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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern |
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Project Title:
Revision, Expansion, and Maintenance of the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: NY Lead Organization: Cornell University |
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Cooperating State(s):
Nebraska, South Carolina, Utah |
| Extension Funding: $30,000 |
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Start Date: May-14-2004 End Date: May-14-2006 |
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Pests Involved: wildlife, vertebrates |
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Area of Emphasis: education |
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Summary:
Human-wildlife conflicts are costly, significant, and pervasive in society. Principles of integrated pest management (IPM) can be applied in most situations to reduce damage and nuisance problems to tolerable levels. Unfortunately, the educational infrastructure for IPM has not been as well developed for dealing with vertebrate species as it has been for other pest species, commodities, and systems. As the number and significance of problems with wildlife increase, so too does the need for efficient transfer of information and technology. In 1995-1997, we developed the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (ICWDM, http://icwdm.org). The website serves as a clearinghouse for all information on the worldwide web that deals with wildlife damage management. Funding for the project was provided by the Regional Integrated Pest Management Competitive Grants Program (North Central and Western Regions). The impacts of the ICWDM are significant and documented. Results from on-line surveys of ICWDM users indicate that a revision and expansion of the website would greatly improve the visibility, utility, ease of navigation, and impacts of the ICWDM. We propose to revise and expand the ICWDM. Efforts will be coordinated through the Project Director at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will include contributions form three regional cooperators. The ICWDM is so extensive and widely linked that it includes elements that address all six priorities of the IPM Regional Competitive Grants Program. This Extension project is nation-wide and international in scope. Therefore, we are requesting support from all four IPM regions.
Problem, Justification, and Background Nearly all segments of society experience problems with wildlife. Row crops, forages, rangeland, fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, turf, and livestock are all susceptible to damage by wildlife at various stages of production. Agricultural producers lose an estimated $45 billion dollars each year due to crop damage caused by deer, voles, blackbirds, and other wildlife species (Conover 2002). In addition, over 75,000 people are injured annually or become ill due to wildlife-related incidents (Conover et al. 1995). For most of these problems, IPM principles could be applied to reduce damage to tolerable levels (Hygnstrom et al. 1994). Pest monitoring is a critical aspect of managing wildlife damage and economic thresholds have been established for some vertebrate species. Pesticides are used occasionally to control problem wildlife, but alternative management systems including habitat modification, exclusion, frightening devices, repellents, trapping, and shooting are more commonly used. Unfortunately, the educational infrastructure for IPM has not been as well developed for dealing with vertebrate species as it has been for other pests, commodities, and systems. As the number and significance of human-wildlife conflicts increases, so too does the need for efficient transfer of information and technology. The world-wide web provides an excellent opportunity to consolidate existing and future information on IPM and wildlife damage management. In 1995, we developed the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (ICWDM, (http://icwdm.org/, Appendix 1), which serves as the clearinghouse for all information on wildlife damage management on the web. Our efforts were supported by grants from the Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program (North Central and Western regions) and the University of Nebraska IPM-Vertebrates Program. The ICWDM features current events, pages that describe damage issues involving more than 70 species of wildlife, and an on-line copy of the book, "Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage." The ICWDM links to cooperative extension publications in wildlife damage management at 40 universities. As of June 2002, users could search a rapidly growing database of over 900 full text articles or abstracts from proceedings of scientific conferences involved in wildlife damage management. The ICWDM has attained a broad prominence on the Internet, as it is: 1) accessed over 1,200 times per day by individuals from commercial industry (22%), networks (22%), educational institutions (17%), government institutions (2%), military facilities (2%), and nongovernmental organizations (1%); 2) accessed by users from over 40 different countries each month; and 3) the number one hit in nine of the top fifteen Internet search engines when using "wildlife damage" as the key phrase. 4) In addition, over 150 web sites associated with state and federal agencies, private businesses, and organizations, have been linked to the ICWDM, including http://wildlifecontrol.info in the Northeastern U.S.; 5) 325 wildlife businesses from 43 US states and Canada have placed entries in the directory database; and 6) the ICWDM hosts websites for the National Animal Damage Control Association, The Wildlife Society-Wildlife Damage Management Working Group, and the Western Coordinating Committee of Vertebrate Pests in Agriculture, Forestry, and Public Lands. The ICWDM has been tremendously successful since its inception in 1995. Results from on-line surveys of ICWDM users, however, indicate that a revision and expansion of the website would greatly improve the visibility, utility, ease of navigation and impacts of the website. So much information has been built into the current home page that it takes several seconds to scroll through all of the introductory information and links. We believe that a revised and expanded edition of the ICWDM will significantly increase public awareness and understanding of wildlife damage problems. It will facilitate distribution of management information to the public and increase communication among resource providers. Ultimately, the ICWDM will increase implementation of IPM practices that will lead to increased economic and environmental benefits. Our proposed extension project will impact more than the North Central Region; it is nation-wide and international in scope. Therefore, we are requesting extension support from all four IPM regions. Objectives: 1. Increase public awareness of wildlife damage problems (identification and impacts) and management strategies (IPM and alternative approaches); 2. Increase public access to agencies, organizations, consultants, and vendors that provide information, materials, and assistance on wildlife damage management; 3. Increase communication among resource professionals associated with IPM and wildlife damage management on the Internet; and 4. Increase adoption of IPM strategies and alternative pest management practices by producers, homeowners, and commercial pest management professionals. Progress Report 2005 Final Report Highlighted in February 2008 IPM Insights |
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