The Experts below are selected from a list of 318 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Barry K Hartup - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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comparison of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in hand versus parent reared whooping cranes Grus Americana
Zoo Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Megan E. Brown, Glenn H Olsen, Miranda R. Torkelson, Ashley Rachel Krisp, Barry K HartupAbstract:Endangered whooping cranes (Grus Americana) have been produced in captivity for reintroduction programs since the 1980s, using techniques such as artificial insemination, multiple clutching, and captive-rearing to speed recovery efforts. Chicks are often hand-reared (HR) by caretakers in crane costumes, socialized into groups and released together, unlike parent-reared (PR) cranes that are raised individually by a male/female crane pair and released singly. HR cranes historically exhibit greater morbidity rates during development than PR cranes, involving musculoskeletal and respiratory system disease, among others. We hypothesized that HR crane chicks exhibit a higher baseline fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations during the development compared with PR chicks. Fecal samples were collected between 15 and 70 days of age from HR (n = 15) and PR (n = 8) chicks to test for differences in FGM concentrations using a radioimmunoassay technique following ethanol extraction for steroids. Linear mixed model analysis suggests increasing age of the chick was associated with an increase in FGM (p < .001). Analysis also supported the interaction between rearing strategy and sex of the crane chick (p < .01). Female PR chicks had greater FGM concentrations than all other groups (PR male, p < .01; HR female, p < .001; and HR male, p < .001). This result suggests that there may be an effect of rearing strategy on stress physiology of whooping crane chicks, especially among females. Further research is needed to investigate whether the FGM concentrations are reflective of true differences in stress physiology of young cranes and whether this may impact health and conservation success.
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Comparison of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in hand- versus parent-reared whooping cranes (Grus Americana).
Zoo biology, 2020Co-Authors: Megan E. Brown, Glenn H Olsen, Miranda R. Torkelson, Ashley Rachel Krisp, Barry K HartupAbstract:Endangered whooping cranes (Grus Americana) have been produced in captivity for reintroduction programs since the 1980s, using techniques such as artificial insemination, multiple clutching, and captive-rearing to speed recovery efforts. Chicks are often hand-reared (HR) by caretakers in crane costumes, socialized into groups and released together, unlike parent-reared (PR) cranes that are raised individually by a male/female crane pair and released singly. HR cranes historically exhibit greater morbidity rates during development than PR cranes, involving musculoskeletal and respiratory system disease, among others. We hypothesized that HR crane chicks exhibit a higher baseline fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations during the development compared with PR chicks. Fecal samples were collected between 15 and 70 days of age from HR (n = 15) and PR (n = 8) chicks to test for differences in FGM concentrations using a radioimmunoassay technique following ethanol extraction for steroids. Linear mixed model analysis suggests increasing age of the chick was associated with an increase in FGM (p
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Postmortem Evaluation of Reintroduced Migratory Whooping Cranes (Grus Americana) in Eastern North America
Journal of wildlife diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Taylor J. Yaw, Julia S. Lankton, Kimberli J. Miller, Barry K HartupAbstract:Abstract We reviewed necropsy records of 124 Whooping Cranes (Grus Americana) recovered following reintroduction of 268 individuals from 2001 to 2016 in the eastern US. Causes of death were determi...
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MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPERPARATHYROIDISM IN JUVENILE WHOOPING CRANES (Grus Americana).
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 2019Co-Authors: Lily Parkinson, Barry K HartupAbstract:Juvenile whooping cranes (Grus Americana) raised for wild release were found to have an increased incidence of rib fractures at fledging in 2017 compared with the previous 16 years. Serum analysis showed 30-day-old juveniles in 2017 (n = 12) had significantly lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and significantly higher parathyroid hormone concentrations than juveniles in 2010 (n = 6) with no history of rib fractures. Increased serum parathyroid hormone concentrations in the 2017 juveniles persisted to fledging age. Review of dietary and environmental management revealed that juveniles in 2017 were provided a commercial diet with a lower, and perhaps suboptimal, calcium:phosphorus ratio and experienced reduced time outdoors in the first month after hatch, presumably resulting in less ultraviolet B radiation exposure. Mild hyperparathyroidism in precocial whooping cranes may result when dietary constraints and/or outdoor access is compromised and manifest as rib fractures in the absence of traumatic injury.
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Serum Biochemical Analytes and Trace Elements in Juvenile Whooping Cranes (Grus Americana).
Journal of wildlife diseases, 2019Co-Authors: Cameron Ratliff, Barry K HartupAbstract:Abstract Biochemical and trace element analyses of blood from wild Whooping Cranes (Grus Americana) were performed to assess the health of the only self-sustaining, migratory population in North Am...
Sarah A. Hamer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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SURVEY OF GROSS AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS IN TWO WINTERING SUBPOPULATIONS OF SANDHILL CRANES (ANTIGONE CANADENSIS)
Journal of wildlife diseases, 2017Co-Authors: Martha E. Hensel, Miranda R. Bertram, Gabriel L. Hamer, Raquel R. Rech, Sarah A. HamerAbstract:ABSTRACT: Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) of the midcontinent population (MCP) and Rocky Mountain population (RMP) are migratory game birds with stable populations that travel between Canada and the southern US and Mexico. In the winters of 2012–14, we performed gross and histologic examinations of 43 hunter-harvested Sandhill Cranes in Texas (MCP) and New Mexico (RMP) to assess the impact of disease on populations. Lesions were significantly more common in the MCP relative to the RMP, likely reflecting differential environmental exposure to pathogens and parasites. Grossly, liver nodules and esophageal granulomas were present in 8–39% of birds. In feces from over half of birds, we found coccidian oocysts with mitochondrial gene sequences identical to those of Eimeria gruis and Eimeria reichenowi previously obtained from sympatric Whooping Cranes (Grus Americana). Over one-quarter of birds had liver and cardiac lesions suggestive of disseminated visceral coccidiosis. We documented proliferative col...
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Haemosporida prevalence and diversity are similar in endangered wild whooping cranes (Grus Americana) and sympatric sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis).
Parasitology, 2016Co-Authors: Miranda R. Bertram, Matthew C I Medeiros, Barry K Hartup, Gabriel L. Hamer, Karen F. Snowden, Sarah A. HamerAbstract:The population growth of endangered whooping cranes (Grus Americana) is not consistent with species recovery goals, and the impact of parasite infection on whooping crane populations is largely unknown. Disease ecology and epidemiology research of endangered species is often hindered by limited ability to conduct invasive sampling on the target taxa. Accordingly, we hypothesized that sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) would be a useful surrogate species to investigate the health impacts of Haemosporida infection in whooping cranes. Our goal was to compare the prevalence and diversity of Haemosporida infection between whooping cranes and sandhill cranes. We detected an overall infection prevalence of 83·6% (n = 61) in whooping cranes and 59·6% (n = 47) and 63·6 (n = 22) in two sympatric sandhill crane populations captured in Texas. Prevalence was significantly lower in allopatric sandhill cranes captured in New Mexico (12·1%, n = 33). Haemoproteus antigonis was the most abundant haemoparasite in cranes, present in 57·4% of whooping cranes and 39·2% of sandhill cranes; Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon were present at significantly lower levels. The high prevalence of Haemosporida in whooping cranes and sympatric sandhill cranes, with shared parasite lineages between the two species, supports sandhill cranes as a surrogate species for understanding health threats to endangered whooping cranes.
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Coccidian Parasites and Conservation Implications for the Endangered Whooping Crane (Grus Americana).
PloS one, 2015Co-Authors: Miranda R. Bertram, Barry K Hartup, Gabriel L. Hamer, Karen F. Snowden, Sarah A. HamerAbstract:While the population of endangered whooping cranes (Grus Americana) has grown from 15 individuals in 1941 to an estimated 304 birds today, the population growth is not sufficient to support a down-listing of the species to threatened status. The degree to which disease may be limiting the population growth of whooping cranes is unknown. One disease of potential concern is caused by two crane-associated Eimeria species: Eimeria gruis and E. reichenowi. Unlike most species of Eimeria, which are localized to the intestinal tract, these crane-associated species may multiply systemically and cause a potentially fatal disease. Using a non-invasive sampling approach, we assessed the prevalence and phenology of Eimeria oocysts in whooping crane fecal samples collected across two winter seasons (November 2012–April 2014) at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge along the Texas Gulf coast. We also compared the ability of microscopy and PCR to detect Eimeria in fecal samples. Across both years, 26.5% (n = 328) of fecal samples were positive for Eimeria based on microscopy. Although the sensitivity of PCR for detecting Eimeria infections seemed to be less than that of microscopy in the first year of the study (8.9% vs. 29.3%, respectively), an improved DNA extraction protocol resulted in increased sensitivity of PCR relative to microscopy in the second year of the study (27.6% and 20.8%, respectively). The proportion of positive samples did not vary significantly between years or among sampling sites. The proportion of Eimeria positive fecal samples varied with date of collection, but there was no consistent pattern of parasite shedding between the two years. We demonstrate that non-invasive fecal collections combined with PCR and DNA sequencing techniques provides a useful tool for monitoring Eimeria infection in cranes. Understanding the epidemiology of coccidiosis is important for management efforts to increase population growth of the endangered whooping crane.
Nucharin Songsasen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Time within reproductive season, but not age or inbreeding coefficient, affects seminal and sperm quality in the whooping crane (Grus Americana).
Reproduction fertility and development, 2017Co-Authors: Megan E. Brown, Sarah J. Converse, Jane N. Chandler, Adrienne E. Crosier, W. Lynch, David E. Wildt, Carol L. Keefer, Nucharin SongsasenAbstract:All living whooping cranes (Grus Americana) are descended from 16 or fewer birds that remained alive in the early 1940s, a bottleneck that puts the species at potential risk for inbreeding depression. Although AI is commonly used in the management of the captive population of this species, little is known about seminal traits or factors affecting sperm quality in the whooping crane. In the present study, semen samples were collected from 29 adult males (age 3-27 years) during the early (March), mid (April) and late (May) breeding season over 2 consecutive years. The effects of donor age, time within reproductive season and level of inbreeding on seminal characteristics were analysed using regression and information-theoretic model selection. Only time within reproductive season significantly affected seminal traits, with total numbers of spermatozoa and proportions of pleiomorphisms increasing across the season. We conclude that, even with a highly restricted number of founders, there is no discernible influence of inbreeding (at the levels described) on sperm output or quality. Furthermore, although there is variance in seminal quality, the whooping crane produces significant numbers of motile spermatozoa throughout the breeding season, similar to values reported for the greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida).
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Female gonadal hormones and reproductive behaviors as key determinants of successful reproductive output of breeding whooping cranes (Grus Americana).
General and Comparative Endocrinology, 2016Co-Authors: Megan E. Brown, Sarah J. Converse, Jane N. Chandler, Carol L. Keefer, Charles Shafer, Janine L. Brown, Nucharin SongsasenAbstract:Reproductive success of endangered whooping cranes (Grus Americana) maintained ex situ is poor. As part of an effort to identify potential causes of poor reproductive success in a captive colony, we used non-invasive endocrine monitoring to assess gonadal and adrenal steroids of bird pairs with various reproductive outcomes and evaluated the relationships of hormones and behaviors to reproductive performance. Overall, reproductively successful (i.e., egg laying) females had significantly higher mean estrogen levels but lower mean progestogen concentrations than did unsuccessful females. Other hormones, including glucocorticoids and androgens, were not significantly different between successful and unsuccessful individuals. Observations of specific behaviors such as unison calling, marching, and the number of copulation attempts, along with overall time spent performing reproductive behaviors, were significantly higher in successful pairs. Our findings indicate that overall reproductive performance of whooping crane pairs is linked to female gonadal hormone excretion and reproductive behaviors, but not to altered adrenal hormone production.
Sarah J. Converse - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The importance of early life experience and animal cultures in reintroductions
Conservation Letters, 2018Co-Authors: Claire S. Teitelbaum, Sarah J. Converse, Thomas MuellerAbstract:Even within a single population, individuals can display striking differences in behavior, with consequences for their survival and fitness. In reintroduced populations, managers often attempt to promote adaptive behaviors by controlling the early life experiences of individuals, but it remains largely unknown whether this early life training has lasting effects on behavior. We investigated the behavior of reintroduced whooping cranes (Grus Americana) trained to migrate using two different methods to see whether their migration behavior remained different or converged over time. We found that the behavior of the two groups converged relatively rapidly, indicating that early life training may not produce lasting effects, especially in species that display lifelong learning and behavioral adaptation. In some cases, managers may consider continual behavioral interventions after release if desired behaviors are not present. Understanding the roles early life experience and animal cultures play in determining behavior is crucial for successful reintroduction programs.
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Examination of multiple working hypotheses to address reproductive failure in reintroduced Whooping Cranes
The Condor, 2018Co-Authors: Jeb A. Barzen, Sarah J. Converse, Anne E. Lacy, Peter H. Adler, Elmer W. Gray, Andrew P. GossensAbstract:ABSTRACT Understanding multiple challenges that restrict conservation success is a central task of applied ecology, especially when resources are limited and actions are expensive, such as with reintroduction programs. Simultaneous consideration of multiple hypotheses can expedite identification of factors that most limit conservation success. Since 2001, reintroduction of a migratory population of Whooping Cranes (Grus Americana) has been under way in eastern North America. Hatching success, however, has been extremely low. In our study area, in and near Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin, USA, we simultaneously tested 3 hypotheses explaining poor hatching success: harassment of incubating birds by black flies (Simuliidae), effects of captivity, and inexperience of breeders. When black flies were experimentally suppressed, hatching probability doubled. Daily nest survival for Whooping Cranes was strongly and negatively related to an index of black fly abundance, particularly of Simuliu...
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Time within reproductive season, but not age or inbreeding coefficient, affects seminal and sperm quality in the whooping crane (Grus Americana).
Reproduction fertility and development, 2017Co-Authors: Megan E. Brown, Sarah J. Converse, Jane N. Chandler, Adrienne E. Crosier, W. Lynch, David E. Wildt, Carol L. Keefer, Nucharin SongsasenAbstract:All living whooping cranes (Grus Americana) are descended from 16 or fewer birds that remained alive in the early 1940s, a bottleneck that puts the species at potential risk for inbreeding depression. Although AI is commonly used in the management of the captive population of this species, little is known about seminal traits or factors affecting sperm quality in the whooping crane. In the present study, semen samples were collected from 29 adult males (age 3-27 years) during the early (March), mid (April) and late (May) breeding season over 2 consecutive years. The effects of donor age, time within reproductive season and level of inbreeding on seminal characteristics were analysed using regression and information-theoretic model selection. Only time within reproductive season significantly affected seminal traits, with total numbers of spermatozoa and proportions of pleiomorphisms increasing across the season. We conclude that, even with a highly restricted number of founders, there is no discernible influence of inbreeding (at the levels described) on sperm output or quality. Furthermore, although there is variance in seminal quality, the whooping crane produces significant numbers of motile spermatozoa throughout the breeding season, similar to values reported for the greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida).
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Female gonadal hormones and reproductive behaviors as key determinants of successful reproductive output of breeding whooping cranes (Grus Americana).
General and Comparative Endocrinology, 2016Co-Authors: Megan E. Brown, Sarah J. Converse, Jane N. Chandler, Carol L. Keefer, Charles Shafer, Janine L. Brown, Nucharin SongsasenAbstract:Reproductive success of endangered whooping cranes (Grus Americana) maintained ex situ is poor. As part of an effort to identify potential causes of poor reproductive success in a captive colony, we used non-invasive endocrine monitoring to assess gonadal and adrenal steroids of bird pairs with various reproductive outcomes and evaluated the relationships of hormones and behaviors to reproductive performance. Overall, reproductively successful (i.e., egg laying) females had significantly higher mean estrogen levels but lower mean progestogen concentrations than did unsuccessful females. Other hormones, including glucocorticoids and androgens, were not significantly different between successful and unsuccessful individuals. Observations of specific behaviors such as unison calling, marching, and the number of copulation attempts, along with overall time spent performing reproductive behaviors, were significantly higher in successful pairs. Our findings indicate that overall reproductive performance of whooping crane pairs is linked to female gonadal hormone excretion and reproductive behaviors, but not to altered adrenal hormone production.
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Decision analysis for conservation breeding: Maximizing production for reintroduction of whooping cranes
The Journal of Wildlife Management, 2011Co-Authors: Des H. V. Smith, Sarah J. Converse, Glenn H Olsen, Keith W. Gibson, Axel Moehrenschlager, William A. Link, Kelly MaguireAbstract:ABSTRACT Captive breeding is key to management of severely endangered species, but maximizing captive production can be challenging because of poor knowledge of species breeding biology and the complexity of evaluating different management options. In the face of uncertainty and complexity, decision-analytic approaches can be used to identify optimal management options for maximizing captive production. Building decision-analytic models requires iterations of model conception, data analysis, model building and evaluation, identification of remaining uncertainty, further research and monitoring to reduce uncertainty, and integration of new data into the model. We initiated such a process to maximize captive production of the whooping crane (Grus Americana), the world's most endangered crane, which is managed through captive breeding and reintroduction. We collected 15 years of captive breeding data from 3 institutions and used Bayesian analysis and model selection to identify predictors of whooping crane h...
Sara E Zimorski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Wing Abnormality in a Wild-Hatched Whooping Crane (Grus Americana) Chick from the Nonmigratory Population in Louisiana, USA.
Journal of wildlife diseases, 2019Co-Authors: Phillip L Vasseur, Sara E Zimorski, Eva K. Szyszkoski, James M. Lacour, Julia S. Lankton, L. Abbigail GrangerAbstract:We describe a wing abnormality in a wild-hatched Whooping Crane (Grus Americana) chick from the reintroduced Louisiana, US nonmigratory population. Despite its seemingly compromised flight ability, the chick fledged, reached independence, and lived until 13 mo of age. Necropsy revealed an axial malunion near the left carpus likely resulting from trauma.
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seasonal movements and multiscale habitat selection of whooping crane Grus Americana in natural and agricultural wetlands
Waterbirds, 2017Co-Authors: Bradley A Pickens, Sammy L King, Phillip L Vasseur, Sara E Zimorski, Will SelmanAbstract:Eleven of 15 species of cranes (family: Gruidae) are considered vulnerable or endangered, and the increase of agriculture and aquaculture at the expense of natural wetlands and grasslands is a threat to Gruidae worldwide. A reintroduced population of Whooping Crane (Grus Americana) was studied in coastal and agricultural wetlands of Louisiana and Texas, USA. The objectives were to compare Whooping Crane movements across seasons, quantify multiscale habitat selection, and identify seasonal shifts in selection. Whooping Cranes (n = 53) were tracked with satellite transmitters to estimate seasonal core-use areas (50% home range contours) via Brownian bridge movement models and assess habitat selection. Whooping Crane core-use areas (n = 283) ranged from 4.7 to 438.0 km2, and habitat selection changed seasonally as shallow water availability varied. Whooping Crane core-use areas were composed of more fresh marsh in spring/summer, but shifted towards rice and crawfish (Procambarus spp.) aquaculture in the fall/winter. Within core-use areas, aquaculture was most strongly selected, particularly in fall when fresh marsh became unsuitable. Overall, the shifting of Whooping Crane habitat selection over seasons is likely to require large, heterogeneous areas. Whooping Crane use of agricultural and natural wetlands may depend on spatio-temporal dynamics of water depth.
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Seasonal Movements and Multiscale Habitat Selection of Whooping Crane (Grus Americana) in Natural and Agricultural Wetlands
Waterbirds, 2017Co-Authors: Bradley A Pickens, Sammy L King, Phillip L Vasseur, Sara E Zimorski, Will SelmanAbstract:Abstract Eleven of 15 species of cranes (family: Gruidae) are considered vulnerable or endangered, and the increase of agriculture and aquaculture at the expense of natural wetlands and grasslands is a threat to Gruidae worldwide. A reintroduced population of Whooping Crane (Grus Americana) was studied in coastal and agricultural wetlands of Louisiana and Texas, USA. The objectives were to compare Whooping Crane movements across seasons, quantify multiscale habitat selection, and identify seasonal shifts in selection. Whooping Cranes (n = 53) were tracked with satellite transmitters to estimate seasonal core-use areas (50% home range contours) via Brownian bridge movement models and assess habitat selection. Whooping Crane core-use areas (n = 283) ranged from 4.7 to 438.0 km2, and habitat selection changed seasonally as shallow water availability varied. Whooping Crane core-use areas were composed of more fresh marsh in spring/summer, but shifted towards rice and crawfish (Procambarus spp.) aquaculture in...
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Winter Distribution Dynamics and Implications to a Reintroduced Population of Migratory Whooping Cranes
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2014Co-Authors: Richard P. Urbanek, Eva K. Szyszkoski, Sara E ZimorskiAbstract:Abstract From 2001 to 2012, the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership released 196 costume-reared juvenile whooping cranes Grus Americana in the eastern United States in an effort to reintroduce a migratory population of this endangered species. Techniques included leading juveniles from Wisconsin to wintering areas by ultralight aircraft or direct release of juveniles in Wisconsin prior to their first autumn migration. With few exceptions, ultralight-led cranes released on the Florida Gulf Coast wintered in inland freshwater habitats in subsequent winters. Wintering of the population occurred in four general regions: Florida–southern Georgia, coastal Carolina, the Mid-South (primarily Tennessee and northern Alabama), and the North (Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky). Releases of ultralight-led juveniles resulted in the majority of the population returning to winter in Florida during the early years of the reintroduction. Later direct autumn releases and shortstopping by ultralight-led birds increased numbers ...
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chelonian species in the diet of reintroduced whooping cranes Grus Americana in louisiana
The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 2013Co-Authors: Sara E Zimorski, Tandi L Perkins, Will SelmanAbstract:Abstract Migratory and non-migratory Whooping Cranes (Grus Americana) historically inhabited southwestern Louisiana until they were extirpated in 1950. Little is known about the feeding habits or dietary items of these cranes except for anecdotal evidence from local residents provided to R. P. Allen for his influential 1952 work on Whooping Cranes. Other populations of Whooping Cranes have been characterized as opportunistic omnivores, consuming small vertebrates, invertebrates, and plant material. In 2009, southwestern Louisiana was selected as a reintroduction site for Whooping Cranes. We report on four observations of reintroduced Whooping Cranes depredating at least two different species of turtles (common snapping turtle and mud turtle), which have not been previously reported as a dietary item for this species.
