Migration Isn’t Instinct – It’s Inherited: Mule Deer Learn Their Routes from Their Mothers
Every year, thousands of mule deer in the American West embark on one of the longest overland migrations of any land mammal in North America. In Wyoming alone, some herds travel up to 150 miles between winter and summer ranges, navigating a maze of mountains, roads, fences, and expanding human development. These migrations are critical […]
Battling Invasive Plants: One Conservationist’s Impact
In North America, invasive plant species – non-native plants that spread aggressively and disrupt natural habitats – cost over $26 billion annually. Unlike native flora that co-evolve with local ecosystems, these invaders outcompete indigenous plants, degrade soil health, and alter fire regimes, ultimately undermining entire ecosystems. They also create ripple effects that harm economies and […]
The Ongoing Puzzle of Bighorn Sheep Restoration: A Call for Precision
Wild bighorn sheep populations in North America have rebounded impressively – from roughly 20,000–25,000 in the 1950s–60s to around 80,000 today, thanks to decades of conservation work. Yet, despite clear progress, their recovery remains a “chronic incompletion.” An article in Fair Chase, highlighted by Boone & Crockett, zeroes in on three persistent challenges: disease outbreaks, […]