Wildlife Research Problems Programs Progress

The Division of Wildlife Research fulfills the broad authorit given to the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife for research on an array of bird and mammal species -- resident and migratory, game and nongame, beneficial and harmful.

Bibliography stressing recent literature dealing with biology of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris).

U.S. mourning dove population indexes increased by 4% from 1969 to 1970 in the Eastern Management Unit, but declined 2% in the Central Management Unit and 11% in the Western Management Unit. The changes were below the 10-year means, 1960-69, by 3% in the Eastern Unit, 15% in the Central, and 27% in the Western. Regression analyses of the call-count data for 1960-70 indicate a statistically significant downward trend in dove breeding populations in all management units; mean rates of decline were 1% a year in the Eastern Unit, 3% a year in the Central, and 4% in the Western