p. 128

In defending an earlier publication, Conover et al. (1979) maintained that more research was needed on predation aversion with LiCl, whereas Gustavson (1979) felt that the existing studies demonstrated the success of the method.

p. 129

"Ellins and Martin (1981) later found that coyotes could detect LiCl and avoid baits at concentrations below those used by Burns and Connolly (1980).

The longest predation aversion (20 days) occurred when LiCl was administered during consumption.

In most field studies, comparisons of predation on sheep have been made between a year in which LiCl baiting was used and a year or 2 before baiting. The year-to-year variations in coyote predation are thus not considered and can be considerable.

If LiCl predation (killing) aversion does not function in coyotes, taste aversion might still be useful in situations where coyote feeding (not killing) was undesirable.

p. 130

Taste aversion, as widely demonstrated in rats, is usually learned quickly (after 1 illness experience), and retained well (Garcia et al. 1974).

For LiCl baiting to be effective, it should reduce predation aversion for those several months when lambs are most vulnerable to predation.

Gustavson et al. (1976) and Cornell and Cornley (1979) believed that coyotes left their study areas after eating LiCl baits. Coyotes that left an area after eating LiCl baits would neither defend the area against potential sheep-killing coyotes nor could they kill the rabbits and rodents there.

In field tests to date, baits have been left on the range for periods of weeks to months (Gustavson et al. 1976, 1982, Ellins et al. 1977, 1980, Bourne and Dorrance 1982).

p. 131

My own observations showed that coyotes changed their behavior towards LiCl baits that were offered to them for 4 hours/day for 3 days. The coyotes changed from bait avoidance to neck-shoulder rubbing or rolling on the old baits. Rubbing or rolling is a general canine response to rotting material, especially meat.

Ellins and Catalano (1980) suggested that using LiCl whole-carcass baits might be more effective than LiCl prey-flesh baits.