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Ecology and Management of Islands, Peninsulas and Structures for Nesting Waterfowl

Evaluation of an Electric Fenced Peninsula on the Young WPA in the Kulm Wetland Management District

Lee Albright and Robert Vanden Berge
Kulm Wetland Management District
Kulm, North Dakota

Predator trapping was initiated on the 320 acre Young Waterfowl Production Area during the 1986 nesting season. Nest searches were then conducted on 69 acres of upland, centrally located within the WPA. A total of 54 duck nests were found for a density of 0.78 nests per acre. Observed nest success was 39.6% apparent and 20.9% Mayfield. At the conclusion of the 1986 nesting season, an electric fence was constructed that enclosed 55 acres of the area searched in 1986. The area was trapped again during the 1987 and 1988 nesting seasons. Nest searches conducted inside the fence in 1987 revealed 69 duck nests for a density of 1.25 nests per acre. Nest success was 91.3% apparent and 81.2% Mayfield. In 1988, 57 duck nests were found for a density of 1.04 nests per acre. Nest success was 89.1% apparent and 77.9% Mayfield. These figures suggest that electric fence barriers, when combined with trapping can be effectively used to improve success of prairie nesting waterfowl.

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