Repellents predator odors

Control of rodent and other herbivore damage Area repellents Predator odors... 

Area repellents are materials that are intended to keep animals away from a broad area. They include predator scent such as Hon or tiger manure, blood meal, tankage such as putrefied slaughterhouse waste, bone tar oil, rags soaked in kerosene or creosote, and human hair (84). Although few controlled tests have been mn on these materials in the past, more recent investigations of predator odors have shown promise (85). 

Bramley, G. N. and Waas, J. R. (2001) Laboratory and field evaluation of predator odors as repellents for kiore (Rattus exidans) and ship rats (Rattus rattus). J. Chem. Ecol. 27, 1029-1047. 

Sullivan, T. P., Nordstrom, L. O. and Sullivan, D. S. (1985) Use of predator odors as repellents to reduce feeding damage by herbivores. I. Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus). J. Chem. Ecol. 11,903-919. 

Albone [88] has reviewed the literature on anal sac secretions up to the early 1980s. Organosulfur compounds are particularly plentiful in many of these secretions and are responsible for their offensive odors. In general, predator odors seem to be repulsive to potential prey. Epple et al. [89] have speculated that the reason for the repellent properties of the feces and urine of carnivores could be diet related. It would be logical to argue that organosulfur compounds derived from a protein-rich diet could be a cue by which prey can distinguish a potential predator. The results so far are consistent with this hypothesis [90]. 

Predator odors are also effective area repellents for lagomorphs. A rabbit warren sprayed with an extract from lion feces had as many as 80% fewer animals than before the treatment and also fewer than a control warren. Adult rabbits stayed away from the treated warren longer than young ones. The effect lasted up to 5 months (Boag, 1991 Boag and Mlotkiewicz, 1994). 

We will examine whether the small mammals vulnerable to predation will avoid fresh predator odors in their home ranges. For this purpose we place in the woods live traps that are scented with odors from red fox and wolf. This experiment teaches not only basic ecology, but also the very practical skill how to test potential chemical repellents for rodent pests. 

Resell F (2001) Effectiveness of predator odors as gray squirrel repellents. Can J Zool 79 1719-1723... 

Chemical alarm responses in frog tadpoles Responses of rodents to cat nrine Responses of rats and mice to predatory snake odors Comparison of effects of commercial sqnirrel repellents with fox urine Oil of Citronella as repellent for dogs and cats Camphor as repellent for cats Predator odors as squirrel repellents Natnrally occnrring contraceptive componnds in plants Attractiveness rating of photos of men and women with and withont fragrance present... 

Two possible sources of repellents from animals are the odors associated with mammalian carnivores and aggressive conspecifics. Rats actively avoid predator odors and this response appears to be innate. Trimethyl thiazoline extracted from fox (Vulpes vulpes) faeces caused an enclosed population of wild rats to alter their activities (Vemet-Maury, Constant Chanel, 1992). In the short-term, which may mean days or weeks, habituation to these predator odors appears to be slow. However, the odors may require reinforcement by some form of encounter with the predator itself to be effective in the longer-term (Muller-Schwarze, 1994). 

Skunks deter predators by release of a liquid spray containing seven major volatile components classified as thiols (compounds containing the -SH functional group) and acetate derivatives of thiols (characterized by the SC(0)CH3 functionality). In particular, two of the more odiferous components responsible for the strongly repellent odor of the skunk s secretion are 2-butene-1-thiol (Fig. 13.2.1) and 3-... 

The repellent effect depends on hunger, as in female elk (Andelt etal, 1992) and less-preferred plants are better protected by predator urine odors (Swihart etal, 1991). 

Melchiors, M. A. and Leslie, C. A. (1985). Effectiveness of predator fecal odors as blacktailed deer repellents. JournalofWildlifeManagement 49,358-362. 

Melchiors, M.A. Lesli, C.A. 1985. Effectiveness of predator fecal odors as black-tailed deer repellents. J. Wildl. Manage., 49, 358—362. 

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