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The international legal trade in wildlife can provide economic and other benefits, but when unsustainable can be a driver of population declines. This impact is magnified by the additional burden of illegal trade, yet how it covaries with legal trade remains little explored. We combined law‐enforcement time‐series of seizures of wildlife goods imported into the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) with data on reported legal trade to evaluate the evidence for any relationships. Our analysis examined 28 US and 20 EU products derived from CITES‐listed species with high volume and frequency of both reported trade and seizures. On average, seizures added 28% and 9% to US and EU reported legal trade levels respectively, and in several cases exceeded legal imports. We detected a significant but weak overall positive relationship between seizure volumes and reported trade into the US over time, but not into the EU. These results highlight the importance of maintaining long‐term records of border seizures and enforcement effort, and accounting for illegal trade where possible in non‐detriment findings. Our findings suggest a complex and nuanced temporal association between the illegal and legal wildlife trades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The illegal killing of wild animals is recognized as a significant social problem in modern society, yet when compared to many other types of unlawful behaviors, the study of wildlife crime has received scant attention from criminal justice researchers. With the emergence of green criminology in recent decades, however, there has been a concomitant increase in poaching research. This essay reviews the literature and provides some observations on the status of poaching research, and then offers directions for future research on wildlife crime from a critical perspective. Conflict theory provides a useful framework for analyzing wildlife crime and can be used to enhance our understanding of laws regulating the use of wild animals. Given the fact that wildlife is a public trust resource in the United States, it is argued that state wildlife agencies that offer special programs to landowners to facilitate the commercialization of wildlife may be committing a state crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contiguous 48 United States, southern Canada, and in Europe, wolves ( Canis lupus ) have greatly increased and expanded their range during the past few decades.They are prolific, disperse long distances, readily recolonize new areas where humans allow them, and are difficult to control when populations become established.Because wolves originally lived nearly everywhere throughout North America and Eurasia, and food in the form of wild and domestic prey is abundant there, many conservation-minded people favor wolves inhabiting even more areas.On the other hand, wolves conflict in several ways with rural residents who prefer fewer wolves. This article discusses the recovery of wolves, their benefits and values, the ways in which they conflict with humans, and the potential for their expansion into new areas.It concludes that wolf conservation will best be accomplished by each responsible political entity adaptively prescribing different management strategies for different zones within its purview.Some zones for some periods can support total protection, whereas in others, wolf numbers will have to be reduced to various degrees or removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal wildlife trade is among the most profitable transnational crimes in the world. In the U.S. fewer than 330 agents from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services are tasked with inspecting 72 air and seaports to intercept illicit wildlife products. This paper suggests a risk assessment strategy that utilizes analytical techniques from criminology to wildlife contraband entering the U.S. Using the LEMIS database, 40,113 incidents of seized wildlife products from 2003 to 2012 were identified. Results suggest a disproportionate share of export countries, ports of entry, times and genera account for a majority of incidents. Resource allocation should be prioritized accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding individual attitudes and how these predict overt opposition to predator conservation or direct, covert action against predators will help to recover and maintain them. Studies of attitudes toward wild animals rely primarily on samples of individuals at a single time point. We examined longitudinal change in individuals' attitudes toward gray wolves (Canis lupus). In the contiguous United States, amidst persistent controversy and opposition, abundances of gray wolves are at their highest in 60 years. We used mailed surveys to sample 1892 residents of Wisconsin in 2001 or 2004 and then resampled 656 of these individuals who resided in wolf range in 2009. Our study spanned a period of policy shifts and increasing wolf abundance. Over time, the 656 respondents increased agreement with statements reflecting fear of wolves, the belief that wolves compete with hunters for deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and inclination to poach a wolf. Endorsement of lethal control of wolves by the state and public hunting of wolves also increased. Neither the time span over which respondents reported exposure to wolves locally nor self-reported losses of domestic animals to wolves correlated with changes in attitude. We predict future increases in legal and illegal killing of wolves that may reduce their abundance in Wisconsin unless interventions are implemented to improve attitudes and behavior toward wolves. To assess whether interventions change attitudes, longitudinal studies like ours are needed. Análisis Longitudinal de las Actitudes Hacia Lobos [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poaching of trophy wildlife resources is a serious problem in the western United States. This study examined the trophy poaching phenomenon in Montana using a routine activities theoretical perspective. Using a qualitative approach to data collection, data on trophy poaching were obtained from state game wardens. Findings demonstrate how the convergence of motivated offenders, suitable targets, and the absence of capable guardians presents opportunities for large quantities of trophy wildlife to be poached. The role played by outfitters and taxidermists in helping poachers acquire, preserve, and conceal illegally taken trophy wildlife is also described. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Forest roads reduce habitat quality for wildlife, in part by increasing susceptibility to hunting and poaching. Road removal is an increasingly common strategy for restoring habitat; however, little is known about responses of wildlife to road removal versus other methods of road closure. We assessed effects of different types of road closure (gated, barriered, and recontoured) on black bear (Ursus americanus) frequency and habitat on 18 open and closed road pairs in the western USA. Over 4years, 44 bears were photographed during 3545 camera-trap days. Bear frequency was significantly higher (2.4 versus 0.6/100days, respectively) and human frequency was significantly lower (2.4 versus 361.6/100days, respectively) on closed than on open roads. Additionally, abundance of fall foods was higher (23.9% and 12.8%, respectively) and line-of-sight (a measure of habitat security) shorter (54.9 versus 69.4m, respectively) on closed compared to open roads. Bears were detected on closed but not on open roads during daytime, suggesting avoidance of humans. Among-road-treatment differences included significantly higher frequency of bears on recontoured than on gated or barriered roads (4.6, 1.6, and 0.5/100days, respectively), and significantly higher cover of fall bear foods on recontoured than on gated or barriered roads (39.3%, 12.1% and 16.4%, respectively). Frequency of bears was negatively correlated with frequency of humans and line-of-sight distance and positively correlated with abundance of fall foods and hiding cover. Results suggest that while all types of road closure benefit sensitive wildlife, removal by recontour may be the most effective strategy for restoring habitat. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on the increasing occurrences of the illegal stripping of slippery elm tree bark from trees in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. Poachers of the medicinal bark have been collecting slippery elm to sell to the herbal market. Slippery elm has many medicinal uses and has become a sought after product because it is one of the only alternative remedies that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves for over the counter purchase.

The purpose of this study was to examine and describe the specific techniques of neutralization that were used by deer poachers. The study consisted of two parts. In the first section, a survey instrument containing statements dealing with specific neutralizations was developed by the authors and mailed to individuals who had been cited for illegal deer possession in Colorado from 1990 to 1996 (n = 42). In the second part of the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 poachers and 5 game wardens to obtain information about neutralization techniques in greater detail. The use of neutralization techniques was common, and four techniques occurred most frequently : the denial of responsibility, the metaphor of the ledger, the defense of necessity, and the condemnation of the condemners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reserve system in the USSR is complex; more than 11.4 million ha of land are involved in several categories, which afford wildlife different degrees of protection. At least 40 major new reserves are planned for the near future, but Soviet conservationists have to face demands for agricultural land, poaching, increasing pressure from tourism and organizational problems. In 1984 the author visited the USSR to study the scientific uses of the country's reserves. It was Dr Braden's third research trip to the USSR; as Vice-President of the International Snow Leopard Trust she has been involved in discussions there about the captive-breeding and exchange of snow leopards between the USA and the USSR. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates piscatorial piracy—fish and shellfish poaching—in the past and present experience of commercial fishing communities of the Raritan Bay region of New Jersey. Ethnographic and historical research supports the following interpretations: piracy is cultural; it is a response to enclosure of the marine commons; and it is grounded in historical disputes over property rights in marine resources that suggest the importance of class-specific social relations within the fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Resident attrition from the field of General Surgery has been extensively studied. Attrition from one General Surgery program to the benefit of another has not. General Surgery programs can be negatively affected when a resident decides to leave the program for another. When a resident in a general surgery residency program decides to attempt transfer to another program several decisions must be made. The resident applies for the open position, interviews and then may be offered a position in that program. If an offer is made and the resident accepts, at what point is the resident's current Program Director notified? At what point in the process does the resident leave his/her current program to begin the new program? At what point does the new Program Director obtain a summative evaluation of the resident? Does the resident experience retribution as a result of informing his/her fellow residents and faculty that s/he is leaving? These are all questions that Program Directors struggle with when they find themselves with an unexpected opening to fill. The APDS Task Force on Resident Transfers attempted to answer these and other questions., Design: A 19-question survey was distributed via the APDS to all General Surgery Program Directors who utilize the list serve. The survey asked questions related to the following: acceptable reasons for transfer; timeline for the application, interview and transfer process; retaliation against residents who chose to transfer; and transparency in the transfer process., Setting: The survey was distributed via e-mail nationwide., Participants: General Surgery Residency Program Directors are participated in the survey., Results: The majority of the 99 respondents agreed to the following guidelines: (1) Program Directors must promote transparency in the transfer process; (2) Program Directors must make a statement against retaliation; (3) personal or family preference is the most acceptable reason for transfer; (4) an established transfer date must be agreeable to both programs; and, (5) a recruitment timeline should be established for both programs. All data are included below., Conclusions: The reasons that a resident chooses to leave a program and the effect this has on the program and the other residents requires further study. Program Directors should educate residents about the transfer process and that procedure should be available as a written policy. When a resident desires transfer to another program, following these guidelines may make the transition easier for all involved. The APDS supports putting them into practice., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This article discusses the need to protect grizzly bears in the U.S. It describes the physical characteristics of grizzly bears. It explains the reasons why grizzly bears are endangered, including poaching and oil and gas drilling. It also identifies other reasons for the decreasing population of grizzly bears which include sprawling cities, logging, road construction and food shortage. The article encourages people to protect the animal's population for the benefit of the natural landscape and grandchildren.

The article discusses attitudes about hunting in the United States and provides numerous websites for further support. According to the author, hunting in the United States is a highly contentious practice. It has the potential for negative and positive ecosystem effects and even abuse. He suggests that conservationists and hunters should fight poaching and illegal trade in animal parts and to seize opportunities to increase ecological gains and decrease harms from hunting. Non-hunting environmentalists should reach out to hunters as partners in outdoor recreation that both can enjoy and should work together on other mutual policy interests.