Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The business meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. November 5, 2008 by Jeanette O'Hare, past WERA-95 Chair. Minutes from the 2007 WCC-95 meeting were unanimously accepted with one correction to the list of participants. Budget Report: John O'Brien reported that there would be no registration fee for the 2008 meeting due to the excess funds from 2007 ($616.54). WERA-95 funds were voted (unanimously) to be used to pay 2008 meeting expenses, including meals, etc. on Tuesday evening; and that any remaining funds are to be transferred to the Vertebrate Pest Council for student support. The budget report was submitted following the meeting on December 15, 2008 and is summarized as follows: There was no income because there was no meeting registration fee. The budget report follows: Balance from the 2007 meeting was $616.54; reimbursement from the VPC* was $124.25; and Circus Circus Hotel expenses for the 2008 meeting were $174.73. Dinner expenses were $191.35. The balance from the 2008 meeting was $250.46.** * The Vertebrate Pest Council will pay for the continental breakfasts on Tuesday morning prior to the beginning of the WERA-95 annual meeting. This totaled $124.25 with tax and service charge. There was no charge for the meeting room. ** Remaining funds are to be transferred to the Vertebrate Pest Council for student support. Future of WERA-95: The group discussed the future of the committee and whether or not we should let the WERA-95 authorization expire. The discussion began the previous afternoon so that participants would have time to consider our options prior to making a decision during the business meeting. David Thawley, WERA-95 Administrative Advisor, provided insight into how other 'WERAs' operate. Typically, WERAs provide mechanisms to coordinate activities and exchange information between colleagues. WERA-95 is unique in that our participants are from diverse sectors within the field of wildlife damage management. Most WERAs are comprised of approximately 80% academicians. David Thawley also informed the attendees that the WERA authorization expires September 30, 2009. If we wish to seek approval to reauthorize the committee, we need to submit a proposal by January 1, 2009. If we decide to continue, we should really want to do it. Mark Tobin opened the discussion of the future of WERA-95 by asking "What is the current purpose of the committee?" He noted that there are also many other meetings and specialties that serve to foster communication and collaboration. Robert Schmidt suggested that WERA-95 reach out to conservation biologists. [Note: Yesterday's panel emphasized the shift of student interest toward conservation biology, but that wildlife damage management is really 'applied ecology'. Both fields deal with types of conflict resolution, particularly related to exotic species.] Rex Marsh stated that WERA-95 has accomplished its original goal, and he believes that there is less need for the group at this time and that perhaps the committee has run its course. Kathy Fagerstone commented that the WERA-95 meetings have been good and very beneficial over the years. However, now everyone is overstretched. James Dobrowolski noted that some other WERAs align their meetings with larger or national meetings. Rex Baker suggested a session be added to the Wildlife Damage Management Conference and/or Vertebrate Pest Conference in place of a formal WERA so that the collaboration can continue. James Dobrowolski requested that if we decide to "sunset" the committee, and that we prepare a short summary of accomplishments for the report. After some discussion, it was decided that John O'Brien will begin a draft, and circulate it to other members with historical background of the committee so that they can contribute information. A motion was made to NOT seek WERA-95 reauthorization, and to sunset the committee. The motion was seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. ACTION ITEMS FOR FY09 1) A summary of WERA-95 accomplishments will be prepared for inclusion with the annual and final committee report, and also included with these minutes. See page 6. John O'Brien will initiate the draft, with input from other members. 2) Jeanette O'Hare volunteered to prepare the meeting report and minutes. A motion to adjourn the meeting was placed on the floor. The motion was seconded, and approved unanimously by the attendees.

WERA - 95 HISTORY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS - January, 2009 Background - What is now the Western Education/Extension and Research Activities (WERA-95) started out as a Western Regional Coordinating Committee (WRCC-42) entitled "Evaluation of Methods to Control Rodent Damage to Hay, Range and Grain Crops". The committees were monitored by CSREES (Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service) within USDA. David deCalesta, of the Oregon State University, initiated the action to start this committe. David served as the chairman for the first meeting held on the campus of the University of Nevada in Reno, December 11 & 12, 1980. Dr. Paul Tueller of the University of Nevada was the Administrative Advisor. The committee met annually, and David also chaired the 1981 meeting held at the same location. Such committees are formed, overseen, and operated under the auspices of the Western Regional Land-Grant Universities. David deCalesta had been involved in other such regional committees or regional research projects concerned with a different subject matter. He, therefore, was familiar with the mechanism for establishing such a group. It was hoped that this starting committee would evolve into a Regional Research Project, which could possibly result in some forthcoming research funding (Hatch funds) for the participants from land-grant universities. This hope was not realized-not from a lack of interest, but rather because too few university researchers were involved in studies of the type that would lend themselves to coordinated projects. It was believed, however, that the well attended meetings provided such an excellent and substantive means of exchanging current information on vertebrate pests and their management issues that they should continue as a coordinating committee. Administrative History - The Administrative Advisors of the WERA-95Committee are listed below: 1980-1981 Dr. Paul Tueller University of Nevada, Reno 1982 Dr. James Lyons University of California, Davis 1983 Dr. Leon J. Buist University of Nevada, Reno 1984-1988 Dr. Irwin W. Sherman University of California, Riverside 1989-1992 Dr. Nick C. Toscano University of California, Riverside 1993-1999 Dr. Grant Vest Utah State University, Logan 2000-2003 Dr. F.E. Busby Utah State University, Logan 2004-2008 Dr. David G. Thawley University of Nevada, Reno Activities and Accomplishments - During the 1980s there were numerous issues developing regarding the future of vertebrate pest management/animal damage control. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was involved in a number of important regulatory actions-reevaluating 1080 as a rodenticide and predacide, and reevaluating strychnine as a rodenticide were some of the critical issues. Several new rodenticides were coming on the scene and integrated pest management was beginning to capture increasing interest. There were a lot of actions, activities, and information to be exchanged and discussed by committee members from a variety of different professions, but all with a keen interest in vertebrate pest management. Most of the early meetings were devoted to the informal exchange of what research or activities were taking place at the respective attendees' institution, state or federal agency, or business enterprise. Round table discussions were held on the most meritorious subjects. Reports from participants often involved the following subjects: 1) Rodent damage assessment and evaluation; 2) Rodenticide development, use and efficacy; 3) Rodent biology and behavior; 4) New damage prevention and control strategies; 5) Pesticide registration and data requirements; and 6) Other related research and extension efforts. The committee members had a particular interest in the ramifications of passage of the 1988 amendments to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Under FIFRA 88, all pesticides containing an active ingredient first registered before November 1984 were required to be reregistered with the EPA within a 9-year period. In addition to imposing a 9-year reregistration period, FIFRA 88 greatly expanded data requirements for registering pesticides. Because the majority of vertebrate pesticides uses were minor uses as compared to insecticides and fungicides, it was feared that these use patterns would be lost due to the cost of data requirements. The WRCC committee was instrumental in bringing together private, state and federal vertebrate pesticide registrants to discuss common interests and collaborate in obtaining necessary data to maintain pesticide registrations. As a direct result of the contacts made and the knowledge made available at the WRCC meeting, 2 Consortia were established to generate funds to pay for reregistration data when none of the technical registrants could afford to produce these data. A consortium of private, State, and Federal registrants of strychnine was formed in 1988 to generate funds for strychnine reregistration and a similar consortium to generate funds for zinc phosphide reregistration was formed in 1991. Because of the consortia, data requirements were met and the registrations were maintained. During the later years, the committee continued discussions on vertebrate pest problems with increased emphasis on integrated pest management programs, strategies for dealing with bringing more students into the field. Other issues discussed included the loss of traditional control tools (traps and poisons), resolving conflicts between endangered species conservation and vertebrate pest control techniques, educating the general public on the importance of vertebrate pest control, and development of control chemicals that are socially and environmentally acceptable. The coordinating committee routinely submitted the required periodical petitions for its extension. In the process the committee reassessed its interests and reconfirmed its commitments, and as a result, was granted each extension. Over the years the committee went through several acronyms, numbers, and title changes. The title remained as WRCC-42 from its inception until 1992. In 1992, the Research Implementation Committee (RIC--the committee established by the Agricultural Administrators of the Western Region to oversee WRCC committees) denied the petition to extend the WRCC-42 for another 3-year period because the current activity was broader than rodents and rabbits. The RIC encouraged the committee to resubmit a petition addressing interests and activities on wider vertebrate pest control issues. The Committee was ultimately renewed under a new name that reflected a broader interest: WCC-95 Vertebrate Pests of Agriculture, Forestry and Public Lands. This committee was renewed again in 1996 for a 3 year period and in 1999 for a 5-year period. In 2004 the Committee was renewed for a 5 year period as the Western Extension and Research Administration Committee "WERA-95 Vertebrate Pests of Agriculture, Forestry and Public Land". Conclusion - After 29 years of annual meetings, some of the impetus for the continuance of the committee's existence was waning. After considerable forethought and discussion, on November 5, 2008 the attending members voted to dissolve its existence-in the belief that the committee had more than served its desired purpose through some very challenging periods. The needs of those involved in vertebrate pest management had changed. The reregistration process for vertebrate pesticides had been completed, new rodenticides had entered the market and much of the information transfer among scientists was taking place at two regularly scheduled conferences, the Vertebrate Pest Conference and the Wildlife Damage Management Conference held in alternate years. These meetings, although more formal, are now available to assist in carrying on the continued exchange of information. This committee served its members well by providing more informative and productive meetings for nearly three decades. Due in part to increasing demands on members' time and attention to other duties, it became more difficult to fill the program and sustain the attendance. It seemed an appropriate time for the dissolution of the group. We owe much to David deCalesta for his efforts in establishing this committee, to the administrative advisors of the committee, and to all the elected chairs and their officers who followed. Our sincere gratitude to an extraordinary member and tireless meeting facilitator, John O'Brien, who for so long has graciously devoted considerable time making the annual meeting arrangements. And an all inclusive thanks must go to the numerous attending committee members who have participated over the years. Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Past WRCC-95 Chair USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80521 Rex E. Marsh, Past WRCC-42 Chair Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology University of California Davis, CA

No publications were produced from the WERA-095 during the past year.