into ERF for hazing was to be done by hovercraft.
white phosphorus contamination and potential treat-
ability at Eagle River Flats, Alaska (C.H. Racine and
However, by the time the hazing operation was to
D. Cate, Ed.). CRREL Contract Report to U.S.
begin, only one of the four hovercraft available
Army, Alaska, Directorate of Public Works, FY95
was even partially functional. Because of the lack
Final Report, p. 197204.
of functional hovercraft from 23 September to 26
Hazing of waterfowl from ponds contaminat-
October, no waterfowl were hazed by ADC per-
ed with white phosphorus was conducted during
sonnel. In excess of 100 staff hours and consider-
both the spring and fall migrations. The hazing
able funds were expended repairing hovercrafts.
operation was successful, as ADC observations,
DWRC telemetry work, and waterfowl surveys by
Rossi, C. (1998) Report of USDA-APHIS-Wildlife
NBS and NEILE all indicated a dramatic decrease
Services for the U.S. Army at Eagle River Flats,
in waterfowl numbers in hazed areas compared
April-October 1997. In Interagency expanded site
with those of unhazed areas on ERF.
investigation: Evaluation of white phosphorus contam-
ination and potential treatability at Eagle River Flats,
Rossi, C. (1997) Report of USDA-APHIS-Animal
Alaska (C.M. Collins and D. Cate, Ed.). CRREL
damage control for the U.S. Army at Eagle River
Contract Report to U.S. Army, Alaska, Directorate
Flats, AprilOctober 1996. In Interagency expanded
of Public Works, FY97 Final Report, p. 3740.
During 1997 USDAAPHISWildlife Services
site investigation: Evaluation of white phosphorus con-
(WS), formerly Animal Damage Control, contin-
tamination and potential treatability at Eagle River
ued efforts to keep migratory waterfowl from
Flats, Alaska (C.M. Collins and D. Cate, Ed.).
CRREL Contract Report to U.S. Army, Alaska,
being poisoned by white phosphorus in the Eagle
Directorate of Public Works, FY96 Final Report, p.
River Flats (ERF) Impact Area. From 21 April to 31
3134.
May 1997, a total of 945 ducks and 30 Canadian
From 15 April to 31 May 1996, USDAAnimal
geese were hazed at Eagle River Flats by five WS
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
personnel. A total of 613 staff hours were expended
Animal Damage Control (ADC) continued efforts
in the field over 41 days of hazing. There were no
to keep migratory waterfowl from being poisoned
waterfowl mortalities found by WS personnel
by white phosphorus in the Eagle River Flats
during the spring of 1997. Several standard haz-
(ERF) impact area at Ft. Richardson, Alaska. With
ing methods, including propane cannons, visual
only minor exceptions, ADC employed the same
scare devices, such as scarecrows and mylar tape,
techniques that have proven to be successful in
and eagle effigies, were used in Area A, Racine
previous seasons. Hazing methods included pro-
Island, C Pond, Lawson's Pond, and Bread Truck
Pond to deter waterfowl from using the area. To
pane cannons and visual scare devices, such as
augment the effectiveness of these static devices,
scarecrows and mylar tape. Additional static
WS personnel used 15-mm pyrotechnics, shell
devices included eagle effigies and an electronic
crackers, and 20-in. skyrockets to frighten birds
from areas of concern.
vigorously harassing the birds while they were
During the fall of 1997, WS personnel essentially
still airborne over the protected areas. Waterfowl
remained on standby, monitoring swan activity in
are more difficult to deter from an area after they
have landed. Two ADC personnel walked or can-
the hot areas and assisting USDA-APHIS National
oed through the areas of concern to service the
Wildlife Research Center researchers with hover-
devices and deter birds that had landed or were
craft support to recover transmitters from duck
attempting to land in critical areas. Personnel
mortalities. Very few static deterrent devices were
used 15-mm pyrotechnics, shell crackers, and 20-
deployed in fall 1997. Late in the fall, a few pro-
in. skyrockets to frighten birds from areas of con-
pane cannons were deployed in Area A, when two
cern. From 15 April to 31 May, a total of 253 staff
swan mortalities were discovered there. From 23
hours were expended in the field hazing a total of
September to 26 October 1996, in excess of 280
1575 ducks and 10 Canada geese. There were no
staff hours were expended monitoring the hot
waterfowl moralities found by ADC personnel
areas for swan activity, as well as transferring and
during the spring of 1996. In the fall, hazing was
repairing hovercrafts. Two swan mortalities were
delayed until 23 September to allow researchers to
recovered by WS personnel during the fall of 1997.
monitor duck movements, marsh use, and mor-
tality independent of hazing activities. Owing to
Sparling, D.W. (1994) Invertebrates and fish. In
the more stringent safety requirements, all access
Interagency expanded site investigation: Evaluation of
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