The following clips reflect recent wildlife-related news coverage in the media. The Wildlife Society does not independently verify any statements or assertions in these articles. The statements expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official TWS policy unless so stated. Likewise, products mentioned herein are not endorsed by The Wildlife Society unless so stated.
A wheat field in Blackwater National Refuge, Maryland. Farmers allowed to use the land on the condition they leave some crops behind for wildlife will now have to phase out genetically modified seeds and neonicotinoid pesticides. (Credit: USFWS)
Wildlife Refuges Phasing Out GMO Crops, Pesticides
(Poughkeepsie Journal)
National wildlife refuges around the country are phasing out genetically modified crops and a class of pesticides related to nicotine in programs meant to provide food for wildlife. A July 17 letter from James W. Kurth, chief of the national refuge system, makes no specific mention of any concerns that the pesticides or the crops pose risks to wildlife or pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. It just says they don’t fit refuge objectives, such as promoting natural ecosystems. More
U.S. NEWS
Research: Wildlife Corridors Sometimes Help Invasive Species Spread
(University of Florida)
When the ants come marching in, having miles of linked habitats may not be such a good idea after all. In a classic example of the law of unintended consequences, new University of Florida research suggests that wildlife corridors — strips of natural land created to reconnect habitats separated by agriculture or human activities — can sometimes encourage the spread of invasive species such as one type of fire ant. More
New Jersey Cracks Down on Ivory Trade
(Nature World News)
New Jersey is the first U.S. state to take a stand against the cruel ivory and rhino horn trade, banning all such items in a new law. Gov. Chris Christie, who signed the legislation, now prohibits both the import and in-state sale of both ivory and rhino horn. “We are proud of Gov. Christie and state legislators’ actions today and applaud them for recognizing the impact the new law will have on the global ivory trade,” said Kathleen Schatzmann, New Jersey state director for the Humane Society of the United States. More
Survey: Visitors Support Higher Entrance Fees to See Yellowstone Bears
(National Parks Traveler)
Bears in Yellowstone National Park and visitors who watch bears cost money, both in terms of the park’s approach to bear management, and its approach to “bear jams” on the park’s roads. And, interestingly, a study shows that a majority of Yellowstone visitors would pay as much as $50 extra in entrance fees to ensure the opportunity to see bears in the park. More
NCSU Researchers Track Cats for Wildlife Conservation Data
(Triangle Business Journal)
An N.C. State University researcher could help clear up the mystery about where your cats go when they leave home and what they eat. A crowd-sourced cat-mapping project called Cat Tracker is hoping you put a GPS tracker on kitty’s collar to shed light on data that conservationists hope to use. Beyond revealing their travels, NCSU researcher Roland Kays of the Biodiversity and Earth Observation Lab says ecologists want this data to pin-point the species the cats are killing. More
NEWS FROM CANADA
Environment Canada Investigating BC Tailings Pond Breach
(The Star)
Environment Canada has launched a federal investigation into a major tailings pond breach at the Mount Polley mine in British Columbia. “Environment Canada expects companies to operate in a responsible manner that protects the environment,” department spokesman Mark Johnson told the Star in a statement. “Spills are unacceptable.” More
City Reviews Beaver Control Practices After Trapping Mishap
(CBC News)
The City of Calgary, Alberta, is suspending all beaver trapping until a review into a recent incident is complete. A beaver had been building a dam in Fish Creek Provincial Park, and the city says it was going to flood a bike path. Officials hired a contractor to trap and kill the animal, but debris got caught in the trap and it didn’t work properly. People using the path spotted the beaver struggling to free itself. More
WILDLIFE HEALTH AND DISEASE NEWS
Montana FWP Commission Approves Elk Brucellosis Control Changes
(Bozeman Daily Chronicle)
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission gave initial approval to a slightly expanded elk brucellosis management plan in southern Montana that allows expanded hazing and kill permits, even as a lawsuit challenges current operations. The commission tentatively approved an elk-brucellosis work plan for the greater Yellowstone area that resembles the two previous plans except for a few changes. More
More Bears Dying in Rockies
(Calgary Herald)
It’s been another challenging couple of weeks for bears in the Rockies. In the past week, wildlife officials confirmed grizzly No. 138 lost her second cub. A tagged grizzly bear, No. 144, was spending time in Harvie Heights, a community on the boundary with Banff National Park. And two black bears were hit on the highways in the national parks on the weekend, but it’s unknown whether either bear survived. More
Wild Horses on East Coast May be at Risk for Preventable Mosquito Disease
(TWC News)
It’s been a rainy summer, which means mosquitoes are out to bite. These mosquitoes could be carrying the disease Eastern Equine Encephalitis that recently killed two horses in North Carolina. “Horse owners should consult their veterinarians for the appropriate vaccination schedule for their horses based on their area because it varies even within the state of North Carolina,” said Susan Stuska, Wildlife Biologist. More
How Animals Deal with Infection
(BBC)
Humans are constantly at war with disease. We lob antibiotic missiles at bacteria and toss vaccine-shaped grenades at viruses. We drop bombs made of antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer on everything we can. The battle between humans and parasites (an umbrella term that includes viruses, bacteria and larger creatures) has ancient roots, and exert as strong a force on evolution as predators, drought or famine. More
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
China to Return 180 Smuggled Turtles to Sindh in Ceremony
(The Express Tribune)
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, wildlife officials will take back the possession of 180 confiscated black pond turtles in an international ceremony to be held on the Pakistan-China border on Aug. 18, The Express Tribune learned. The turtles which were being illegally transported to China, were confiscated by Chinese authorities about a month ago. The officials also arrested the four smugglers, including two Pakistani nationals. More
India to Use Drones to Track Wildlife and Fight Poaching
(One Green Planet)
Plans are afoot in India to employ drones to track wildlife and combat poaching in 10 separate sites across the country by January 2015. The 10 areas chosen for this initiative reflect the 10 different zones of biodiversity in the country, including the Sunderbans, the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, and so on. More