Latest news with #TheWildlifeSociety
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists track unsettling change in wildlife patterns near popular hiking trails: 'They're still avoiding people'
The peaceful sound of nature is a perk of living near a trail or traveling to visit one. It's great to get out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, while you're enjoying your hike, local wildlife are reacting negatively to your appearance in their home. According to The Wildlife Society (TWS), a recent study found that "several species changed their behavior around high-use trails on Mount Tamalpais in California's Bay Area." Lead author Erin Lacour, a TWS member and restoration project manager at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began examining existing data sets on wildlife behavior in her master's course. She attended San José State University during the pandemic, so it was challenging to do fieldwork. She looked at One Tam data from its cameras. It's a joint project between federal, state, and private organizations to care for and restore Mount Tam. Unfortunately, those cameras didn't record human activity. So, she also looked at the fitness app, Strava. The app enables users to track and share hiking, running, cycling, and swimming activities with GPS. Luckily, the company makes the data available to researchers for free on Strava Metro. She looked at data from Strava and the One Tam cameras from between 2016 and 2017. She wanted to see if humans were still affecting wildlife behavior. She noted that these lands are protected, but human activity is still affecting the wildlife. She looked at the cameras 30 meters (98 feet) from the trails and 100 meters (328 feet) to 1 kilometer (3,280 feet) away. The black-tailed jackrabbit, gray fox, and mule deer were detected close to the trails, but were more active at night. The western gray squirrels, which are a concern in California, were detected on cameras further away from the trail. "[Wildlife] were using trails for travel. But they're still avoiding people because they're using them more frequently at nighttime," said Lacour. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Mountain biking also had a greater effect than hiking, as bush rabbits and mule deer were seen less often near trails with frequent cyclists. Lacour's study, published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, correlates with a study done in Santa Monica, which found mountain lions were changing their behavior due to human activity. These big cats were coming out more at night to avoid humans. TWS said, "These types of shifts can change the way that an ecosystem works." According to The Royal Society, all life on Earth, including humans, need a healthy ecosystem. Without biodiversity — a wide range of animals and plants — there can be no healthy ecosystems. It's required for the food people eat and the air they breathe. Lacour believes using data from Strava can help manage trails, creating zones that protect sensitive species. You can enable this work by donating to climate causes and being mindful of your impact on the environment and wildlife around you. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmakers ignite backlash with bill that could undermine disease control efforts: 'This bill compromises the public trust'
Alabama legislators are aiming to give deer breeders more control over their facilities, which would limit the state agencies' ability to stop the spread of a deadly disease that can affect both captive and wild deer. According to The Wildlife Society, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill on April 15 that will limit state agencies' ability to test, kill, or stop captive deer from being transferred between farms because of chronic wasting disease. It also makes the deer property of the breeder. There are some exceptions to the bill, including the ability to test if CWD was detected on a farm or in a farm from which the deer was transferred. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic wasting disease is a serious disease that causes death and affects deer, moose, reindeer, and elk. It can be passed through "contact with saliva, blood, urine, or feces of an animal with CWD" and can also be spread through food, water, and soil. Daniel Greene, a certified wildlife biologist and president of the southeastern section of TWS, believes fencing isn't infallible; wild deer can still come in contact with captive deer. Trees can bring down fences during storms, and wild and captive deer can rub noses with each other. "This bill compromises the public trust," said a signed opposition letter from TWS, TWS Southeastern Section, the National Deer Association, the nonprofit Boone and Crockett Club, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and the National Wildlife Federation In Alabama, there are 200 breeders that breed large deer for hunting purposes. They are fenced in, and hunters pay a premium for access. The TWS Alabama chapter wrote a letter opposing the bill, which said: "This legislation threatens our state's $2 billion hunting industry, which is vital to most of Alabama's rural economies and [the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources'] conservation funding." Deer can also spread the disease before testing positive, and soil can stay infected for years. Republican bill sponsor Jeff Sorrells said in an interview with WBMA: "This bill has nothing to do with hunting. It is more about government overreach of a valuable resource for the state of Alabama." Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Several wildlife organizations have come forward against the bill. Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the ADCNR, is asking legislators to reject the bill. He said in a statement: "This bill should be disturbing to all ethical sportsmen, hunters, and citizens in Alabama." Angie Larsen-Gray, a certified wildlife biologist and a TWS Leadership Institute graduate, said there are ways to prevent the disease. However, she said: "It is nearly impossible to get rid of it once it's there." The National Deer Association has tips for deer hunters, including following local rules and regulations to prevent the spread and reporting sick deer to officials. It's also vital to explore critical climate issues like this to understand how to combat the problem. If you learn about similar cases that affect your state, you can use your voice by speaking to your local representatives to ensure bills like this don't become law. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Outdoors Notebook: The Wildlife Society honors Crookston man with Conservation Award
Mar. 1—ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Longtime citizen conservationist Loren "Punky" Johnson of Crookston recently was honored with The Wildlife Society's Conservation Award during the Minnesota chapter's annual meeting Feb. 18-20, 2025, in St. Cloud. During a 38-year career with the phone company, Johnson found many ways to quietly touch the lives of hundreds to educate them about conservation awareness and action, according to a news release from The Wildlife Society. "Loren grew up interested in the outdoors and found ways to share this passion with others," said Dan Svedarsky, a retired wildlife professor at the University of Minnesota Crookston, who nominated Johnson for the award. "Through his tireless efforts, many youth were introduced to the outdoors who might not otherwise have had an opportunity." Johnson was an active volunteer with scouting as well as community hunter safety training and providing fishing instruction. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Naval Reserve for many years. He has been a longtime volunteer assisting with the annual Options Deer Hunt for Disabled Hunters at Rydell National Wildlife Refuge near Erskine, Minnesota, and also has been active with the Refuge's Friends group. "Through Loren's leadership, the group has funded and carried out programming designed to educate the public on the outdoors and assisted the Refuge with securing volunteers to carry out their mission," said Randy Sorenson, executive director of Options Resource Center for Independent Living in East Grand Forks. Options is a regional nonprofit organization that provides assistance to people with various disabilities. The Conservation Award is a statewide award The Wildlife Society gives to an organization, institution or individual for outstanding commitment to Minnesota's wildlife resources. The North Dakota Prescribed Fire Cooperative, Pheasants Forever and the North Dakota Wildlife Federation are inviting landowners, ranchers, and interested community members to attend a special program focused on how to conduct a prescribed burn. Dates and locations across North Dakota are as follows: * March 8: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Mountain Time), Billings County Fire Hall,604 E. River Road S., Medora. * March 19: 6 to 9 p.m., North Dakota Game and Fish Department headquarters, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck. * March 20: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., North Dakota State University Extension office, Park River. * March 27: 6 to 9 p.m., Kindred City Hall, 31 Fifth Ave. N., Kindred. The sessions will cover the basics of prescribed fire and how to plan for a burn. Presentations will cover various topics including writing burn plans, different types of ignitions, the importance of communication, Safety/ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hazard mitigation, briefings and weather. The sessions also will include scenarios to practice how to plan a burn for a piece of property. The training is open to the public free of charge; snacks will be provided. To register or for more information, call Cara Greger, (320) 808-4897; or Kelli Kuska, (541) 619-5188. ST. PAUL — With the arrival of warm weather, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds anyone who still has a fish house on the ice to start planning for its removal. The statutory shelter removal deadline for inland waters in the southern two-thirds of the state is 11:59 p.m. on March 3. The deadline for inland lakes in the northern portion of the state is 11:59 p.m. on March 17. The DNR reminds all fish house owners to pick up and properly dispose of any trash as part of hauling their shelter off the ice. If shelters aren't removed by the deadline, owners may be prosecuted, and structures may be confiscated and removed or destroyed by a conservation officer. Shelters may not be left at public accesses, and no trash or other materials — including wooden blocking materials — may be left on the ice. Exceptions to the upcoming removal deadlines are Minnesota-Canada border waters, where fish houses can remain on the ice until March 31; Minnesota-South Dakota and North Dakota border waters, March 5; and Minnesota-Wisconsin border waters, March 1. Houses on Minnesota-Iowa border waters had to be removed by Feb. 20. ST. PAUL — The DNR is seeking public input on 151 lakes in 41 counties across Minnesota that will have their fisheries management plans updated in 2025. "People interested in the health and quality of Minnesota's fisheries are a critical part of the DNR's fisheries lake management planning process," Shannon Fisher, DNR fisheries populations and regulations manager, said in a statement. "These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and define the work fisheries biologists do each year. Observations and input from a lake's stakeholders are essential to the planning effort." The list of lakes scheduled for plan updates in 2025 is on the Minnesota DNR website at . Fisheries management plans for Minnesota's 10 largest lakes — — follow a similar but separate update process. Lakes in the DNR's Northwest Region scheduled for management plan updates in 2025 are as follows: * Becker: Detroit, Island, Little Sugar Bush, Little Toad, Many Point, White Earth. * Beltrami: Balm, Clearwater, Julia, Sandy. * Clearwater: Johnson, Lomond, Pine. * Douglas: Andrew. * Hubbard: Kabekona, Lower Battle, Upper Battle. * Otter Tail: Clitheral, Dead, North Luda, Otter Tail, Pelican, South Luda, South Ten Mile, Star, West Battle. * Todd: Charolette. Cottonwood Campground in North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Frontcountry camping in Voyageurs National Park on Rainy Lake in northern MInnesota have been named among the 60 Campsites With the Best Views Across the United States in a new guide from the Matador Network, a publisher of travel guides. Matador compiled the guide — 10 campgrounds in each of six regions — with help from camping availability and booking app, The Dyrt.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists use dogs to track down dangerous insects: 'Easier for a dog to smell something than it is for a human to see something'
The Wildlife Society reports that organizations like the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and Working Dogs for Conservation are putting dogs and their keen sense of smell to good use in the fight against an invasive species: the spotted lanternfly. Sightings of the destructive insect were first confirmed in 2014 in Pennsylvania and have reached at least 18 other states. As the referenced study published in Ecosphere discovered, humans have spotted visible eggs in vineyards, but canines had 3.4 times more detections than people in more complex areas where the insects overwinter, such as forests. In other words, they can sniff out invasions that aren't obvious to humans. "The dogs find egg masses by smell," Angela Fuller, professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell University, told The Wildlife Society. "So, in a very complex environment, it's easier for a dog to smell something than it is for a human to see something that is small and cryptic." Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. These insects are harmful to the environment as they destroy vegetation, including trees. Infestations have killed off entire wine vines in a single growing season. When plants and trees die, so do several animal habitats and food sources, such as those for beneficial pollinators at the start of the food chain. Most of the planet's oxygen also comes from trees and grass — one tree alone can produce enough oxygen for four people, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Therefore, recruiting pups to protect the health of the plants in these forests and vineyards helps many. A collaboration between working dogs and nature trails is the perfect storm to battle this invasion. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference boasts over 2,000 volunteers who help keep trails safe. Working Dogs for Conservation gives shelter dogs new life by training them to sniff out biological threats like invasive seedlings. The collaboration began in 2019, when experts trained a labrador retriever and a Belgian malinois to find live spotted lanternflies through positive reinforcement. Eventually, training evolved into having the dogs identify egg masses, specifically the ones belonging to the lanternflies. Other important finds by these working dogs have included Chinese bush clover in Iowa and Yellow star thistle in Colorado. The canines even help the biosecurity of an area by distinguishing between disease-infected and uninfected scat from animals of the same species. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has been building and cleaning trails since 1923. You can do your part by keeping areas clean and alerting local authorities if you spot an invasive species. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Outdoors Notebook: Hoeven, Daines introduce bill to prevent bans of lead tackle, ammo
Feb. 15—WASHINGTON — Sens. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, and Steve Daines, R-Montana, have introduced legislation that would prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management from banning the use of traditional lead ammunition or tackle on public lands. "Federal policy should not limit the ability of sportsmen to access federal lands for hunting and fishing, a central part of North Dakota's heritage," Hoeven said in a statement. "Our legislation will prevent federal agencies from unilaterally imposing a ban on traditional lead ammunition and tackle, helping to preserve the ability of hunters and fishers to engage in these historic past-times, particularly for those in western states where the federal government owns vast areas of land." According to a news release from Hoeven's office, the bill comes as FWS entered into settlement negotiations in 2022 with "activist organizations" over a lawsuit regarding the use of traditional ammunition and tackle on over 3 million acres of federal land. Hoeven previously joined his colleagues in urging FWS Director Martha Williams to resist pressure from activists and not restrict the use of lead ammo and tackle on public lands. North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer is among several Republican co-sponsors. Randy Renner, manager of Conservation Programs-Land Protection for Ducks Unlimited's Great Plains Region office in Bismarck, was the recent recipient of the North Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society's North Dakota Award. The Wildlife Society bestows the award on an individual or group that has made outstanding contributions toward the aims of professional wildlife endeavors in North Dakota. Beginning his career with DU as a waterfowl biologist and regional biologist, Renner has devoted the last 36 years to writing and managing grants that allow for the purchase of grassland and wetland easements throughout the upper Great Plains, including Canada. He has been essential in securing nearly 1.5 million acres of grassland easements and nearly 500,000 acres of wetland easements. Among his countless other achievements, Renner twice has served as president of the North Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society — once as an elected position and once by stepping in for a former president. Minnesota turkey hunters have through Friday, Feb. 21, to apply for turkey hunting permits for the A spring hunting season in Carlos Avery or Whitewater wildlife management areas. There will be 30 permits available for Carlos Avery WMA and 150 permits for Whitewater WMA, the Department of Natural Resources said in a news release. In addition to a turkey license, a permit is required for those hoping to bag a tom turkey with a firearm in either of these WMAs during the A season. Turkey firearm permits for these WMAs are distributed via a lottery system for the A season. While a license is required for all seasons, hunters do not need a permit to hunt Carlos Avery or Whitewater WMAs during the B, C, D, E or F seasons. In addition, this year a permit will no longer be required for firearms hunters during any season to hunt Mille Lacs WMA, but a license is still required. Turkey licenses will go on sale March 1 for several hunting seasons from mid-April to the end of May, with the A season kicking off on Wednesday, April 16. Crossbows will be allowed by all hunters with an archery turkey license. Turkey hunting season dates and details for 2025 are available on the Minnesota DNR website at . ST. PAUL — Minnesota taxpayers can support the Department of Natural Resources' Nongame Wildlife Program by checking the box to donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund. Minnesota tax filer donations to the Nongame Wildlife Fund provide essential support to at-risk wildlife, the DNR said. The agency's Nongame Wildlife Program relies on these donations for its critical wildlife conservation work. Donations to the Nongame Wildlife Fund tax checkoff support wildlife field research, habitat enhancement projects and educational programs, including popular wildlife cameras like the DNR EagleCam and FalconCam. All donations are tripled with matching funds from the Reinvest in Minnesota critical habitat license plates. "Minnesotans value and support wildlife diversity and natural resources, and the Nongame Wildlife Fund tax checkoff is a great way to do that," Kristin Hall, Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor, said in a news release. "Together, we can work to ensure a future for at-risk wildlife." The Nongame Wildlife Fund tax checkoff can be found on Form M1 Individual Income Tax and on Form M1PR Homestead Credit Refund. If filing on paper, simply look for the loon to invest in the future of Minnesota's at-risk wildlife. Donations also can be made at any time online at More information about the Nongame Wildlife Program is available on the DNR website at ST. PAUL — The Minnesota DNR is asking for the public to comment on proposed rules about fishing methods that, if adopted, would go into effect in March 2026. The rules propose increasing the maximum allowed distance between hooks in tackle configurations with multiple hooks from 9 inches to 18 inches. The rulemaking also allows for the use of certain automatic hook-setting devices for ice fishing that currently are not allowed and includes clarification of the definition of "hook." These changes would allow anglers to use a wider range of commercially available products and be more practical for bait commonly used. The changes are anticipated to reduce the number of swallowed hooks and deep hook sets, thereby decreasing hooking mortality without posing a threat to conservation. Comments can be submitted through Thursday, March 20, by email to or mail to Bethany Bethke, Fisheries Rules and Regulations Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Division, Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155. More Information, including the proposed rule language and contact information for comments, is available on the fisheries rulemaking page of the DNR website at CLEARFIELD, Utah — The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) benefitted 122 deer herds in 18 states through its mission delivery in 2024, the organization said in a news release. These conservation actions improved over 700,000 acres and 151 miles of fence removed or modified to wildlife-friendly standards. MDF's investment of $16.9 million was matched by $34.3 million in agency and partner funds as well as volunteer in-kind hours to implement 184 conservation projects across the West. Additionally, MDF funded an additional $99,000 for partner support for sponsorship, education, and capacity requests, and $186,000 for research and monitoring. Overall MDF's actions resulted in a $53.1 million investment for mule deer and black-tailed deer for 2024. In a news release, MDF said it saw a significant bump in yearly efforts due to the expanded federal partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in addition to increased fundraising from staff and volunteers through events and philanthropic giving. "These tremendous results are due to the commitment of MDF staff, volunteers, partners, and other stakeholders," Greg Sheehan, MDF president and CEO, said in a statement. "MDF is known as an organization that gets stuff done on the ground for deer, and our continued growth is amazing. The past five years alone, MDF has benefitted over 1.2 million acres of habitat and fixed over 400 miles of fence on hundreds of deer herds throughout their range."
