Crippling ratio: A novel approach to assess hunting-induced wounding of wild animals

Clausen, Kevin Kuhlmann; Holm, Thomas Eske; Haugaard, Lars; Madsen, Jesper

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.05.044

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…ca. 36% of 325 released and radio-tagged pheasants; Turner & Sage, 2003), or are killed in vehicle collisions, particularly when dispersing from release pens between September and November and in February and March when supplementary feeding ceases (Madden & Perkins, 2017), are wounded by shots (and not retrieved by the hunters) and thereby become easy prey, or are scavenged when dead (the ratio wounded: killed Pheasants is unknown, but is between 0.10 and 1.0 for Pink-footed Geese Anser brachyrhynchus in Denmark; Noer, Madsen, & Hartmann, 2007;Clausen et al, 2017). Corvids may also feed on the grain provided as supplementary food to released Common Pheasants, particularly in the late winter months when more natural food may be limited (Sánchez-García, Buner, & Aebischer, 2015).…”

Section: (4) Proximate and Ultimate Causes Of High Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator‐rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The impact of increasing vertebrate predator numbers on bird populations is widely debated among the general public, game managers and conservationists across Europe. However, there are few systematic reviews of whether predation limits the population sizes of European bird species. Views on the impacts of predation are particularly polarised in the UK, probably because the UK has a globally exceptional culture of intensive, high-yield gamebird management where predator removal is the norm. In addition, most apex predators have been exterminated or much depleted in numbers, contributing to a widely held perception that the UK has high numbers of mesopredators. This has resulted in many high-quality studies of mesopredator impacts over several decades. Here we present results from a systematic review of predator trends and abundance, and assess whether predation limits the population sizes of 90 bird species in the UK. Our results confirm that the generalist predators Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Crows (Corvus corone and C. cornix) occur at high densities in the UK compared with other European countries. In addition, some avian and mammalian predators have increased numerically in the UK during recent decades. Despite these high and increasing densities of predators, we found little evidence that predation limits populations of pigeons, woodpeckers and passerines, whereas evidence suggests that ground-nesting seabirds, waders and gamebirds can be limited by predation. Using life-history characteristics of prey species, we found that mainly long-lived species with high adult survival and late onset of breeding were limited by predation. Single-brooded species were also more likely to be limited by predation than multi-brooded species. Predators that depredate prey species during all life stages (i.e. from nest to adult stages) limited prey numbers more than predators that depredated only specific life stages (e.g. solely during the nest phase). The Red Fox and non-native mammals (e.g. the American Mink Neovison vison) were frequently identified as numerically limiting their prey species. Our review has identified predator-prey interactions that are particularly likely to result in population declines of prey species. In the short term, traditional predator-management techniques (e.g. lethal control or fencing to reduce predation by a small number of predator species) could be used to protect these vulnerable species. However, as these techniques are costly and time-consuming, we advocate that future research should identify land-use practices and landscape configurations that would reduce predator numbers and predation rates.

show abstract

Section: (4) Proximate and Ultimate Causes Of High Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator‐rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…use of decoys and goose calls) (Noer et al 2007 ). There is evidence of an increase in the efficiency amongst Danish goose hunters, as wounding has declined despite increasing harvests (Clausen et al 2017 ). Our study has indicated that specialization is associated with more effective goose hunting practices and this may have been a major contributor to the decline.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing geese with recreational hunters?

Williams

Balsby

Nielsen

et al. 2018

Ambio

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As many goose populations across the northern Hemisphere continue to rise, the role of hunters to manage these populations is increasingly being considered. We studied recreational goose hunters in Denmark to assess their behavioural and motivational characteristics, willingness to alter their hunting effort, as well as their ability to act as stewards of a rapidly increasing goose population.We identified several behavioural characteristics that typify effective goose hunting practices. We suggest a degree of specialization is necessary to increase goose harvests, as well as mitigating animal welfare issues (e.g. wounding). However, the majority of Danish goose hunters can be considered to be casual participants in this form of hunting. This poses a challenge for wildlife managers wishing to engage recreational hunters to manage highly dynamic wildlife populations, such as geese. If recreational hunters are to be used as a management tool, wildlife managers and hunting organizations will need to consider how best to facilitate skill development, hunting practices and socially legitimate hunting ethics to foster the stewardship role of hunting. We conclude that it is incumbent on wildlife managers to recognize and deal with both internal factors (e.g. skill development) and external influences (e.g. animal welfare concerns). In doing so, potential tensions in the multi-functionality of hunting can be alleviated, maintain hunting as a legitimate and accepted recreational past-time and management tool.

show abstract

“…While crippling ratios (the number of birds injured to those killed) are variable (e.g. Clausen et al 2017), numbers crippled and carrying embedded gunshot may be large and may number over a million waterfowl, along with many more terrestrial birds. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to evaluate either the severity of impacts or numbers of birds potentially affected by embedded gunshot with any certainty.…”

Section: Impacts Of Lead Poisoning On Wildlifementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of lead from ammunition on birds and other wildlife: A review and update

Pain

Mateo

Green

2019

Ambio

199

160

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Poisoning of wild birds following ingestion of lead from ammunition has long been recognised and considerable recent research has focused on terrestrial birds, including raptors and scavengers. This paper builds upon previous reviews and finds that both the number of taxa affected and geographical spread of cases has increased. Some lead may also be absorbed from embedded ammunition fragments in injured birds which risk sub-lethal and welfare effects. Some papers suggest inter-specific differences in sensitivity to lead, although it is difficult to disentangle these from other factors that influence effect severity. Sub-lethal effects have been found at lower blood lead concentrations than previously reported, suggesting that previous effect-level ‘thresholds’ should be abandoned or revised. Lead poisoning is estimated to kill a million wildfowl a year in Europe and cause sub-lethal poisoning in another ≥ 3 million. Modelling and correlative studies have supported the potential for population-level effects of lead poisoning in wildfowl, terrestrial birds, raptors and scavengers.

show abstract

Crippling ratio: A novel approach to assess hunting-induced wounding of wild animals

Cited by 17 publications

References 13 publications

A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator‐rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator‐rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

Managing geese with recreational hunters?

Effects of lead from ammunition on birds and other wildlife: A review and update

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About