Sylvatic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, frequently afflicts prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), causing population declines and local extirpations. We tested the effectiveness of bait-delivered sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) in prairie dog colonies on 29 paired placebo and treatment plots (1–59 ha in size; average 16.9 ha) in 7 western states from 2013 to 2015. We compared relative abundance (using catch per unit effort (CPUE) as an index) and apparent survival of prairie dogs on 26 of the 29 paired plots, 12 with confirmed or suspected plague (Y. pestis positive carcasses or fleas). Even though plague mortality occurred in prairie dogs on vaccine plots, SPV treatment had an overall positive effect on CPUE in all three years, regardless of plague status. Odds of capturing a unique animal were 1.10 (95% confidence interval [C.I.] 1.02–1.19) times higher per trap day on vaccine-treated plots than placebo plots in 2013, 1.47 (95% C.I. 1.41–1.52) times higher in 2014 and 1.19 (95% C.I. 1.13–1.25) times higher in 2015. On pairs where plague occurred, odds of apparent survival were 1.76 (95% Bayesian credible interval [B.C.I.] 1.28–2.43) times higher on vaccine plots than placebo plots for adults and 2.41 (95% B.C.I. 1.72–3.38) times higher for juveniles. Our results provide evidence that consumption of vaccine-laden baits can protect prairie dogs against plague; however, further evaluation and refinement are needed to optimize SPV use as a management tool.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10393-017-1253-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Translocations have been recommended to reestablish, augment, and sustain genetic diversity in declining wildlife populations, including greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse). Characteristics of successful sage-grouse translocations include suitable contiguous sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), seasonal habitats surrounded by geomorphic barriers, a residual resident population, and pre-nesting releases. From 2009 to 2010, we studied vital rates of 60 translocated and 15 resident radio-marked female sage-grouse and their broods on Anthro Mountain, in the Ashley National Forest, northeastern Utah, USA to determine whether translocations could augment a declining meta-population that inhabited suitable breeding habitats in a small spatially isolated landscape. Survival rates, and nest and brood success estimates for the resident and translocated sage-grouse we studied were lower than reported range-wide averages. Nest success was similar for resident and translocated birds (survival estimate: 0.468, 95% CI ¼ 0.288-0.648) and we calculated weak, yet positive relationships to grass height and grass cover. Chick survival for both groups was weakly correlated with grass cover. Although most translocated birds remained on the study area (82%), the low overall survival rates we report indicate that managers need to consider factors affecting survival of adult females, nests, and chicks when planning future translocations to augment sage-grouse meta-populations that occupy spatially isolated and space-limited habitats. Ó 2016 The Wildlife Society.

Range‐wide declines of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage‐grouse) populations have been attributed to long‐term habitat alteration and fragmentation. In areas that still exhibit suitable habitats and where population declines have been attributed to other threats (e.g., invasive predators), managers have successfully used translocations to augment declining wildlife populations. However, translocations to augment sage‐grouse populations have had limited success and the relative contribution of translocated sage‐grouse to declining populations is not well understood. From 2009 to 2012 we studied the vital rates of 34 resident (21 yearlings and 13 adults) and 60 translocated radio‐marked female sage‐grouse (30 yearlings and 30 adults) on Anthro Mountain in northeastern Utah, USA to determine the relative contributions of each group to population productivity. We used the encounter histories of the monitored sage‐grouse to construct nest survival models for program MARK to assess the impacts of age and residency status on annual survival and overall reproductive success in the population. Annual survival was not affected by age or residency status and averaged 0.40 (95% CI = 0.31–0.50). The yearling newly translocated females (translocated females during their first yr in the release area) exhibited the lowest nest initiation rates (0.50, 95% CI = 0.30–0.69), whereas adult resident and previously translocated (translocated females that survived ≥1 yr in the release area) females had the highest nest initiation (0.96, 95% CI = 0.88–0.99). Overall nest success (0.43, 95% CI = 0.30–0.55) and brood success (0.55, 95% CI = 0.41–0.69) were not affected by residency status or age. The adult resident and previously translocated females exhibited the highest overall reproductive success (0.22, 95% CI = 0.14–0.31) followed by resident yearling females (0.20, 95% CI = 0.12–0.29), and newly translocated adult females (0.18, 95% CI = 0.10–0.27). Newly translocated yearling females had the lowest overall reproductive success (0.12, 95% CI = 0.05–0.18). Survival of adult females is a major factor influencing sage‐grouse population stability. Although adult and yearling newly translocated females had similar survival rates, adult translocated females were more likely to raise a brood in their first year in the release area. Thus, managers should consider translocating a higher ratio of adult to yearling females in future translocation efforts to see a more immediate effect on population growth in the release area. However, because of the low vitals rates recorded in our study, managers should identify and mitigate the limiting factors affecting the resident population prior to implementing a translocation to augment declining populations. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.