Capsaicin as a Tool for Repelling Southern Flying Squirrels from Red-cockaded Woodpecker Cavities
The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is an important kleptoparasite of cavities excavated by the imperiled red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis). Flying squirrel usurpation of cavities may affect woodpecker productivity, but current efforts to manage flying squirrels are costly and...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Utah State University
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Human-Wildlife Interactions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol13/iss1/12 |
| _version_ | 1818054800032399360 |
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| author | Robert T. Meyer James A. Cox |
| author_facet | Robert T. Meyer James A. Cox |
| author_sort | Robert T. Meyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is an important kleptoparasite of cavities excavated by the imperiled red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis). Flying squirrel usurpation of cavities may affect woodpecker productivity, but current efforts to manage flying squirrels are costly and time consuming. We assessed whether capsaicin could deter flying squirrel use of woodpecker cavities on a site in southwest Georgia, USA. Twenty-nine cavity tree clusters received 4 treatments: capsaicin, water, air, and a control (no treatment). Only capsaicin both removed more flying squirrels from the cavity immediately after its application and decreased the probability of a flying squirrel occupying the cavity the next day. The data presented supports the potential of capsaicin to provide a more efficient way for dealing with this common kleptoparasite. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T12:02:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87c847b8ae39443e9b68499a877a7815 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2155-3874 2155-3874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T12:02:48Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | Utah State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human-Wildlife Interactions |
| spelling | doaj.art-87c847b8ae39443e9b68499a877a78152022-12-22T01:49:33ZengUtah State UniversityHuman-Wildlife Interactions2155-38742155-38742019-05-0113110.26076/1gam-zv73Capsaicin as a Tool for Repelling Southern Flying Squirrels from Red-cockaded Woodpecker CavitiesRobert T. Meyer0James A. Cox1Tall Timbers Research Station and Land ConservancyStoddard Bird LabThe southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is an important kleptoparasite of cavities excavated by the imperiled red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis). Flying squirrel usurpation of cavities may affect woodpecker productivity, but current efforts to manage flying squirrels are costly and time consuming. We assessed whether capsaicin could deter flying squirrel use of woodpecker cavities on a site in southwest Georgia, USA. Twenty-nine cavity tree clusters received 4 treatments: capsaicin, water, air, and a control (no treatment). Only capsaicin both removed more flying squirrels from the cavity immediately after its application and decreased the probability of a flying squirrel occupying the cavity the next day. The data presented supports the potential of capsaicin to provide a more efficient way for dealing with this common kleptoparasite.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol13/iss1/12capsaicindeterrentglaucomys volanspicoides borealisred-cockaded woodpeckersouthern flying squirrel |
| spellingShingle | Robert T. Meyer James A. Cox Capsaicin as a Tool for Repelling Southern Flying Squirrels from Red-cockaded Woodpecker Cavities Human-Wildlife Interactions capsaicin deterrent glaucomys volans picoides borealis red-cockaded woodpecker southern flying squirrel |
| title | Capsaicin as a Tool for Repelling Southern Flying Squirrels from Red-cockaded Woodpecker Cavities |
| title_full | Capsaicin as a Tool for Repelling Southern Flying Squirrels from Red-cockaded Woodpecker Cavities |
| title_fullStr | Capsaicin as a Tool for Repelling Southern Flying Squirrels from Red-cockaded Woodpecker Cavities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Capsaicin as a Tool for Repelling Southern Flying Squirrels from Red-cockaded Woodpecker Cavities |
| title_short | Capsaicin as a Tool for Repelling Southern Flying Squirrels from Red-cockaded Woodpecker Cavities |
| title_sort | capsaicin as a tool for repelling southern flying squirrels from red cockaded woodpecker cavities |
| topic | capsaicin deterrent glaucomys volans picoides borealis red-cockaded woodpecker southern flying squirrel |
| url | https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol13/iss1/12 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT roberttmeyer capsaicinasatoolforrepellingsouthernflyingsquirrelsfromredcockadedwoodpeckercavities AT jamesacox capsaicinasatoolforrepellingsouthernflyingsquirrelsfromredcockadedwoodpeckercavities |