RESPONSES OF URBAN MAMMALS TO ODOR ATTRACTANTS AND A BAIT-DISPENSING DEVICE

We tested the relative attractiveness of various lures to urban mammal s along the Cache la Poudre River in Fort Collins, Colorado, during 19 88, 1989 and 1991, because species-specific lures are needed to captur e animals that cause damage. We also evaluated urban mammal reactions to a bait-delivery device to determine its potential for delivering ra bies vaccines to raccoons. Squirrels visited and chewed scent capsules at more scent stations treated with peanut butter than stations treat ed with fatty acid scent (FAS), anise oil and jelly, or sardines. Dome stic dogs visited more stations treated with FAS than stations treated with anise oil and jelly, peanut butter, or sardines, and urinated at more stations treated with FAS than stations treated with peanut butt er. Domestic cats visited more stations treated with sardines than sta tions treated with FAS, peanut butter, or anise oil and jelly. The num ber of stations visited by raccoons, squirrels, dogs, cats, striped sk unks, and birds did not vary with treatment of Carman's lure, FAS, Mas t's scent, or anise oil and jelly. Squirrels visited more stations tre ated with deep-fried cornmeal than stations treated with FAS or Hawbak er's raccoon bait (HAWB). Dogs visited more stations treated with deep -fried cornmeal than stations treated with FAS, chicken eggs, or HAWB. Rodents visited more stations treated with HAWB than stations treated with other attractants. Birds visited more stations treated with corn meal, FAS, HAWB, and the control than stations treated with chicken eg gs. Raccoons and dogs activated bait-delivery devices al more stations when the devices were treated with cornmeal than when treated with eg g, FAS, HAWB, or the control. Squirrels activated bait-delivery device s at more stations when devices were treated with cornmeal or the cont rol than when they were treated with other attractants. Bait-delivery devices treated with deep-fried cornmeal appear to be the best candida tes for delivering rabies vaccines to urban raccoons.