Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
- description: Recreational shooting of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) is a common activity at Thunder Basin
National Grassland (TSNG), Wyoming. The prairie dog carcasses left in the area are scavenged by coyotes (Canis latrans), raptors,
and other animals. These scavengers are susceptible to lead (Pb) poisoning if they consume Pb bullet fragments or Pb shot
when scavenging the shooter-killer prairie dogs. In 2000, a local rehabilitator noted an increase of Pb poisoning cases in
raptors (L.Layton, pers. comm. 3/30/01) from the area. We collected several shooter-killed prairie dog carcasses from the
TBNG for determining if Pb fragments remained embedded in the tissue that potentially would be consumed by raptors. Radiographs
showed fragments consistent with Pb to be present. In 2002, we conducted a more in-depth study to determine if Pb poisoning
was occurring in raptors at TBNG by documenting the number of raptors on prairie dogs at colonies where shooting occurred,
assaying bullet fragments in shot prairie dogs to determine Pb content, and analyzing blood and feather samples of ferruginous
hawk (Buteo regalis) and golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nestlings and feathers from burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia)
for clinical signs of Pb poisoning. We observed raptors foraging at prairie dog colonies and collected data on the number
of shooters shooting at prairie dog colonies. To determine if raptors preferred foraging on shot prairie dogs, we compared
raptor use at prairie dog colonies where shooting occurred to raptor use at raptor use at prairie dog colonies where shooting
did not occur. Shooting intensity did not predict raptor use. We also collected prairie dog carcasses and examined them for
Pb shot fragments. We detected metal fragments in four of ten prairie dog carcasses. The total weight of the fragments found
in each carcass ranged from 10-146 mg. Copper was the primary metal detected in 3 of 4 carcasses; but, significant amounts
of Pb (20 mg, 28 mg, and 124mg) were found in the three carcasses. Blood Pb concentrations in ferruginous hawk nestlings were
below sub-clinical level at TBNG and the control site near Rawlins, Wyoming. Analysis of red blood cell delta-aminolevulinic
acid dehydratase activity, hemoglobin levels, and protoporphyrin levels also did not indicate Pb poisoning in ferruginous
hawk nestlings. Additionally, blood and feather samples from golden eagle nestlings and feather samples from burrowing owls
(juveniles and adults) at TBNG and did not indicate Pb poisoning. Although ferruginous hawks and golden eagles (and possibly
burrowing owls) scavenge on the carcasses of shot prairie dogs and some carcasses contained Pb-bullet fragments, we did not
detect Pb poisoning in any of the birds. Lead poisoning may become important if the availability of alternative food sources
decreases or shooter intensity increases.; abstract: Recreational shooting of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)
is a common activity at Thunder Basin National Grassland (TSNG), Wyoming. The prairie dog carcasses left in the area are scavenged
by coyotes (Canis latrans), raptors, and other animals. These scavengers are susceptible to lead (Pb) poisoning if they consume
Pb bullet fragments or Pb shot when scavenging the shooter-killer prairie dogs. In 2000, a local rehabilitator noted an increase
of Pb poisoning cases in raptors (L.Layton, pers. comm. 3/30/01) from the area. We collected several shooter-killed prairie
dog carcasses from the TBNG for determining if Pb fragments remained embedded in the tissue that potentially would be consumed
by raptors. Radiographs showed fragments consistent with Pb to be present. In 2002, we conducted a more in-depth study to
determine if Pb poisoning was occurring in raptors at TBNG by documenting the number of raptors on prairie dogs at colonies
where shooting occurred, assaying bullet fragments in shot prairie dogs to determine Pb content, and analyzing blood and feather
samples of ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) and golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nestlings and feathers from burrowing owls
(Athene cunicularia) for clinical signs of Pb poisoning. We observed raptors foraging at prairie dog colonies and collected
data on the number of shooters shooting at prairie dog colonies. To determine if raptors preferred foraging on shot prairie
dogs, we compared raptor use at prairie dog colonies where shooting occurred to raptor use at raptor use at prairie dog colonies
where shooting did not occur. Shooting intensity did not predict raptor use. We also collected prairie dog carcasses and examined
them for Pb shot fragments. We detected metal fragments in four of ten prairie dog carcasses. The total weight of the fragments
found in each carcass ranged from 10-146 mg. Copper was the primary metal detected in 3 of 4 carcasses; but, significant amounts
of Pb (20 mg, 28 mg, and 124mg) were found in the three carcasses. Blood Pb concentrations in ferruginous hawk nestlings were
below sub-clinical level at TBNG and the control site near Rawlins, Wyoming. Analysis of red blood cell delta-aminolevulinic
acid dehydratase activity, hemoglobin levels, and protoporphyrin levels also did not indicate Pb poisoning in ferruginous
hawk nestlings. Additionally, blood and feather samples from golden eagle nestlings and feather samples from burrowing owls
(juveniles and adults) at TBNG and did not indicate Pb poisoning. Although ferruginous hawks and golden eagles (and possibly
burrowing owls) scavenge on the carcasses of shot prairie dogs and some carcasses contained Pb-bullet fragments, we did not
detect Pb poisoning in any of the birds. Lead poisoning may become important if the availability of alternative food sources
decreases or shooter intensity increases.
Citation
- Title Secondary lead poisoning in golden eagle and ferruginous hawk chicks consuming shot black-tailed prairie dogs, Thunder Basin
National Grassland, Wyoming.
-
- creation Date
2018-05-10T14:44:47.920881
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2018-08-06T23:59:35Z
Resource Maintenance Information
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- notes: This metadata record was generated by an xslt transformation from a dc metadata record; Transform by Stephen M. Richard, based
on a transform by Damian Ulbricht. Run on 2018-08-06T23:59:35Z
Metadata contact
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pointOfContact
- organisation Name
CINERGI Metadata catalog
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- Address
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- electronic Mail Address cinergi@sdsc.edu
Metadata language
eng
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utf8
Metadata standard for this record:
ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification
standard version:
2007
Metadata record identifier:
urn:dciso:metadataabout:39df3cb9-411b-4e1c-aab6-c548a4d5581b
Metadata record format is ISO19139 XML (MD_Metadata)