From :  <martyn.obbard@mnr.gov.on.ca>
Sent :  January 21, 2005 6:48:33 PM
To :  bill.guthrie@mnr.gov.on.ca
CC :  theriaultjoel@hotmail.com
Subject :  Herbicides and bears
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Attachment :   ReferenceListHerbicidesandWildlife.doc (0.03 MB)

Hi Bill and Joel,

 

I am not an expert on the effects of herbicides on wildlife by any means, but the reading I have done indicates that even if animals do ingest herbicide residues that remain on plants after spraying (e.g., black bears eating blueberries, or moose eating browse) there has never been a detectable effect of the herbicide on wildlife.  That is, herbicides have never been detected in the meat, nor have animals been shown to become ill or die.  

 

Herbicides obviously can have a direct effect on the plants eaten by wildlife species-in the case of moose it is suggested that herbicides may actually improve browse conditions for moose in the medium-term because browse plants do not grow out of reach of moose as quickly as untreated areas.  In the case of black bears herbicides no doubt reduce the availability of berry crops such as raspberries, blueberries, and bristly sarsaparilla though the nature of the effect depends on the application rate of the herbicide.  Roundup can knock back blueberry plants for one or more growing seasons, or it can kill the plants completely if applied in heavy enough concentrations.

 

I have attached a short reference list of pertinent articles that are likely available in the Chapleau District library, or from OFRI.  If you have trouble getting copies I could send some along.

 

I have not heard of any previous cases such as Joel reported (i.e., becoming ill after eating bear meat), so I don't really have any comment to make.  Joel might be able to get the meat tested at the Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at the University of Guelph.  I think the contact number there is: (519) 824-4120 ext. 54556.

 

Let me know if you need more information,

 

Marty

 

______________________________________

Dr. Martyn Obbard

Research Scientist

Wildlife Research and Development Section

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

300 Water St., 3rd Floor North

Peterborough, ON K9J 8M5

Tel.:   (705) 755-1549

FAX: (705) 755-1559

E-mail: martyn.obbard@mnr.gov.on.ca

http://www.trentu.ca/wegp/faculty.shtml#obbard

Reference List Herbicides and Wildlife.Doc

Martyn Obbard
Wildlife Research and Development Section, OMNR

Lautenschlager, R.A. 1992. Effects of conifer release with herbicides on moose: browse production, habitat use, and residues in meat. Alces 28: 215-222.

Lautenschlager, R. A. Effects of conifer release with herbicides on wildlife (A review with an emphasis on Ontario's forests). 1993. Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Ontario Forest Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Forest Research Information Paper.

Moola, F.M., Mallik, A.U., and Lautenschlager, R.A. 1998. Effects of conifer release treatments on the growth and fruit production of Vaccinium spp. in northwestern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 28: 841-851.

Reynolds, P. E. (editor). 1989. Proceedings of the Carnation Creek herbicide workshop. Forestry Canada and B. C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria, B.C.

Sullivan, T.P., Lautenschlager, R.A., and Wagner, R.G. 1999. Clearcutting and burning of northern spruce-fir forests: implications for small mammal communities. Journal of Applied Ecology 36: 327-344.