Influence of poisoned prey on foraging behavior of ferruginous hawks

The American Midland Naturalist
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Abstract

We recorded 19 visits by ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) over 6 d at two black–tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) subcolonies poisoned with the rodenticide Rozol® Prairie Dog Bait (0.005% chlorophacinone active ingredient) and at an adjacent untreated subcolony. Before Rozol® application ferruginous hawks foraged in the untreated and treated subcolonies but after Rozol® application predation by ferruginous hawks was only observed in the treated subcolonies. We suggest that ferruginous hawks' preference for hunting in the treated subcolonies after Rozol® application was influenced by the availability of easy-to-capture prey, presumably due to Rozol® poisoning. The energetically beneficial behavior of favoring substandard prey may increase raptor encounters with rodenticide exposed animals if prey vulnerability has resulted from poisoning.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Influence of poisoned prey on foraging behavior of ferruginous hawks
Series title The American Midland Naturalist
DOI 10.1674/0003-0031-177.1.75
Volume 177
Issue 1
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher University of Notre Dame
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 9 p.
First page 75
Last page 83
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