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Deer Trapping To Support Bovine Tuberculosis Research

Last Updated: February 06, 2008 Related resource areas: Geospatial Technology, Wildlife Damage Management

GPS and GIS are being used to give insights into farm practices that possibly could be altered to reduce deer/cattle interactions.

Released Jan. 7, 2008

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Three scientists from the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) in Fort Collins, CO, and one NWRC employee from Gaylord, MI, began trapping white-tailed deer in northern Michigan as part of a research study on bovine tuberculosis at the wildlife/livestock interface.

The study, which has been underway for nearly one year, is attempting to gain information on the interaction of deer with cattle-farm management practices. White-tailed deer apparently can transmit bovine tuberculosis indirectly to cattle through use of common feed and water sources.

This study uses geographic positioning systems (GPS) coupled with sophisticated geographic information systems (GIS) and data on seasonal farm management practices in a spatial analysis to give insights into farm practices that possibly could be altered to reduce deer/cattle interactions. Through changes in farm management practices, reductions in bovine-tuberculosis-positive cattle farms may result.

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http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/about/news.shtml

Contacts: Gail Keirn, (970) 266-6007, Gail.M.Keirn@aphis.usda.gov