Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs
ABSTRACT An acute toxic bait is being developed to deliver micro‐encapsulated sodium nitrite (SN) to stimulate severe methemoglobinemia and humane death for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa), thereby providing a new tool for reducing their populations. During April 2016, we evaluated sensitivity to SN...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.984 |
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| author | Nathan P. Snow Katherine E. Horak Simon T. Humphrys Linton D. Staples David G. Hewitt Kurt C. VerCauteren |
| author_facet | Nathan P. Snow Katherine E. Horak Simon T. Humphrys Linton D. Staples David G. Hewitt Kurt C. VerCauteren |
| author_sort | Nathan P. Snow |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT An acute toxic bait is being developed to deliver micro‐encapsulated sodium nitrite (SN) to stimulate severe methemoglobinemia and humane death for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa), thereby providing a new tool for reducing their populations. During April 2016, we evaluated sensitivity to SN and outcomes of secondary consumption in the ubiquitous mammalian scavenger, coyote (Canis latrans), to determine secondary risks of consuming carcasses of wild pigs that died from consuming the SN toxic bait. At the National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, we first evaluated whether coyotes fed carcasses of domestic pigs killed by consumption of SN bait showed signs of SN intoxication. Second, we conducted chemical analysis of residual SN in the coyotes for evidence of SN passing from pigs to coyotes. Last, we conducted an acute oral toxicity test (LD50) with SN for coyotes by feeding them meatballs containing capsules of SN. We found no evidence that captive coyotes experienced SN intoxication from consuming on carcasses that had been freshly poisoned with SN, despite consuming x¯ = 1.6 kg of tissues/coyote within 24 hours. None of the captive coyotes consumed digestive tracts or stomach contents from poisoned carcasses, which contained the highest levels of residual SN. Chemical analysis indicated that only ≤34.14 mg/kg of residual SN were passed from the tissues of the pigs into the coyotes, confirming that SN does not bioaccumulate. All coyotes quickly vomited various doses of SN during the LD50 test and fully recovered, suggesting a natural defense against secondary poisoning from SN. Testing with captive coyotes indicates that the risks of secondary poisoning for free‐ranging coyotes are likely low, although field‐testing should be used to confirm. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d47a0770d9cf4680a705ade0a235f810 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-d47a0770d9cf4680a705ade0a235f8102025-08-20T02:36:19ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402019-09-0143348449010.1002/wsb.984Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigsNathan P. Snow0Katherine E. Horak1Simon T. Humphrys2Linton D. Staples3David G. Hewitt4Kurt C. VerCauteren5Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University‐Kingsville 700 University Boulevard, MSC 218 Kingsville TX 78363 USAU.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USAInvasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, 33 Flemington Street Glenside South Australia 5062 AustraliaAnimal Control Technologies Australia Pty Ltd, 46‐50 Freight Drive, Somerton Victoria 3062 AustraliaCaesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University‐Kingsville 700 University Boulevard, MSC 218 Kingsville TX 78363 USAU.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USAABSTRACT An acute toxic bait is being developed to deliver micro‐encapsulated sodium nitrite (SN) to stimulate severe methemoglobinemia and humane death for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa), thereby providing a new tool for reducing their populations. During April 2016, we evaluated sensitivity to SN and outcomes of secondary consumption in the ubiquitous mammalian scavenger, coyote (Canis latrans), to determine secondary risks of consuming carcasses of wild pigs that died from consuming the SN toxic bait. At the National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, we first evaluated whether coyotes fed carcasses of domestic pigs killed by consumption of SN bait showed signs of SN intoxication. Second, we conducted chemical analysis of residual SN in the coyotes for evidence of SN passing from pigs to coyotes. Last, we conducted an acute oral toxicity test (LD50) with SN for coyotes by feeding them meatballs containing capsules of SN. We found no evidence that captive coyotes experienced SN intoxication from consuming on carcasses that had been freshly poisoned with SN, despite consuming x¯ = 1.6 kg of tissues/coyote within 24 hours. None of the captive coyotes consumed digestive tracts or stomach contents from poisoned carcasses, which contained the highest levels of residual SN. Chemical analysis indicated that only ≤34.14 mg/kg of residual SN were passed from the tissues of the pigs into the coyotes, confirming that SN does not bioaccumulate. All coyotes quickly vomited various doses of SN during the LD50 test and fully recovered, suggesting a natural defense against secondary poisoning from SN. Testing with captive coyotes indicates that the risks of secondary poisoning for free‐ranging coyotes are likely low, although field‐testing should be used to confirm. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.984feral swinenontarget riskpesticideSus scrofatoxicantwild boar |
| spellingShingle | Nathan P. Snow Katherine E. Horak Simon T. Humphrys Linton D. Staples David G. Hewitt Kurt C. VerCauteren Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs Wildlife Society Bulletin feral swine nontarget risk pesticide Sus scrofa toxicant wild boar |
| title | Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs |
| title_full | Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs |
| title_fullStr | Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs |
| title_short | Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs |
| title_sort | low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs |
| topic | feral swine nontarget risk pesticide Sus scrofa toxicant wild boar |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.984 |
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