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Bureau of Land Management Research Needs
TITLE:
Contraceptive
Management with the
Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Herd
SUBMITTING BUREAU: Bureau of Land Management
Originating Office: Montana State Office
DATE SUBMITTED: May 21, 1996
BIN NUMBER: BLM05CR98
BRD REGION: Central
DESCRIPTION OF NEED: Contraceptive efforts are quickly becoming a more widely accepted form of management for wildlife populations. Previous research efforts have focused on either steroid use as a reproductive block (Dr. Robert Garrott, currently at Montana State University) or immunocontraceptive techniques (PZP vaccines) (Drs. John Turner, Ohio and Jay Kirkpatrick, Billings, MT). Of the later strategy, one research group, based at Dalhausie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, have successfully developed a single-application dose, which has been field tested and found effective for a three-year period.
Immunocontraceptive research efforts on wild horse populations have been coordinated with BLM populations in Nevada for the past 5 years. With proper application, immunocontraception can stabilize herd numbers and reduce necessary and intrusive culling efforts significantly. Currently, a short term study is underway within the Nellis Air Force Base herd area, however, these studies have yet to focus on long term effects of contraception on wild horse social structure and herd integrity. Furthermore, researchers propose that effective management with contraception is more likely to be successful with smaller, closed breeding populations. This proposition, also has yet to be tested in the western United States. Sufficient research has taken place, however, that we are assured that long-term deleterious side-effects are not a physiological risk.
Research Question: I propose that we develop a research program, involving the Pryor Mountain wild horse population, to test (1) management effectiveness of contraceptive techniques on a smaller, closed breeding population and (2) the possible incidence of long-term effects of contraception of wild horse structure and herd integrity.
This study could be designed to focus on only a subset of the Pryor population, so that unaffected control groups are available for direct, in vivo, comparison. This study could also be designed to compare, in vivo, different forms of contraceptive techniques (steroid versus immunocontraceptive) for management application. The technical/research expertise to facilitate a study like this are readily available within the Montana/Dakotas region. As a result, the Pryor population presents a unique opportunity for obtaining answers to pertinent questions, necessary, prior to large scale application of contraceptive techniques within the Bureau of Land Management wild horse program.
MANAGEMENT PROBLEM WITH NEED:
BUREAU CONTACT: Linda Coates-Markle
BLM Billings Resource Area
810 East Main Street
Billings, MT 59105
(406) 238-1548
BRD PRIMARY CENTER: MESC
BRD CENTER CONTACT: Francis Singer
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY99): A major progress report on the conservation of genetics of Pryor Mountain wild horses was prepared by F. Singer (BRD), L. Zeigenfuss (BRD), J. Gross (Colorado State University), and G. Cothran (University of Kentucky), including predictions of the effects of contraceptive management on genetics.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: 12-14-98
PREPARED BY: Francis Singer, MESC
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY98): The third year of field studies into effective genetic number continued by BRD field crews in 1997. Extent of male participation in breeding was documented by field studies and by genetic markers. A progress report was completed in late July 1997. Field work includes genetic sampling at the gather in October of 1997. This sampling will verify the suspected parentage of the 1997 and 1996 foal crops. This information will then be used in modeling of the effects on effective genetic number and predicted genetic losses of various removal strategies. The strategies that will be modeled will include: 1) removal of mostly young of the year, 2) removal of random sex and age groups, 3) contraceptive management.
A major presentation of research findings occurred at the wild horse resource symposium held in Billings in May of 1997. BRD scientist F. Singer presented an overview of the BRD-NPS research initiative that started in 1991. Presentations were given by 4 contract researcher groups, and a 4th presentation by F. Singer on the genetic work. The two days of meetings were well attended by mangers and the public.
F. Singer of BRD participated in the public hearing 14 August 1997 on the proposed gather plan in Lovell, WY, to deal with questions on the scientific bases for the gather scenarios.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: October 31, 1997
PREPARED BY: Francis Singer, Southern Rocky Mountain Ecosystems Section, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins (970-491-7056); E-mail frank_singer@usgs.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/98blm-5.htm
Page Contact Information:
tlwilliams@usgs.gov
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