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Earth has >8 billion people. Scholarly publications number nearly 7 million annually with >1 million in the life and biomedical sciences, and ≥52 professional journals specializing in conservation, ecology, or related disciplines. The challenges of applying ecological data to conservation and wildlife management can easily become overwhelming. Herein we offer reflective perspectives about the changing face of applied knowledge and engagement from our personal employment histories as ecologists working in agency, university, and non‐governmental organization (NGO) biologist positions. We suggest natural history will always be nature's glue, but knowledge steeped mostly in muddy boots and field biology are no longer the soup du jour of our profession. In many ways, new technologies have changed data collection and the scientific questions asked. Arguably, such change is not welcomed by all, but a change in overlap across decades is needed to sustain and improve upon how the planet's biological diversity can coexist with increasingly difficult human conditions. Given that 80% of the people in the United States live in urban areas, with similar numbers internationally, a future possibility may be an even greater divide between wild nature, ecological services, and enjoyment in the field. This is disturbing. Despite fundamental scientific insights that help understand critical components of the natural world, once society loses touch with nature, what will remain? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of big game harvest is important for maintaining viable populations and providing recreational opportunities to hunters. There are numerous strategies used by management agencies to achieve these goals, but they are complicated by variation in factors that are difficult to control, such as harvest success rates. For harvest management decisions to have the desired effect on big game populations, the mechanisms affecting factors like harvest success rates need to be properly understood. We used Bayesian hierarchical survival models to explore the factors influencing spatial and temporal variation in moose (Alces alces) harvest success rates in Ontario, Canada. We estimated harvest success rates from hunter reports from 59 Wildlife Management Units from 2000–2019. Overall, harvest success rates were primarily influenced by variables under the control of management agencies, such as season length and tag allocations, but they were also affected by external factors like moose density and weather. Season length, while positively related to harvest success for shorter seasons (e.g., <25 days), exhibited limited influence for longer seasons (>25 days). Our results were largely consistent across spatial and temporal scales, with a similarly strong positive effect of moose density and negative effect of tag allocation between management units and across years. This study emphasizes the need for managers to recognize the inherent uncertainty in harvest outcomes beyond their control and the importance of open communication with hunters in achieving effective harvest management, while offering concrete pathways for influencing harvest success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insular evolution on archipelagos generates a significant proportion of global biodiversity, yet islands are among the ecosystems most sensitive to accelerating anthropogenic disturbance, introductions of non‐native species, and emerging pathogens, among other conservation challenges. The Alexander and Haida Gwaii archipelagos along North America's North Pacific Coast support a disproportionate number of endemic taxa compared to other high‐latitude terrestrial ecosystems. In this region, endemics in Canada are explicitly protected, but in the United States, endemics have been operationally ignored. We reviewed regional research on terrestrial mammals and endemics from 2000–2022 to guide wildlife management. Elevated regional endemism is due to a combination of deep and shallow temporal processes (i.e., long‐term refugial isolation vs. recent colonization). With adequate sampling, genomic analyses are well‐suited to identifying nuanced patterns of divergence and endemism, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding of regional diversity. We identified 18 mammalian endemics in Southeast Alaska, USA, at varying taxonomic scales, but research effort has significant taxonomic biases and sampling infrastructure remains inadequate. Of the 66 terrestrial and aquatic mammal species in Southeast Alaska, only 55% are represented by ≥10 archived samples over the last 2 decades. Across taxa, major spatial and temporal sampling gaps limit interpretations of wildlife responses to changing environmental conditions. The Tongass National Forest is spread across an island archipelago, and climate change is projected to have disproportionate impacts on island endemics worldwide. In this case, the United States Forest Service is not closely monitoring endemic taxa, as was required by the Tongass Land Management Plan in 1997. Our review underscores a need for increased consideration of how endemism can be incorporated into land and wildlife management across the Alexander Archipelago. Moving forward, we encourage state and federal agencies, Indigenous communities, and international collaborators to continue to partner with natural history biorepositories to ensure strategic wildlife sampling infrastructure is built and made accessible to the broader scientific community as part of the land management process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel genomic tools can yield information important for the conservation of threatened species. Remains of hunted individuals may provide important genomic information; however, the ethics of using remains of hunted animals for conservation research, especially remains of trophy‐hunted animals, is controversial. While there are ongoing political discussions considering blanket bans on the import and use of trophy‐hunted specimens, the consequences of such bans for conservation science have not been broadly discussed. Should conservation science accept samples acquired through legal trophy hunting? We investigate the ethical and practical considerations surrounding the use of biological samples acquired through legal trophy hunting. We propose that trophy‐hunted specimens should not be banned from conservation genomic research. Specimens from hunting could contribute to science and conservation genomic monitoring of wildlife and provide information for biodiversity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the significance of Indigenous research and co-stewardship of wildlife, particularly in the United States and Canada. It acknowledges the vast amount of land managed by Indigenous groups, which holds valuable natural resources. The article emphasizes the value of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in wildlife management and conservation, when combined with Western science. It introduces a special issue on Indigenous research and co-stewardship facilitated by The Wildlife Society and the Journal of Wildlife Management, highlighting the integration of IK and Western Science. The text also discusses challenges in publishing IK, including issues of Indigenous data sovereignty and the need for privacy. It emphasizes the importance of building trust and respecting Indigenous culture and perspectives when establishing relationships with Indigenous groups. The authors raise questions about the publication process for IK, including citation methods and authorship considerations, and stress the need for flexibility and collaboration to incorporate IK into scientific journals. [Extracted from the article]

Various aspects of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) continue to be integrated in the wildlife conservation and management discourse; however, there may be challenges in cross‐cultural understanding of the complex social‐ecological systems that make up the fabric of TEK. In a 2‐phased approach, we implemented research to better understand an Indigenous perspective of human–wildlife relationship. In phase 1, we conducted 16 semi‐structured interviews with Yurok and Yurok‐affiliated people about the relationship of Yurok people with wildlife and Yurok community hunting values. In phase 2, we conducted a secondary analysis of a subset of 10 interviews from phase 1. Permissions were obtained from the Yurok Tribe, under the project's previously established Institutional Review Board process, to access archived interview data for subsequent research relevant to the original research goals. We identified the following themes: Yurok conceptualizations of wildlife, cultural understanding of animals as people, animal harvesting protocols, cultural guidelines that maintain wildlife populations, and consequences for not following cultural guidelines as related to hunting. We explored how the terms wildlife and wildlife management are difficult to interpret within the context of Yurok TEK, as wildlife, in the same meaning as Western wildlife management, does not exist in the Yurok cultural paradigm. A fundamental, multifaceted aspect of the Yurok–wildlife relationship through a TEK context is the concept of animals as people, which we discuss in relation to Yurok spirituality. As Indigenous Knowledge continues to be recognized in scientific discourse, there may be opportunities to reconceptualize, Indigenize, and shift approaches to research, wildlife and wildlife habitat management, and conservation. Results of our study may support Yurok Tribe wildlife managers, Western‐trained biologists, and others in their considerations of Indigenous Knowledge in wildlife management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), described as the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the ecosystem, has always been part of Indigenous communities and their daily lives; however, TEK has progressively been incorporated into the academic and professional field of North American wildlife management and ecology despite its historical domination by Western scientific attitudes, knowledge, and methods. The objective of this note is to provide an overview of such progression from the standpoint of the first author, an Indigenous professional trained in a Western scientific paradigm. More specifically, the paper categorizes the history and the current state of TEK in the wildlife management profession while providing insights for the future of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within governance agencies, academia, and communities alike, there are increasing calls to recognize the value and importance of culture within social‐ecological systems and to better implement Indigenous sciences in research, policy, and management. Efforts thus far have raised questions about the best ethical practices to do so. Engaging with plural worldviews and perspectives on their own terms reflects cultural evolutionary processes driving paradigm shifts in 3 fundamental areas of natural resource management: conceptualizations of natural resources and ecosystems, processes of public participation and governance, and relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities with differing worldviews. We broadly describe evolution toward these paradigm shifts in fish and wildlife management. We then use 3 case studies to illustrate the ongoing cultural evolution of relationships between wildlife management and Indigenous practices within specific historical and social‐ecological contexts and reflect on common barriers to appropriately engaging with Indigenous paradigms and lifeways. Our case studies highlight 3 priorities that can assist the field of wildlife management in achieving the changes necessary to bridge incommensurable worldviews: acknowledging and reconciling historical legacies and their continued power dynamics as part of social‐ecological systems, establishing governance arrangements that move beyond attempts to extract cultural information from communities to integrate Indigenous Knowledges into dominant management paradigms, and engaging in critical reflexivity and reciprocal, accountable relationship building. Implementing these changes will take time and a commitment to processes that may initially feel uncomfortable and unfamiliar but have potential to be transformative. Ethical and culturally appropriate methods to include plural and multivocal perspectives and worldviews on their own terms are needed to transform wildlife management to achieve more effective and just management outcomes for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM) has seen a steady increase in its impact factor from 2017 to 2024, with a slight decrease in 2022. The representation of women on the Editorial Board has also increased, and the current group of Associate Editors has the highest number of women on record. In 2023, the number of new submissions was the lowest since 2011, and the median turnaround time for new submissions was 55 days. Manuscripts were submitted from authors in 35 countries, with the majority coming from the United States. Efforts are being made to further reduce the turnaround time. The rejection rate for manuscripts remained steady at 58%, and 131 research papers were published in 2023. The journal is committed to addressing concerns raised by TWS members, such as improving review quality, reducing publication time, increasing open access options, and lowering publication costs. The journal welcomes submissions on a wide range of wildlife species and aims to provide a diverse range of topics. [Extracted from the article]

The maintenance of biological diversity is frequently enhanced in a heterogenous landscape by some level of disturbance. Thus, when a landscape becomes stabilized and homogenized through the spread of an invasive plant species, there may be consequences for native biodiversity, particularly for those biotas that depend on the pre‐existing, natural disturbance regime of that landscape. At Long Point, Ontario, Canada, a sandspit in Lake Erie, the community of anuran amphibians experienced the co‐incidence of 2 major disturbance events, 1 anthropogenic and 1 natural: an intervention to remove the invasive form of the common reed (Phragmites australis australis) and a spate of extensive dune washouts caused by high water levels and storms. As a result of the unequal distribution of disturbance in the landscape, different areas were affected by only the dune washouts, only the common reed treatment, both disturbances, or neither disturbance. From May to August 2021, we explored how the disturbances affected the resident frog and toad species habitat associations in the 4 different disturbance conditions in the landscape. By means of minnow traps, acoustic surveys, and visual surveys, we determined that the dune washouts had a greater influence on resident anurans than the common reed treatment. Ranid frogs (Ranidae) tended to inhabit non‐washout sites, whereas Fowler's toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) congregated in the newly formed, sand flats and shallow, de‐vegetated pools resulting from the washouts. Neither ranid frogs nor Fowler's toads demonstrated avoidance of the sites affected by the herbicide treatment and mechanical rollover of the common reed. This evidence of species sorting, which enables multiple species to persist in a dynamic and heterogeneous landscape, suggests that wildlife management in aid of threatened species recovery may find success by encouraging natural disturbance regimes in dynamic landscapes. Future management endeavors should consider refraining from complete dune stabilization in these landscapes to allow the natural washouts to occur at a higher frequency, while ensuring the continued effectiveness of the invasive common reed eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatial requirements of exploited wildlife species, including population density and home range size, is important for wildlife management and conservation. Wolverines (Gulo gulo) are hunted and trapped across the Arctic, and are vulnerable to numerous, often interrelated, threats resulting from anthropogenic changes in their environment. Previous population density estimates for wolverines in the Arctic range tenfold, from the lowest to highest available for the species, limiting their utility outside the specific areas and times they were derived. The most recent density estimate in Arctic Alaska, USA, was produced 4 decades ago and was derived from a relatively small study area. We evaluated wolverine population density and home range size across the North Slope of Alaska during 2017–2022 using global positioning system (GPS)‐based collar data and spatial capture‐recapture models. Population density estimates were 2.0 individuals/1,000 km2 (95% credible interval = 1.3–3.5) in 2018 and 2.8 individuals/1,000 km2 (95% credible interval = 1.7–3.5) in 2021. Median home range sizes modeled with autocorrelated kernel density estimators and Ornstein‐Uhlenbeck foraging movement processes were 699 km2 (range = 158–2,895 km2) among 12 females and 2,332 km2 (range = 797–4,699 km2) among 10 males. These population density estimates are nearly 10 times lower than the previous estimate for Arctic Alaska. We recommend incorporating this information into management strategies to ensure sustainable harvest, particularly as the region's remote areas are more efficiently accessed by hunters and are being considered for transportation corridors supporting new industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting triggers behavioral responses in wildlife that may have important consequences for conservation and wildlife management. We studied movement and habitat selection in 51 global positioning system‐collared red deer (Cervus elaphus) in response to 63 large‐scale (x̄ = 18.8 km2) drive hunts conducted in 2015‐2022 on a military training area in southern Germany. The drive hunts were characterized by a low density of beaters and dogs to avoid rapid and long‐distance displacement of red deer. We determined if red deer spatial responses to drive hunts differed in various forest covers, between sexes, and in relation to the individual position prior to the hunt. On the hunting days, red deer increased their hourly displacement rates and shifted their preference for forest versus open habitats from early morning to late morning hours. Individuals initially located within the boundaries of the hunted areas exhibited longer maximum net displacements, had a greater probability of leaving their home ranges, and spent longer times outside of their home ranges than individuals outside the hunted areas. All these parameters were greater in the more forested site than in the less forested site. Males displayed shorter net displacements than females. Red deer moved away (i.e., fled) from their initial positions for variable periods, either only during the hunt or until the next day. The probability of prolonged flight was greater in the more forested site and more likely if the individuals were deeper in the forest in the less forested site. The prolonged flight behavior was desired from the hunters' perspective because red deer displaying this type of response were less likely to leave the hunted area during the hunt. Prolonged flight was associated with greater costs for the red deer, such as greater movement distances after the hunt and longer times outside of home ranges. Wildlife managers should consider that drive hunts may cause prolonged behavioral responses in game that occur both inside and outside the hunted areas. These responses depend on habitat characteristics and may be stronger in more forested landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable estimates of population trends are important for prioritizing and implementing wildlife management actions. Abundance estimates are the most informative metric of population status but are difficult and costly to achieve for rare or elusive species. For bat species that are highly mobile and nocturnal, abundance estimates are usually only possible at their roosts. Although they are relatively easy to census in individual roosts, it is often unclear whether observed trends are representative of broader populations trends. Dual‐frame sampling is useful for monitoring wildlife populations that exhibit site fidelity and are highly visible but where the proportion of the population in known sites is unknown. We adapted a dual‐frame sampling approach to estimate abundance of Townsend's big‐eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii) hibernating in a system of >800 caves at Lava Beds National Monument (LBNM) in northern California, USA, in 2013–2022. Beginning with a list of opportunistically discovered hibernacula, we expanded inference to the entire system by randomly selecting sites and stratifying survey effort according to number of bats observed during previous counts. Following 4 years of surveys, we began substituting survey‐informed estimates for some site types to improve efficiency of the monitoring effort. We estimated that a mean of 2,216 ± 112 (SE) bats hibernated at the study site annually and observed fluctuations of up to 22% around the mean population estimate and as much as 21% from the previous year. Despite annual fluctuations, we did not detect a trend in the number of hibernating bats at LBNM over the study period, underlining the challenges of detecting population trends in long‐lived species not exposed to pronounced stressors. Because our analytical approach generates reliable estimates of trend while accommodating annual variability in survey effort among years, it should be attractive to wildlife managers faced with shifting priorities and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop damage caused by wild boar (Sus scrofa) in many agroforestry regions of the world has affected agricultural development and farmers' livelihoods. Understanding the patterns of wild boar crop damage is important for properly managing these conflicts, and can improve the effectiveness of existing prevention strategies. We collected a comprehensive dataset from Guizhou Province, China, from 2017 to 2020, obtained from motion-sensitive camera monitoring, transect surveys, interview surveys, and wildlife management administrations. These data include 3,156 records of wild boar activity in natural areas and 576 records of crop damage. We applied a multi-scale MaxEnt model to map the regional distribution of wild boar habitat suitability and crop damage risk in Guizhou Province and focused on the role of habitat suitability in wild boar crop damage from a regional perspective. Wild boar habitat suitability exhibits a divergent pattern, expanding from the central area of Guizhou Province to the eastern, northern, southern, and northwestern regions, with a gradually increasing trend. Suitability of habitat for wild boar was associated with composite topographic index, mean coldest season temperature, isothermality, Shannon diversity index, edge density, and distance to village roads. Similarly, crop damage caused by wild boars in agroforestry areas is mainly concentrated in the northeast, with the risk increasing from west to east. The risk of damage was associated with temperature seasonality, roughness, distance to village roads, precipitation in the warmest quarter, edge density, and contagion index. Furthermore, in agroforestry areas, there is a positive correlation between wild boar habitat suitability and crop damage risk, with Spearman rank correlation coefficients ranging from 0.5759 to 0.5932. This correlation is not perfectly synchronized on a regional scale. This study indicates that the relationship between habitat suitability and crop damage caused by wild boar in Guizhou Province is primarily influenced by changes in population size rather than the habitat. Consequently, we emphasize the importance of controlling wild boar populations through hunting as a way to effectively reduce the risk of crop damage in agroforestry areas, without neglecting the need for proper habitat management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild animals eating agricultural products and coming close to people's residences are primary causes of human--wildlife conflict worldwide. When carnivores eat anthropogenic foods and cause human safety concerns, it often results in the removal of the animals and public demand for reduced wildlife populations. The use of remote methods, such as scare devices, to deter carnivores has been touted in the literature; however, efficacy evidence remains thin. I test the efficacy of a widely available motion-activated solar alarm lamp to deter grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) from farms in Montana, USA. When scare devices were activated, there was a 46% reduction in the odds bears would access an attractant. For every additional scare device, there was an additional 44% reduction in the odds of a bear getting the food. Additionally, scare devices caused bears to be more vigilant and increase movement behavior. More bears in a group led to loss of deterrence efficacy, and there was no evidence for habituation to the aversive stimuli. This deterrence method was most effective in August and for fungicide-treated wheat. Out of 21 farms, scare devices stopped bears from returning to 11 sites. Overall, scare devices can be a cheap and easy first step to preventing, or resolving, some grizzly bear issues in the use-of-force continuum, which hierarchically organizes conflict responses from non-lethal to more severe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective wildlife management requires an understanding of how individuals select environmental factors, although few studies assess how habitat selection may differ over time or between sexes. During the post‐breeding period (15 May to 1 Sep), we tracked 146 male American woodcock (Scolopax minor) in Rhode Island, USA, from 2010–2021 to assess how habitat selection varied over time, and 17 females and 51 males during the final 2 years of the study to document sex‐specific differences in habitat selection. Males generally had smaller home ranges (35.0 ± 10.7 [margin of error] ha) and preferred habitat mosaics that consisted of forested wetlands, young forest patches, areas of deciduous forest, moist soils with gentle slopes, and riparian corridors. We detected subtle differences between sexes in selection for wetland young forest, upland young forest, percent slope, distance to upland young forest, distance to streams, and distance to moist soils. During 2020–2021, females tended to have larger home ranges (78.7 ± 46.4 ha) than males (35.0 ± 10.7 ha) and more strongly selected sites closer to riparian corridors, while males selected areas that were closer to upland young forest with flatter slopes than the available surrounding landscape. Such sex‐specific differences in habitat selection may be related to males and females prospecting for potential breeding sites during this post‐breeding period for the following spring. We used the top‐ranked habitat selection models for males and females to produce a spatially explicit state‐wide map that identifies low‐to‐high likelihood of use areas that can be used to guide forest management decisions in southern New England to maximize benefits for American woodcock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2023 Journal of Wildlife Management report and journal news provides an overview of the journal's activities and status. It includes data on the acceptance and rejection rates for submitted articles, as well as production times for published articles. The report also mentions the end of P.R. Krausman's tenure as Editor-in-Chief and the ongoing selection process for a new Editor-in-Chief. The document emphasizes the journal's efforts to improve its processes, such as implementing an HTML proofing system and updating author guidelines. For further details, readers are advised to contact the Editor-in-Chief. [Extracted from the article]

Wildlife professionals lack a framework and process for incorporating ethical considerations in a systematic and transparent way, along with ecological and social science, to support wildlife management decision‐making. We provide such a framework and process based on 3 of the major theoretical branches ethicists have developed in Western culture: consequentialist moral theory, which focuses on consequences and outcomes; principle‐ and rule‐based approaches that deal with what is considered right or wrong; and virtue ethical theory, which considers factors such as character, virtue, and aesthetics. The framework can be used to anticipate the ethical consequences of alternative courses of action or taking no action. If wildlife professionals use this framework as an assessment tool to provide input into decision‐making, resulting decisions will be more transparent, better understood by stakeholders, and more consistent with public trust responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource selection and space use are important aspects of an animal's ecology and understanding these behaviors is necessary for proper wildlife management. We used mixed‐effect integrated step‐selection models to evaluate seasonal variation in resource selection between male and female elk (Cervus canadensis) and diel periods in central Pennsylvania, USA. Resource selection varied seasonally, between sexes, and across diel periods. These results demonstrate strong seasonal sexual segregation in resource use, and movements between habitats throughout the day, highlighting the dynamic nature of resource selection by elk and underscoring the importance of considering sexual variation at multiple temporal scales when designing ungulate management strategies. Finally, we developed habitat suitability maps for male and female elk in the Pennsylvania Elk Management Area. Wildlife ecologists and managers must consider multiple sources of variation in habitat use and resource selection, particularly for large mobile species such as elk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of conducting effective systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the field of wildlife management. Systematic reviews involve collecting and analyzing all relevant studies on a given topic, while meta-analyses involve statistically combining the results of these studies. The article emphasizes the need for proper methodology, including thorough search methods, critical appraisals of study quality, and avoidance of bias. It also provides resources and guidelines for authors interested in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The goal is to ensure that these reviews contribute to the scientific community and benefit wildlife conservation and management. [Extracted from the article]

The document titled "Reviewers for 2023" is an editorial from the Journal of Wildlife Management. It expresses gratitude to the reviewers who contributed their time and effort to the journal in 2023. The reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the success and mission of The Wildlife Society to sustain wildlife populations and habitats through science-based management and conservation. The editorial acknowledges specific individuals who consistently supported the journal by reviewing manuscripts over the years. The document concludes by listing the names of the reviewers for the Journal of Wildlife Management in 2023. [Extracted from the article]

Several methods exist to estimate the census population size such as capture‐recapture (CR) methods, which require the direct or indirect capture and recapture of numerous animals across a large area. These methods are difficult to apply to small and medium‐sized carnivorous mammals because of their elusive nature, and also do not work if the sampling method is lethal at first physical capture, a problem relevant when analyzing data from exploited populations. We present a method that uses dead recoveries from hunting bags and other sources of mortality to estimate population size. Each individual is physically trapped once at the end of its capture history (dead recovery), and is considered recaptured on previous trapping occasions if it is genetically identified as the parent of one or several young. We used this parentage information to build capture histories of aged and sexed individuals, and then applied classic CR models for closed populations. We applied this method to the stone marten (Martes foina), an elusive medium‐sized carnivorous mammal in the Bresse Region of France (911 km2) and for which reliably estimating population size remains challenging but important for efficient management. To estimate the robustness of our approach, we also simulated population pedigrees with known population size and determined its accuracy, precision, and sensitivity to the true population size and sampling intensity. Stone marten population size was estimated at N^ $\hat{N}$ = 1,748 ± 341 (SD) individuals leading to a population density of D^ $\hat{D}$ = 1.92 ± 0.37 individuals/km2, which is within the range of the few previous density estimations of the species in rural or urban areas. Our method was not affected by population size, and reached the required levels of accuracy and precision to be effective in wildlife management for a given range of sampling intensity. It therefore demonstrated its widespread use in improving estimates of population size from age‐ and sex‐structured pedigree data coming from multi‐year dead recoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the shift in wildlife management approaches from a focus on game species and local habitats to a more holistic and ecosystem-based approach that considers the influence of landscape configuration, composition, and connectivity on wildlife populations. The book "Wildlife Management and Landscapes: Principles and Applications" by Porter et al. aims to develop collaboration between landscape ecologists and wildlife managers by providing theory, tools, and applications of landscape ecology to promote long-term viability and resilience for wildlife populations. The book is organized into four parts, covering topics such as understanding habitat on landscapes, establishing a landscape foundation for wildlife managers, translating landscape ecology to management, and implementing landscape ecology in wildlife management. Overall, the book serves as a valuable resource for understanding the intersection of landscape ecology and wildlife management. [Extracted from the article]

Noninvasive data collection methods are increasingly used to monitor endangered, cryptic, or otherwise difficult to observe wildlife populations. Spatial capture‐recapture and count‐based statistical methods are often used to model these data to derive population estimates, each with their own advantages. The goal of our study was to integrate these 2 data sources and model structures to maximize the use of single‐season surveys in which capture‐recapture and count‐based data are collected. We formulated a Bayesian spatial, closed integrated population model (cIPM) that leverages scat DNA‐based spatial capture‐recapture and camera‐based spatial count sub‐models to derive sex and age class‐specific population estimates. Our cIPM has the advantage of sharing the spatial scaling (σ) parameter directly between sub‐models and drawing proposed individuals from the same data‐augmented superpopulation for each sub‐model. This allows for separate estimation of sex and age‐class groups simultaneously without any assumptions of population structure or conversions between model output types. We applied our cIPM to a wild population of Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti, Karuk: íshyuux) during winter 2018–2019 in their winter range within Karuk Ancestral Territory in northern California, USA. We also conducted a simulation study to test our cIPM on a known population consisting of 2 age classes and 2 sexes. The cIPM was able to estimate most population, detection, and σ parameters with good accuracy, including population size. The assignment of sex and age was biased, however, resulting in fewer juvenile males, more juvenile females, and more adult males. Our cIPM applied to the data estimated approximately 310 (95% CI = 235–411) female adults, 90 (95% CI = 57–134) male adults, 75 (95% CI = 43–149) female calves, and 23 (95% CI = 12–47) male calves. These estimates were different from those that would have been made had we relied on common assumptions such as equal calf sex ratios, though this ratio was likely biased towards females based on our simulation results. Our methods are widely applicable and maximize the amount of information available to managers and researchers from any single‐season survey in which separate data sources capturing sex and age‐class information are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regardless, Heister states "Through its promotion of hunting and trapping, the NAM promotes negative human behaviors such as aggression, cruelty and violence against wild animals" (Heister [6]:6). On the contrary, Heister asserts that "wolves, coyotes, and foxes [have] species-specific moral codes that guide their intra-species behavior - such as concepts of fairness and altruism" (Heister [6]:209). So, when Heister states "NAM must be replaced" (Heister [6]:99), is she advocating for the repeal of public trust laws, prohibitions against wildlife markets, laws preventing frivolous killing of wildlife, or international treaties such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora? The concept known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (NAM) is a set of 7 principles based on broad-reaching laws and policies that collectively distinguish wildlife conservation in North America from other forms worldwide (Organ [8]). [Extracted from the article]

Establishing cause and effect (i.e., causality) is a fundamental aim in science and important for wildlife management, as we need to know the cause of an event if we seek to reproduce, enhance, or diminish it. We review 13 alternative approaches for applying 12 criteria to establish causality. Strength of causal inference is greater when more causal criteria are applied so we propose a scaffolding set of criteria to clearly establish causality. We recommend validating predicted outcomes of wildlife management efforts when predictions are based on a unique mechanism and temporality, especially when manipulative experimental studies are not feasible. We use 3 case studies, namely of lamb predation by feral pigs (Sus scrofa), causes of trends in northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina), and causes of trends in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), to illustrate these topics, which are of wide relevance in wildlife management. We recommend greater use of causality and relative strength of causal inference to improve adaptive wildlife management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of harvest on wildlife populations is fundamental to theoretical wildlife science and applied wildlife management. Demographic compensation plays a key role in models of wildlife population dynamics and in developing harvest strategies. The degree and form of compensation in a given population depend on its particular ecological and life‐history characteristics and the timing and magnitude of harvest. Consequently, substantial variation exists in compensatory potential among populations, and it cannot be assumed that a particular population is capable of compensating for harvest. This underscores the importance of population‐specific assessments of responses to harvest. We examined the hypothesis that concentrated hunting pressure in road‐accessible areas reduces subsequent breeding season densities of willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), in Alaska, USA, 2014–2015. We estimated breeding season densities of ptarmigan territories at sites within hunted access corridors and at remote sites with little or no hunting pressure. Estimated densities were substantially higher at remote sites (5.3–5.8 territories/km2) than at accessible sites (1.8–3.7 territories/km2). Two habitat‐proxy covariates, distance to water and elevation (modeled as smoothed effects), exhibited strong associations with the density of ptarmigan territories. These results suggest a possible additive effect of spatially concentrated harvest on local breeding densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife management and conservation can be challenging when the demography of a focal species is unknown or limited given that fecundity and adult survival influence population growth. The Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) have been reduced to ≤10% of their former range since the early 1900s. We conducted a 3‐year study (2015–2017) across 4 study sites in northwestern Colorado, USA, to evaluate female hazard and nest survival. We trapped and marked 270 female sharp‐tailed grouse and identified 275 nests for our hazard and survival analyses. Females during the breeding stage of the reproductive season experienced more hazard compared to the nesting and the early and late post‐nesting stages for females without broods. Females experienced a higher degree of hazard during the breeding stage and mortality risk was >3 times higher than the nesting stage, >7 times higher than early post‐nesting (EPN)‐no brood stage, and >5 times higher than the late post‐nesting (LPN)‐unsuccessful stage. Two reproductive season stages (LPN‐successful and EPN‐brood) provided marginal inference. Nest incubation initiation date and nest age best described nest daily survival. Females that initiated incubation of initial nests earlier in the season experienced lower nest daily survival than later in the incubation season. Because female Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse hazard varied among different reproductive season stages, we recommend that wildlife managers develop management actions that reduce hazard during the specific reproductive season stages (i.e., the breeding season). For Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse in Colorado, we recommend that Colorado Parks and Wildlife collaborate with federal farm program agencies to implement a no‐tillage restriction from 1 May through 30 June for active agricultural fields within 2 km of active Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse leks to enhance nest survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a book review of "Pests: how humans create animal villains" by Bethany Brookshire. The book explores the concept of pests and why humans despise them. It examines various wildlife species that are the source of human-wildlife conflict, ranging from invasive species to large native carnivores and charismatic megafauna. The book provides a historical background and personal insights into the complexities of human-wildlife conflict, offering a general overview of topics and species rather than a deep dive into specific issues. It is accessible to a wide range of audiences and provides a notable addition to the field of human-wildlife conflict. [Extracted from the article]

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to expand in distribution and prevalence across North America. Upon detection, either for the first time in a novel area or in a region with an existing outbreak, wildlife management agencies are tasked with responding to mitigate the disease. This response often entails creation or modification of a management zone with modified rules and regulations that support an agency's disease management plan. To guide the process of creating an appropriately sized CWD management zone, assuming that wild deer movements are a major risk factor for disease spread, we used data from global positioning system (GPS)‐collared white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in southeastern Minnesota and southcentral Pennsylvania, USA, between 2018 and 2021 to estimate long‐distance movements associated with dispersal and migratory behaviors. These contrasting study areas with active CWD outbreaks permitted an evaluation of deer movement dynamics in different parts of their range. We quantified the proportion, distribution, timing, and orientation of dispersing and migratory deer. We observed 21% of female and 58% of male yearlings disperse from their apparent natal home range in Minnesota, while in Pennsylvania 4% of female and 68% of male yearlings dispersed. We also documented 20% of females and 6% of males migrated between seasonal home ranges in Minnesota, while in Pennsylvania no females and 5% of males migrated. The average distance deer dispersed or migrated in Minnesota was 20 km and 11 km, respectively, while in Pennsylvania male deer dispersed only about 4 km. Both sexes in Minnesota tended to disperse in a consistent, westerly direction; however, there was no directional preference observed for migratory deer or for dispersing deer in Pennsylvania. We found differences between natal and adult home range size for both sexes in Minnesota but not for males in Pennsylvania. Our results identify the considerable variability in dispersal and migration dynamics of white‐tailed deer in disparate landscapes, which is important to agencies managing CWD. We summarize the distribution of these movements and suggest agencies use this information to help make decisions about optimal management zone size. We suggest the development of formalized assessments of the tradeoffs associated with optimizing decisions about creation of CWD management zones across white‐tailed deer populations that exhibit variation in dispersal behavior and suggest careful evaluation to avoid using an arbitrary size or shape to create disease management zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective wildlife management requires an understanding of the factors affecting population vital rates. Age at primiparity can be an important determinant of population growth rates. Thus, understanding the factors influencing age at primiparity in wild populations is important for their management and conservation. American black bears (Ursus americanus) are widely distributed in North America and show considerable variation in age at primiparity across their range. We tested hypotheses regarding top‐down and bottom‐up drivers of age at primiparity in black bears across the province of Ontario, Canada. We obtained estimates of age at primiparity using cementum patterns in 1,033 bear teeth collected as part of regulated harvest in 2018 and 2019. We compared mean ages at primiparity between 2 distinct forest regions in Ontario using a Wilcoxon test. To quantify the effects of multiple putative drivers of variation in primiparity (e.g., harvest density, food availability, land use, climate), we paired yearly probability of primiparity data with environmental covariates in a mixed effects logistic regression model. Age at primiparity was significantly lower in the more productive forest region, likely reflecting broad‐scale patterns of food availability. Further, there was a significant positive effect of growing degree days (annual sum of daily mean degrees >5°C) on probability of primiparity, likely related to its influence on ecosystem productivity. Harvest density was negatively related to the probability of primiparity, possibly because harvest is positively correlated with bear density at this broad scale, and competition for food resources increases with bear density. Overall, temporal variation in food availability had a positive effect on probability of primiparity in a model fit to data for which we had the highest confidence in age estimates from cementum. Mean age at primiparity was older (5.57 yr) than in other more southernly populations, and most harvested bears (53%) were harvested prior to reproducing. Our analysis suggests that black bear age at primiparity is primarily driven by bottom‐up forces related to climate and vegetation differences that lead to greater food availability in the south. The relatively old age at primiparity and high apparent mortality rate of young animals in this population suggests that harvest can limit recruitment substantially, which needs to be considered when making management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is an editorial written by Paul R. Krausman, the Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Wildlife Management. Krausman expresses gratitude for his time as Editor-in-Chief and acknowledges the support of various individuals and organizations. He also welcomes the new Editor-in-Chief, Jacqui Frair. The article concludes with a farewell message from Krausman. [Extracted from the article]

"George Meléndez Wright: The Fight for Wildlife and Wilderness in the National Parks" is a biography written by Jerry Emory about the pioneering biologist who worked for the National Park Service. The book provides a comprehensive account of Wright's life and his significant contributions to wildlife conservation and resource management. Emory had access to Wright's family collection of field notes, photographs, and personal files, which adds depth to the biography. The book highlights Wright's influence on the development of wildlife management policies and his commitment to protecting wildlife, wilderness, and national parks. It also explores his relationships with other influential figures in the field, such as Ding Darling, Bob Marshal, Aldo Leopold, and Ansel Adams. Despite his untimely death at the age of 31, Wright's legacy as a leader and advocate for wildlife preservation is still recognized today. [Extracted from the article]

Rainfall is a strong driver of quail populations on southwestern rangelands and can account for a large portion (~70–95%) of the variability in regional quail production and abundance. Landowners have attempted to moderate these boom‐and‐bust fluctuations via management; however, presently it is unknown whether management can increase or stabilize quail populations in semiarid environments or whether rainfall remains as influential at small spatial extents. Our objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of management at mitigating the effects of rainfall on northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations on semiarid rangelands and to quantify the influence of rainfall on bobwhite density at smaller spatial extents. We conducted a study to evaluate these objectives during 2014–2020 in the Rio Grande Plains (n = 11 sites; 1,100‒6,500 ha) and Rolling Plains (n = 4 sites; 1,900‒4,000 ha) of Texas, USA. We estimated bobwhite density during late autumn (Dec‒Jan) on all sites using helicopter surveys within a distance‐sampling framework. We also obtained site‐level seasonal rainfall (Apr‒Aug) and quantified management intensity via landowner surveys and a scoring rubric to categorize sites into 3 classes (low, medium, and high management intensity). Bobwhite populations during this study experienced a boom‐bust cycle in both the Rio Grande Plains and Rolling Plains, with mean bobwhite density fluctuating considerably (0.57‒2.96 bobwhites/ha and 0.02‒2.88 bobwhites/ha, respectively). In the Rio Grande Plains, mean bobwhite density significantly increased from low to high management intensity in 2015 (1.12 ± 0.17 bobwhites/ha vs. 2.87 ± 0.39 bobwhites/ha, respectively), 2016 (1.06 ± 0.20 bobwhites/ha vs. 2.96 ± 0.36 bobwhites/ha, respectively), 2017 (0.73 ± 0.16 bobwhites/ha vs. 1.91 ± 0.32 bobwhites/ha, respectively), and 2019 (0.42 ± 0.14 bobwhites/ha vs. 1.01 ± 0.26 bobwhites/ha, respectively; P < 0.05). In addition, rainfall at the site level accounted for a low amount of the variation in bobwhite density (r2 = 0.09; P < 0.01). Similarly, in the Rolling Plains, mean bobwhite density significantly increased from low to high management intensity in 2015 (1.30 ± 0.27 bobwhites/ha vs. 2.20 ± 0.29 bobwhites/ha, respectively) and 2016 (1.26 ± 0.26 bobwhites/ha vs. 2.88 ± 0.34 bobwhites/ha, respectively; P < 0.05). Rainfall at the site level also accounted for a low amount of the variation in bobwhite density (r2 < 0.02; P = 0.82). Our findings suggest that management can increase bobwhite density beyond that of less‐managed properties but does not completely eliminate inter‐annual fluctuations in semiarid environments. In addition, rainfall appears to exert less of an influence on bobwhite density at a site level (e.g., 2,000 ha) than has been documented at a regional level (e.g., ≥8 million ha). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating factors that contribute to citation rates of scientific articles can help scientists write manuscripts that have a stronger influence on their scientific field and are accessible to a broad audience. Using a cohort of 778 articles published in The Journal of Wildlife Management from 2011–2015, we examined how visibility strategies, article structure, and focal system (all factors authors can predominantly control) influenced the accumulation of citations over various time frames within the first 5 years after publication, and the number of days until an article received its first citation. Visibility strategies (e.g., open access, increasing the Altmetric Attention Score, and self‐citations) all influenced the number of citations accrued following publication. Citations were more stochastic 1 year following publication compared to 5 years following publication, with only 20.1% of papers receiving a citation after 1 year compared to 92.5% of papers receiving a citation after 5 years. Our model explained much more of the variation after 5 years compared to after only 1 year (R2 = 0.57 and 0.12, respectively). The number of factors significantly associated with citation rates increased as the timeframe of our analysis increased. After 5 years, factors associated with article structure (e.g., number of references), focal system (e.g., methods papers), and visibility all increased citation counts of papers. Our work suggests citation rates within wildlife ecology are influenced by a number of controllable factors, and that authors pursuing a variety of visibility strategies can increase the influence of an article on science and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated contact detection by means of proximity loggers permits the measurement of encounters between individuals (animal‐animal contacts) and the time spent by individuals in the proximity of a focal resource of interest (animal‐fixed logger contacts). The ecological inference derived from contact detection is intrinsically associated with the distance at which the contact occurred. But no proximity loggers currently exist that record this distance and therefore all distance estimations are associated with error. Here we applied a probabilistic approach to model the relationship between contact detection and inter‐logger distance, and quantify the associated error, on free‐ranging animals in semi‐controlled settings. The probability of recording a contact declined with the distance between loggers, and this decline was steeper for weaker radio transmission powers. Even when proximity loggers were adjacent, contact detection was not guaranteed, irrespective of the radio transmission power. Accordingly, the precision and sensitivity of the system varied as a function of inter‐logger distance, radio transmission power, and experimental setting (e.g., depending on animal body mass and fine‐scale movements). By accounting for these relationships, we were able to estimate the probability that a detected contact occurred at a certain distance, and the probability that contacts were missed (i.e., false negatives). These calibration exercises have the potential to improve the predictability of the study and enhance the applicability of proximity loggers to key wildlife management issues such as disease transmission rates or wildlife use of landscape features and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary sexual traits (e.g., horns and antlers) have ecological and evolutionary importance and are of management interest for game species. Yet, how these traits respond to emerging threats like infectious disease remains underexplored. Infectious pneumonia threatens bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations across North America and we hypothesized it may also reduce horn growth in male sheep. We assess the effect of pneumonia on horn size in male bighorn sheep using 12 herd datasets from across the western United States that had horn growth and disease data. Disease resulted in 12–35% reduction in increment (yearly) length and 3–13% reduction in total horn length in exposed individuals. The disease effect was prolonged when pathogens continued to circulate in sheep populations. Further, disease likely delays the age at which horns reach ¾‐curl and prevents achievement of full‐curl. This is further evidenced with 6 of the 12 herds experiencing an increase in average age at harvest following die‐off events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous communities have often been marginalized in the sciences through research approaches that are not inclusive of their cultures and histories. The term traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has entered the discourse in wildlife management and conservation; however, there can be challenges in cross‐cultural communication and conceptualizations of TEK when working between Western and Indigenous paradigms. Indigenous research methodologies (IRM) is an area of scholarship intended to build ethically and culturally appropriate ways to conduct research with Indigenous communities. I implemented 7 tenets of IRM in research to explore the conceptualization of TEK and wildlife management with the Yurok Tribe of California, USA. After conducting semi‐structured interviews with 20 Yurok community members from 2011 to 2013, I conducted emergent analysis and present 5 themes from the interviews related to phases of time, the conceptualization of Yurok TEK, and views on wildlife management through the Yurok cultural lens. This research may be helpful to wildlife biologists, students, academics, and others who are interested in IRM and culturally sensitive wildlife research with Indigenous communities. By bridging concepts from Indigenous studies, wildlife management, and human dimensions of wildlife, this work may serve as a nascent trajectory that creates more inclusive space for Indigenous peoples and worldviews in The Wildlife Society and other scientific disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting pressure alters the spatial ecology of many ungulate species. During hunting periods, game species often select areas that have reduced hunter accessibility by increasing use of forest cover, remaining farther from roads, or moving to private land as a means of refuge. Our objectives were to determine if elk (Cervus canadensis) in central Utah, USA, shifted distribution towards areas of refuge (private land) in response to hunting and whether allocating hunting permits to refuge areas could reduce selection of refugia by elk. We captured 445 elk between January 2015 and March 2017 on the Wasatch Front in central Utah and fitted each individual with a global positioning system collar. We used logistic regression models and Bayesian change point analyses to determine differences in daily use of public land in response to the addition of private‐land hunting. We detected shifts in elk distribution at the beginning of the archery hunting season and during the rifle season, suggesting elk selected for private land as refuge from hunters. At the conclusion of the hunting season, we detected a shift back to public land. The addition of private‐land hunting increased use of public land by elk during the rifle season (from 29% in 2015 to 41% in 2016). Our results show that the distribution of elk across a matrix of public and private land can be influenced by manipulating hunting pressure. Hunter access, the ability of hunters to access target game species, can be a concern in areas with private‐land refuges. This can be particularly problematic when management strategies rely on hunter harvest to maintain population objectives; however, this problem can be mitigated by the introduction of hunting on private lands, if landowners provide hunter access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-career researchers also mentioned that the copyediting required of authors by I JWM i is unnecessarily complex and burdensome. Respondents also mentioned that the limited geographic and taxonomic scope of manuscripts published in I JWM i was accompanied by a lack of author, reviewer, and associate editor diversity. Although I JWM i is open to all TWS members, many ECRs believed that access to I JWM i was a barrier for wildlife managers. [Extracted from the article]

In social species, the transmission and maintenance of infectious diseases depends on the contact patterns between individuals within groups and on the interactions between groups. In southern Africa, the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) is a vector for many pathogens that can infect sympatric livestock. Although intra‐group contact patterns of Cape buffalo have been relatively well described, how groups interact with each other and risks for pathogen transmission remain poorly understood. We identified and compared spatial behavior and contact patterns between neighboring groups of Cape buffalo under contrasting environments: within the seasonally flooded environment of the Okavango Delta in Botswana and the semi‐arid environment of northern Kruger National Park in South Africa. We used telemetry data collected between 2007 and 2015 from 10 distinct groups. We estimated seasonal overlap and proximity between home ranges of pairwise neighboring groups, and we quantified seasonal contact patterns between these groups. We defined contact patterns within variable spatiotemporal windows compatible with the transmission of diseases carried by the Cape buffalo: bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, and Rift Valley fever (mosquito‐borne transmission). We examined the effects of habitat and distance to water on contact location. In both study populations, neighboring buffalo groups were highly spatially segregated in the dry and rainy seasons. Inter‐group contact patterns were characterized by very few direct and short‐term indirect (within 0–2 days) contacts, lasting on average 1 hour and 2 hours, respectively. Contact patterns were generally consistent across populations and seasons, suggesting species‐specific behavior. In the drier study site, the probability of indirect and vector‐borne contacts generally decreased during the dry season with increasing distance to water. In the seasonally flooded area, only the probability of vector‐borne contact decreased with increasing distance to water. Our results highlight the importance of dry season water availability in influencing the dynamics of indirectly transmitted Cape buffalo pathogens but only in areas with low water availability. The results from this study have important implications for future modeling of pathogen dynamics in a single host, and the ecology and management of Cape buffalo at the landscape level. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society. We found that in 2 distinct populations, home ranges of Cape buffalos from neighboring groups were spatially segregated with minimal overlap and very little direct contacts. In drier areas, scarce water sources might be places where indirect contact is more likely to occur, and management measures should focus on manipulating water distribution so that Cape buffalo groups establish and use exclusive home ranges to reduce potential for disease spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]