Summary

Description

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge was directed by the 1985 Annual Work Plan Advice to increase mallard and redhead production on the refuge. The limiting factor on mallards and redhead production is low nesting success caused by mammalian predation. Nesting success must be increased by separating or removing the predator from the nesting habitat. Four refuge management practices are proposed to accomplish this goal. They are direct predator reduction, electric fencing, duck nesting structures and an aversive agent study. The predator management program is intended to ultimately increase upland duck nesting success from the current 10 rate to approximately 50.