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Feeding Wild Birds: Should People Feed Birds and What's Best to Feed Birds?
Given the prominence of feeding activity, and the sheer volume of supplemental food dispensed into the environment, it is worthy to examine the impacts of feeding on nature and to improve one’s understanding of the proper care and responsibilities that come with feeding wild birds.
Aug 8, 2024 420-006 (CNRE-183)
Freshwater Fish Farming in Virginia: Selecting the Right Fish to Raise
In Virginia and throughout the United States, interest in fish farming for profit or as a hobby has increased in the past few years. Encouraged by the success of trout farmers in western states and catfish farmers in southern states, prospective fish farmers question if similar opportunities exist in Virginia's fresh waters.
May 1, 2009 420-010
Pond Construction: Some Practical Considerations
Conservative estimates place the correct number of farm ponds in Virginia at over 50,000. These ponds range in size from less than one acre to over 30 acres in size. Unfortunately, many of these ponds are so poorly constructed that they fail to serve the purpose for which they were originally designed; some may be unsafe.
May 1, 2009 420-011
Managing Wildlife Damage: Snakes
An overview of information to help readers improve knowledge and understanding of human interactions with snakes common to Virginia and methods to avoid conflicts with these often maligned animals.
Jun 3, 2024 420-021 (CNRE-56P)
Managing Human-Wildlife Interactions: Moles Jun 27, 2023 420-201 (CNRE-169P)
Managing Wildlife Damage: Beavers (Castor canadensis) May 25, 2023 420-202 (CNRE-167P)
Control Methods For Aquatic Plants in Ponds and Lakes
Aquatic plants growing in ponds and lakes are beneficial for fish and wildlife. They provide food, dissolved oxygen, and spawning and nesting habitat for fish and waterfowl.
May 1, 2009 420-251
Fish Kills: Their Causes and Prevention
Fish die as a result of a wide variety of natural and unnatural causes. Fish may die of old age, starvation, body injury, stress, suffocation, water pollution, diseases, parasites, predation, toxic algae, severe weather, and other reasons.
May 1, 2009 420-252
The Control of Burrowing Crayfish in Ponds
At times landowners may be confronted with serious water losses resulting from the sudden collapse or gradual deterioration of earthen pond dams, irrigation canals, and drainage ditches. Although the loss of water from small earthen impoundments is frequently due to faulty construction, it may also be the result of undetected biological forces.
May 1, 2009 420-253
Liming Acidified Lakes and Ponds
“Liming,” as the word suggests, is the addition of limestone (calcite), primarily calcium carbonate (CaCO3), to neutralize acid waters and soils and buffer them from rapid fluctuations in pH. Limestone typically is applied to lawns, gardens, pastures, and croplands to supply calcium, an essential plant nutrient, and to decrease soil acidity.
May 1, 2009 420-254
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - What Is Aquatic Biodiversity; Why Is it Important?
Aquatic biodiversity is the rich and wonderful variety of plants and animals—from crayfish to catfish, from mussels to mayflies, from tadpoles to trout—that live in watery habitats. It is the number of different native species, or species richness.
Dec 18, 2019 420-520 (CNRE-77P)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Why Is Aquatic Biodiversity Declining?
When a species goes extinct, all the genetic information carried by individuals of that species is lost forever, never to be reproduced again. Extinction is a terrible waste of life and a loss of potential solutions to future problems such as possible cures to disease and solutions for survival in a changing world.
Jan 7, 2020 420-521 (CNRE-78P)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Aquatic Habitats: Homes for Aquatic Animals
Natural aquatic habitats include ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, springs, estuaries, bays, and various types of wetlands. Some of these habitats are shallow and others deep, some are cold-water and others warm-water, some are freshwater and others saltwater, and some have high oxygen levels and others little oxygen.
Feb 11, 2020 420-522 (CNRE-79P)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Freshwater Mussel Biodiversity and Conservation
Nearly 300 species of mussels inhabit freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes in the United States. This is the richest diversity of mussels found in the world and an extraordinary natural heritage that needs protection. Because of the lustrous, pearl-like interior of the shells, some of these pearly mussels have important commercial value in the cultured pearl and jewelry industry.
Jan 7, 2020 420-523 (CNRE-80P)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Crayfish Biodiversity and Conservation
Of the approximately 500 crayfishes (some times called crawdads or crawfish) found on earth, about 400 crayfish species live in waters in North America, and about 353, nearly 70 percent of the world’s total species, inhabit waters in the United States.
Mar 24, 2020 420-524 (CNRE-82P)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Freshwater Fish Biodiversity and Conservation
Nearly 800 native fish species in 36 families inhabit the freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes of the United States and Canada. North America has the most diverse temperate freshwater fish fauna in the world.
Feb 11, 2020 420-525 (CNRE-83P)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Selected Freshwater Fish Families
This is the largest and most ecologically diverse family of freshwater fishes in the world. Minnows are exclusively freshwater, although some species stray into brackish, tidal waters. Over 290 species of minnows occur in North America.
Feb 12, 2020 420-526 (CNRE-90P)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Frog Biodiversity and Conservation
Frogs can be found in all landscapes, from deep under the water to high in trees. There are more than 100 species of frogs in the United States, and many of these are of conservation concern. This publication describes frog biology, diversity, and conservation issues.
Feb 12, 2020 420-527 (CNRE-87P)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Salamander Biodiversity and Conservation
Of the more than 700 species of salamanders found worldwide, more than 200 live in North America, and over 40 percent of these are considered to be at risk. Although these secretive creatures are unknown to many people, they are important parts of our natural world and in serious need of our protection. This publication describes salamander biology and conservation concerns.
Feb 12, 2020 420-528 (CNRE-88P)
Guide to Understanding and Managing Lakes: Part I (Physical Measurements)
Inland lakes constitute one of our greatest natural resources. They are immensely popular features, particularly as recreational community developments.
May 1, 2009 420-538
Management of Wood Ducks on Private Lands and Waters
Of the many wildlife management practices the private landowner can do, few are as rewarding as those which favor wood ducks. Wood ducks and a multitude of other wildlife species respond readily to managed wetlands.
May 1, 2009 420-802
Should You Attempt Fish Farming? Considerations for Prospective Fish Growers
Fish farming is an ancient practice that can provide many profitable opportunities today. The raising and selling of fish on a commercial basis has proven to be economically successful throughout the United States.
May 1, 2009 420-897
Powell River Project - Enhancing Wildlife Habitat on Reclaimed Mine Lands Jul 26, 2023 460-145 (CSES-208P)
Intensive Marine Finfish Larviculture
Marine finfish production is a rapidly expanding field, both in research and industrial aquaculture. A driving force behind this growth is the inherently high value placed upon marine finfish products in the marketplace.
Feb 7, 2020 600-050 (CNRE-84P)
Managing Wildlife Damage: Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Feb 3, 2023 420-203 (CNRE-160P)