. • Wildlife damages to U.S. agriculture was estimated at $944 million during 2001. • Corn alone accounts for more than $90 million annually in crop damages from wildlife.

22. What other problems are related to wildlife? • Overall bird populations cause an estimated annual lose to U.S. agriculture of $100 million. • Sunflower and rice crops are a favorite of blackbirds, leading to $4 to 11 million worth of losses annually. • Apples, blueberries and grapes have been estimated at more than $40 million in damages.

23. What other problems are related to wildlife? • During one year in Pennsylvania, white tailed deer cause crop losses totaling $30 million. • An estimated $100 million in damage each year to private and public property is due to beavers. • Mississippi catfish farmers lose nearly $6 million worth of fingerlings to fish eating birds.

24. Problem Wildlife in NM!

25. What Can Be Done about nuisance wildlife • Livestock producers and home owners may contact the New Mexico Game and Fish Department for assistance with nuisance wildlife. • The Game and Fish dept. provides assistance with fencing, trapping and relocation of nuisance wildlife. • The state and federal government have trappers available for the capture, transplanting and disposal of dangerous predators. • Assistance is also available for controlling large numbers of rodents such as prairie dogs.

26. The End!

27. Student Learning Activities • Sample tests are available in the Lesson Plan tab.

28. Have your students research different diseases that humans can get from animals. Have them write a 2-3 page research paper, explaining what the disease is and its symptoms. It should also explain how humans get the disease from animals. And any other interesting facts.

29. Have students look up different wildlife in NM that can be considered a nuisance, and how to legally take care of the problem. They can ether put together a presentation or write a research paper explaining what they learned from their research.

30. Name: _________________________ Identifying Problems Caused by Wildlife Worksheet Answer the following questions by ether filling in the blanks or answering with a complete sentence. Can big problems come in small packages? What are some ways that wildlife can cause problems? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Wildlife __________________________________ creates ________________________ of dollars of _________________________ for American Agriculture producers. In ____________________ and _____________________ portion of the country ______________________________ are the major problem for producers. In ______________________ regions of the country _____________________, __________________, and __________________________________ all contribute to ________________ loss. The rage of the ___________________________ has expanded to all parts of the __________________________. ________________________ prey upon domestic __________________________. ____________________ and ___________________ especially susceptible to ___________________________ by coyotes. __________________________ states also experience ____________________ from __________________________ and _________________. The _______________________ of the ______________________________ in New Mexico has been especially _______________________________ for livestock producers in the ___________________________ portion of our state.

31. What human health problems are associated with wildlife? • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • How does someone get Lyme disease? • ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • How can you help protect yourself from getting Lyme disease? • ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Where does Lyme disease get transferred from birds to humans? • ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • How likely are you to be infected with Lyme disease? • ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

32. What is West Nile Virus and how do you get it? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ When was the first case of West Nile Virus diagnosed in the U.S.? ________________________________________________________________________ How is the Bubonic Plague spread? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are the symptoms of the Bubonic Plague? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How common is the Bubonic Plague and where are most cases in New Mexico found? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How is Rabies transferred from animals to humans? Where do most humans get rabies from? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

33. Bats use high ___________________________________ sound _____________________________ to _______________________________ and find ______________________. They are ___________________________. They __________________ and ________________________ through __________________ and ____________________, damaging the _____________________ and leaving _______________________ behind. • What does nocturnal mean? • ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Deer and __________________________ mammals, they consume ___________________________ and other __________________. • Birds can decimate ___________________ and _______________________ fields. • Predators attack ___________________________ and other ____________________________ animals. • Economic Problems • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • What other problems are related to wildlife?

34. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • What can be done about nuisance wildlife? • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

35. KEY Name: _________________________ Identifying Problems Caused by Wildlife Worksheet Answer the following questions by ether filling in the blanks or answering with a complete sentence. Can big problems come in small packages? What are some ways that wildlife can cause problems? Yes, big problems can come in small packages. There are many ways that wildlife can cause problems some common ones are the diseases that mosquitos, ticks, and other insects carry. Wildlife can destroy property and crops. Wildlife depredation creates millions of dollars of loss for American Agriculture producers. In eastern and central portion of the country White Tailed Deer are the major problem for producers. In western regions of the country Mule Deer, Elk, and pronghorn Antelope all contribute to crop loss. The rage of the coyote has expanded to all parts of the country. Coyotes prey upon domestic livestock. Sheep and goats especially susceptible to predation by coyotes. Western states also experience predation from Mountain Lions and Wolves. The reintroduction of the wolf in New Mexico has been especially problematic for livestock producers in the western portion of our state. What human health problems are associated with wildlife?

36. Many diseases that cause illness and death in humans are carried and transmitted by wildlife. • Some diseases are carried by animals but cause no symptoms. • Zoonosis are diseases transmissible from animals to man. There are over 200 such diseases. • How does someone get Lyme disease? • Lyme disease is caused by bacteria and Is transmitted by different species of black legged ticks. The highest risk area for this disease is along the Mid-Atlantic and northern U.S. • How can you help protect yourself from getting Lyme disease? • You can help protect yourself from getting Lyme disease by wearing protective clothing when outside and covering all exposed skin. • Where does Lyme disease get transferred from birds to humans? • Lyme disease is transferred from birds to humans by: mosquitoes feed on infected birds and then the infected mosquitoes bite humans and animals. • How likely are you to be infected with Lyme disease? • Even if bitten by an infected mosquito, you have less than a 1% chance of infection.

37. What is West Nile Virus and how do you get it? West Nile Virus is a virus caused by mosquito bites. West Nile affects people, horses, and birds most commonly. When was the first case of West Nile Virus diagnosed in the U.S.? West Nile Virus was first diagnosed in the U.S. in 1999. How is the Bubonic Plague spread? Bubonic Plague is a disease that is transmitted by fleas that are infected by their host rodent. What are the symptoms of the Bubonic Plague? Symptoms include swollen and very tender lymph glands, accompanied by pain, fever, chills, and headache. How common is the Bubonic Plague and where are most cases in New Mexico found? The average occurrence had been 10-20 cases per year. Most of the plague occurrences that occur take place in New Mexico, and most of those cases are in the four corners area. How is Rabies transferred from animals to humans? Where do most humans get rabies from? Rabies is transmitted by contact with the saliva of an infected animal (bite or scratch). Humans can get rabies from wild animals but most the most common way to get it is from infected domestic dogs.

38. Bats use high frequency sound waves to navigate and find food. They are nocturnal. They scratch and crawl through attics and walls, damaging the walls and leaving droppings behind. • What does nocturnal mean? • Nocturnal is something that sleeps during the day and is active at night. • Deer and smaller mammals, they consume tree seedlings and other crops. • Birds can decimate grain and sunflower fields. • Predators attack livestock and other domestic animals. • Economic Problems • In 1999, sheep and goat producers lost an estimated $19.9 million due to predation. • In 2000, cattle producers’ losses to predators were worth$51.6 million. • Wildlife damages to U.S. agriculture was estimated at $944 million during 2001. • Corn alone accounts for more than $90 million annually in crop damages from wildlife. • What other problems are related to wildlife?

39. Overall bird populations cause an estimated annual lose to U.S. agriculture of $100 million. • Sunflower and rice crops are a favorite of blackbirds, leading to $4 to 11 million worth of losses annually. • Apples, blueberries and grapes have been estimated at more than $40 million in damages. • During one year in Pennsylvania, white tailed deer caused crop losses totaling $30 million. • An estimated $100 million in damages each year to private and public property is due to beavers. • Mississippi catfish farmers lose nearly $6 million worth of fingerlings to fish eating birds. • What can be done about nuisance wildlife? • Livestock producers and home owners may contact the New Mexico Game and Fish Department for assistance with nuisance wildlife. • The Game and Fish dept. provides assistance with fencing, trapping and relocation of nuisance wildlife. • The state and federal government have trappers available for the capture, transplanting and disposal of dangerous predators.