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First test for eradication of beavers (Castor canadensis) in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

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Abstract

The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) was introduced in 1946 from Canada to Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego to develop a fur industry. Their expansion to most of the habitats of Tierra del Fuego and their presence on the continent, moved Argentina and Chile to test their eradication. The objective of this paper is to analyse a pilot eradication test and determine which variables are associated with the capture success of beavers in a small area of the Fuegian forest. The pilot was conducted in the Corazón de la Isla reserve, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, during April and May 2014, by three groups of trappers, using body-grip traps and snares. The capture success was modelled with different variables. A total of 115 individuals were captured after 590 and 265 body-grip and snare trapping-nights, respectively, with an overall efficiency of 13.5%. Using body-grip traps and placing traps in slides or burrows would increase trapping efficiency. This experience allowed us to evaluate techniques and generate recommendations for future beaver eradication trials on a larger scale: (a) the need to improve the data collection system through digital technology and georeferencing the location of operations, (b) the importance of the type of trap used according to the specific sites of the colony, (c) test alternative trapping strategies to reduce the eventual “learning” of animals, (d) drive the paradigm of hunters from yield oriented to eradication objectives and (e) ensure the political sustainability of the wider program.

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Acknowledgements

We want to acknowledge the indispensable part of hunters, who do the field work and record of data. We are also very grateful to the editor and two anonymous reviewers for very helpful and constructive comments on a prior manuscript version.

Funding

The project was funded by the “Fondo Nacional para el Enriquecimiento y la Conservación de los Bosques Nativos” (Grant No. Resolución S.D.S.yA. N°448/2012) by means of the Project “Plan de Conservación de los Bosques Nativos de la Reserva Recreativa Natural y de la reserva de Uso Múltiple Este del Área Protegida Corazón de la Isla”. 2012–2015. PJ is funded by the join fellowship program between CONICET and Universidad de Tierra del Fuego.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, CONICET, Bernardo Houssay 200, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Pablo Jusim, Julio Escobar & Adrián Schiavini

  2. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Pablo Jusim

  3. Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Pablo Jusim & Adrián Schiavini

  4. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Andrea P. Goijman

  5. Dirección General de Áreas Protegidas y Biodiversidad, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    María Luisa Carranza

  6. Wildlife Conservation Society, Argentinian Representation, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Adrián Schiavini

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  1. Pablo Jusim
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  5. Adrián Schiavini
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Correspondence to Pablo Jusim.

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The trap complied with humanitarian standards as indicated in “Materials and methods” section

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Jusim, P., Goijman, A.P., Escobar, J. et al. First test for eradication of beavers (Castor canadensis) in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Biol Invasions 22, 3609–3619 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02344-z

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