Frontline Dispatches – April 2025

NORTH AMERICA

Slatan

Invasive Species on the Menu

Source: NBC 10 Philadelphia

To raise awareness for National Invasive Species Week (February 24-28, 2025), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service states how we can help take the invasive invaders out of the environment—by eating them! From California to the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast, the Service reported that there are edible, and tasty, invasive species to be found. Green iguanas, invasive carp species, northern snakeheads, nutria and feral hogs are all on the menu and may be found rooting up a natural habitat near you. Though hunting can be an effective way to manage these unwanted species, be sure to check your state’s regulations before heading into the wild.

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Africa Studio

Walking on the Wild Side may Help with PTSD

Source: The Wildlife Society

It’s been colloquially known that spending time in nature is “good for the soul,” but recent research from the University of Massachusetts scientifically demonstrates these benefits. Researchers immersed 19 war veterans in peaceful experiences with nature, such as outdoor walks, visiting wildlife centers and bird watching. The participants reported increased psychological wellbeing and a decrease of PTSD symptoms such as anxiety. The scientists say that this wild immersion was instrumental in easing adverse symptoms of PTSD and instilled an understanding and appreciation of wildlife conservation.

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Mark Lindberg

Canadian Caribou Movements Revealed Through Satellite Tracking

Source: The Wildlife Society

More than spectacles to watch in wonder, large caribou herd movements may be the key to identifying and conserving variation within this iconic mammal. In the past, researchers have used genetic differences to inform how caribou were managed, but they have now taken a different approach–using tracking. By monitoring satellite GPS collars, researchers were able to identify six unique groups of caribou by their behavioral and movement patterns. These results will help researchers identify where these groups live and help conservationists employ the best tactics to more effectively manage each caribou herd.

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Dennis Laughlin

No Crime for These Partners, Just Mealtime

Source: The Wildlife Society

Sometimes an unlikely pair is the most potent, as seems to be the case with coyotes and badgers. New research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has found cases of coyotes and badgers hunting together, an effective team that can scout for prey above and below ground at the same time. Though the team is rare to see, reports of this unique relationship occur in indigenous stories across North America and the pair is the subject of historical field reports. As the coyote and badger pairing comes to light, researchers are exploring how these two carnivores may benefit each other when it comes to surviving in the wild.

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Chait Goli

Yellowstone Bison Become One After 120 Years of Conservation

Source: Phys.org

Down to just 23 animals, American bison in Yellowstone National Park are now thousands strong, and new research may be the key to sustaining that strength. A study published by Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has identified that the Yellowstone bison are now a single breeding population, a change from their historic identity as two genetically different herds coexisting in the park. Because of changes in these breeding patterns and to continue their genetic health, scientists are now suggesting that the Yellowstone bison be managed as one cohesive herd.

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Zmrzlinar

Cougar Cubs Crawl into Michigan

Source: Click on Detroit

Cougar cubs have been confirmed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for the first time in over 100 years. In Ontonagon County, two cougar cubs were reported to be roaming the area, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Researchers say that the cubs’ appearance is the first known cougar reproduction in the western Great Lakes states in years, bringing hope for the species that is listed as endangered in Michigan. Though state biologists say that cougar cubs are dependent on their mothers for the first two years of their lives, the cubs were found alone. What this means for the cubs’ survival remains to be seen, but researchers are keeping a watchful eye for these cats in the wild.

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Jen DeVos

More Room Needed for Desert Bighorns

Source: LA Times

The 1950s almost saw the end of the desert bighorn sheep as it struggled to survive rapid habitat loss. Luckily, conservationists began to rewild and protect the western spaces that these sheep call home. Now 20,000 strong, the desert bighorn is a success story of sound conservation. To aid their continued growth, the sheep need to move into new areas, but human urbanization and infrastructure make this a challenge. Continued conservation efforts to ensure these sheep have ample space to maintain and increase their populations will benefit the ecosystems we all call home.

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Aaron J Hill

East Coast Island Calls for More Deer Management

Source: Martha’s Vineyard Times

Deer populations five to six times greater than considered healthy have resulted in residents of Martha’s Vineyard to request that Sundays become legal additions to the island’s deer hunting regulations. This may be a needed change, as Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife estimate that a healthy herd is between 12 to 18 deer per square mile, a staggeringly lower number than the island’s current 100 per square mile of private property. With such a high population, the added hunting day may be the key to preserving the island’s habitat from deer destruction.

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Andras Stefuca

Lend an Ear: Grizzly Bear Podcast Covers New Changes

Source: Western Landowners Alliance

With new changes potentially coming to grizzly bear’s listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, what could this mean for the bears and people working in areas where they are known to roam? The Working Wild University is an award-winning podcast that looks at conservation topics in the American West. In this episode, they explore the famous grizzly bear, its vast history as a formidable force in the wild and the past instances of listing and delisting the animal under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

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Tomas Malik

CWD Comes for Elk in Wyoming

Source: WyoFile

The neurological disease known as chronic wasting disease (CWD) has found its way into Wyoming’s elk herds which could put the animals at great risk. CWD has reportedly been found in the fourth elk feedground in northwest Wyoming, a state-run area that feeds an average of 1,500 elk each winter. As this is the first time the disease has entered elk lands managed by the state, Wyoming’s game wardens and biologists are keeping a watchful eye on the herd and working together to implement ways to hopefully stave off the disease before it spreads even further into other elk populations.

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Anees07

Rebounding Bobcats Provide New Opportunities

Source: 13 WTHR

Bobcats have increased their distribution and abundance in Indiana and are considered a recovered species in the Hoosier State. To provide new opportunities, a recent vote from the Indiana Natural Resources Commission now allows people to trap and snare bobcats in 40 counties in southern Indiana. With a highly-regulated hunting season to ensure sustainable harvests, the state has a collective quota of 250 bobcats per season they are allowed to take, with individual hunters only allowed to legally take one bobcat each year. Though an effective and sustainable management tool, there is opposition to the new season, with some stating that bobcats in Indiana were a protected species since 2005 and should be conserved using different efforts.

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Aaron J Hill

Michigan Thinks of New Way to Manage Deer Herd

Source: Hillsdale Daily News

In Michigan, the hyperabundance of white-tailed deer has led to more harmful deer-vehicle collisions, increasing crop damage for farmers and ecological problems for other species in the environment. To help solve this, a plan introduced in the state’s legislature intends to offer free antlerless tags to those who purchase deer hunting licenses to decrease the state’s growing deer population. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and State Representative Jennifer Wortz hope that the proposed plan incentivizes hunters to head into the great outdoors to better manage deer herds in the Mitten State.

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AFRICA

Michael Wick

The Truth on Poaching in South Africa

Source: Lowvelder

In a recent tell-all article published in South Africa, poachers near Kruger National Park pull back the curtain on the realities of the illegal bushmeat trade and why it’s taken such a hold in their communities. Sources say that for traditional healing, economic benefit or for food, the advantages of poaching are too strong or necessary to ignore for members of local communities where poverty drives the illegal trade. When buying meat legally from the butcher shop is too expensive and as machine-made snares become more available, poaching seems to be the only answer to those striving for ways to survive.

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Conservation Frontlines

Conservation Technology Helps Anti-Poaching Mission

Source: Patrol

“There’s an app for that!” says conservationists using new tech from Digital Reserve Management. To counteract mounting challenges of wildlife conservation in African countries, new affordable software from the tech company is making solutions accessible. This technology doesn’t require wifi to transmit data, a huge win for field research in remote areas, and has added functionalities that allow data to be transferred to devices quickly and with enhanced safety protocols. These technologies may be the next big step for conservation in Africa’s changing environments and an equally valuable tool in the continuing fight to end poaching.

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EUROPE

David Selbert

European Lynx Selected for Rewilding

Source: BBC

With its new mission, a recently born European lynx kitten in a zoo in Cornwall is more than a fun exhibit for a field trip. The kitten has been selected as a candidate for Europe’s Linking Lynx rewilding conservation program which aims to reintroduce lynx into the mountainous region of the Carpathians to the Alps. If the lynx kitten passes the necessary tests and screenings, it will be safely transferred to a rewilding facility in Germany where it will learn how to function in the wild before its release. Collaborations such as the zoo and the Linking Lynx program reinforce the key role local efforts play to further the mission of wildlife conservation everywhere.

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Standa Michalek

Growing Red Deer Populations Damage UK Ecosystem

Source: BBC

Parts of Suffolk and Norfolk’s iconically marshy landscapes are experiencing high levels of damage from a growing red deer population. Since 2005, East Anglia has had a growing deer population whose numbers are now damaging farmers’ crops and the local environment, including other native species who graze the same foods and even native bird populations. A report from the Forestry Commission and the Norfolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory group indicates that there are about 4,500 red deer in the area and that the best way to quell further ecological and economic damage is to implement culls of this increasing deer population.

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WORLD

Diego Grandi

Buffer Zones may Cause More Harm Than Good

Source: Phys.org

We all know humans can influence each other, but can we influence animals too?
A study from the Yale School of Environment highlights the impacts human activity can have on carnivore behaviors in the wild. Mexico’s montane cloud forests are surrounded by “buffer zones” that are meant to protect roaming predators and humans living in these areas from each other, but researchers found that these locations are hot spots for human-wildlife conflicts and are even causing carnivores to shift their nocturnal behaviors, causing more daytime conflicts with humans. The study’s findings underscore the importance of managing protected areas in the face of increasing human pressures with adaptive and specific conservation efforts that incorporate local communities.

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Dr Isura Wijayalath

Elephants Trampled by Unplanned Human Infrastructure

Source: Mongabay

Though hundreds of Asian elephants call Bangladesh home, the population of this wild animal is critically endangered. These elephants cross international borders and move between neighboring countries, but their routes, corridors and entrances in and out of Bangladesh have been significantly altered due to human development. Gates, railways and settlements have been constructed in areas the elephants have used for travel for generations, and the conflicts between them and humans are on the rise as a result. To fix this issue, researchers and IUCN Bangladesh are working to implement approaches that will decrease conflicts, conserve the elephants and protect human livelihoods.

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Frontline Dispatches – March 2025

NORTH AMERICA

Spencer Shellborn

Bighorn Sheep Head Home

Source: Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Members of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership recently teamed up with biologists and wildlife managers to help the iconic bighorn sheep of the western United States. Saved from the brink by effective conservation and restoration efforts, the sheep now boast strong herd numbers in Idaho, Oregon and Nevada, thanks to transplanted sheep from California in the 1950s. Now to pay it forward, volunteers and researchers alike spent days cataloging and transporting descendants of these California sheep from Oregon to Nevada to strengthen other herds in the west.

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Chris F

Pittsburgh Takes Deer Management into Their Own Hands

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Studies with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Game Commission show that the city of Pittsburgh can only support 10 deer per square mile, far fewer than their current 51 deer per square mile. Regulated citizen hunts in city parks have helped manage the deer population, but professionally contracted sharpshooters are needed to bring the population to sustainable numbers. As an added benefit, the meat from these deer is donated to local food banks for people in need, following the program done in Syracuse, NY. Though helpful for reducing risks from deer-vehicle collisions and environmental damage, some residents are suggesting different approaches and are uncertain about the plan’s long-term effectiveness.

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Wild Clicks by AD

New Northern Michigan Moose Research Underway

Source: The Newberry News

Moose are iconic symbols of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and vital to the ecosystem and culture of the state’s northern latitudes. However, their static population has researchers concerned about the hurdles these animals may be facing. To uncover these answers, a new joint study among the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Northern Michigan University will conduct aerial surveys and information from GPS collars attached to moose to better understand the secrets of the forest’s antlered giant.

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Denis Botarev

Cougar Caught in Unbelievable Viral Video

Source: The Cool Down

Though also known as panthers or mountain lions, what cougars aren’t known as is a big cat that likes water. This recently changed when a family excitedly spotted one just a foot from their backyard hot tub in Tofino, British Columbia! One person grabbed their phone and recorded the cougar with its’ classically reflective eyes along the tree line. Though no doubt a harrowing addition to a relaxing soak, British Columbia Parks commended the family and said that though encounters are rare, the best way to diffuse a cougar encounter is to back away slowly and make yourself appear as large as you can.

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Ali Kazal

Hunting May Halt Disease in Deer Herds

Source: The Wildlife Society

A new study from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department found that hunting maybe be a viable solution to controlling the outbreak of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer. The study followed 10 mule deer herds in eastern Wyoming that experienced various levels of hunting and found that the herd with the higher level of harvested bucks had lower levels of CWD. Though not a cure-all for the disease, researchers say that hunting as a management strategy can be advantageous to stopping the spread of sickness in deer populations.

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Andras Stefuca

Grizzly Bear Management in Washington Gets Hairy

Source: KIRO Newsradio

A new bill in the Washington legislature ignites controversy over a potential bear reintroduction in the Northern Cascades. This bill is to replace a 30-year-old bill that bars the state from participating in grizzly bear recovery efforts, which is managed by the federal government. Though the new bill wouldn’t immediately bring the furry giants back to the Cascades, it would allow wildlife conservationists to take in active role in planning bear recovery efforts. Some residents oppose the bill and are concerned for their livestock, livelihoods and community safety. Conversely, wildlife specialists and Indigenous representatives state that the bears belong back where they have co-existed with humans for generations.

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Wirestock Creators

Colorado Bighorn Sheep Round Up

Source: BroBible

“Well, how else would you do it?” seems a valid question surrounding the science-based best practice for wrangling sheep herds. Requiring large nets, gloves and some courage, Colorado wildlife officials have recently conducted a bighorn sheep capture and relocation program to strengthen and fortify surrounding herds, addressing a dip in current population numbers. Once the animals have taken the bait and are under the net, professionals capture then safely transfer them to their new home, a conservation method that has been practiced for nearly 80 years.

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Aaron J Hill

National Historic Park Newest Site for Legal Hunt

Source: Daily Record

Ordinarily, it’s illegal to hunt in parks classified as Historic Sites by the National Park Service, but part of New Jersey’s Morristown National Historic Park—a site from the days of the Continental Army—is set apart under a new federal program. As part of the White-Tailed Deer Management Plan and Environmental Assessment approved in 2017, the USDA Wildlife Services will deploy professional sharpshooters after the park’s visiting hours. The hunt aims to manage for a healthy deer population, address overgrazing of native plants, preserve the site and reduce human-deer conflicts. All venison will be donated to a local food bank and the hunt is set to conclude later this month.

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AFRICA

Wolfgang Schlaifer

Teamwork Might Bring Trade Benefits to All

Source: Patrol

A transfrontier conservation area is one that manages shared natural and cultural resources across multiple countries. One of these, the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, or KAZA, in southern Africa ensures that wildlife use benefits the environment as well as cultural and economic needs of the responsible countries. Researchers are considering ways to develop trade among the countries that benefit them equally. For example, conservationists wonder how South African countries might legitimize the elephant ivory trade to comply with international treaties, benefit economies and help KAZA’s elephant population.

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Virginio Sanches

Conservationists on the Counteroffensive

Source: Anthropocene

Resent research in Zambia shines a new light on population studies of top predators. Old models of conservation didn’t see prey availability as a main reason for top predator declines, but new work reveals there are strong connections between apex predator survival and availability of their prey. In Zambia, top predators like lions compete with poachers for prey, often taken for subsistence use by poachers. Researchers suggest that cracking down on illegal hunting could be an effective approach for increasing abundance of prey species as well as predator populations.

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Simon Brandintel

Kenya’s Biodiversity Areas in Trouble

Source: Down To Earth

A report recently done on Kenya’s biodiversity reveals there may be trouble afoot for important environmental areas. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) were the main focus of the report which found that most of Kenya’s 109 KBAs faced serious issues like drought, human development and deforestation that threatened biodiversity in these areas, some home to species that exist only in Kenya, further necessitating intervention from conservation specialists.

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Riccardo Mayer

Communal Farming Yield Success for People and Wildlife

Source: Patrol

Creating spaces free from human-wildlife conflicts can be key to successful interactions between people and their wild neighbors. In Mozambique, an anti-poaching advisory group is doing just that. The Mozambique Wildlife Alliance is piloting communal farm fields that honor the cultural importance of agriculture but also unite families. When wild elephants wander onto a field and cause damage, families used to push the animal onto the next field, but structuring communal lands allows for protective fences, teamwork and collective funding to support all families. These small but mighty farms are successful models of how communities can work to prioritize humans and wildlife at the same time.

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EUROPE

Rob Thorley

Largest-Ever Wildlife Smuggling Ring Stopped

Source: INTERPOL

Located in Lyon, France, INTERPOL recently concluded an international mission that brought 138 countries together to halt wildlife and forestry smuggling. Operation Thunder, the joint venture between France’s INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization, seized nearly 20,000 live animals of protected or endangered species, arrested 365 people and identified six international criminal webs linked to this illegal trade. These kinds of operations allow investigators to get a better image of the realities of international wildlife crime and work to help customs enforcement stay one step ahead of lawbreakers.

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Pixabay

Spanish Youth Expand Conservation Scope

Source: Rewilding Europe

Spain’s Iberian Highlands is home to wonderfully scenic views and a newly formed rewilding collective. Rewilding Spain is a program that equips its volunteers with practical field know-how in conservation and an appreciation for wildlife work. By doing projects like animal tracking and population monitoring, ambassadors can better understand their own environment, history and culture, and gain appreciation for conservation. The program intends to show how rewilding can support nature and humans in harmony and get more young ambassadors involved in the world of nature stewardship.

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Mikhail Blajenov

Grazing for Goodness: Czech Animals to the Rescue

Source: European Wildlife

Two young Auroch bulls recently left their sanctuary in the European Serengeti reserve near Prague, Czech Republic for a new home. Having been transferred to the town of Krnov in the Moravian-Silesian Region, the bulls will join two other Aurochs and three wild horses already in the area. The task for these animals is to help restore this ecosystem and increase in numbers, which will help bring back vibrancy to the area, a former military training ground. Home to several protected species of flora and fauna, wildlife professionals hope the animals will help restore the land.

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WORLD

Meghav Gandhi

Triumph for Tiger Numbers in India

Source: Phys.org

A recent study indicated that India successfully doubled its tiger population in a little over a decade. Some of the tiger’s biggest threats were poaching, habitat loss, decreasing prey availability and human-wildlife conflict, but thanks to dedication from local communities and conservationists, tiger population numbers increased while conflicts with humans are on the decline. Tigers benefit from these improvements but human communities do as well, as increased photo tourism of the animals benefits local economies.

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Punnawit Suwattananun

Saving Pakistan’s Biodiversity

Source: Friday Times

Pakistan is covered with lush landscapes and natural wonders that make it ideal for wildlife biodiversity. From the Himalayas to flowing freshwater rivers in lowland areas, there are thousands of species that call this country home. However, due to increasing threats like deforestation and other human actions, these environments are seeing adverse changes including a loss in wildlife diversity. Conservationists suggest changes such as increasing the number of protected areas, reforestation, wildlife education for locals and strengthening wildlife laws are viable steps to reverse these losses.

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Zef Art

Social Media Pitfalls to Poaching Counterculture

Source: Phys.org

A recent study highlights how social media is used in wildlife poaching operations. A case study on illegal hunting in Lebanon illuminated the shocking extent to which poachers unabashedly posted about illegal hunts to Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Researchers positively identified nearly 2,000 images, 94% of which were legally protected animals. Though these postings may incentivize hunters through positive reactions such as likes and follows, conservationists can use these posts as evidence to convict poachers and counter them by posting to educate people about the negative effects of poaching.

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Frontline Dispatches – February 2025

NORTH AMERICA

Mark A. McCaffrey

Grizzly Disagreement on Bear Classification

Source: The Hill

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has recently declined petitions to remove endangered species protections from grizzly bears, but to allow landowners to act as needed to save their livestock from bear predation. The Service announced that their decision will allow for a more stable and larger bear population, though opponents claim the refusal to delist will only further endanger farmers’ livelihoods and properties.

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Ricardo Reitmeyer

Disaster and Hope for Wildlife Refuges

Source: The Wildlife Society

National Wildlife Refuges are sanctuaries managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to conserve and protect native species reliant on their land and water. However, in 2023 and 2024 alone, 37 natural disasters like hurricanes Helene and Milton and the ongoing California wildfires damaged nearly 90 of these refuges. Thankfully, Congress approved a $500 million dollar relief fund in December 2024 to support rebuilding these essential conservation areas.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Slippery Slope to Elk Safety

Source: CBS News

Receiving a call about an elk caught in ice climbing ropes seemed like a prank for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department, but the situation was all too real. Officers arrived at Lake City, CO to find two concerned climbers watching an elk entangled in the hiking nylon. Thanks to citizen vigilance, concern, and professional training, the officers were able to safely remove the ropes and usher the elk back to safety.

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The Colorado Sun

Colorado Women Find Community in Field and Stream

Source: The Colorado Sun

In a male-dominated sport, Colorado women are coming together now more than ever to build community. Erin Crider, founder of Uncharted Outdoorswomen, is blazing a trail that lets women learn the tools, tips and tricks of hunting from other women. Her groundbreaking organization helps women feel empowered and knowledgeable in the sport, confident in themselves and have opportunities to grow their skills alongside other women.

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Montana Department of Transportation

Bridging the Wildlife Gap on the Road

Source: The Wildlife Society

Wildlife and roads seem to be consistently at odds, but the new Wildlife Crossing Pilot program from the U.S. Department of Transportation is hoping to reduce some of that stress. The Department’s Federal Highway Administration announced their allocation of $125 million in grants to new projects in 16 states, aiming to reduce animal and vehicle collisions, create safe wildlife crossings and preserve life and nature.

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M. Leonard Photography

Wildlife Crime Pinned on Poachers in Arizona

Source: Meat Eater

Last month, Arizona authorities caught and charged 14 individuals with crimes tethered to wild animal poaching—the illegal killing of wild animals for meat or trade. The group illegally killed four elk, five mule deer, 13 white-tailed deer, four bighorn sheep, three pronghorn, two turkeys and four javelinas from 2018 to 2021, resulting in $600,00 dollars in fines from nearly 30 counts of illegal hunting on Arizona state land. Poaching can adversely impact wildlife populations and opportunities for people who hunt legally to ensure sustainable use and maintain these populations.

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Victorville Daily Press

Animal Displacement: How to Help

Source: Sierra Sun Times

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has recently announced a list of guidelines to help lead the way for those who want to look after displaced wildlife due to the raging wildfires in the Los Angeles area. With instructions such as who to contact if one encounters an animal, why not to feed wildlife in burned or urban areas and ways to prevent human and animal conflict, the CDFW is channeling the community’s resilience and desire to help wildlife.

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AFRICA

xamnesiacx84

Conversations on Conservation

Source: Patrol

A recent interview with Botswana-based ecologist expands the view on conservation practices employed worldwide. By looking at conservation areas as more than centers for just science and wildlife, a world of intricacies is uncovered. Rural areas are linked to the humans, livelihoods, cultures and politics that surround them, earning the name “socioecology” by some scholars. By understanding this connection, both scientists and community members can work together for their benefit and the animals.

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Lano Lan

Pros and Cons of Electrified Fencing

Source: Patrol

Electrified fencing seems like a smart way to deter human and wildlife conflicts, right? In the sweeping Pandamatenga farm of Botswana, farmers are trying to figure out the answer. Though the fence does a good job of keeping things out, it also makes it easy for things—like destructive animals who have breached the barrier—to stay in. Birds and mice can slip through and offset the balanced ecosystem and even clever elephants who have learned how to damage parts of the fence still pose threats to the farm. Coupled with a hefty maintenance fee for the fences, it’s a coin toss for most locals.

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PeopleImages.com – Yuri A

Herder Conservationists Receive Recognition

Source: Yale Environment 360

Outside of conservation models that require public land and trained scientists, the work of protecting African wildlife in some areas is in the hands of community members. Research shows that various African community conservancies have a higher rate of effective wildlife protection than in parks and other protected areas due to shared dependence on the land, teamwork among herders and integration into society thanks to tourist and farming revenue. However, some professionals question the efficiency of this communal model, as livestock is often a measure of wealth to pastoralists, and their increased abundance can displace wildlife and degrade habitat.

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EUROPE

BioGraphic

Lynx Let Loose in Scottish Highlands

Source: The Guardian

The Eurasian Lynx, once down to a few hundred animals but now proudly restored and 10,000 strong, have been absent from their home in the Scottish Highlands for years until four were recently spotted in the area. According to conservationists, the reintroduction represented illegal releases of the lynx and is seen as an act that could unbalance the ecosystem of the Highlands. While police search for the culprits, others call for the legal reintroduction of these iconic cats by professionals.

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Estonian Research Council

Tech Takes a Note from Nature

Source: Tech Xplore

Scientists at Estonia’s Tallinn University of Technology looked to an unlikely place to advance their forest-roaming robot—a moose hoof! Researchers couldn’t increase their tech’s four-legged locomotion until they learned from animals who already knew the key. Moose hooves expand and contract their surface area to change traction in rough terrain, and the two-toed hoof decreases suction in muddy areas. By designing robots after helpful animal traits, these robots can better aid conservation efforts in difficult areas as well as provide environmental aid and disaster relief.

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zaclaharia

Reindeer and Humans: United by Land and Lore

Source: The Guardian

Due to historical overhunting and unregulated logging, Finland’s boreal reindeer are a thing of the past—until now. Thanks to a two-fold effort captained by local and United Nation’s scientists, conservationists are hoping to reintroduce a substantial herd by 2028 to the boreal forests and peatlands. Along with the animals comes the cultural work of “deep mapping”—looking to local folklore, art and song to revitalize the human connection to the wildlife and their shared lands while decreasing conflict.

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WORLD

Tryton2011

A Manageable Harvest—For Now

Source: The Wildlife Society

The waters of Alaska and Russia are home to the pacific walrus, a tusked species researchers and Indigenous hunters wanted to ensure was being harvested sustainably. Together, they collected data confirming current rates of harvest are ethical and manageable but suggest increasing ship traffic and reduced sea ice warrants continued monitoring to ensure harvests remain sustainable.

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PhotocechCZ

Tigers, Tigers and Tigers—Oh My!

Source: BBC

Nepal’s tiger population is a global conservation success, but the country’s Prime Minister thinks otherwise, announcing that Nepal can’t support the animals that reportedly mauled 55 people from 2019 to 2023. Conservationists disagree, saying instead that natural areas with higher tiger density should be expanded and protected to decrease conflicts with humans. They suggest that looking at the fatalities as clues that their wildlife conservation model must change will champion both animal and societal safety.

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Den Rozhnovsky

Wildlife Crime Fighters of the Future

Source: Mongabay

On the heels of unprecedented wildlife deaths across the country from poaching or human accidents, Bangladeshi authorities are looking to the future to help them at present. With the resources of technologies like drones, animal tracking devices, trail cameras and even AI-based tools, wildlife custodians are better equipped to put an end to poaching-related crimes and able to potentially see problems before they arise.

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Frontline Dispatches – January 2025

NORTH AMERICA

The Narwhal

Buffalo Bring Hope to Indigenous Tradition

Source: The Narwhal

Members of the Blackfeet Confederacy hope to one day bring back the sacred and culturally significant tradition of the buffalo jump, a communal herding and harvesting of buffalo to sustain First Nation communities. The catch? There first needs to be a flourishing buffalo population. Though the population is steadily on the rise, stewards are having to create their own processes, framework and sources of funding to ensure their tradition and culture thrive alongside the buffalo.

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Amy Lutz

Can Deer Overabundance Solve Hunger?

Source: The Wildlife Society

White-tailed deer are classic staples of the Mitten State, but beyond their populations keeping Michigan drivers tense, they could actually be used to address hunger in communities across the state. Researchers suggest that one way to deal with the overabundance of white-tailed deer and reduce vehicle collisions and crop damage is to augment hunting laws and scale up harvests for food donation programs to address communities in need and protect natural habitats from deer running wild.

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Outdoor Life

New Animal Joins Old Tradition

Source: Outdoor Life

In parts of the Southwest United States, conservationists and wildlife managers successfully petitioned for the Javelina—or the collared peccary—to be added to the Boone and Crockett Club’s records as a new big game category. The addition, which is the first in nearly 25 years, hopes to bring appreciation to the animal, awareness to its vast habitats across the southwestern states and support to hunters in the areas.

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Leghorn77

Rodenticides Reported in Raptors

Source: The Wildlife Society

Rodenticides are commonly used to help home and landowners get rid of pesky rodents, but scientists are learning that these chemicals can actually work their way into unintended species. Because smaller animals are essential parts of the food chain for raptor species like turkey vultures, burrowing owls and condors, researchers in California are seeing increased presences of the toxins in these birds, despite recent rodenticide bans in the state. Scientists are now left wondering how best to enforce the ban to protect the large birds.

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Keith Williams

Luck on the Lynx’s Side

Source: The Wildlife Society

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced they are proposing a revised list of rules to guide the recovery of lynx in the United States. With careful consideration and collaboration with conservationists and Indigenous and federal partners, the new proposal is two-part. First, the Service proposes to redefine the lynx’s habitat designation to allow for it to roam more freely and provide a better understanding of the species, and second, the Service offers new guidelines for the lynx recovery plan. The Service will review public comments on the proposal beginning January 28, 2025.

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Helena Lopes

Virtual Virtuoso: Livestock Tech Helps Ranchers

Source: Western Landowners Alliance

Managing livestock herds on large grazing lands might have just gotten a lot easier. The secret? Virtual fencing! Thanks to a specialized GPS technology that delivers sound and shock stimuli developed specifically to take care of animals when they are out to pasture, the Vance and eShepherd virtual fence systems can help landowners look after their stock, protect them from predation by roaming wildlife and move them more easily to reinforce rotational planting and grazing.

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Nicky Pe

Commissioner Controversy

Source: The Colorado Sun

Proposition 127 in Colorado has caused controversy over its aim to ban the hunting of large cats, but even more confusion was rampant as citizens claim two members of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission acted out of turn and harmed the process of public discourse. Members of the public sued the two commissioners—who allegedly published a column that supported a proposed ban on hunting and trapping mountain lions and bobcats—because they reportedly shared their opinions outside of an open meeting and damaged the proposed ban’s opposition. Though the Proposition did not pass, the plaintiffs claim that the column spread false information and negatively influenced the conversation surrounding the ban.

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AFRICA

ISS Africa/United Nations

Community Efforts Against Poaching

Source: Patrol

Poaching animals often comes from the need to provide food or funds for a person and their family, but this doesn’t have to be the only way. In Mozambique, conservationists are implementing ways families can take subsistence matters into their own hands. Two of their community engagement strategies include providing women of the community the opportunity and tools to watch over beehives—from which the honey can be sold—and providing legal fishing outings for the men, both in place of the cash flow from illegal poaching.

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Phys.org

The Emotions of Elephants

Source: Phys.org

Researchers have recently discovered that male elephants display distinctive behavioral patterns as they age and as their social environments change. According to the study, male elephants showcase five clear character traits—affiliative, aggressive, dominant, anxious and calm—and that they often show reverential gestures to higher ranking, older males. When younger ones are in the crowd, too, they often act friendlier. Way to set a good example, elephants!

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Getty Images

Traditional Healing Comes with A Price

Source: Patrol

Homeopathic and traditional healers in South Africa are recognizing the hundreds of thousands of practitioners of medicine and the trust that community members place in them to heal their ailments. Along with this comes a truth about the wildlife poaching reality—that to treat people, healers rely on illegal measures to obtain animal products crucial to their medicine. Because government officials want to support the good done in communities by the healers, they will work with conservationists and doctors alike to find a suitable, sustainable and ethical way to satisfy all parties.

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Mongabay

Mining for Trouble in Namibia

Source: Mongabay

Urbanization and development aren’t always the best decisions for a location, especially when it critically disrupts endangered wildlife and their habitat. In Namibia, two wildlife conservancies and a safari operator are working together to halt the production of a new mine in the area that would disturb the critically endangered southern black rhino. Drawing from a series of reports that confirm the same adverse outcome, the conservancies are hoping the courts will see their side and will rule for protecting wildlife.

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EUROPE

Pixabay

Wolves on the Ballot

Source: The Guardian

The once critically endangered wolf population in Europe may soon see a change in their protection status as a committee charged with saving wildlife decides the outcome of a new proposal. Some groups in Europe want to downgrade the protections placed on wolves to protect livestock from predation but others are concerned that too much leniency and potential hunting will undo the past conservation work of wolf recovery.

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WORLD

Nishant Aneja

Trendy or Tricky? The Faux Leather Question

Source: Huff Post

And now for the age-old question: is faux leather really better for the environment? Researchers say that though it’s an admirable effort, it’s not as shiny as we had hoped and more so another form of greenwashing. Scientists from the University of Delaware say that the chemicals used and released during the production process are harmful and can leech into the food chain, alongside the fact that the faux leather will also take years to biodegrade in landfills. Professionals suggest shopping for second-hand leather as a more sustainable (and chic!) alternative.

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Doubleclix

Odd Behavior from Andean Bears

Source: Phys.org

Thanks to a camera attached to a collar, researchers now know more about Andean bears of South America than ever before. The thousands of hours of footage revealed interesting insight into the lives of these bears. Notably, there is evidence that the bears like to sleep, eat and mate in treetops and not just the forest floor. The footage also revealed instances of these bears curiously eating stinging nettles (ouch!) and even engaging in infanticide—the killing of unrelated bear cubs—the first time to be recorded for these mountainous mammals.

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Frontline Dispatches – December 2024

NORTH AMERICA

Advantage News

Hectic Holidays for Drivers

Source: Forbes

The holiday season is upon us and so are the North American deer! As you make your holiday travels, be sure to stay on the lookout for deer rushing across the road. From October to December, there is a noticeable increase in deer movements in North America. State Farm, the largest insurer of vehicles in the United States, offers that drivers should slow down if they spot a deer on the side of the road and to avoid driving at dusk or at night when possible. Keep yourselves and those darting deer safe!

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Neal Herbert

Little Cats Become Welfare Giants

Source: Mongabay

Once facing critically dwindling numbers, the North American bobcat’s renewed numbers offer an even larger ecological benefit. Bobcats prey on smaller animals that are frequent transmitters of disease, and as a result, help to stop potential illnessness from coming into contact with humans. As they are larger animals, they are able to more easily combat diseases and prevent them from passing onto humans. With decreasing habitat due to urbanization and other land-use changes, the bobcat needs continued conservation to ensure safety for all in the ecosystem.

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Eric Post

Arctic Mammals Graze on the Green

Source: UCDavis

New research from UC Davis suggests that Greenland’s caribou and muskoxen have an impact on the abundance and timing of wild plants in the greening Arctic. Studies have shown that plant phenology—the innate biological timing of live organisms such as plants—affects when animals arrive, but new research may prove the opposite; that animal patterns and abundance affect plant growth and timing. In an age when the artic is warming and caribou populations are decreasing, these relationships are increasingly important to observe and understand.

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Onstantianu

Big Sheep, Small Population

Source: LAist

After a winter of heavy snows in the Sierra Nevada, California’s iconic bighorn sheep population suffered a substantial decline. Avalances, dwindling food sources, and forced movement into mountain lion territory all meant bad news for the sheep. Coupled with an already existing placement on the endangered species list by the state and federal government since 1999, conservationists were concerned for the herd’s numbers. Thankfully, results from new research show that the sheep population has triumphantly grown to nearly same size as it was before the fateful snows.

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Bloomberg

Bird Collisions in the Big Apple

Source: The Guardian

Skyscrapers are marvels of human architecture, but to flying birds in New York City, they’re more damaging than delightful.

Research from the NYC Bird Alliance suggests that there have been increased numbers of bird colliding with the reflective windows of the city’s tallest buildings. As the city naturally sits in the middle of a bird migratory corridor, researchers and volunteers alike have seen a nearly 20% increase in injured or killed birds as a result of flying into the glass. Thankfully, specialists suggest remedies such as deterring lights to help decrease collisions.

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Andriy Blokhin

Diminuitive Deer Dodging Disaster

Source: Phys.org

The Florida Keys is known for its gorgeous shores and vacation homes, but it’s also the home of smallest subspecies of the white-tailed deer, the Key deer. Weighing about 65lbs on average, these little deer are at risk of losing their unique habitat to lasting effects from destructive hurricanes and rising sea levels. As a result, car collisions, starvation, and increased contact with humans are on the rise for this tiny deer. Researchers continue to search for a solution for these unique ungulates.

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Snapshot USA

Coyotes Defy Population Threats

Source: The Wildlife Society

New research suggests that coyotes are more adaptive, and even more comically unpredictable, than previously thought. A team of wildlife researchers wanting to determine the relationship between coyotes and their environment took to Snapshot USA, a large national database of trail camera images, to analyze how they responded to habitat, humans and varying food sources. They found that the canines thrive in urban environments and can have larger populations in areas where hunted. Researchers will keep analyzing these relationships to learn more about the coyote’s unique behaviors.

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Dudarev Mikhail

Conservation Award Funds Fundamentals

Source: Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Thanks to an allocation of over $275 million for habitat creation and enhancement to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, hunters and anglers alike should soon be seeing substantial improvements to their cherished cultural pastimes. Funds from this award will go toward projects that work with the nation’s leaders in wildlife and ecosystem conservation to protect and preserve the natural world and humans’ enjoyment of it.

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Quinton Meyer

New U.S. Protections on African Giraffe

Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The largest ruminant animal on earth, the giraffe, may now be under more regulations due to a proposed addition to the U.S. Endangered Species Act—and there are implications for the States. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list three subspecies of the northern giraffe from various parts of Africa and two species from east Africa as endangered. This status would result in additional regulations with the stated intent to reduce illegal trade by requiring U.S. citizens to purchase permits before importing and provide some financial assistance to programs researching giraffe population declines.

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AFRICA

Urban Caracal Project

Point, Click, and Conserve!

Source: The Wildlife Society

The Urban Caracal Project, founded in 2014, has seen extreme success in the past ten years using social media to support wildlife conservation. Researchers have been testing how social media and other forms of online social communication can increase awarness in conservation, track specific movements of animals, and spread knowledge. Members of this project have found that specifically in Cape Town, South Africa, where the caracal is native, the species has nearly doubled after the project was launched and that the public’s interest in the wild cat they share their environment with has skyrocketed, too.

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Patrol

New Practices, Old Knowledge

Source: The Patrol

Patrol.org speaks with John Forrest, a field ranger in South Africa, about a style of wildlife conservation he helped champion when he was an active conservationist in the field—learning through doing. Adaptive management is a flexible approach that allows conservationists to change their strategies as they go, learning and growing to make the best scientific choices for their conservation scenario. Coupled with engaging communities and learning the local knowledge surrounding the animals, adaptive conservation gives all parties more agency in South Africa’s complex ecosystems.

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Miroslav Srb

Elevating Elephant Concerns

Source: Phys.org

A new study found, using 53 years of data, that there has been substantial declines in numbers from many forest and savanna African elephant populations. However, declines are not everywhere and populations in southern Africa, especially Botswana, are thriving. The study collected data from a staggering 475 sites and 37 countries, making it a well-rounded take on the state of these elephants. Conservationists say that there isn’t a “cure-all” to the entire issue of population loss, but identifying what tactics work in specific areas may help with finding new and innovative solutions to recovering populations in areas with declining numbers.

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EUROPE

Michal Dyjuk

Wildlife Penned in by New Wall

Source: Euro News

Due to increased nationalism and political tensions in northern Europe, a wall has been built that now splits Poland’s ancient Białowieża Forest down the middle. As a result, the razor-sharp barrier bars mammals large and small from safely crossing over into what once was territory they could roam in. Predators in the area are starting to use the fence as a tool to corner and more easily kill prey, and gene pools are beig restricted due to the constrained freedom. Researchers and politicians alike are looking for a solution that would champion both diplomacy and wildlife.

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WORLD

Joaquin Sarmiento

Summit Summation: Success on the Horizon

Source: Nature.com

This November, the most recent meeting of the COP16 biodiverstiy summit was held in Cali, Colombia. Though there was much to debate, the parties in the summit did agree on several subjects that would help the world to conserve some of its most challenging threats today, such as the rapid rate that species are threatened by extinction worldwide. With ideas including digitally sequencing DNA of threatened species and asking for more financial contributions from businesses that benefit from wildlife, conservation may have some big wins soon!

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Mette Lampcov

Ancient Tracking Meets Modern Interest

Source: The Smithsonian

Taking inspiration from an accredidation process from the African continent, North American researchers are looking to the past to learn how to better connect with nature. Author and tracking enthusiast Ben Goldfarb writes on how he started to learn the language of the land to see where its creatures go, and how gaining information from Indigenous communities can reveal truths about the connection among humans, animal stewardship, and the land we all share.

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Frontline Dispatches – November 2024

NORTH AMERICA

NPS / M. Carenza

Alaskan Bear Wins Online Spirit Week Competition

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

You’ve probably heard of Shark Week, but did you know that Fat Bear Week also exists?

In Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, a social media sensation encourages audiences to vote for their favorite salmon-loving brown bear. This October, Grazer, the first adult female bear, cinched her victory as the audiences’ favorite after rushing to her cubs when attacked by a rival bear on the shores of the Brooks River. Violence and victory are common for the animals, as the start of the Week was postposed when one male bear attacked and killed a female bear. Though not always rosy, the excitement of the Week raises awareness of and donations for brown bear conservation, and lets the audience have some fun along the way.

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Front Range Eagles

Electric Passion for Eagle Conservation

Source: The Colorado Sun

The most expected thing to find in an eagle’s nest is hatchlings, not the angry end of a lightning bolt.

In an unassuming tree in Stearns Lake, Colorado, a bald eagle perched overlooking its empty nest when the structure suddenly went up in flames. A bolt of lightning destroyed the eagle’s collection of twigs and findings but luckily the bird flew from the scene unscathed after the initial shock of the impact. Because the eagle and its mate missed this year’s opportunity to rear young, county authorities will be closing a local nature preserve for several months to reduce disturbances and help ensure the eagles can resume their nesting next year.

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Western Landowners Alliance

Elk Overstaying Their Welcome

Source: Western Landowners Alliance

In western parts of Montana, elk numbers are on the rise and private landowners are tasked with dealing with the consequences.

Whether the landowners view the substantial elk population as an asset or detriment, supporting elk herds on properties is a pricey endeavor that owners might not want to pay for. Coupled with a lack of incentivized hunting programs and federal elk redistribution initiatives to help curb these large herds, landowners face difficulties when managing overpopulation. Solutions specific to each situation and collaborations among landowners are recommended to help address this issue.

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Henryk Sadura

Roadways For All, Even Wildlife

Source: Los Angeles Times

While roads can connect drivers to their destinations, they can also provide habitat disruptions to animals who live around the freeways.

A new law in California urges communities to consider and honor the natural patterns of local wildlife movements before planning their next construction project. Highways, streets, and even buildings can sever boundaries of animal habitats and force wildlife into direct traffic, posing potential harm to the animal and the human behind the wheel. Thankfully, all California inhabitants—four legged or two—now are legally required to be considered so that neither are put in harm’s way.

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Wildlife Management Institute

Conservationists, Add This to Your Bookshelf

Source: The Wildlife Society

Ever wish there was a handbook telling you exactly how to do something? Well, cross wildlife conservation off that list because this year, there is one!

The American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) is a coalition of the top conservation and sporting organizations across the United States. Recently, they published the second volume of their comprehensive conservation recommendations, titled Wildlife for the 21st Century. Thanks to this publication, policy makers can clearly understand the realities and nuances of conservation to more effectively work toward being active stewards of wildlife, wild lands, and public access for conservationists and recreationists alike.

Download it for free here!

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Muhammed Hanif

Wild Cats Cause Colorado Controversy

Source: Summit Daily

New proposition in Colorado might divide wildlife professionals more than it would bring them together.

On October 9, the board of the Colorado Wildlife Employees Protective Association wrote a resolution stating that it was against a new proposition that would ban hunting of wild cats. Proponents of the proposition say that hunting would not be an effective tool to manage species populations and those against it maintain that management tools need to stay under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. Though these views differ, both sides say that their stances support the widely acknowledged North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

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Dennis W Donohue

Species Tension Running Freely

Source: Phys.org

Galloping wild horses on North America’s plains can be a powerful image but what happens when their hooves start to trample another species’ potential to thrive?

In Wyoming, new research suggests that the wild horse population directly impacts its traditional neighbor, the sage grouse. In 2023, researchers estimated that wild horses were nearly 56,000 over the land’s carrying capacity, as determined by the Bureau of Land Management. These horse populations can destroy native grasses, spread seeds of invasive plants, and invade nesting grounds, all of which negatively impact the grouse’s survival. Conservationists are searching for a solution that would protect both species.

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Kitsap county sheriff’s office

Trash Pandas Patrol New Territory

Source: The Guardian

Though pesky, a raccoon spotted here or there can be cute or even give you a laugh as you drive by. But over one hundred of them? That’s a different story.

In Poulsbo, Washington, a woman’s home was besieged by hordes of raccoons who left her nearly unable to leave her house. After calling local authorities for help, it was determined that the furry swarm was caused by the woman’s tendency to feed the raccoons occasionally. The perceived kindness to the critters became problematic when the woman had to take her dog to the vet after getting into a scuffle with the nocturnal nuisances. Moral of the story: don’t feed the masked marauders!

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AFRICA

Ondrej Prosicky

Wild Cats Slip Through the Cracks

Source: Mongabay

In West Africa, the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex is a collection of protected forests and arid terrain that is home to hallmarks of African wildlife like lions and elephants. As conservation attention is focused on icons like these, smaller species like servals, caracals, and African wildcats are finding themselves at risk. Coupled with the lack of knowledge about them from conservationists working in these areas, local tensions, livestock grazing, and general human encroachments, these small wild cats are in desperate need of proper assessment to ensure their conservation.

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Savannart1

Letting the Trunk Lead the Way

Source: The Conversation

Would anyone have guessed that the defining feature of the African elephant would be key to manipulating its behavior? Turns out Australian scientists did.

To mitigate the amount of unfettered destructive elephant behavior on parks and properties, scientists at the University of Sydney have learned that they can use smell to deter the walking giants. Building physical fences is expensive and tactics like culling are widely controversial, so the concept of a “scent fence”—a structure made with an extract that mimics the guarri shrub, a plant elephants steer clear of—allows conservationists to safely influence the animal’s movements and support protected areas.

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Brian Inganga

Wildlife Poaching in the Face of Hunger

Source: Aljazeera

The Great Nile Migration of antelopes is a natural biannual wonder that is revered by conservationists in Sudan. But when dire hunger forces people to poach these animals, the excitement goes dull.

Plagued by conflict, poverty, and famine, Sudanese people turn to bush meat to survive and feed their families. Living off less than $1.90 a day and facing high inflation, citizens enter into the wild to bring food home to their communities. The Sudanese government and conservationists alike are receiving backlash, as citizens claim they worry more for federally protected wildlife than the wellbeing of their people. A solution is urgently needed to protect Sudan’s citizens and their wildlife.

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Timwege

Charcoal-Fueled Chaos

Source: The Conversation

An indigenous forest reduced to piles of ash isn’t the only jarring truth about the current state of this Kenyan wildland.

The Nyekweri, a forest rich with wildlife and complex ecological importance, is situated next to the Maasai Mara National Reserve but is not receiving the same care as its neighbor. As portions are sold off to private investors who use the ancient trees for charcoal production, animals and plants are rapidly losing their habitat. Conservationists, local activists, and policymakers are now faced with reforestation to save this indigenous landmark and the creatures who call it home.

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EUROPE

X/@Ashley_Howe1990

Legendary Bird Soars into Existence

Source: NDTV World

Once a proud ancient symbol and revered by European civilizations, the northern bald ibis had become critically endangered due to pesticide usage, poaching, and habitat destruction. Today, the population sits at over 500 strong.

Conservationists in Germany took the challenge of rehabilitation head on and instituted programming to conserve, raise, and release these ancient birds. Thanks to creative solutions like marked aircraft that teach the birds where and when to migrate, the ibises are able to fly on their own two wings again.

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Starlings_images

Sly, and Lovable, as an Urban Fox

Source: The Conversation

Though some may consider foxes a nuisance, a new study shows that citizens of the United Kingdom generally don’t mind these clever four-legged urbanites.

Foxes play a key role in ecosystems and are a species that makes it easy for people to feel connected to the natural world if they come upon them, much like squirrels or birds. Though because of their out-foxing reputation and increased frequency of contact due to human development, wildlife professionals are concerned these animals could cause increased conflicts with humans. Surprisingly, the results of a study from the University of Hull suggest that people find these crafty critters to be endearing more than anything. Save them a cup of tea next time you find yourself in the Isles!

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Grazelands Rewilding

Old DNA Gets New Life in Highland Cattle

Source: The Guardian

To fill the ecological gap left by the long extinct Auroch in Britain, conservationists and genetic researchers have successfully bred an animal that shares some of the auroch’s DNA to be rewilded in its stead.

The Dundreggan estate near Loch Ness, Scotland is the new home of the tauros, a species bred with a full sequencing of Auroch DNA found in ancient genetic relatives by the European rewilding charity Trees for Life. Hoping to have the tauros adapt to the environment in the same way as its extinct predecessor, the project will hopefully increase biodiversity, education, and ecotourism of the area.

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WORLD

Jim Cumming

Sparing Livelihoods and Snow Leopards

Source: Mongabay

Large wildlife is majestic from afar but when it decimates your livestock, the majesty turns into tyranny.

Nepal’s snow leopard is an iconic cat of the country, and a new conservation plan seeks to reallocate funds to hopefully readdress how local communities engage with the animal. By focusing more on conflict resolution between landowners and snow leopards, this new plan has conservationists hoping to see a decrease in retaliatory leopard killings by humans whose livestock and livelihoods are at stake. They also hope the plan will curb the illegal trade of these prized leopard pelts.

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Threatened Species Recovery Hub

Desert Detection: A Powerful Pair

Source: The Conversation

One of the best ways to get to know local wildlife is to focus where it’s been—its tracks. In the shifting desert sands, this can get quite tricky. But with a unique team up, researchers are finding their way.

Working in conjunction with Indigenous experts, conservationists in Australia are learning new ways of studying desert-dwelling animals. Engaging in research with their Indigenous counterparts allows for the transfer of generational tactics of reading tracks in the sand, stories of animal behaviors, and ways in which everyone can better understand the land and its inhabitants. With traditional skills and modern excitement for conservation, you can’t lose.

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Frontline Dispatches – October 2024

NORTH AMERICA

Aaron Hill

Deer Eating More than their Fair Share

Source: Michigan Farm News

Ever wanted to get your produce before other shoppers in the aisle? In Michigan, it looks like white-tailed deer are the ones to beat!

As hunting declines and winters become milder, farmers in the Mitten State are facing frustrations with deer overpopulation. According to landowners and scientists, the number of grazing deer severely impacts crop harvests and the success of local farms. Hopes of hunter incentivization and changing wildlife policies give farmers the courage to reclaim their crops.

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Danita Delimont

Lynx’s Lucky Location

Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

For the first time since 2018, a rare Canada lynx was positively identified in mobile phone videos taken in Rutland County, Vermont.

The lynx species is endangered in Vermont and has been listed on the Endangered Species Act since 2000. This recent spotting was in southern Vermont, an unlikely location due to its terrain, but suggests that lynx may be moving into new territories. Though an isolated case, the sighting gives researchers hope for the future of the lynx.

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Will Samuel

Can Canadian Caribou Carve Out a Home?

Source: The Narwhal

Canada’s once-abundant boreal caribou have been steadily declining since 1970, with only about 2,000 left in the province of Alberta today. These populations are federally monitored but there are worries that even this protection won’t be enough.

In 2023, 7% (roughly 3.3 million hectares) of Alberta’s forests were destroyed by wildfires—more than the province’s last 11 fire seasons combined. This destruction of habitat and natural ecosystems, coupled with increasing human expansion, is forcing caribou to adapt or face the possibility of extinction. But with the help of dedicated conservationists who monitor and track the animals, caribou may be able to carry on in the wild.

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Kella Carlton

A Feeder for More Than Deer

Source: The Wildlife Society

Table for three, please… new research from Clemson University suggests that deer feeders may attract unwanted wildlife species and deter the intended does. Talk about an unexpected dinner party!

As researchers analyzed animal activity at specific feeders, they found that wild pigs and racoons also responded to the sound of a feeder dispensing pellets. This communal feeding can lead to the spread of disease and provide easy hunting for predators, as coyotes learned to systematically hunt deer that frequented the feeders. Scientists suggest landowners use feeders sparingly.

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Chris Trent

Condor Chaos: Poaching in Colorado

Source: The Colorado Sun

A protected raptor was recently shot and killed illegally by a poacher in southwestern Colorado.

The California condor is a large bird species that was reintroduced into southwestern states and parts of Mexico after years of rehabilitation from avian flu outbreaks, misguided shooting, and captive breeding programs. With the limited condor population on the rise, the birds are closely monitored to secure their safety in the wild.

Conservation authorities say the poacher could face felony charges, prison time, and a $5,000 fine for violating the Endangered Species Act and taking one of these rare creatures out of the sky.

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Santi Wajitdol

From New Neighbor to Superspreader

Source: DVM 360

Aoudads are a wild species from the sheep and goat family introduced to parts of Texas. Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences found that aoudads can catch and carry many of the same diseases as their native neighbors, bighorn sheep.

This discovery suggests that diseases thought to affect only one species in an environment may also threaten other species in that same habitat too. Researchers are now investigating how many other aoudad diseases can transmit to bighorn sheep as well. Everyone wash your hooves well before dinner!

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M. Jokinen

Glimpsing the Glutton?

Source: The Wildlife Society

After years of scouring remote terrain, researchers have been able to estimate wolverine populations in Alberta and Ontario thanks to trail-camera footage.

These cameras allow conservationists to get a better idea of the population, movement, and habitat of the infamously evasive wolverines in some of Canada’s most remote forests. They found that although Alberta has twice as many wolverines as Ontario, their yearly survival rate is below the recommended 75%. Scientists believe reducing the number of roads entering this area will decrease vehicle collisions, access to wolverines by coyotes, and the number of human trappers.

For further reading, check out last month’s Dispatch article here.

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Jacob W. Frank

Once Again, the Lone Wolf

Source: KUNC

The Biden Administration recently ruled that gray wolves no longer require federal protection. In mid-September the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will begin the process to remove wolves from the protections of the Endangered Species Act. If successful, this will delegate wolf management to individual states.

Some carnivore biologists suggest that wolf hunting will threaten populations and make it harder for wolves to maintain their numbers. Others see the reversal as a way to better manage wolf populations, which may prey on domestic livestock and other wild species such as deer, elk and moose.

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AFRICA

AventuraSur.photo

Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

Source: Conservation Namibia

Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Tourism announced it will sanction an ethical cull of wild animals to address national hunger during a record-breaking drought.

In 2023, Namibia faced its worst drought season in one hundred years—crops and cattle alike couldn’t withstand the water loss that left 1.4 million citizens in crisis. In accordance with the national constitution, Namibian leaders have agreed to ethically use the country’s resources and cull 723 wild animals to end the national food insecurity. This decision would mercifully handle animals who would otherwise die painfully due to drought related effects, protect vegetation to ensure its post-drought vitality, and give money from contracted hunts back to local communities.

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Volcanoes Safaris

A Small Price to Pay for Ugandan Conservation

Source: CNN Travel

Deep in the Ugandan forest, there is a tourist experience that costs $800 for a single hour—for all parties involved, it’s worth every penny.

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to 500 mountain gorillas, a rare species that shares 98% of its genetic makeup with humans. The high price tag for visiting these gorillas allows wildlife managers and safari companies to ensure that both the animal and its habitat are protected from outside factors like poachers and disease. In this Ugandan forest, sustainable tourism, ethical community engagement, and collaboration are all tied to the protection of wildlife and the environment.

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WildTrack.com

Artificial Intelligence Becomes an Expert Tracker

Source: Hakai Magazine

AI is leading the charge to quick and efficient species identification. With a quick click on your phone, you too can be a wildlife researcher!

WildTrack is an AI tool that can currently identify 17 different animal tracks. This will allow researchers to get a better sense of where animals spend their time without having to actually track them on foot. With an eventual goal of not only identifying what species made the print, but also the specific animal in the area responsible for the print, WildTrack is well on its way to becoming a groundbreaking tool for scientists and AI afficionados alike.

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Shams Amir

Antelope Back from the Brink of Extinction

Source: CNN Science

Once a prize for poachers because of their iconic horns, the giant sable antelope population was down to only a few hundred animals. Now, they’re finding stability again.

Indigenous only to Angola in southwest Africa, the giant sable was critically endangered because of unchecked poaching and civil war. In 2003, researchers found that only female giant sables were left in the herd. Dedicated conservationists went to other wildlife reserves and miraculously found bulls to increase this small population, which has now increased to five stable herds that are continuously monitored with GPS collars to ensure their safety.

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EUROPE

Jan Kurz

Aurochs on to Greener Pastures

Source: European Wildlife

Freedom at last! Two female aurochs that were stuck in quarantine in the Netherlands were recently moved to the Gratzen Mountains, where they will run freely.

Thanks to the European Wildlife Conservation Group, the funds and travel arrangements to deliver the animals to their new home were both secured in a single day, saving them from another month in quarantine as part of a rehabilitation process. Though the trip and release were laborious (over 16.5 hours!), the aurochs are now with others of their species that dot the mountainous terrain on the border between Austria and Czechia.

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LIFE IBERLINCE/LYNXCONNECT

Highway Helpers: Saving Lynx One Alert at a Time

Source: CNN Science

Watch for the flashing lights! New technology may pave the way forward to protecting Spain’s once-abundant lynx population.

Because of habitat loss, over-hunting, and road accidents, Iberian lynx were on the verge of extinction. After decades of conservation work, researchers have come up with a new way to deter these creatures from busy roadways—an automated fence system. This tech emits a loud noise and flashing lights that alert both animals and the drivers to each other’s presence in the hopes that each steer clear of the other.

For further reading, check out July’s Dispatch article here.

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Milan Zygmunt

Badger Vaccine May End Controversial Cull

Source: Science.org

New research into solutions for bovine tuberculosis could be the key to ending the controversial culling of badgers in the United Kingdom.

Tiny but mighty, badgers are able to spread bovine tuberculosis to cattle. The Zoological Society of London is researching badger vaccines and not resorting to culls, but the National Farmers Union is less certain, maintaining that culls are the safe way to secure the health of their cattle.

The UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said it will start badger population surveys this winter to get a better understanding of the animal’s status across the country.

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AndreAnita

New Hunting Law Does More Harm Than Good

Source: University of Oxford

A University of Oxford-led study has concluded that a proposed hunting-trophy law in the United Kingdom would do more harm than good for the species it is meant to protect.

The study found that the proposal didn’t clearly examine the overall effects that trophy hunting has on communities and biodiversity. The funds from these hunts are essential to rural and Indigenous peoples who rely on the hunts for employment, and the natural biodiversity of the areas where hunting is common is stable and high. Scientists urge the government to continue with their current regulations and implement a “smart ban” that protects the communities who rely on the benefits of these hunts.

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WORLD

Mujeres Quechua por la Conservación

Endangered Cats Have Become Women’s Best Friend

Source: Mongabay

The once-rocky relationship between a local community and the surrounding feline neighbors now makes for a rich culture of mutual appreciation.

In the central Andes Mountains, deforestation pushes the endangered Andean cat closer to human settlements and also increases human-wildlife conflicts. However, where there was once anger towards the tiny but aggressive cats, there is now peace. Conservation efforts made by the Indigenous women of Quechua villages in the Peruvian Andes work to rewrite the narrative between locals and the cats, and to assert these women’s place in their communities by finding creative solutions to complex problems.

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Albert R. Salemgareyev

New Wildlife Atlas Protects Migration

Source: Science.org

Have you ever been curious about where migrating animals spend their time while on the move? Well, now we can find out!

A new digital atlas has recently been released that displays the migration patterns for various ungulate species across the globe. This online database shows where, when, and who migrates in order to protect some of the world’s largest wildlife movements and their migration corridors. The atlas helps to protect these animals and their critical habitats from proposed fences, highways or other obstructions as the herds make their way to their ancient destinations.

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Florian Kriechbaumer

Human-Wildlife Overlap

Source: The Wildlife Society

Recent research suggests that by 2070, more than half of our planet’s land will experience increasing overlap with wildlife. However, understanding where that overlap will be, and what animals will share the space, will be essential for city planners, conservationists, researchers, and citizens. By calculating where humans are likely to expand and live in the coming years, scientists can predict how the relationship between animals and humans will change in the future. Conservation strategies will have to creatively evolve to match the changing landscape of the future.

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Martin Cagnato

Rats: Island Communities’ Pesky Stowaways

Source: Science.org

Commonly finding their way to fresh territory by sneaking onto ships, rats are making themselves the ultimate pest for islands around the world.

Native birds, reptiles, and other animals find themselves in particular trouble when rats arrive on the scene. Because local wildlife is unfamiliar with rat behavior, they often face rapid extinction due to hyper-predation. Here’s where conservationists come to the rescue. Taking inspiration from a 1959 initiative in New Zealand, conservationists spread rat poison on dedicated portions of their islands with the hopes of removing invasive predators, as it poses little harm to the native wildlife. Once the pests are gone, conservationists hope the local wildlife can thrive again.

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Frontline Dispatches – September 2024

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Frontline Dispatches – August 2024

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