ANIMALNET NOVEMBER 2, 1999 Comments on "environmental science and engineering for the 21st century UK'S cruellest farmer jailed Ostriches' last trip in cattle truck, court hears Food for thought QA program on hold National Cattlemen's Beef association reports Low on the hog down on the farm; low commodity prices are bad news Environmentalists put bite on Sydney Shark Bar Human-style prevention means pets live longer Swallowing pig sperm: a miracle cure? Saving the Tiger Impact of climate change Listing of the brush-tailed Possum as injurious AnimalNet is produced by researchers at the Agri-Food Risk Management and Communication Project at the University of Guelph, is edited by Wendy Powell (wpowell@uoguelph.ca) and Douglas Powell (dpowell@uoguelph.ca), and is supported by the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, the U.S. National Pork Producers, U.S. National Food Processors Association, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Pfizer Animal Health Group, Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited (Canada), Canadian Animal Health Institute, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Meat & Livestock Australia, Canadian Pork Council, Ontario Farm Animal Council, the U.S. National Cattlemens Beef Association, the Rutgers University Food Safety Extension Program, Ag-West Biotech, Capital Health, the Ontario Soybean Growers Marketing Board, Food Indsutry Environmental Network, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors, Chicken Farmers of Canada, MDS Nordion, American Meat Institute, and the Agricultural Adaptation Council (CanAdapt Program). archived at: http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/courses/ansc481/animal_net.html COMMENTS ON "ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION" November 1, 1999 Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) http://www.cast-science.org The following comments were submitted in November 1999 by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology to the National Science Board Task Force on the Environment. The response was approved by the CAST Executive Committee. Comments on "Environmental Science and Engineering for the 21st Century: The Role of the National Science Foundation" The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is pleased to provide comments on the interim report of the National Science Board Task Force on the Environment, "Environmental Science and Engineering for the 21st Century: The Role of the National Science Foundation." CAST is an organization of 38 scientific societies whose mission is to identify food and fiber, environmental, and other agricultural issues and to interpret related scientific research information for legislators, regulators, and the media for use in public policy decision making. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Thomas Orme of the International Society for Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology for his significant work on this document. 1. CAST welcomed the opportunity to share its publications with the Task Force on the Environment as indicated in the bibliography. We also applaud the web site linkages to complementary programs carried out by programs within the United States Department of Agriculture. 2. The task force should consider a more forceful statement in the report regarding the important role agriculture plays in environmental quality, as well as the significant expertise in the environmental sciences that exists within organizations traditionally identified as "agricultural." Organizations and individuals with this expertise should be eligible to compete for funding of environmental initiatives. 3. CAST recommends that the report embrace the specific goal of a sustainable, adequate food supply and the capability of the agricultural community in being able to meet this challenge. 4. In discussions of K-12 education, environmental programs should include a significant scientific component, including chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. The role agricultural sciences play in the interactions among these factors as food is produced should be a focus in K-12 education. 5. Agricultural land plays an important role in the preservation of ecosystems and conservation of biodiversity, and CAST encourages the task force to include this role in its report. Land use within the United States encompasses food production, urban development, and wilderness preservation. The interaction of these three uses, as well as the role of the biological and social sciences in determination of land use and land preservation, are key components of environmental sciences. 6. As agricultural practices change to those perceived as more environmentally benign, whether through choice or legal requirement, important transitional issues must be addressed. There is relatively little information regarding the biological, social, and economic ramifications of changes in production practices, yet significant changes are taking place. The National Science Foundation should have a role in the gathering of information and its dissemination for public understanding, as well as in regulatory and legislative development. 7. Studies have been conducted on the impact of genetically modified organisms, primarily crop plants with insect and/or herbicide resistance, on environmental quality. We encourage the final report to reflect this. 8. Finally, we encourage the NSF to seek expertise in the social sciences to describe the long-term impact of vertical integration in agriculture. More information on CAST is available at the website, www.cast-science.org. Sincerely, David A. Knauft President Richard E. Stuckey Executive Vice President UK'S CRUELLEST FARMER JAILED November 2, 1999 PA News/ Reuters Cornish farmer Roger Baker, 57, from Ventongimps Common, Britain's "cruellest farmer", was, according to these stories, jailed for five and a half months on Tuesday for abusing dozens of animals and banned for life from keeping livestock. RSPCA spokesman Alex Ross, was quoted as saying, "He is most consistently cruel person that we have dealt with. Despite prison sentences [previously imprisoned seven times for hurting animal] and fines, he still continues to neglect animals and leave them in a suffering state." Baker pleaded guilty to 17 charges of causing unnecessary suffering and distress to 259 sheep and 15 cattle while already serving a lifetime ban from keeping sheep which was imposed in 1997. He also pleaded guilty to four charges of failure to dispose of the carcasses of 13 sheep and one calf and to keeping sheep while disqualified. RSPCA inspector Rob Skinner was quoted as saying, "Roger Baker is one of the most persistently cruel men the RSPCA has ever had to deal with. He's been prosecuted, I believe, more times for animal cruelty than any other man since this legislation was introduced in 1911. He is a cruel and callous man who doesn't care for his stock. There are so many decent farmers out there and he degrades them and the industry." This story explained that the latest prosecution followed RSPCA visits to Baker's fields in February when they found some sheep dead and others emaciated. some were so badly looked after they were unable to run without falling over and others had ruptured eyes - 53 had to be destroyed immediately. Cattle were found walking in mud up to their abdomens. OSTRICHES' LAST TRIP IN CATTLE TRUCK, COURT HEARS November 2, 1999 PA News Phil Hazlewood An animal welfare expert today was cited as telling a court how he discovered a cattle truck was transporting a cargo of ostriches, two of them injured. Birmingham Magistrates' Court was, according to this story, told the routine vehicle check found two of the 26 birds‹destined for a slaughterhouse‹were covered in blood. Lorry driver Adrian Shaw, of Malvern, Worcestershire, and his employer, Edward Gilder, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, both deny two charges of animal cruelty under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Act 1997 and the Animal Health Act 1981. This story explained that the court heard that the lorry was stopped between junctions six and seven of the northbound M6 at Perry Barr, Birmingham, on February 9, 1998, for a routine vehicle check. An inspection was carried out by Birmingham City Council's senior animal welfare officer, Graham Taylor, and a colleague, with the help of West Midlands Police. The check found that the 26 birds were being taken from Windsor to a slaughterhouse in Whitchurch, Shropshire. Mr Taylor was quoted as saying, "I was amazed to see a cattle truck being used to transport ostriches. When I introduced myself to the driver, I was surprised when he told me what he had on board. The vehicle was not adapted in any way. One would expect a vehicle transporting exotic animals to have some sort of adaptation to it given the type of animals being transported. The partition gates that formed pens in the vehicle were severely damaged, the sort one would expect to find with continued use and when large animals were being carried." Mr Barry Berlin, prosecuting, was cited as saying that the birds‹all 12 to 14-month-old mature yearlings‹were at risk because of "sharp protrusions" on the partition gates dividing the pens. Ventilation holes in the lorry were also not covered as prescribed by law, which meant that the birds could poke their heads out, Mr Berlin said. FOOD FOR THOUGHT November 1, 1999 Victoria Times Colonist A13 Marlyn Horsdal, Victoria was quoted as writing in this letter to the editor: In all the coverage of the recent lifting of the fish farm moratorium, one element is being ignored: if the wild salmon disappear, what are the grizzly bears, seals, eagles and orcas going to eat? To be purely mercenary about it, a large part of the B.C. economy depends on all these ``Super, Natural'' creatures‹not only the commercial and sport fishermen but an important part of our hospitality and tourism industry as well. The net-pen fish farms themselves pose major risks to the wild salmon, in spreading pollution and disease, so now that the moratorium has been lifted, it is, according to this letter, essential that there be stringent regulations on their operations and that they be closely monitored. We can't just shrug our shoulders and say, ``Too bad about the wild stocks, but there's always the farmed fish.'' Who can eat farmed fish? Humans. The only place farmed fish can replace wild fish is on our dinner plates. The wild creatures for which the West Coast is world-renowned‹and much-visited‹have, this letter explained, depended for millennia on the wild salmon; they cannot eat farmed fish. If the wild stocks disappear, the grizzles and eagles will too, and with them, much of B.C.'s income. QA PROGRAM ON HOLD October 1, 1999 Farm Gateway Dawn Ius Hog producers are, according to this story, still interested in Alberta's quality assurance (QA) program, but the low economy, combined with harvest, has put the program temporarily on hold. The province's QA coordinator Dawn Leblanc, was quoted as saying, "Things have been pretty slow because of harvest. And when the farm economy is slow, things drag a little more than you would like to see. I expect it will pick up after harvest when producers have a little more time to pay attention to the things they have to do for the program." Currently there are 240 farms involved with the program, representing about 43 per cent of Alberta's market hog production. Leblanc was cited as saying that this is a good start, but the goal will eventually be to have 100 per cent of the farmers in the province on board with the Canada-wide program. Representatives from each of the eight provinces taking part in the National QA program will, this story says, be meeting in October to do some fine tuning of the guidelines, and make sure the manuals are as complete as they can be. Leblanc, was quoted as saying, "We're the first to admit that there are some areas in the manual that need to be flushed out. There isn't as much information as there should have been. We sent out amendments, but we need to make sure the manual is up to date." Adding to the manual will also give program coordinators a chance to respond to some producer concerns regarding the QA program. Leblanc was further cited as saying that there seems to be some miscommunication as to how much is required from the producer. She plans on spending more time at the farm with these farmers to show them that they may be trying to do too much, adding, "I think we've had some wires crossed. The QA program is based on HACCP, which is a fairly stringent program. However, HACCP is just the base and has basically just been the guideline for developing the QA program." As well, Leblanc says producers need to be aware that the QA program in Alberta and the carcass quality program sponsored by Fletchers Fine Foods in Red Deer, AB aren't one and the same. "The Fletchers program is related to the carcass itself," she says. "The premiums offered are based on carcass traits, not on whether the producer is on the provincial QA program." Despite these small gliches, Leblanc says she is pleased with the momentum of the QA program, both in Alberta, as well as in the rest of the provinces across Canada. Newfoundland and BC have opted out of the QA program. NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION REPORTS: BEEF DEMAND SHOWS IMPROVEMENT AFTER 20-YEAR SLIDE November 2, 1999 from a press release NEW YORK -- Several economic factors seem to indicate beef demand may be stabilizing for the first time in more than 20 years, beef industry experts said today. Preliminary beef demand data for the first three quarters of 1999 were released at the Beef Summit 1999, a one-day seminar held in New York for beef marketers including retailers, food manufacturers and foodservice operators. According to industry analysts, beef demand increased 4.59 percent during the third quarter of 1999, compared to demand during the same period last year. While seasonal demand slipped 1.65 percent between the second and third quarters of 1999, industry leaders remain optimistic that beef demand is improving. The rate of decline of beef demand has been slowing since 1996, according to the Beef Demand Index, which is calculated by leading independent economics and industry experts using USDA per capita beef consumption data and USDA Choice retail beef prices adjusted for inflation. Randy Blach, market analyst for Cattle-Fax, a private market research firm in Denver, Colo., told Beef Summit attendees at least two of the key factors contributing to demand gains in 1999 to-date include increased consumer spending for beef and gains in per capita consumption. Consumer spending on beef from January through September 1999 totaled $36.7 billion‹a $1.5 billion (or 4 percent) increase compared to one year ago. Consumer beef spending for the entire year is projected to reach $48.56 billion, which is nearly $2 billion above the 1998 level. And, per capita spending on beef is expected to grow to $178 by the end of 1999. This level of spending represents a $5 per capita gain and the largest increase in per capita spending since 1990. A key factor in the spike for total beef spending is the fact that consumers are buying beef at steady to slightly higher prices despite record-high beef supplies. USDA average retail beef prices are up 4 cents per pound from one year ago, according to Cattle-Fax data. At the same time, the beef supply for the year is expected to reach nearly 27 billion pounds -- 2.5 percent above 1998 levels. "Increased supply usually drives consumer prices lower, as demand becomes saturated. So far this year, the exact opposite has happened," Blach said. In addition to increased consumer spending, per capita beef consumption from January through September 1999 is up 0.9 pounds from one year ago. Cattle-Fax estimates year-end per capita consumption will jump to 69.2 pounds per person‹a 1.6 percent increase from 1998 levels. Data released today also shows beef's share of total meat expenditures is stable compared to last year, despite stiff competition from pork and poultry. Beef's share of consumer spending dollars from January through September of 1999 is 40 percent, which is slightly (0.2 percent) above last year's average. Pork, chicken and turkey market shares January through September were 28.4 percent, 27.4 percent and 4.2 percent respectively. Blach anticipates beef's market share to hold steady through the end of 1999. Improved exports during the first half of 1999 have contributed to the current state of beef demand. Japan and Korea have begun to increase imports of U.S. beef as their respective economies begin to recover from recent financial crises, and Mexico is expected to remain a strong import customer. Other factors that have helped beef demand include a strong U.S. economy, rising wages, low inflation and a low unemployment rate. Yet Chuck Schroeder, CEO of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), said while preliminary demand figures give beef producers a lot to be hopeful for, the battle is far from over. "We have made great strides toward improving consumer demand for beef, and we need to continue building on those successes if we are to keep demand on the upswing for America's beef producers," Schroeder said. As the major checkoff contractor to the Beef Board, NCBA embarked on the first leg of a long-term strategy in late 1998 to stabilize beef demand by focusing efforts on making beef more convenient for today's time-starved consumers. Schroeder says these initiatives also have contributed to first- and second-quarter demand gains. With checkoff funding, NCBA helped introduce a new category of convenient, branded beef items that can be heated in the microwave and ready to serve in about 10 minutes. Several manufacturers of these products have seen double- digit sales and distribution increases since the beef industry launched its 1999 national marketing campaign to build consumer awareness and trial of these microwaveable beef products. While primarily found in the supermarket fresh meat case, heat-and-serve beef products also are making their way into restaurants to ease operational issues and deliver a great beef meal for consumers. Foodservice operators are looking for convenient, labor saving products. These value-added beef entrees provide operators with convenient, consistent and versatile, high-quality beef menu solutions that help address their labor problems. The beef industry's new product development initiative introduced more than 30 new products in 1999 using currently undervalued beef cuts from the chuck and round. New products such as a rotisserie beef roast for the deli, beef appetizers for restaurants and pre-marinated steaks are making chuck and round products more convenient and appealing for consumers‹and more profitable for the beef industry. And, the industry tackled one of the biggest barriers to increased beef purchase: consumer confusion at the retail meat case. Through a new marketing initiative called "Beef Made Easy," the industry is helping retailers market beef products by cooking method, versus anatomy. Color-coded merchandising materials make the beef section easier to shop, and on-pack cooking instructions make beef dishes easier to prepare. The beef industry will continue building on this convenience strategy in the year ahead, Schroeder said, and it will add an aggressive nutrition component to its marketing efforts‹one that focuses on the bundle of nutrients beef provides, such as zinc, iron, protein and several B vitamins. In past years, the industry has produced leaner products in response to consumer interest in lower fat food choices. Today, consumers and health professionals also are recognizing the nutrient contributions beef makes to diet quality, said Schroeder. "All of our marketing efforts target today's mom. As the primary shopper and keeper of the family meal, she is the critical link in helping build beef demand," Schroeder explained. "The next phase of our long-term marketing strategy will ensure convenience and nutrition work together to deliver easier products she can feel good about eating and serving to her family." Beef industry marketing efforts are funded by beef producers through their $1-per-head checkoff program and are managed for the Cattlemen's Beef Board and state beef councils by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. The national beef checkoff is administered by the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board. This 111-member board is appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to oversee the collection of the $1-per-head checkoff, certify state beef councils, implement the provisions of the Federal Order establishing the checkoff and evaluate the effectiveness of checkoff programs. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the trade association of America's cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation's food and fiber industry. NCBA is producer-directed but consumer focused, with offices in Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. SOURCE National Cattlemen Beef Association /Web site: http://www.cowtown.org / LOW ON THE HOG DOWN ON THE FARM; LOW COMMODITY PRICES ARE BAD NEWS FOR FARMERS, BUT AN INCREASE IN SUBSIDIES IS NOT THE SOLUTION November 2, 1999 GLOBE AND MAIL (Editorial) A20 Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow's political harvest has, according to this story, not been fruitful. Last week, still bruised from his party's poor showing in the provincial election, he went to Ottawa, cap in hand, with newly elected Manitoba Premier Gary Doer to plead for $1.3-billion in financial assistance for Prairie farmers and was, this story says, crudely dismissed by his old friend and frequent political ally, Prime Minister Jean Chretien. What isn't so reasonable is Mr. Vanclief's reluctance to release his projections. If his figures show that the farm-income crisis is not as bad as the premiers say‹Mr. Romanow and Mr. Doer allege farm income will, according to this story, drop to negative levels for the first time since the Dirty Thirties‹then let him release them. Everybody, especially the two unhappy premiers, should have the right to publicly analyze the numbers Mr. Vanclief used to reject their request for help. This story explained that Western pork and grain farmers are being squeezed, but for different reasons. A great many farmers and investors went into hogs to supply the lucrative Asian market. When that industry went belly up during the Asian economic crisis, farmers pleaded for aid. But why should farmers be rescued to any greater degree than miners or foresters, all of whom were affected by the slump in commodity markets? Grain farmers have been hit by the elimination of the Crow rate and other grain subsidies as Canada has tried to apply market rules and discipline to its export trade. The problem, according to the premiers, is, this story says, that European farmers receive 56 cents in subsidies for every dollar of wheat sales, U.S. farmers receive 38 cents and Canadians 9 cents. The solution is not to raise Canadian subsidies, but to complain to the World Trade Organization about high subsidies elsewhere and try to negotiate a more level international playing field. That having been said, Ottawa has already pledged $900-million to the Agricultural Income Disaster program to bail out farmers facing record low prices for certain commodities. There is a not-so-fine line between subsidizing bad business decisions and encouraging an unhealthy reliance on government handouts, and responding to genuine and temporary crises. Farmers have cried crisis frequently enough over the years to trigger a wolf whistle when they come to Ottawa, but a prudent response would be more credible if it were public. ENVIRONMENTALISTS PUT BITE ON SYDNEY SHARK BAR November 2, 1999 AAP Chris Fogarty SYDNEY -- This story explained that two live blacktip reef sharks, which are each just under a metre long, are the star attraction at a Sydney pub and have raised the ire of environmentalists who are demanding they be set free immediately. They have, this story says, proved a massive hit with patrons. But the the Australian office of the Humane Society International was cited as claiming that the sharks are suffering from severe stress. Society spokeswoman Julie Hughes, was quoted as saying, "We believe these sharks are already swimming tail heavy which would indicate that they are under stress." The Society was further cited as claiming that bar staff have also been seen prodding the sharks with cues from nearby pool tables to get the sharks moving around. The owner of the Shark Hotel is overseas and was not available for comment. But management have, according to this story, always strenously denied employee claims that several sharks have already died because of the light and noise from a disco located just metres away from their tank. This story further explained that the Hotel had applied for a license to display the sharks under the Exhibited Animals Protection Act, but was turned down and ordered to remove them from the tank within 14 days. A second application has now been made. Experts from the Taronga Zoo and Sydney Aquarium were brought in by management to examine the sharks, which received a clean bill of health. But the Society was cited as saying that the sharks should not be used as a marketing gimmick and are calling on the Animal Welfare Unit of the New South Wales agriculture department to step in and remove the sharks, which can grow up to five foot long. Ms Hughes was cited as warning the Society would consider court action to extract the sharks from the busy and popular bar if authorities did not act. HUMAN-STYLE PREVENTION MEANS PETS LIVE LONGER November 1, 1999 Reuters Diane Bartz WASHINGTON -- This story explained that indoor city life, vaccination, leash laws and access to medical care developed for humans means dogs and especially cats are living two or three times longer. Bill Utroska, a member of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, said in a telephone interview from Illinois, was quoted as saying, "Thirty years ago, cats over seven pounds (3.2 kg) or seven years old were unusual. A 7-year-old cat now is young." Dogs are also living longer, although the change is less dramatic, veterinarians say. While comparative data on pet longevity is nonexistent, veterinarians agree life expectancy is rising. Today, a cat or small dog may live more than 20 years, a large dog 15 years. SWALLOWING PIG SPERM: A MIRACLE CURE? A GROUP OF CANADIAN GENETICISTS BELIEVES THAT PIG SEMEN MAY BE THE BEST BUILDING BLOCK FOR HUMAN GROWTH HORMONES. October 26, 1999 Salon By Hank Hyena http://www.salonmagazine.com:80/health/sex/urge/bits/1999/10/26/pigsemen/ind ex.html Will semen spurting out of a hog's penis provide the next wonder drug for humanity? Lusty sows might regard swine spunk as sexy, and Nebraska pig-ranchers accept it as a procreating necessity, but ordinary humans undoubtedly view oinker jism as a repulsive fluid they'd rather not think about. Pig sperm doesn't bore Canadian researchers, however. Frances Pothier and his Department of Animal Sciences colleagues at Quebec's Laval University are presently attempting to transform hog wads into an array of growth hormone (GH) pharmaceutical products, notes the November issue of Nature Biotechnology. "We will introduce a new human gene into the pig embryo at the one-cell stage, with micro-manipulation," Pothier explained to Salon Urge in a phone interview. "We can introduce any genes that we want: genes that combat hemophilia, genetic lung disease and cystic fibrosis, for example. We can also introduce genes that act as 'red blood cell boosters'‹this product will help patients recover from chemotherapy." Geneticists are already producing pharmaceutical proteins in the mammary glands of goats, sheep and cows, but Pothier believes pig testicles provide a cheaper, faster medical factory. "The gestation period of the pig is only three months, three weeks and three days," he said. "And in six months, the pig starts ejaculating. In one year [with a pig] you will have the product; with a cow you have to wait two and a half years." Hogs, moreover, are prolific splashers: they expel about a cup of sperm with each ejaculation. Harvesting piggy ooze is also simple. "Pigs can be trained to mount a special bench every day, and ejaculate inside it," said Pothier. "The process takes only 10 to 20 minutes." Future patients who fear they might receive prescriptions that require them to swallow spoonfuls of hog semen daily need not worry. The boar-juice, Pothier assures us, "will be purified in very complex procedures." SAVING THE TIGER November 2, 1999 The New York Times Peter Jackson, Gland, Switzerland was quoted as writing in this letter to the editor: The review of the tiger situation in "Improbably, the Tiger Survives" (Oct. 12) is more optimistic than I consider justified. Enormous progress has, according to this letter, been made in scientific research. However, conservation is basically politics: governmental decisions on land use, legal protection of wildlife and its implementation, reconciliation with economic development, etc. Over all, the conservation situation is far from satisfactory. This letter explained that we do not know how many tigers there are in the wild. Without data it is not possible to decide whether the population is increasing or declining. Poaching and illegal trade in tiger products are difficult to assess. There may, according to this letter, have been local declines, but seizures of bones and skins in India, Nepal and Russia continue. Elsewhere products are available in local markets. Deer and pigs, prime tiger prey, are poached for food by humans, thereby threatening tiger survival and promoting livestock predation. Habitat is under threat from human pressures, and mining is tearing up supposedly protected areas, especially in India. The tiger's situation continues to be grave. Only strong action by governments with support from scientists can save the tiger. It is, according to this letter, a flagship for wildlife and natural habitat because it depends on a pyramid of animals and plants and because its conservation is beneficial to the world and its people. (The writer is chairman of the Cat Specialist Group of the Wildlife Conservation Union.) IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE November 2, 1999 The New York Times HENRY FOUNTAIN Climate change can, according to this story, have an indirect effect on an ecosystem, by altering the behavior of predators within it. The latest illustration of this is from a long-term study of wolves in Isle Royale National Park, an island sanctuary in Lake Superior. The study, by a team of researchers led by two Norwegian biologists, was cited as showing that during harsh winters with more snow, wolves hunt in larger packs. This makes them more efficient hunters and is bad news for their favorite prey, moose. But what is bad for the moose is good for the vegetation: fewer moose means that more balsam fir saplings, the animal's main winter forage, survive. This story explained that the researchers studied data collected over 40 years in the park. Their analysis, reported in the journal Nature, shows that average pack size ranged from 4.5 wolves during the mildest winters to 12 during the snowiest, as grown pups that would normally leave to seek mates stayed with the family instead. Larger packs killed up to three times more moose than smaller ones. The data was cited as showing there were fewer moose in the year after a snowy winter. And by studying tree rings, the researchers found that in those same years, growth of balsam fir saplings increased. LISTING OF THE BRUSH-TAILED POSSUM AS INJURIOUS November 2, 1999 Federal Register (Volume 64, Number 211) [Proposed Rules] [Page 59149-59152] [DOCID:fr02no99-31] 50 CFR Part 16 [1018-AE34] AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) published a notice on January 24, 1996, soliciting information relative to the threat that Trichosurus spp. poses to agriculture, human health, and fish and wildlife resources. Analysis of the available information warrants the listing of only one species, T. vulpecula, as injurious. We received little information about the other two species in the genus, T. arnhemensis and T. caninus. Consequently, we will not propose their listing at this time. Listing T. vulpecula would prohibit its importation into, or transportation between, the continental United States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States with limited exceptions. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 3, 2000. ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or sent by fax to the Chief, Division of Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance, 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop 840 ARLSQ, Washington, DC 20240, or FAX (703) 358-2044. To subscribe to AnimalNet, send mail to: (subscription is free) listserv@listserv.uoguelph.ca leave subject line blank in the body of the message type: subscribe animalnet-L firstname lastname i.e. subscribe animalnet -L Doug Powell To unsubscribe to AnimalNet, send mail to: listserv@listserv.uoguelph.ca leave subject line blank in the body of the message type: signoff animalnet-L For more information about the AnimalNet research program, please contact: Dr. Douglas Powell dept. of plant agriculture University of Guelph Guelph, Ont. N1G 2W1 tel: 519-824-4120 x2506 fax: 519-763-8933 dpowell@uoguelph.ca http://www.oac.uoguelph.ca/riskcomm archived at: http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/courses/ansc481/animal_net.html