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Natural and anthropogenic disturbances may threaten big game migration. Migration corridors span both biophysical and jurisdictional barriers, which create challenges for effective species conservation. Though corridor conservation in the Intermountain West of the United States gained traction with the 2018 Secretarial Order that directed the U.S. Department of the Interior to enhance habitat quality within big game winter ranges and identify priority migration corridors in the western U.S., public support and active policies at sub regional scales remain polarized. We surveyed registered voters in Wyoming, USA, to assess perspectives and preferences to conserve land and habitat for big game migration. We used online focus groups and phone surveys to assess attitudes and opinions specific to support for policies that conserve migrations, the believability of interest groups, and the efficacy of conservation messaging frames. Our results show that Wyoming voters favored policies that benefit both humans and big game, associated higher credibility with state agencies than federal agencies, and found messages that specify human‐centered benefits most compelling. We assessed beliefs across demographics, such as political ideology, but found few significant differences. Our work provides insight into dynamic perspectives and preferences for big game corridor conservation among critically affected public, which can aid future research and engagement to advance big game management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines in hunter numbers across the United States make hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) a high priority for wildlife management. As wildlife management agencies and nongovernmental organizations seek to reach new audiences, college campuses present a unique opportunity to cultivate nontraditional path hunters. Despite recent proliferation of R3 initiatives, little research has evaluated effects of hunting programs on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of new hunters. We designed and implemented Getting Started Outdoors: Hunting 101 workshops specifically targeting college students without previous hunting experience, and we assessed workshop efficacy with a theoretically‐grounded approach to workshop evaluation. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys conducted before, shortly after, and 12–18 months after workshops, we assessed impacts of R3 efforts at large public universities in 16 different U.S. states. Across all states, 19 workshops attracted 314 total participants, with 255 completing both pre‐ and post‐workshop assessments and 133 completing the follow‐up surveys. Workshops significantly increased participants' confidence in hunting, reduced barriers related to inadequate knowledge and skills, and fostered positive views of hunters and hunting. Immediately after workshops, most participants said they would definitely (50%) or probably (34%) hunt in the future; 82% said they would likely (or very likely) purchase a hunting license. Over one year after the workshops, 34% of workshop participants reported having hunted, and another 45% said they would probably hunt in the future. Overall, workshops attracted a diverse population of potential hunters, increased interest in future hunting, and created hunting advocates. Findings highlight the potentially powerful impact that R3 programs focused on diverse college students can have on the future of hunting across the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common understanding and clear process to apply the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to wildlife‐related activities is crucial to promote animal welfare when conducting wildlife research and for streamlining review by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Current interpretation of the AWA and United States government policies advise that wildlife research activities be reviewed for compliance by an IACUC; however, guidance regarding which wildlife activities are categorized as research and therefore subject to review and oversight is limited. In our opinion and experience, this lack of clarity creates a challenge, particularly for natural resource agencies that conduct a range of wildlife activities, to ensure that research is properly identified for IACUC review and differentiated from management activities that are exempt from review. To fill the gap in current guidance, we propose a decision‐making model that clarifies research and management activities. We apply our model to case studies involving wildlife to highlight nuanced differences between the 2 types of activities. Wildlife agencies conducting potentially regulated activities could use this adaptable model, which has been successfully employed by the National Park Service IACUC, to clarify when the AWA might apply, streamline IACUC reviews, and promote welfare of wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing and executing a wild pig management strategy is often a considerable challenge for wildlife managers due to the wide variety of potential strategies and stakeholder preferences. Our research aims to understand management preferences for and tolerance of wild pigs among Texas resident hunters within 8 managerial districts of Texas. We applied the Potential for Conflict Index (PCI2) to estimate potential management preference conflicts within each district. From 24,201 questionnaires completed in 2019, we found that, on average, 74% of respondents across all management actions in each district were found to be acceptable. Resident respondents were overall intolerant of wild pigs and were least tolerant in the San Angelo district. Study findings are useful in informing socially acceptable and contextually appropriate wild pig management plans. Our research serves as an approach that matches the units of analysis with the units of management for decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is increasingly involved in the contemporary management of natural resources. Tribal wildlife management programs in the United States may be uniquely positioned to effectively and ethically integrate their IK. While a narrow focus on the body of IK and a particular management activity may suffice for project‐level integration efforts, herein we consider how IK integration at the programmatic level may be best supported. We propose a holistic conceptual framework of preconditions including sovereignty, the North American Model management, funding, cultural resources, stakeholder support, and programmatic leadership. We assess the current status and common challenges with each precondition and illustrate their potential roles for a more lasting and pervasive integration of IK into tribal wildlife management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 1970 and 2010, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) approved 7 resolutions and one position statement related to lead, alternative ammunition, and wildlife management. The resolutions and statement address the following topics: transitioning from lead to nonlead shot for waterfowl hunting; addressing concerns relating to lead mobility at outdoor shooting ranges; and developing guiding principles for the future regulation of lead ammunition. We provide a brief overview of AFWA's committee structure and decision‐making processes, and also note the presence of ongoing discussions about lead ammunition in the AFWA Fish and Wildlife Health Committee and the AFWA Lead and Fish and Wildlife Health Working Group. "We describe the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' perspectives on lead, alternative ammunition, and wildlife management. Resolutions adopted by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies have addressed the following topics: transitioning from lead to non‐lead shot for waterfowl hunting; lead mobility at shooting ranges; and developing guiding principles for the future regulation of lead ammunition." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density estimates for animal populations often inform conservation and management decisions. Many methods to estimate animal density exist but deciding between competing alternatives traditionally has depended upon assessing multiple factors (e.g., precision, total cost, area sampled) independently and often in an ad hoc manner. Cost‐effectiveness analysis is a tool that economists use to decide objectively between competing alternatives. We extend cost‐effectiveness analysis to simultaneously integrate precision and per‐area cost of sampling when selecting between competing techniques used to estimate animal density both after a single application of a method and across several applications of capital equipment. Our extension allows for weighting of factors that may vary with the objectives and constraints of decision makers. We apply our extension of cost‐effectiveness analysis to a case study in which population density of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was estimated in 3 large management units in Indiana, USA, using 3 competing distance‐sampling methods: fecal‐pellet, camera‐trap, and aerial sampling. The unweighted cost effectiveness of aerial sampling with color and infrared sensors was usually superior after a single application of each method and was always superior across several applications in differing landscapes. Pellet sampling was the most cost effective after a single application of each method in an agriculturally‐dominated management unit. Although camera sampling has increased in popularity, the cost effectiveness of camera sampling was poorer than the other 2 methods, even when allowing for potential future innovations to streamline data processing. Cost‐effectiveness analysis can be useful when selecting among competing methods for monitoring animal populations of conservation and management importance. The same principles used in our cost‐effectiveness analysis can be used to decide between competing alternatives related to any ecological monitoring in addition to density estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stakeholders fundamentally shape the success of wildlife management, yet little is known about how one of the most important stakeholder groups, wildlife agency decision makers, view emerging conservation challenges. Wildlife agency decision makers collectively shape how wildlife conservation unfolds in North America, but their perspectives are generally absent in the literature. Challenges including climate change, conservation funding models, and wildlife disease make understanding how wildlife decision makers view the future of wildlife conservation essential. We interviewed 48 directors and supervisory board members of wildlife agencies in the southeast United States from July 2019 to January 2020 to gauge their assessment of future conservation challenges and preferred response strategies. Declining agency relevancy and insufficient funding were the 2 most commonly identified challenges, while climate change was rarely mentioned as an issue because decision makers believed it was a relatively slow‐moving background condition. Decision makers described improving relevance through education and outreach as their primary response to conservation challenges. Our results suggest that climate change‐informed wildlife management may benefit from a 2‐pronged approach. First, we suggest decision makers should be informed about the challenges posed by climate change, and second, existing efforts to promote diversity among constituents should include engaging groups who support tackling the threat climate change poses to wildlife conservation. Increasing the priority given to climate change adaptation efforts in wildlife agencies will likely require future research to discern which approaches can most improve the perceived salience of climate change to decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale sociological, geographic, and demographic changes affect the way people interact with and value wildlife. Beliefs and attitudes of stakeholders towards wildlife and uses of wildlife are also shifting along with these geographical and demographic changes. Changes in societal or professional attitudes toward uses of wildlife has potential to create alignment issues between wildlife professionals and society. To inform deliberations within The Wildlife Society (TWS) and the larger population of conservation professionals, we assessed and compared the change over time between 1998 and 2020 in value orientations, beliefs, and attitudes toward uses of wildlife and wildlife management practices of members of TWS as a proxy for practicing wildlife professionals. We administered a Qualtrics web‐based survey (n = 3,247), January–March 2020. Respondents closely approximated TWS membership demographically, who identified as male (59.7%) and female (37.7%), and geographically within 50 U.S. states at the time of the survey. Results indicated wildlife conservation professionals express as broad of a spectrum of beliefs, albeit shifting, about consumptive uses of wildlife in hunting and trapping much as they did 2 decades ago. Change in attitudes and beliefs was modest but mutualistic or protectionist beliefs and attitudes increased, especially among younger professionals, toward the ethical acceptability of harvested animals involving fair chase and sportsmanship (72% in 1998; 93.2% in 2020), and in expressed acceptance of regulated hunting and trapping. Our work provides insights into potential focus areas of training and education, such as Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow and Trapping Matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervid populations poses substantial economic costs, and its management is resource intensive. Control of CWD is often subject to stakeholder‐dependent strategies that require active support and participation. The development of effective CWD management strategies and policies hinges on understanding stakeholder preferences, values and decision‐making behavior. Here we provide a basis for understanding the economic impacts of CWD, which are key to developing effective management strategies. We analyze stakeholder incentives from an economic perspective and discuss the effectiveness of prior management and eradication strategies. Our analysis discusses the integration of behavioral economics into evaluations of stakeholder preferences and its effect on decision‐making to produce optimal policy and management outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 1980s, Quality Deer Management (QDM) has been used widely to manage populations of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the United States. Since 2000, QDM has been a catalyst behind a suite of deer management cooperatives (DMCs) forming across the United States. Although QDM has grown in popularity among North American deer hunters, large‐scale implementation of multi‐landowner DMCs relies on voluntary changes to implement structured hunter harvest behavior to achieve management goals. Therefore, a national review of how DMCs influence harvest behavior of hunters and if the DMC model works to accomplish deer management goals is warranted. We assessed if DMCs change the harvest behavior of their members, and if factors such as state, motivations, and length of membership influence change in hunter behavior. Results from our survey of 459 DMC members across 5 U.S. states found that DMC members' harvest behavior changed after joining their DMC. Deer management cooperative members reported they were more likely to harvest does, less likely to harvest yearling males, and more likely to pass on the harvest of a 3.5 year old (or younger) males after joining the DMC. When analyzed at the state level, Texas and Georgia saw the largest gains in perceived hunt quality (≥ $\ge $2.5 point gain on 1–7 scale) and QDM implementation. Motivations for joining the DMC had little impact, but length of membership influenced hunt behavior with more tenured members (>5 years of membership) being more likely to follow QDM practices. Our results suggest that DMCs serve stakeholders by increasing perceived hunt quality, assisting agency personnel with non‐regulatory avenues to address management goals, and developing a community engaged with local wildlife management. Deer management cooperatives occupy the critical nexus of agency needs and private landowner deer management objectives, often at scales larger than a single private landowner, that are necessary for effectively managing wild deer populations. Although DMCs may not be widely implemented, they may address a myriad of management objectives that public and private stakeholders desire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird strikes at airports pose a human‐wildlife conflict (HWC) present in the world's major cities. Conflict mitigation frequently encompasses translocation, but its effectiveness in resolving HWCs is unclear. Here, we used the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) as a model species to test the effectiveness of translocation in reducing the number of bird strikes, the primary HWC at airports. We explored the translocation process, focusing on 3 aspects: 1) the influence of landscape structure on the persistence time of translocated animals at the released sites, 2) the influence of the release distance from the source on the return of translocated animals, and 3) the strike rate involving the species at the capture site at Brasília International Airport (BSB). Our results did not support burrowing owl translocation as a management option for solving the HWC at the BSB. We also found that the landscape composition did not guarantee individual persistence since the animals did not remain at release sites, regardless of the spatial configuration. Release distance did not explain the frequency of return of translocated animals to the capture site. Finally, we registered a higher number of collisions during translocation management. Thus, we believe that wildlife management programs must monitor translocated animals assessing if translocations are suited for the context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic evidence at predation sites is rapidly improving predator‐prey interaction studies and can provide information beyond field‐based investigations. However, factors contributing to the retention of genetic evidence have received limited investigation in a field setting, and researchers have yet to leverage genetic evidence to improve traditional field investigations. Using data from 61 mortality investigations of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white‐tailed deer (O. virginianus), and elk (Cervus canadensis), we evaluated factors influencing predator DNA amplification success and misidentification of predators in field investigations. We found that predator DNA was detected more for prey with higher body mass (18.5% increase per standard deviation [23.1 kg] in carcass body mass above the mean [32.8 kg]). Predator DNA was also 27.0% more likely to amplify when collected from kill sites that had not undergone a freeze‐thaw cycle between the mortality and the investigation. The delay between the kill and the investigation, the swabbing surface, and the amount of precipitation did not influence amplification of predator DNA. Misidentifications of the predator based on the field ID were not influenced by the investigation delay or investigator confidence level, suggesting that investigators should collect genetic evidence even when they feel certain about the predator. Errors in identifying the predator during the field investigation increased for prey with smaller body mass, and the predator was actually more likely to be misidentified than correctly identified for fawns and calves < ~21 kg. Black bears (Ursus americanus), bobcats (Lynx rufus), cougars (Puma concolor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and wolves (C. lupus) were equally likely to be missed in a field investigation, but bobcats tended to be falsely assigned more than expected and cougars were falsely assigned as the predator less than expected. Using genetic evidence as validation, we showed how patterns of predation and the field signs left by predators differed for some species depending on the size of the prey. Our findings should help researchers and managers to optimize their use of genetics to enhance field investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field‐based learning is a key element in wildlife management curriculum as it is a valuable teaching tool for natural resource topics. There are multiple constraints that restrict use of field‐based learning techniques in wildlife programs that have been complicated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Many academic programs were forced to rapidly transition to online instruction, but despite these difficulties, there was a need to provide interactive, in the field learning opportunities for students. This necessity resulted in the development of a live streaming system to provide an interactive learning experience (Leopold Live!). In this case study, we describe the technology used in Leopold Live! to augment an online, wildlife habitat management course at Texas A&M University, and the associated challenges and adjustments needed to improve delivery in the future. We conclude that Leopold Live! serves as a potential method to meet the challenge of providing interactive, field‐based learning in a distance education setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern wildlife agencies increasingly emphasize efforts that facilitate the social feasibility of policy via cooperation and support among affected publics. Values and trust are critical components of policy support. Value similarity is an established concept that maps well to indicators of policy support whereas trustworthiness has received limited research attention, particularly in comparison to the variably defined concept of trust. We present a conceptual model that assesses the relationships among salient value similarity (SVS), trustworthiness (ability and benevolence), and support for wildlife policy in Arkansas, USA. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test our model among a sample of resident waterfowl hunters ≥18 years old (n = 1,596). Respondents rated the value similarity of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), AGFC's trustworthiness in relation to waterfowl management, and support for waterfowl policy. The measurement model fit observed data well and the structural model indicated good fit between the conceptual model and observed data. Our findings indicate SVS positively influenced perceptions of trustworthiness that, in turn, positively influenced support for waterfowl policy. The significant positive influence SVS and trustworthiness have on policy support suggest important metrics agencies can proactively track and manage among affected publics. Furthermore, knowledge of how value similarity and trustworthiness interact with policy support can help agencies target involvement and engagement processes that improve social feasibility, particularly when a policy does not correspond with current expectations but are intended to benefit the long‐term socioecological sustainability of a resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain lions, also called cougars, pumas and Florida panthers, are a wide‐ranging, large felid in the western hemisphere. Every U.S. state in which there are breeding populations of mountain lions offer the species some level of protection, except Texas. Here, we summarize historical research on mountain lions in Texas, human perceptions about the species, and historical discussions within Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) about mountain lion management obtained via the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Ch. 552). To date, genetic research supports 2 distinct mountain lion populations, one west of the Pecos River and another in South Texas, which evidence suggests is suffering from isolation and is in immediate risk of extinction. Anthropogenic mortality rates in Texas are among the highest in the U.S., and well beyond the suggested harvest rates recommended to maintain stable mountain lion populations. Similarly, adult female mountain lion survival in Texas suggests that populations were likely declining when the studies were active. Internally, TPWD has repeatedly discussed initiating a mountain lion management policy, the benefits of requiring mandatory reporting for all mountain lion mortalities, as well as the unreliable nature of sightings data, which they have historically used as a metric for abundance. Public support, including among rural communities, is good for both mountain lions and TPWD. Ultimately, we present evidence to suggest that it is time to actively manage mountain lions in Texas and for the TPWD to create a management plan for the species. A management plan is both necessary to fulfill state mandates for the protection of nongame species, as well as to build a science‐based conservation strategy for the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stakeholder input is part of the decision‐making process in wildlife management but reaching a decision that satisfies everyone may be impractical when stakeholders are divided on a particular issue or regulation. Antler point restrictions for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are intended to protect yearling males from harvest by hunters. Still, stakeholders debate the value of using antler restrictions to achieve harvest goals. In 2013, Michigan implemented antler point restrictions in 12 counties in the northwest area of the state. Using a series of piecewise regressions and annual harvest data from 23 counties in Michigan, we tested the hypotheses that antler point restrictions caused a change in the age structure of harvested male deer (H1), antlerless harvest (H2), and hunter numbers (H3). We found support for H1, but we did not find support for the other hypotheses. Based on our results, antler point restrictions would be a useful tool where the management goal is to advance the age structure of the male segment of the white‐tailed deer harvest. However, we found no evidence that implementing antler point restrictions would help managers increase the antlerless harvest or recruit more hunters to the area. Therefore, managers might consider using antler point restrictions to reduce the harvest of yearling males, but these regulations are unlikely to have notable or lasting impacts on antlerless harvest or hunter numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations has to be based on precise estimates of local densities. The development of an effective and cost‐efficient technique to cope with this need has always represented a challenge for wildlife managers and researchers. Drive counts, hunting bags, and Random Encounter Model (REM) are among the most frequently used techniques, with the latter recently gaining wide recognition. We sought to compare the 3 methods in terms of their suitability for management, precision, and effort required. Moreover, we evaluated the uncertainty of REM results when all sources of error were considered. In our study, the 3 methods were applied to a wild boar population of the Italian Apennines in 2013. We used the delta method to assess the total uncertainty of REM density estimates on the basis of the errors associated to all the parameters involved. Notably, the 3 methods tested showed consistent mean density estimates, though none of them reached fully satisfying levels of precision for management purposes. Since the low precision of REM was mostly due to the high variability of the group‐size parameter, we propose simple technical improvements aimed at reducing the variability of this parameter and, thus, of REM. Although all the methods tested still need to be further developed to be effective for wild boar management, REM seems to be the most promising one in terms of both potential precision and effort required. The limited effort required by REM is particularly relevant in the current wildlife management scenario, where funds are often lacking and the number of hunters acting as volunteers is decreasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The real‐world application of climate change adaptation practices in terrestrial wildlife conservation has been slowed by a lack of practical guidance for wildlife managers. Although there is a rapidly growing body of literature on the topic of climate change adaptation and wildlife management, the literature is weighted towards a narrow range of adaptation actions and administrative or policy recommendations that are typically beyond the decision space and influence of wildlife professionals. We developed a menu of tiered adaptation actions for terrestrial wildlife management to translate broad concepts into actionable approaches to help managers respond to climate change risks and meet desired management goals. The menu includes actions related to managing wildlife populations as well as managing wildlife habitat. We designed this resource to be used with the Adaptation Workbook, a structured decision‐support tool for climate adaptation. We describe real‐world examples in which managers have used the Wildlife Adaptation Menu to integrate climate adaptation considerations into wildlife management and conservation projects. Our examples illustrate how a comprehensive and structured menu of adaptation approaches can help managers brainstorm specific actions and more easily and clearly communicate the intent of their climate adaptation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable population abundance estimates are invaluable to wildlife management programs. Mark‐recapture techniques are regarded as the gold standard for estimating abundance but can be financially or logistically prohibitive. Recent developments in remote camera analytical approaches have provided alternative methods to estimate unmarked populations efficiently but have undergone limited field testing. In September and October 2020, I assessed 2 camera methods that use the same set of time‐lapse photographs; a space to event (STE) model and instantaneous sampling (IS), applied to a case study of feral sheep (Ovis aries) at the US Army's Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Hawai'i Island. Results of the camera methods were compared to an abundance estimate calculated from an aerial distance sampling survey completed concurrently with camera sampling. A comparison of confidence intervals indicated no statistical difference between estimates, but the relative imprecision of IS suggested the STE model to be a more reliable estimator. The cost of camera sampling was approximately 3 times that of the aerial survey, but camera sampling became more economical if the area was resurveyed 3 or more times. My study showed the STE model to be a cost effective, practical abundance estimator of feral sheep when compared to well‐established aerial distance sampling techniques, and therefore should offer considerable potential for the conservation and management of other easily identifiable species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hastening the development of early and mid‐career fish and wildlife (hereafter wildlife) professionals in state and federal agencies is an acute need. In particular, development and application of exceptional reasoning and judgment skills is critical. It would be shortsighted, however, for wildlife agency administrators to assume professional development is simply a matter of staff training. Decker et al. (2019) completed an expert panel study in 2019 to identify habits and practices of consistently high performing wildlife management professionals. Decker et al. (2019) suggest 5 clusters of competencies are characteristic of consistently high‐performing wildlife professionals: being a critically inquisitive, continuous learner; practicing multi‐level, integrative systems thinking; being self‐disciplined; using a balanced approach; and having the emotional intelligence to interact successfully with others. Based on observations from a series of workshops with wildlife professionals, our collective professional experience, and literature review, we contend that impediments to expression of key habits/practices identified by Decker et al. (2019) exist at the group and organizational, as well as the individual level. We argue that providing individual training is necessary, but not sufficient to create work environments where wildlife professionals in state and federal wildlife agencies can develop and apply reasoning and judgment skills. Structural and cultural change in wildlife agencies would enhance effectiveness of public wildlife management. We hope this empirically‐grounded commentary stimulates reflection within wildlife agencies and a commitment to organizational behavior that catalyzes professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining sales of hunting and angling licenses create budget challenges for state fish and wildlife management agencies. Using a mail survey, we obtained Wisconsin residents' opinions regarding funding for fish and wildlife management including options to raise licenses fees or create new funding mechanisms. We used an adjacent category, ordered logit regression model to explain respondents' support for the funding options contrasted against budget cuts. Our model revealed that respondents' self‐interest and demographic variables influenced support for the revenue generating options. Most importantly, respondents' perceived benefits of public lands and high interest in fish and wildlife consistently influenced their support for increased funding options relative to requiring the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to reduce its operating costs. Rural respondents, however, opposed all options associated with raising revenues to fund conservation efforts. We suggest that gaining the support of rural hunters and anglers for any of the funding options will be imperative for the long‐term sustainability of fish and wildlife conservation funding in Wisconsin. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. We surveyed Wisconsin residents to ascertain their preference for how to fund fish and wildlife management in the state. We modeled support or opposition for five alternatives and generally found support for new funding was tied to perceived benefits of public lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individually‐targeted resource supplementation for wildlife is difficult to achieve due to the challenge of excluding nontarget animals. The use of microchip‐automated technology has the potential to improve conservation outcomes globally by facilitating targeted food and nesting, offering a refuge from predators, and decreasing competition. Eight wild‐born brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were trained in situ to use commercially available microchip‐automated doors installed on nest boxes placed within 5 m of their most used nesting site. Training to use the microchip‐automated door was conducted in 3 stages where the position of the door was lowered in sequential stages until it was fully closed at stage 3. Training was deemed complete at each stage when the possum entered the nest box on 2 separate nights. Seven of the 8 possums completed training. Successful training demonstrated that free‐living possums can be trained to use microchip‐automated technology in situ, thus avoiding stress, costs, and biosecurity risks associated with bringing wild animals into captivity for training. Training methods can be extrapolated to a wider range of species to assist with wildlife management from reintroductions to sustaining reduced populations. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. The use of microchip‐automated technology has the potential to improve conservation outcomes globally by facilitating targeted food and nesting, offering a refuge from predators, and decreasing competition. We successfully trained 7 adult wild‐born brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in situ to use commercially available microchip‐automated pet doors installed on nest boxes. Microchip‐automated technology has the potential to improve conservation outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is an ecologically important species in forests of North America. Effective management of forests requires accurate, precise estimates of deer population abundance to plan and justify management actions. Spotlight surveys in combination with distance sampling are a common method of estimating deer population abundance; however, spotlight surveys are known to have serious drawbacks such as high costs and sampling biases. Therefore, we tested the effectiveness of enumerating deer from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights, conducted 1 and 6 March 2018, to develop population and density estimates in 2 United States National Parks: Harpers Ferry National Historic Park (HAFE) and Monocacy National Battlefield (MONO). Concurrent spotlight surveys at MONO enabled us to compare estimates obtained by the 2 methods. Deer density estimates by 4 observers of UAV‐obtained thermal imagery from HAFE were 94.5 ± 3.9 deer/km2. Concurrent UAV and spotlight surveys at MONO found 19.7 ± 0.5 deer/km2 and 6.4 ± 4.9 deer/km2, respectively; suggesting that spotlight surveys may significantly underestimate deer densities. Despite the logistical challenges to UAV operation, our findings demonstrate that UAVs will become an invaluable tool for wildlife management as technology improves. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are a promising technology for estimating white‐tail deer density and abundance without many biases common with spotlight surveys and distance sampling methods. White‐tailed deer density estimates from UAV surveys were approximately 3 times larger than concurrent spotlight surveys, indicating that spotlight surveys could significantly underestimate white‐tailed deer populations in some situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo spp., hereafter turkey) are the second most pursued big game species in the United States. Turkey hunting occurs primarily during spring, and on publicly owned lands managers often monitor hunter numbers and harvest as components of managing hunter opportunity and satisfaction. Contemporary research has shown that hunting activity on public lands can influence male turkey behavior; hence, research detailing hunter behaviors is needed to better support informed management. We allocated 1,500 Global Positioning System units to hunters pursuing male turkeys during the spring hunting seasons of 2014–2018 on the Webb Wildlife Management Area Complex in South Carolina, USA. Mean number of unique hunting bouts per hunter per day was 2 (SE = 0.03, range = 1–8), whereas average time spent hunting was 230.1 minutes (SE = 4.6, range = 11.3–872.6)/hunter/day. Hunting effort was focused during the first half of hunting season, with 70.2% of the total time spent hunting occurring during the first 2 weeks of the season (~1–15 Apr). Mean distance a hunter traveled was 2,171 m (SE = 38.1, range = 10–20,685)/hunting bout. Almost 90% of hunting activity occurred between 0500 and 1200, 76% occurred before 1000. Access to roads appeared to be the primary driver of hunter movements, with 40.1% of all hunter locations <25 m from the nearest main or secondary road. On average, hunters were 480 m (SE = 0.5, range = 0–2,132) from main roads that allowed vehicle traffic, but only 123 m (SE = 0.3, range = 0–1,990) from secondary roads allowing only foot traffic. Hunters spent 54.3% of hunting bouts actively hunting and 45.7% stationary. The amount of time spent active decreased as the hunting season progressed. Hunter effort decreased significantly as the hunting season progressed, indicated by a decline in numbers of hunters and total time spent hunting. Understanding how and when turkey hunters move about the landscape is important for effectively managing hunting access and opportunity on public hunting lands. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. Movement ecology of wild turkey hunters on public lands in South Carolina, USA, was influenced by road distribution. Total number of hunters, time spent hunting, proportion of time spent active, and distances traveled per hunter declined as the hunting season progressed with a disproportionate amount of hunting effort occurring at the beginning of the season during morning hours. Hunter movements were highly dependent upon road access; thus, relaxing or restricting road may provide a method to distribute hunting pressure and increase hunter satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic triangulation is a unique, relatively noninvasive monitoring approach that can inform our understanding of a species' distribution in time and space. Acoustic triangulation relies on standard triangulation techniques to determine the location of an acoustic event. Howl surveys are frequently used to survey wolves (Canis lupus) and other canids. We evaluated the efficacy of acoustic triangulation for estimating the location of wolves. We measured precision and accuracy of acoustic triangulation using an experimental mock howl survey and field data collected with wild wolves in northern Wisconsin, USA (2014–2018). Precision of acoustic triangulation was similar to triangulation with ground‐based radiotelemetry for both pooled data and individual wolves at specific times, although the 2 techniques did not result in similar predicted locations. Distance from the howl source was the most consistently significant factor influencing the efficacy of acoustic triangulation. Error ellipse size was 33 times smaller at distances <1 km. Wind speed also reduced the accuracy of acoustic triangulation for mock howl surveys. Precision for modified howl surveys with wild wolves improved with the number of bearings. We estimated a mean bearing error of 13.2° (±2.1, 95% CI) for single bearings and a maximum distance of 1.76 km (range = 0.96–1.76 km; x¯ = 1.41 km) detection for audible anthropogenic howls. Such information can be applied to howl survey data to generate more fine‐scale location information for wolf‐pack home sites. Acoustic triangulation of wolves can provide high‐quality location information in areas where wolves are not monitored with radiocollars. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. Acoustic triangulation is an accurate and precise noninvasive technique for determining location information of howling wolves. Acoustic triangulation may help managers protect wolf home sites or better understand the landscape characteristics or behaviors associated with home site use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most state and provincial fish and wildlife agencies have access to important information about patterns in sportsperson participation through their license databases. Using transaction data from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's electronic hunting and fishing license system, we tracked license purchases of Nebraska, USA, resident license holders in 2010 through 2017. We categorized sportspersons by gender and yearly purchases as hunting only (Hunter), fishing only (Angler), a combination of hunting and fishing (Hunter–Angler), or no purchases (Inactive). The probability of movement among active sportsperson groups was limited and varied little based on initial group participation. The Angler group had the greatest probability of an individual transitioning to the Inactive group (females = 0.39; males = 0.33). The Hunter–Angler group had the greatest probability of an individual remaining within the same group (females = 0.65; males = 0.76). There was a relatively low probability of an individual in the Hunter group moving to the Angler group and vice versa (≤0.02). The sportsperson population is dynamic and understanding patterns of sportsperson participation is important for the future of fish and wildlife management in North America. Using data readily available to most fish and wildlife agencies has the potential to significantly improve our understanding of hunter and angler participation and aid management agencies and conservation organizations in the development of more effective strategies for managing sportspersons. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. Due to the recent decrease in hunting and fishing participation, we investigated how hunters and anglers transition among different hunting and fishing activities, or not at all. Individuals who participated in both hunting and fishing activities were more likely to remain as active participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baiting is a fundamental strategy for the global management of wild pigs (Sus scrofa); however, little information exists on how anthropogenic bait affects wild pig movements on a landscape. We investigated factors that are important in determining the spatial area of attraction for wild pigs to bait ('area of influence' of a bait site) using data from Global Positioning System (GPS) collars and locations of bait sites. We monitored movements of wild pigs in 2 distinct study areas in the United States from February to September 2016 and used locational data using GPS collars to analyze the influence of habitat quality (dependent on site), home range size, number of bait sites in the home range, distance to a bait site, and sex in relation to movement in time and space. We determined the average area of influence by calculating the area of a circle with the radius as the average maximum distance travelled by wild pigs to reach a bait site. The average area of influence for our bait sites was 6.7 km2 (or a radius of approximately 1.5 km), suggesting a bait spacing of approximately 1.5 km would be adequate to capture visitation by most wild pigs and a spacing of 3 km could allow substantial visitation while minimizing redundant effort depending on the spatial structure of the populations. Eighty percent of wild pigs first visited bait sites within 8.9 days after bait deployment; and they visited earlier when their home range size was larger. As the number of bait sites in an individual's home range increased, individual pigs visited more bait sites, and the probability of a visit increased dramatically up to approximately 5 bait sites and much less thereafter. Wild pigs travelled farther distances to visit bait sites in lower quality habitat. Our results support the hypothesis that habitat quality can mediate the efficacy of baiting programs for wildlife by influencing their movement patterns and motivation to use anthropogenic resources. Our results suggest wild pigs will travel extensively within their home range to visit bait sites, and that in lower quality habitat, most animals will find bait sites more quickly. Determining the area of influence of bait sites can increase the efficacy of planning and monitoring management programs. Our study provides new information to help managers plan baiting designs to attract the greatest number of pigs. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. We identified factors principal in defining the area of influence of a bait site, or the spatial area of attraction, and found that most wild pigs will reach bait sites more quickly in lower quality habitat, likely as a result of increased travel in locations with inadequate resources. Our recommendations work to help managers efficiently plan and monitor baiting designs for maximal wild pig attraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared annual survival and hunting‐related mortality of female Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) between a period of relatively liberal hunting regulation (before 1990) and after implementation of a more conservative hunting regulation (after 1991) in Arizona, USA, to determine how those regulation changes affected hunting opportunity. Between January 2013 and October 2016, we used radiotelemetry to estimate survival and mortality rates of 185 female wild turkeys (60 juvenile, 125 adult) on 3 study areas in northern Arizona, which we compared with survival and mortality rates documented during an earlier study (1987–1990; Wakeling 1991). We used the nest survival approach in Program MARK to estimate survival and mortality rates for turkeys. Annual survival rate for radiomarked hens was 0.649 (95% CI = 0.597–0.702). Annual survival differed among Game Management Units, but not by season, year, age, or age × season interaction. Harvest rates were 0.024 (95% CI = 0.011–0.51) and 0.039 (95% CI = 0.022–0.071) for females during spring (Mar–May) and fall (Aug–Oct), respectively. The overall human‐caused mortality rate (i.e., fall harvest, spring harvest, unlawful take, wounding loss) was 0.073 (95% CI = 0.046–0.115). The decision to restrict fall turkey hunting opportunities using a regulated permit system had little effect on female turkey survival and hunting‐related mortality, but reduced the number of turkey hunters that could participate by 43%. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. We compared annual survival and hunting‐related mortality of female Merriam's turkeys in northern Arizona between 2 time periods to determine how regulation changes affected hunting opportunity. The decision to restrict fall turkey hunting opportunities using a regulated permit system had little effect on female turkey survival and hunting‐related mortality, but reduced the number of turkey hunters that could participate by 43%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wildlife management institution has been transforming to ensure relevance and positive conservation outcomes into the future. Continuous improvement of decision making is one aspect of this transformation. Managers and policy makers with responsibility for wildlife decisions have an exceedingly challenging job because the set of objectives they wish to achieve is so complex, multifaceted, and often contentious. Many wildlife management agencies desire decision‐making processes that are transparent, replicable, engage partners, and communicate effectively with the public. Using a decision science approach offers a framework to allow agencies to achieve these objectives so the decision‐making process is consistent with their desires. One can point to many excellent examples of formal decision science applications by state and federal agencies in the United States, but many obstacles hinder systematic approaches to decision making. We describe our observations—based on first‐hand experiences—with decision making in wildlife management, present reasons why making decisions is difficult, identify challenges faced by wildlife managers at various levels of governance, and address measures wildlife managers can employ to help overcome these challenges. We acknowledge that no panacea, simple recipe, or one‐size‐fits‐all prescription exists for wildlife management decision making. Nevertheless, we hope that by a) describing how a systematic decision science framework can help agencies achieve their objectives, while simultaneously benefiting stakeholders, managers, and conservation outcomes, and b) providing specific suggestions for overcoming challenges associated with decision making, we will help agencies in the midst of their challenges to improve decision‐making processes consistent with their objectives. © 2020 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society. We present reasons why decision making in wildlife management is difficult, identify challenges faced by wildlife managers at various levels of governance, and address measures wildlife managers can employ to help overcome these challenges. One fundamental change needed in decision making for complex problems that exist at the intersection of ecological, social, and economic spheres is widespread recognition that an explicit framework is useful to arrive at defensible and robust decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delineation of management units for harvested wildlife should strive to maximize homogeneity within each unit subject to constraints imposed by geography and heterogeneity in factors related to human‐caused changes in vital rates. Prior efforts to delineate management units for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) used regression to identify environmental and sociological factors related to female harvest density, followed by spatially constrained cluster analysis to select multicounty units for management purposes. We used county‐level data in Indiana, USA, from 2012 to 2017 to present a modified approach that 1) simultaneously models variation in 4 types of human‐mediated deer mortality with spatial, environmental, and socio‐cultural explanatory variables; 2) clusters counties using a partial contiguity constraint that explicitly considers nonspatial variables; and 3) relies on expert opinion to assess model adequacy and suggest improvements. Multivariate negative binomial regression of mortality from 4 sources (legal antlerless and antlered harvest, reported deer–vehicle collisions, crop depredation permits) yielded additive models with adequate fit and sizable effects for all univariate models due to latitude (standardized coefficient, β range = −0.18–0.24), and the nonspatial variables deer habitat (β range = 0.26–1.02) and hunter density (β range = 0.25–1.02). Fraction of cropland enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program was positively related to harvest (β range = 0.10–0.13), and general human development was positively related to deer collision deaths (β range = 0.25–0.28) and take with depredation permits (β range = 0.07–0.24). Clustering counties with partial contiguity increased within‐unit nonspatial homogeneity 1.7–1.9 times more than clustering with strict contiguity. Responses to online surveys by 10 agency biologists and conservation officers provided congruence (mean ± SD = 85.2 ± 3.4%) of expert and model‐derived maps and useful suggestions for incorporating a separate urban management unit. Combining mortality‐based statistical models and expert assessment offers a rigorous yet flexible approach to delineating spatial units for wildlife management that is easily adaptable for various harvested species in multiple jurisdictions. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. : A method is presented to delineate wildlife management units that models variation in multiple sources of human‐mediated mortality with spatial, habitat, hunter, and human development variables, clusters counties using important nonspatial variables as well as geography, and uses expert opinion to assess model adequacy and suggest improvements. We apply our method to county‐level data on white‐tailed deer in Indiana, USA, and believe the method can be adapted easily to other species and jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) was introduced as a federal conservation program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2002 as a means to incentivize private landowners in the management of rare wildlife species and their habitats. States and tribes were encouraged to apply for competitive funding and establish appropriate programs aimed at reversing population declines of wildlife species on privately owned land. We document the origin of LIP and highlight 2 case studies that exemplify innovations catalyzed by LIP. From 2002 to 2007, US$127 million was appropriated and >4,300 projects were completed nationwide. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. The Landowner Incentive Program was a federal conservation program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to promote management of rare wildlife species and their habitats on private lands. We document the innovations catalyzed revealing with a relatively small investment, a great deal of conservation was accomplished and perhaps more importantly, a new paradigm for wildlife management on private lands was ushered into being in part as a result of its influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial distribution of land available for hunting has received scant attention in the literature, but it fundamentally affects the feasibility of wildlife management. Modeling the distribution of hunting lands can be logistically difficult because of data requirements and the dynamic nature of landscapes and landowner preferences. We describe one approach to address this challenge using spatially explicit logistic regression models that accurately predict whether each parcel of land in North Carolina, USA, was hunted using free and publicly available geographic predictors. We collected data to develop and validate models from surveys of nonindustrial (n = 1,936) and industrial (n = 670) private landowners conducted during 2016 in North Carolina. Property size and housing and road density predicted whether hunting occurred correctly on 96% of nonindustrial parcels. Property size, housing and road density, and distance to the nearest city correctly predicted whether hunting occurred for 94% of industrial parcels. These results suggest wildlife managers may be able to accurately map and quantify where hunting occurs using relatively few publicly available geographic predictors. Future refinement of the methodology and model parameters is likely needed in different regions, with independent data sets, before adopting widespread implementation of underlying methods. This mapping method will facilitate assessing the efficacy of hunting as a wildlife management tool for overabundant species. Similarly the mapping approach would improve wildlife population estimates based on hunter harvest data by providing a more rigorous estimate of land that is huntable per harvested animal reported. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. To facilitate assessing the efficacy of hunting as a wildlife management tool and improve wildlife population estimates based on hunter harvest data, we developed a model for accurately predicting where hunting occurs using free public data. Property size and housing and road density predicted whether hunting occurred correctly on 96% of nonindustrial parcels, whereas property size, housing and road density, and distance to the nearest city correctly predicted whether hunting occurred for 94% of industrial parcels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population density is an important component of wildlife management decisions, but can be difficult to estimate directly for an itinerant, wide‐ranging species such as the American black bear (Ursus americanus). In South Carolina, USA, where there has been growth in black bear populations and bear–human‐conflict reports during the past several decades, managers need robust estimates of population size to inform management strategies. We used maximum‐likelihood capture–recapture models, using hair snares to collect DNA samples, to estimate density and abundance for a harvested population of black bear in northwestern South Carolina during 2013 to 2014. Models were tested in a spatially explicit framework using the secr package in Program R. Black bear density was estimated at 0.133 bears/km2 (SE = 0.034) in 2013 and 0.179 bears/km2 (SE = 0.043) in 2014. Black bear abundance in our study area was estimated to be 586 bears (SE = 95) in 2013 and 680 bears (SE = 128) in 2014, which are 2–3‐fold lower than previous estimates. We suggest that these estimates be considered a baseline for state biologists to employ in the population's management and in developing future harvest‐regulation strategies. Overall our study highlighted the potential for model choice to influence density estimates, and we concluded that spatially explicit models were appropriate for this study because geographic closure could not be assumed. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. Our objective was to estimate density and abundance of a harvested population of black bears in northwestern South Carolina, USA. We estimated that the population was 2–3 fold lower than previous informal estimates by wildlife managers, and suggest this study be used a baseline for state biologists to develop future harvest regulation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing research methods could enhance understanding of hunter satisfaction, a key metric for state wildlife management agencies. We used 3 marketing research approaches—revised importance‐performance, importance‐grid, and penalty‐reward‐contrast analysis—to test determinants of waterfowl hunter satisfaction in Minnesota, USA. These methods have seen limited application in research on hunting and other outdoor recreation activities. Using results from a 2015 mail survey, we examined the implicit and explicit motivations and overall satisfaction of Minnesota waterfowl hunters. We also differentiated how experiences relate to satisfaction for more avid and less avid hunters, defined by self‐reported importance of the activity. Seeing ducks in the field was important to satisfaction for both avidity groups. Bagging ducks each day in the field was more important to satisfaction for less avid hunters, whereas bagging a lot of ducks over the season and attracting ducks with decoys were more important to the satisfaction of more avid hunters. Our methods illuminate differences between explicit and implicit motivations for participation in waterfowl hunting, clarify factors crucial to satisfaction, and identify asymmetric influences of experiences on satisfaction and dissatisfaction. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. We demonstrated the use of novel marketing research methods to enhance understanding of hunter satisfaction, which is a key metric for state wildlife management agencies. We differentiated more and less avid hunters, illuminated differences between explicit and implicit motivations for participation in waterfowl hunting, clarified factors crucial to satisfaction, and identified asymmetric influences of experiences on satisfaction and dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural production, including croplands, pasture, and timber, dominates private‐land use and land cover across much of the contiguous lower 48 states. These private lands are essential to achieving the goals of national conservation initiatives such as the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (bobwhite [Colinus virginianus]), Sage Grouse Initiative, and North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Effective conservation delivery in managed landscapes requires 1) an understanding of landowner priorities and ownership objectives, 2) knowledge of the economic and environmental costs and benefits of conservation, and 3) natural resource professionals who understand the business of agriculture and forestry as well as principles of habitat management and wildlife conservation. We make the case for a new vision of multifunctional working landscapes that include designed components of natural and seminatural noncrop perennial plant communities (wetlands, grasslands, riparian areas, field margins, pine [Pinus spp.] grasslands, savannas, etc.) embedded in a matrix of row‐crop, pasture, rangeland, and forested working lands that produce sustainable food, fiber, and fuel. Producing sustainable, multifunctional landscapes will require effective conservation delivery that is intentional, objective‐driven, targeted, science‐based, and landscape scale. We contend that it will also require a new kind of natural resource professional. We consider the specific and novel skill sets that will be required among natural resource professionals to deliver conservation to private owners–producers of working lands. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. Multifunctional landscapes that include natural and semi‐natural features embedded in a matrix of cropland, rangeland, and managed forestlands can provide ecosystem services and contribute to national conservation goals. Effective conservation delivery in managed landscapes requires 1) an understanding of landowner priorities and ownership objectives, 2) knowledge of the economic and environmental costs and benefits of conservation, and 3) natural resource professionals who understand the business of agriculture and forestry as well as principles of habitat management and wildlife conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current literature suggests that seeing and bagging game, among other experiences, play a major role in overall satisfaction for hunters. In addition, research highlights relationships that harvest expectations may have with harvest success and in explaining satisfaction. We add to the multiple satisfactions concept that, despite other derived benefits, harvest success may be fundamental to sustain participation and duck (Anatidae) hunters themselves are agents of their own success. We used data from mail surveys conducted between 2007–2015 of Wisconsin, USA, waterfowl hunters to investigate the role of duck hunter behavior and expectations in explaining differences in season satisfaction ratings. We found that duck hunters who spent more days afield, scouted prior to hunting, were mobile during the season, and utilized public lands harvested substantially more ducks than those who did not put effort into these behaviors. Furthermore, we find evidence in support of previous work that by examining the effect of harvest success through the lens of harvest expectations, it better describes satisfaction than either measure did alone among this population of duck hunters. Based on past experiences, duck hunters may develop unrealistic expectations that doom them to dissatisfactory harvests. These results provide assistance to managers and conservationists in helping hunters understand and set realistic harvest expectations, achieve their harvest goals, and continue to be active hunters.© 2019 The Wildlife Society. This study used a long‐term data set of waterfowl hunter surveys done by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to investigate the role of hunter behavior in explaining differences in satisfaction ratings of Wisconsin, USA, duck hunters. We found that increased satisfaction among duck hunters appears to be correlated with increased harvest success, particularly and maybe exclusively as it relates to meeting harvest expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating population abundance of wolves (Canis lupus) in densely forested landscapes is challenging because reduced visibility lowers the success of methods such as aerial surveys and enumeration of group size using radiotelemetry. However, regular population estimates of wolves are necessary for population monitoring and sustainable management. We used noninvasive hair snaring and spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) to estimate wolf abundance on Prince of Wales Island (POW), Alaska, USA, during 2012–2015. We monitored 36–82 hair‐snare stations weekly for 9–11 weeks during autumn. The noninvasive study area covered 1,683 km2 during 2012–2013 and was expanded to 3,281 km2 during 2014–2015. We identified 57 individual wolves during the study period using DNA from hair follicles genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. We used population density estimates using SECR (2013: 24.5 wolves/1,000 km2 [95% CI = 14.4–41.9 wolves/1,000 km2], 2014: 9.9 wolves/1,000 km2 [95% CI = 5.5–17.7/1,000 km2], 2015: 11.9 wolves/1,000 km2 [95% CI = 7.7–18.5 wolves/1,000 km2]) to predict the autumn population for the POW management unit (2013: 221.1 wolves [95% CI = 130–378]; 2014: 89.1 wolves [95% CI = 49.8–159.4]; 2015: 107.5 wolves [95% CI = 69–167]). We detected and redetected more wolves and increased the precision of the density estimate after increasing the hair sampling intensity and sampling area in 2014–2015. Our results demonstrate that estimating wolf abundance using noninvasive sampling and SECR was feasible and reliably applied producing a statistically robust population estimate for monitoring wolf populations in densely forested areas. These methods have promise for application to widely ranging carnivores at population‐level scales and may be especially useful when regular density estimates are necessary for management and conservation. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. Estimating population abundance of cryptic carnivores in densely forested landscapes is challenging, but regular population estimates are necessary for sustainable management. We assessed the feasibility of estimating wolf densities by using noninvasive hair snaring and spatially‐explicit capture–recapture and found that the method produced a statistically robust population estimate at the management‐unit level, appropriate for regular monitoring and to inform management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carnivore depredation gives rise to direct costs for killed and injured animals as well as indirect costs due to productivity losses and additional labor requirements. Our aim was to investigate indirect costs to sheep farmers in Sweden due to carnivore depredation and presence. We estimated these costs using survey data describing conditions in 2013. Reproduction and time spent on fence maintenance and taking care of animals were analyzed to isolate effects of carnivore exposure from other factors that affect these variables. Results indicate that both high carnivore densities and attacks are associated with comparatively lower sheep reproduction. Farmers who experienced an attack spent much more on labor for maintaining fences, searching for lost animals, and bringing the animals in for the night. Results suggest that the indirect cost per adult female sheep is EUR23 for nonattacked herds in areas with high carnivore densities; EUR71 in herds that were attacked and where sheep are kept on fenced grazing land; and EUR100 on attacked summer‐pasture farms, where free‐range grazing is applied. A flat rate compensation per adult female sheep, differentiated between herds in areas with high carnivore density that have not been attacked and herds that have been attacked could be used to compensate sheep farmers for these costs. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. We investigated indirect costs to sheep farmers in Sweden due to carnivore depredation and presence in 2013. Results indicated that both high carnivore densities and attacks were associated with comparatively lower reproduction; farmers who have experienced an attack spent more labor on fence maintenance, searching for lost animals, and bringing animals in for the night. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide program managers insight into considerations for launching and running a large‐scale, long‐term citizen science project, using the Snapshot Wisconsin trail‐camera project as a case study. Many citizen science projects are undertaken with a "learn as you go" approach, so there is room to better prepare program managers from the outset. We provide a comprehensive list of components making up citizen science projects, and discuss capacity needs for each component. We then quantify staff time needed throughout the project, based on our own experiences managing a long‐term citizen science project with >1,000 participants. We show that total staff time and staff time devoted to certain project components vary markedly among 3 project phases: planning, growth, and maintenance. We recommend planning for 5.5 staff positions to maintain a long‐term project serving a few hundred volunteers or more. The illustrated concepts can be applied by any person or group developing a volunteer‐based project to prepare for logistic and funding needs across a project's lifespan. Program managers must remember that people form the backbone of any citizen science project, and the success or failure of such projects depend in large part on the user experience of volunteers. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. Many citizen science projects are undertaken with a "learn as you go" approach, so there is room to better prepare program managers from the outset. We provide a comprehensive list of citizen science project components and quantify staff time needed throughout the lifespan of a project, drawing from our own experiences managing a long‐term citizen science project with >1,000 participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large game management units often lead to criticisms from hunters because they assume smaller units possess less variation in wildlife populations and more closely represent their local area. In 2003, Pennsylvania, USA, replaced smaller, socio‐political county‐based management units with larger wildlife management units (WMUs). We tested the hypothesis that smaller county units possessed less variation in antlered and antlerless white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) harvest densities among municipalities than did larger WMUs. Spatial variation, as measured by standard deviation and coefficient of variation of deer harvested per km2 was similar for antlered deer (county units 0.44 SD, CV = 0.35; WMUs 0.43 SD, CV = 0.38) and antlerless deer (county units 0.71 SD, CV = 0.44; WMUs 0.84 SD, CV = 0.45). We found no support for the assumption that larger management units resulted in greater spatial variation in deer harvest density. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. It is often assumed smaller wildlife management units possess less variation in wildlife populations than larger wildlife management units. We analyzed deer harvests in small, socio‐political units and large wildlife management units and found no evidence that smaller socio‐political units reduced deer harvest variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woodrats (Neotoma spp.) are imperiled in large swathes of the United States. Their populations have previously been monitored mainly through live‐trapping and sign surveys. However, these methods are labor‐intensive and either stress captured animals or limited by sign visibility and persistence. As noninvasive alternatives, we deployed baited camera traps and baited track plates to monitor eastern woodrat (N. floridana) presence along rocky outcrops at 4 woodrat reintroduction sites in southern Illinois, USA, during May 2013 (5 camera and track‐plate stations/site) and May and September 2014 (4 camera and track‐plate stations/site) to compare their effectiveness. During each deployment, camera traps detected woodrat presence at all 4 sites while track plates only detected presence at 2–3 sites. A greater proportion of camera traps than track plates recorded detections during each deployment. Camera traps required more person‐hours to deploy and retrieve, but resulted in more detections per hour effort than track plates. We conclude that baited camera traps are superior to baited track plates for detecting and monitoring woodrat presence. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. We compared the effectiveness of baited camera traps and baited track plates for monitoring eastern woodrat presence along rocky outcrops. Baited camera traps were superior to baited track tubes because they consistently detected woodrat presence at each site and resulted in more detections per hour effort, even though they required more person‐hours to deploy and retrieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy development is increasing in the United States and Canada and may affect bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) populations through direct mortality. Wind farms on ridge‐tops may present a greater mortality threat because of the importance of these features for migrating raptors. Regulators in both countries recommend methods for preconstruction surveys, so that eagle use and collision risk can be assessed at potential construction sites. We obtained hourly count data collected during the autumn seasons of 1990–2014 from 22 ridge‐top raptor‐migration monitoring sites in the Pacific, Eastern, and Central flyways of North America. We simulated 18 different survey protocols and effort levels based on survey guidance by repeatedly drawing quasi‐random subsamples from continuously collected data in a manner that imitated the recommended protocols, comparing the number of eagles seen in simulated counts to the eagles seen in all data collected to assess the effectiveness of those protocols in correctly estimating the eagle passage rate (eagles detected per hour of counts) at each site. Multihour point counts conducted on a weekly basis were found to be ineffective at correctly estimating eagle passage both within and across years. Counts conducted in the afternoon were found to be more effective than those conducted in the morning. We demonstrate that full‐day counts, conducted weekly during the peak period of eagle passage, were much more effective at estimating eagle passage rate. Although current guidance recommends the performance of such full day counts, this result underscores their importance in preconstruction surveys at potential wind sites as an essential tactic to estimate eagle passage and risk of collision with energy infrastructure. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. Point counts may frequently underestimate eagle passage on migration in wind‐energy preconstruction surveys. Full‐day counts, conducted weekly during the peak migratory season are much more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corvids are highly intelligent and capable of thriving in anthropogenic ecosystems. American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) regularly depredate threatened and endangered avian species. Live capture is a common component of crow management programs; however, crows are notoriously difficult to capture. Here, we report previously undocumented crow capture techniques, utilizing a modified goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) trap design as part of a shorebird conservation project in San Diego, California, USA, 2012–2017. A negative binomial generalized linear model showed a significant relationship between number of crows removed and number of endangered California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni) eggs predated by crows. Of the total number of crows in that analysis, 67% were removed via goshawk trap. Therefore, we attribute the same percentage of reduction in egg loss to the success of that trap type. We tested 2 goshawk trap designs that differed by number of capture chambers (single and double). Double‐chambered traps were nearly twice as effective at capturing crows compared with single‐chambered traps. We performed McNemar's χ2 tests with continuity correction to determine whether traps were more effective with the use of conspecific lure‐birds and obtained significant results for single and double‐chambered traps. The modified goshawk trap has an efficient design that can improve crow control programs, especially when constructed with 2 chambers and deployed with lure‐birds. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. Crows are considered a nuisance species in many parts of the world and can negatively affect reproductive success of threatened and endangered avian species by depredating nests. We introduced previously undocumented crow capture techniques and implemented them into a shorebird conservation project in San Diego, California, USA; results showed a significant negative relationship between crow removal and California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni) egg predation, and that the capture technique was most effective with use of conspecific lure‐birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A national survey of wildlife agency directors was conducted during 1957 to determine their perceptions of wildlife damage to agriculture. This study was repeated in 1987, expanding the sample to include chief executive officers of state Farm Bureaus and state Wildlife Extension Specialists as well as wildlife agency leaders. During 2017, we replicated these studies to determine how perceptions of leaders had changed over the past 30 and 60 years. In the 2017 survey, 21 different wildlife species were reported by ≥1 respondent as causing the most damage in their state. Despite the numerous species causing damage, deer (Odocoileus spp.) were listed by most respondents as producing the most agricultural damage in their state. State Farm Bureaus and Wildlife Extension Specialists overestimated the amount of governmental services and products that were available to help farmers in their state. Most respondents believed that wildlife damage to agriculture was a serious problem in their state and had increased during the past 30 years. When survey results were compared, feral hog (Sus scrofa), goose (Anatidae), and wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) were listed more frequently in 2017 than in 1987, suggesting that problems caused by these species have increased in severity during the past 30 years. Use of special shooting and trapping permits issued to farmers had increased over the decades. Governmental agencies were more likely to provide fencing material and noisemakers and plant diversionary crops in 2017 and 1987 than they were in 1957. Modern wildlife management has been remarkably successful in increasing wildlife populations, to the point that some species occur in sufficient numbers in some places to cause remarkable levels of damage to crops and livestock. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. In 1957 and 1987, wildlife and agricultural leaders were surveyed to assess their perceptions of wildlife damage to agriculture. We repeated the survey in 2017 to assess how perceptions had changed during the last 30 and 60 years. Most respondents in 2017 reported that wildlife damage was a serious problem in their state and increasing in intensity. Twenty‐one species were listed by at least one respondent in 2017 as causing the worst problem in their state. Damage by feral hogs, geese, and wild turkeys was greater in 2017 than in the earlier surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pitfall traps are commonly used in diet studies for insectivorous and omnivorous wildlife. Pitfall trap methodologies and designs vary considerably among studies and investigators. Such variation and lack of standardization limits scientists' abilities to compare their results with others. We conducted a literature review to identify the most common methods used by past investigators who placed pitfall traps for the purpose of quantifying indices of arthropod abundances, and used this information to guide our proposal for standardized pitfall trapping methods. We documented the pitfall‐trap methods of 257 studies published between January 1994 and March 2016 in 107 scientific journals. Pitfall‐trap methods varied greatly across the time period. We found only minor differences in the pitfall‐trap methods most commonly used in different vegetation communities (e.g., preservative was used less frequently for pitfall trap studies in grasslands). Studies published in wildlife journals tended to use pitfall traps of larger diameters than studies published in other disciplines; these studies also had worse rates of methodological reporting than those in entomology journals. We did not detect a decline in negligent reporting over time; ≥1 key methodological detail was missing from >50% of studies regardless of the decade published. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. We conducted an extensive literature review to identify the most common pitfall trapping methods used for the purpose of quantifying indices of arthropod abundance and, based on this summary, we propose standardized methods and reporting metrics for future studies that use pitfall traps to produce indices of arthropod abundance. The majority of the published studies we examined lacked at least one key methodological detail; methodological reporting was worse in ecology and wildlife journals than in entomology journals; failure to fully report methods hinders comparisons among studies and future meta‐analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most American black bear (Ursus americanus) population studies involving live capture have used foot‐hold restraints or barrel and culvert traps, but new capture methods, including the bucket cable trap, are increasingly being used by wildlife management agencies and researchers. Although the bucket cable trap has been used to capture black bears and grizzly bears (U. arctos) in the United States and Canada, quantitative assessments of its capture efficiency, injury rates, and capture biases are lacking. We addressed this gap in knowledge using a camera‐trap‐based study of bucket‐cable‐trap capture methodology. Between 12 May and 12 August 2015, we placed remotely triggered cameras at active bucket‐trap sites throughout southeastern Oklahoma, USA. During 1,285 camera‐trap‐nights, we recorded 711 black bear visitation events and 106 successful captures. Of the 402 visitation events in which the trap was active, 26.3% resulted in a successful capture. Incidental captures were limited to northern raccoons (Procyon lotor). Sex, previous capture, and mass characteristics appeared to affect the capture process, indicating that it is important to keep capture heterogeneity in mind when characterizing population demographics and calculating abundance using this capture method. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. We tested the utility of the bucket cable trap as a capture method for American black bears. We found that while the trap was a reasonably effective capture method there are opportunities for improvement in safety and reduction of nontarget captures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife management agencies conduct hunter surveys to obtain information useful for making management decisions. Often these surveys are designed to collect data, such as hunter success rates, with reliable precision at statewide or regional scales. However, at finer spatial resolutions, such as at the county level, sample sizes are often small, making estimates either impossible to calculate or unreliable using traditional statistical procedures. We used Bayesian hierarchical modeling methods to overcome this small‐area estimation problem for the 1996 Missouri, USA, spring wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hunter survey. We explored 8 potential models based on 3 general hypothesized models. These families of general models included a binomial‐beta‐gamma model, 5 variations of spatial dependency models with and without covariates, and 2 variations of models with covariates but without accounting for spatial dependency. We used Bayes factors to select among models. We selected a conditional autoregressive binomial logistic linear mixed model as the most appropriate and used the posterior predictive distributions from this model to assess its fit. This small‐area estimation model provided precise hunter success‐rate estimates at the county level even though this hunter survey was designed to provide reliable estimates at the regional‐scale. This approach provides estimates at smaller scales than are possible using traditional statistical analyses, allowing managers to identify when small‐scale management decisions are warranted. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. Small area estimation conducted through Bayesian hierarchical modeling was useful in showing the gradient of turkey hunter success rates during 1996 among counties in Missouri, USA, even across counties where hunter survey results did not contain reported trips. A conditional autoregressive model was found to be the most parsimonious using Bayes factors to select among 8 proposed Bayesian hierarchical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Wildlife‐related tourism represents an important and growing economic sector for many rural communities and may be inadequately considered during regional planning. Providing robust estimates of wildlife values can help address this challenge. We used both market and nonmarket valuation methods to estimate the value of tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) in North Carolina, USA, and compared tundra swan values among hunters, wildlife watchers, and general public. Wildlife watchers reported the greatest willingness‐to‐pay (US$35.2/wildlife watcher/yr), followed by hunters (US$30.53/hunter/yr), and residents (US$16.27/resident/yr). We used the Impact Analysis for Planning system software to estimate market values or economic activity associated with tundra swans. Tundra swan hunters spent an average of US$408.34/hunter/year. Depending on assumptions over the substitutability of tundra swan hunting, we estimate that it generates value added of between US$306,155/year and US$920,161/year for the state economy. Wildlife watchers spent an average of US$171.25/wildlife watcher/year. We estimate that this generates value added of between US$14 million/year and US$42.9 million/year for the state economy, again depending on assumptions about whether watching tundra swans would be substituted with other leisure activities in eastern North Carolina or out‐of‐state. Compared with studies of international nature tourism, we found relatively low leakage rates (i.e., loss of economic benefits outside the study region), suggesting that enhancing opportunities for hunting and wildlife‐viewing may be an effective economic development strategy for rural areas in the United States. Presenting both market and nonmarket values provides a more complete picture of the value of wildlife and may facilitate more effective management decisions; therefore, we recommend that both market and nonmarket values be considered to optimize tradeoffs between development and wildlife recreation. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Researchers and managers often need vehicular access into areas fenced to protect wildlife, but commonly used vehicle crossings often are cumbersome, cost‐prohibitive, or inadequate at restricting target taxa. We describe a cost‐effective method using partially buried conveyor belt, which is flexible and sturdy enough to allow convenient and frequent vehicular passage across wildlife fencing while not compromising the integrity of the barrier or harming the target species. We have no evidence of any target taxa (i.e., tortoises, freshwater turtles, toads) breaching a conveyor belt barrier from projects in central Florida (2005–2012), Guadalupe County, Texas (2014–2018), or Robertson County, Texas (2014). The proposed technique is unlikely to prevent large‐bodied, saltatory, climbing, or arboreal taxa from crossing a wildlife barrier. However, this technique is applicable to many small vertebrates and any taxa for which silt‐fencing or other similar semipermanent barriers are appropriate. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]