Employer: MS STATE

Description:Opportunity 5.

Mentor/Supervisor: Dr. Kurt VerCauteren (kurt.c.vercauteren@aphis.usda.gov,
970-266-6093)

Title of Study: Evaluation of electric fencing for containing white-tailed deer in case of catastrophic disease outbreak (i.e., foot-and-mouth disease)

Program and Project: Wildlife Disease Research Program, Evaluation and Management of Chronic Wasting Disease Project

Location of internship: DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri Valley, IA and WS NWRC Headquarters, Fort Collins, CO

Desired duration of internship: ~14 weeks; ~May 26 through ~15 August, 2008

Duties: Capturing deer with traps and remote chemical immobilization, equipping deer with VHF radio collars, tracking deer with telemetry, erecting and maintaining a novel electric fence design, observing deer movements with night-vision binoculars and forward-looking infrared scopes, collecting deer movement data along fence lines with deer-activated camera systems, assisting in treatments to systematically increase the motivation level of deer to breach fences. Data collection and record keeping associated with all these activities. Assisting with data analyses, interpretation, and writing of the resulting publication. Other duties as assigned.


Background: The intern will play an important support role in a study designed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel electric fence for containing wildlife, primarily deer, in a large area. The purpose of the study is to evaluate and develop a non-lethal tool that could be used as part of an integrated approach to prevent the spread of a catastrophic disease. An example of the intended application would be the case of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak occurring on a cattle farm. If deer contracted the disease from cows, deer could then serve to spread the disease to other farms and across a wide geographic area. To be proactive the USDA needs tools available and ready to be implemented in this type of scenario, before such emergency occurs. As the study progresses the deer control activity within the fenced area will be increased from minimal to simulated intense culling. The level of motivation for deer to breach the fence, therefore, will be increased incrementally throughout the study.

Apply: Submit resume and cover letter electronically (MS Word format) to
landrews@cfr.msstate.edu by 4/15/08. Call 662-325-6694 if you have
questions.

Location: Missouri Valley

Qualifications:

Misc:

Documents:

Address: Apply: Submit resume and cover letter electronically (MS Word format) to
landrews@cfr.msstate.edu by 4/15/08. Call 662-325-6694 if you have
questions.

Website:

Salary:

Benefits:

Deadline: April 15, 2008