IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Burns, R.J.; Connolly, G.E. | |
| A Comment on "Coyote Control and Taste Aversion" | |
| 1985 Appetite (6): 276-281 | |
The application of aversive conditioning (AC) to coyote (_Canis latrans_) management was first proposed by Gustavson, Garcia, Hankins & Rusiniak (1974). This publication stimulated a flurry of research until about 1980, when most workers had abandoned the concept as ineffective or impractical. In "Coyote control and taste aversion", Forthman Quick, Gustavson & Rusiniak (1985) seek to resurrect AC, and their particular paradigm, as a practical method for reducing coyote predation on domestic animals. However, they offer no new scientific information. Instead, they argue that persons who found LiCI baiting not to deter coyote predation either misunderstood or misapplied the concept-an argument we believe inadequate to explain recent contrary results. Lithium chloride-induced AC is one of the few innovative predation management concepts to surface in recent years, and we believe that Gustavson et al. (1974) deserve credit for first testing the concept. Unfortunately, many researchers subsequently were unsuccessful in using LiCI-treated baits to control coyote predation. OnIy part of this literature is cited by Forthman Quick et al. (1985). They omitted several recent papers that contradict their point of view (Conover, Francik & Miller, 1979; Conover, 1982; Boume & Dorrance, 1982; Bums, 1980 and 1983 a, b; Horn, 1983). In spite of the assertions of Forthman Quick et al. (1985), both theoretical and practical questions need resolving before AC could become a practical predator management technique. Some of the more important questions are identified here. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |