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Abstract Because home ranges for many sensitive wildlife species often transcend jurisdictions, species conservation requires collaborative efforts to engage multiple stakeholders. The West Box Elder County Coordinated Resource Management (CRM) in northwestern Utah initially organized as a greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) local working group (LWG), evolved through a CRM process, to enhance local governance across jurisdictional boundaries by engaging a wider range of public and private partners in species conservation and community development. By completing landscape scale management and development projects, the CRM has benefitted wildlife and local ranchers and contributed to enhancing the social and economic well‐being of rural residents in the county. In 2019, to identify the operational mechanisms of governance that enabled the CRM to achieve long‐term sustainability while meeting community and species conservation needs, we interviewed 17 key stakeholders (8 private, 6 state, and 3 federal) who had been involved in both the LWG and CRM since their inception. Each interview addressed the CRM's origin, support and synergy, administration, communications, outcomes, and improvements. Qualitative analysis of responses revealed that 1) participation by representatives of federal and state government agencies was paramount for funding and program structure, 2) landowner involvement was necessary for long‐term stability and persistence, 3) intergroup communication has improved, and 4) trust of local landowners between state and federal agencies has been enhanced. However, respondents were concerned that the CRM governance process should be re‐evaluated periodically to mitigate stakeholder burnout and group cohesion deterioration. The re‐evaluation could help temper unrealistic expectations relative to sustaining momentum the CRM has achieved over the last decade and establish new goals to better address current conservation issues. Our results may be applicable by other rural communities who desire enhanced local governance to identify and address emerging community development needs and species conservation.

Abstract The “green wave” hypothesis posits that during spring consumers track spatial gradients in emergent vegetation and associated foraging opportunities. This idea has largely been invoked to explain animal migration patterns, yet the general phenomenon underlies trends in vertebrate reproductive chronology as well. We evaluated the utility of this hypothesis for predicting spatial variation in nest initiation of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocerus urophasianus), a species of conservation concern in western North America. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to map the green wave across elevation and then compiled dates and locations of >450 sage‐grouse nests from 20 study sites (2000–2014) to model nest initiation as a function of the start of the growing season (SOS), defined here as the maximum daily rate of increase in NDVI. Individual sites were drawn from three ecoregions, distributed over 4.5° latitude, and spanning 2,300 m in elevation, which captured the climatic, edaphic, and floristic diversity of sagebrush ecosystems in the southern half of current sage‐grouse range. As predicted, SOS displayed a significant, positive relationship with elevation, occurring 1.3 days later for each 100 m increase in elevation. In turn, sage‐grouse nest initiation followed SOS by 22 ± 10 days (r2 = .57), with hatch dates falling on or just prior to the peak of the growing season. By timing nesting to the green wave, sage‐grouse chicks hatched when the abundance of protein‐rich invertebrate biomass is hypothesized to be nearing a seasonal high. This adaptation likely represents a strategy for maximizing reproductive success in the arid, variable environments that define sagebrush ecosystems. Given projected changes in climate and land use, these results can be used to predict periods of relative sensitivity to habitat disturbance for sage‐grouse. Moreover, the near real‐time availability of satellite imagery offers a heretofore underutilized means of mapping the green wave, planning habitat restoration, and monitoring range conditions.

This is the Letter from the Editor.

One Health has become more important in recent years because interactions between people, animals, plants, and our environment have dramatically changed. This Back Page article discusses One Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are the awards and scholarships provided by the Berryman Institute. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial application deadline has been extended.

New associate editors are George Linz and Zachary Miller.

This is the Letter from the Editor.

These are the awards and scholarships provided by the Berryman Institute.

Collisions between vehicles and wildlife have long been recognized to pose threats to motorists and wildlife populations. In addition to the risk of injury or mortality faced by the motorists involved in wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs), other drivers are also put at risk due to road obstructions and traffic congestions associated with WVCs. Most WVCs in Alaska involve moose (Alces alces), an animal that is sufficiently large to pose a threat to property and human life when involved in collisions. We analyzed the temporal variation in the number of moose–vehicle collisions (MVCs) reported in the 4 most populous boroughs of Alaska, USA from 2000–2012. We examined daily and annual trends in MVC rates and compared them to moose and human behavioral patterns to better understand possible mitigation strategies. The distribution of MVCs was skewed toward winter and hours of the day with less visibility. Fifty percent of the MVCs reported from 2000–2012 occurred where the commuter rush hours overlapped with dusk and dawn in winter. Knowledge of these temporal patterns can provide managers with practical mitigation options, such as the use of seasonal speed reduction, improved lighting strategies, dynamic signage, or partnerships with mobile mapping services.

Abstract Much interest lies in the identification of manageable habitat variables that affect key vital rates for species of concern. For ground‐nesting birds, vegetation surrounding the nest may play an important role in mediating nest success by providing concealment from predators. Height of grasses surrounding the nest is thought to be a driver of nest survival in greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage‐grouse), a species that has experienced widespread population declines throughout their range. However, a growing body of the literature has found that widely used field methods can produce misleading inference on the relationship between grass height and nest success. Specifically, it has been demonstrated that measuring concealment following nest fate (failure or hatch) introduces a temporal bias whereby successful nests are measured later in the season, on average, than failed nests. This sampling bias can produce inference suggesting a positive effect of grass height on nest survival, though the relationship arises due to the confounding effect of plant phenology, not an effect on predation risk. To test the generality of this finding for sage‐grouse, we reanalyzed existing datasets comprising >800 sage‐grouse nests from three independent studies across the range where there was a positive relationship found between grass height and nest survival, including two using methods now known to be biased. Correcting for phenology produced equivocal relationships between grass height and sage‐grouse nest survival. Viewed in total, evidence for a ubiquitous biological effect of grass height on sage‐grouse nest success across time and space is lacking. In light of these findings, a reevaluation of land management guidelines emphasizing specific grass height targets to promote nest success may be merited.

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This is the editors commentary

The Berryman Institute (BI) is a national organization based in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University. We are dedicated to improving human–wildlife relationships and resolving human–wildlife conflicts through teaching, research, and extension.

This is the editors commentary

This is the editors commentary

The vast majority of wildlife species provide a net benefit to society; thus, the problems that wildlife often create for humans are overshadowed by the many benefits they provide. However, the rapid expansion of global urban and rural development is increasing opportunities for wildlife to forage and become dependent on anthropogenic resources. This co-existence and subsequent dependency has contributed to increased human–wildlife conflicts, which can involve larger charismatic mega-fauna such as bears (Ursus spp.) to smaller microscopic species. Human–bear conflicts probably have occurred since humans first inhabited the planet. Although bears have substantial ecological, aesthetic, and economic value, bears using urban areas and the urban–rural interface are often perceived as being urban or not, with some individuals removed in the belief that dependency on anthropogenic resources is irreversible and can lead to increased human– wildlife conflict. For many bear populations, little is known about the degree of bear urbanization and its ecological mechanisms to guide the management of human–bear conflicts.

Dr. Michael Kuhns, Department Head for Utah State University Wildland Resources (left) presents Dr. Michael R. Conover (right) with a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Special Recognition Award at a recent Department of Wildland Resources meeting at Utah State University. Dr. Conover was recognized by USDA for his lifelong commitment and contributions to the fi eld of wildlife damage management. The award citation stated: The U.S. Department of Agriculture Special Commendation Awarded to Dr. Michael R. Conover—For your significant years of service and exemplary contributions in enhancing the professionalism and science of the fi eld of wildlife damage management as Director of the Jack H. Berryman Institute at Utah State University and the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Human–Wildlife Interactions Journal. Your vision, mentorship of students, and your leadership have greatly enhanced the capabilities of wildlife managers worldwide to resolve human–wildlife conflicts.

As society becomes more urbanized, public perceptions about wildlife and nature are increasingly being shaped by social media and/or encounters with wildlife and nature in urban centers. Recent surveys, however, suggest that more urban residents are having more negative experiences with wildlife. The phrase human–wildlife conflicts has been applied to these and other situations that involve any negative interactions between humans and wildlife. Urban residents have expressed an increased interest and involvement in programs that engage them in positive interactions with wildlife and nature in urban centers and the urban–wildland interface.

This is the editors commentary

This issue of Human–Wildlife Interactions features a special section highlighting the urban coyote (Canis latrans). The special section is entitled “Cosmopolitan Coyotes,” not because coyotes are present in practically every metropolitan center, city, and town across North America, but more so because I just like using alliteration. In reality, coyotes are on the move, and more and more urban areas are providing them with suitable refugia. Many urban residents are in denial as to the cause, while still trying to get used to their new neighbors and their predatory habits.

Over the last several months, I have participated on a national steering committee that organized and conducted the National Wild Horse and Burro (WHB) Summit. The Summit was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, August 22–24, 2017. My role was to put together a program that reviewed the role of science in WHB policies and management. The program was designed to inform and educate an audience that expressed an interest in WHB management and a concern that status quo management wasn’t working. Attendees represented a wide and diverse audience of >100 groups, organizations, and agencies, including representatives of horse advocacy groups.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) depend on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) to complete its annual life cycle. The winter diet for sage-grouse consists almost entirely of sagebrush leaves, and individual birds may gain weight while foraging on sagebrush. Previous studies have reported higher crude protein and lower monoterpene concentrations in the sagebrush species selected as winter forage by sagegrouse. However, no studies have attempted to link female sage-grouse vital rates (i.e., nest initiation and success, egg fertility, clutch size, and adult survival) to crude protein or monoterpene concentrations of sagebrush plants browsed during pre-nesting periods. From March to May 2013, we monitored pre-nesting diets for 29 radio-marked female sage-grouse in the Box Elder Sage-grouse Management Area in northwestern Utah to determine if a relationship existed between foraging patterns and vital rates. We randomly located radiomarked female sage-grouse ≥3 times during the study period and subsequently sampled 70 sagebrush communities where they were observed to determine which sagebrush species or subspecies were browsed and if samples collected of the browsed plants differed in nutritional quality (i.e., crude protein) and chemical composition (i.e., monoterpenes) from non-browsed plants in the areas sampled and non-browsed randomly selected plants in adjacent sagebrush communities. Seventy-three percent of these sites where radio-marked females were located consisted entirely of black sagebrush (A. nova) communities. Percent crude protein and total monoterpene concentration in black sagebrush and Wyoming big sagebrush (A. tridentata wyomingensis) did not diff er between browsed, non-browsed, and non-browsed random plants. Browsed black sagebrush plants were lower in average percent crude protein (P = 0.003) and higher in total monoterpene concentration (P ≤ 0.001) than browsed Wyoming big sagebrush. Apparent nest success, age of nesting females, egg fertility, clutch size (P > 0.05), and female monthly survival rates (CI = -0.21–0.49) for the radio-marked sagegrouse we monitored did not diff er based on sagebrush crude protein and total monoterpene content. However, all of the radio-marked female sage-grouse (n = 10) observed in black sagebrush communities where the collected plant samples exhibited higher concentrations of an unidentified monoterpene successfully hatched nests (P = 0.002). All of the nests of radiomarked female sage-grouse (n = 9) outside these areas failed. Our results lend additional support to previous published work regarding sage-grouse preferences for black sagebrush as pre-nesting forage and suggest a potential link to nest success.

The Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens), a federally listed threatened species, causes damage to agricultural operations, yet little incentive exists for private landowners to conserve them. Therefore, we surveyed Utah residents to identify stakeholder attitudes regarding prairie dog management. We assessed how perceptions of wildlife damage affect respondent attitudes regarding conservation among agricultural producers, rural residents, and urban residents. Higher levels of perceived wildlife damage were reported for agriculture respondents (79%) than for urban (20%) or rural (45%) respondents. Compensation for damage caused by Utah prairie dogs was supported by those engaged in agricultural production but not by rural or urban respondents. Agricultural producers, rural residents and urban residents all stated a preference for private conservation organizations to fund damage compensation rather than a government agency. Most agricultural respondents (61%) and rural respondents (64%) believed that Utah prairie dogs should be only on public lands. Some agricultural respondents (23%) thought they should be on no land. Attitudes regarding the Utah prairie dog varied, with agricultural producers being the most negative and urban respondents the most positive. The negative attitude of rural residents and agricultural producers probably results from both the damage caused by Utah prairie dogs and land-use restrictions resulting from the species being listed as threatened. Acceptance of Utah prairie dogs by private landowners may be key to the recovery of the species, and our findings suggest that alleviation of damage issues may increase landowner acceptance of conservation measures to protect Utah prairie dogs.

Nest predation often is cited as a primary cause for low recruitment and subsequent population decline of many ground-nesting bird species. In response, managers and researchers have developed a myriad of techniques to reduce rates of predation on ground nests. Fences to exclude predators from nesting areas have reportedly been a successful, albeit expensive, strategy to reduce predation rates. Although many studies have evaluated the use of exclusionary fences as a management tool, nearly all of these studies have evaluated the impact of fences in terms of nest success rather than by actual fence penetration by predators. Many authors, for example, assumed that particular fence designs would repel meso-predators like red fox. During a study to assess fences as a management tool to manage predation on duck nests, we documented that red foxes routinely penetrated fences that were designed based on recommendations in the literature. Our observations call into question many fence design recommendations, particularly in areas with red fox populations. More research is needed to assess the ability of various fence designs to repel specific predators.

Wildlife management has been defined as the art and science of applying scientific knowledge and ecological principles to manage wildlife populations for human objectives. Historically, wildlife managers have sought to maintain or increase desirable wildlife species (e.g., game fi sh, birds, and mammals) to meet human food and recreational needs by directly manipulating their habitats or the populations themselves. However, many contemporary rural and urban environments are inhabited by much larger populations of wildlife than were present a century ago. As local wildlife populations increase, so can the damage caused by them. Additionally, because many rare species inhabit private lands, the potential exists for increased land-use regulatory conflicts. Thus, public concerns regarding negative experiences associated with overabundant and nuisance species of wildlife are increasing. If wildlife management is to grow as a profession, managers may need to change their traditional emphasis from that of managing to sustain or increase populations to one of mitigating conflicts. Increased agency emphasis on managing human–wildlife conflicts may afford wildlife management professionals a new forum to engage the widest range of stakeholders in conservation. To make this transition, wildlife managers will need better information about how and why human–wildlife conflicts occur, the magnitude and type of damage occurring, the techniques to manage challenges posed by locally overabundant or rare wildlife populations, and the communication strategies that can be implemented to more effectively involve the capacity of local governance in seeking viable solutions.

Although good data are lacking, published estimates suggest that >1.5 million deer– vehicle collisions (DVCs) occur annually in the United States. The estimated losses exceed 1 billion dollars. In some states, DVCs are a major cause of reportable accidents. Federal, state, and private partners have cooperated in monitoring trends in DVCs and implementing mitigation measures. Most of this information about such measures is readily available via the Internet. The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with a broad overview of and a guide to the information currently available online to mitigate DVCs.

Declines in greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) populations in Utah over the last century parallel range-wide trends. However, little is known about the ecology of sage-grouse populations that inhabit Utah’s naturally fragmented habitats. Utah’s West Desert sage-grouse populations occupy sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats that are geographically separated by the Great Salt Lake, and largely confined to the Sheeprock and Deep Creek watersheds. From 2005 to 2006, we monitored sage-grouse that were radio-collared in each watershed to determine the factors affecting the vital rates in these isolated populations. Livestock grazing by domestic cattle was the dominate land use, and mammalian predator control for livestock protection was conducted in both watersheds. Corvid control was conducted only in the Sheeprock watershed. During the study, we identified 6 leks that had not been previously documented. Seasonal migration patterns for individual radio-collared sage-grouse in both watersheds varied across the sites. Habitat structure metrics were similar at brood-rearing and random sites for both areas. Nesting and brood success and the ratio of chicks per successful brood were higher for both populations in 2005 than 2006. We attributed these annual differences in vital rates to seasonal variation in precipitation. Spring precipitation in 2005 was twice the 30-year average following a 5 year drought. However, chick recruitment estimates for both populations regardless of year were lower than reported in the published literature. Adult sage-grouse survival rate estimates in Sheeprock and Deep Creek watersheds were lower and higher, respectively, than published reports indicated. These differences may reflect a difference in meso-predators communities. Sage-grouse conservation strategies in both areas should continue to emphasize protection of brood-rearing and seasonal habitat, but the risk of population extirpation as a consequence of extended droughts predicted by climate change models and the invasion of small meso-predators may remain problematic for these populations.

When there is a rich guild of nest predators that use different modalities and techniques to locate hidden nests, we hypothesized that no habitat patch characteristic will consistently predict nest success, because if such a characteristic existed then predators would develop a search image based on it and use that characteristic to increase their hunting efficiency for nests. We tested this prediction in the Prairie Pothole region of North Dakota by characterizing the features of 16 habitat patches that contained >1,800 dabbling duck nests. Nest success was monitored during both the early and late nesting season over 2 years. Nest success was generally low and highly variable among habitat patches and across seasons and years. We found that nest success was rarely correlated with patch size, nest density, predator abundance and richness, abundance of alternative prey for predators, and visual and physical obstruction provided by the vegetation. Those few habitat patch characteristics that were correlated with nest success during a particular single year or season were not correlated during other seasons or years. Hence, our results supported the hypothesis that no habitat patch characteristic can consistently predict nest success.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) are entirely dependent on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) for food and cover during winter. Loss or fragmentation of important wintering areas could have a disproportionate affect on population size. We radio-marked and monitored 91 juvenile sage-grouse in south-central Utah from 2008 to 2010. Thirty-four individuals survived to winter (January to March) and were used to evaluate winter habitat use. Resource use was calculated using kernel density estimation of radio-marked individuals and compared to available habitat using a G-test. We found that juvenile sage-grouse used winter habitats characterized by 0 to 5% slopes regardless of aspect and slopes 5 to 15% with south-to-west facing aspects. The importance of high slope (5 to 15%) wintering habitats has not been previously documented in sage-grouse. Most winter use was on a small proportion (3%; 2,910 ha) of available habitat. Important wintering habitats may not be readily identifiable in typical years, and consequently, due to their elevation, may be more susceptible to land management treatments focused on increasing early season livestock or big game winter forage, rendering them unsuitable for winter use by sage-grouse. Prior to implementing land management treatments in lower elevation sagebrush sites with slopes ≤5% regardless of aspect and slopes 5 to 15% south to west in aspect, managers should consider the potential effects of such treatments on the availability of suitable winter habitat to mitigate against winters with above-normal snowfall.

Range-wide population declines of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) have been largely attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation. However, the specific conservation threats affecting the ecology of sage-grouse populations may diff er by region. Although the status of the Bear Lake Plateau and Valley (BLPV) sagegrouse populations in the Wyoming Basin has been monitored using male lek counts since the 1960s, little was known about their ecology, seasonal movements, and habitat use patterns. From 2010–2012, we radio-marked 153 sage-grouse (59 females and 94 males) with very high frequency necklace-style radio-collars throughout the BLPV study area, which encompassed parts of Bear Lake County, Idaho, and Rich County, Utah. We subsequently monitored the radio-marked sage-grouse to estimate the factors affecting vital rates, seasonal movements, and habitat use. Radio-marked sage-grouse primarily used seasonal habitats in Idaho and Utah, but some individuals used seasonal habitats in Wyoming. The average annual survival rate for the radio-marked sage-grouse was 53% (±3%). Average female nest success (23%; 95% CI = 18–29%) was lower than range-wide estimates. Brood success varied between 2011 and 2012, with higher brood survival observed in 2012. Twenty-four percent of radio-marked sage-grouse were migratory, engaging in seasonal movements ≥10 km. Annual home range estimates using kernel density estimator (101 km2) for radio-marked sage-grouse were within estimates previously reported. However, poor recruitment attributed to low nest and brood survival may be impacting overall population stability. Because the radio-marked sage-grouse used seasonal habitats in 3 states, we recommend that Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming coordinate in the development of a tri-state management plan to better conserve this population.

The U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 required all state and federal agencies to grant utilities access permits to promote reliable, renewable energy production and transmission. Contemporary transmission relies largely on above-ground electric transmission structures and lines. The construction, operation, and maintenance of tall structures, such as power lines, communication towers, wind turbines, and other installations and their associated activities in sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp.) habitats were identified as a conservation threat by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in its decision to designate greater sage-grouse (C. urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) as a candidate species for protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The Greater Sage-grouse Range-wide Comprehensive Strategy identified a need to synthesize the research on the effects of tall structures on sage-grouse as the first step in a process to develop best management practices (BMPs) to minimize potential negative impacts on the species. The Utah Wildlife-in-Need Foundation (UWIN) facilitated a public input process in 2010 to assess stakeholder contemporary knowledge regarding the effects of tall structures on sage-grouse. Stakeholders reviewed published information to evaluate the scientific basis for the potential impacts of tall structures on sage-grouse. At the time of the UWIN review, stakeholders concluded that there were no peer-reviewed, experimental studies reported in the scientific literature that specifically documented increased avoidance or predation on sage-grouse because of the construction, operation, and maintenance of tall structures. Consequently, stakeholders were concerned that the science upon which tall structure siting decisions are based was lacking, and as a result, temporal and spatial setbacks and buffers stipulations may differ by governmental agency. Stakeholders recommended that research implemented to address their concerns include experimental designs that simultaneously address multiple knowledge gaps, include metrics assessing potential individual and cumulative impacts of each tall structure type, and a collaborative process that allows preliminary results to be implemented in an adaptive management approach to actively refine BMPs. Lastly, stakeholders recommended that industry be provided mitigation incentives as part of a comprehensive strategy to fund desired research. A review of the scientific literature regarding sage-grouse since completion of the 2010 review produced no new published information, but recent unpublished reports have begun to address the issue.

Abstract Species conservation efforts often use short‐term studies that fail to identify the vital rates that contribute most to population growth. Although the greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage‐grouse) is a candidate for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and is sometimes referred to as an umbrella species in the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome of western North America, the failure of proposed management strategies to focus on key vital rates that may contribute most to achieving population stability remains problematic for sustainable conservation. To address this dilemma, we performed both prospective and retrospective perturbation analyses of a life cycle model based on a 12‐yr study that encompassed nearly all sage‐grouse vital rates. To validate our population models, we compared estimates of annual finite population growth rates (λ) from our female‐based life cycle models to those attained from male‐based lek counts. Post‐fledging (i.e., after second year, second year, and juvenile) female survival parameters contributed most to past variation in λ during our study and had the greatest potential to change λ in the future, indicating these vital rates as important determinants of sage‐grouse population dynamics. In addition, annual estimates of λ from female‐based life cycle models and male‐based lek data were similar, providing the most rigorous evidence to date that lek counts of males can serve as a valid index of sage‐grouse population change. Our comparison of fixed and mixed statistical models for evaluating temporal variation in nest survival and initiation suggest that conservation planners use caution when evaluating short‐term nesting studies and using associated fixed‐effect results to develop conservation objectives. In addition, our findings indicated that greater attention should be paid to those factors affecting sage‐grouse post‐fledging females. Our approach demonstrates the need for more long‐term studies of species vital rates across the life cycle. Such studies should address the decoupling of sampling variation from underlying process (co)variation in vital rates, identification of how such variation drives population dynamics, and how decision makers can use this information to re‐direct conservation efforts to address the most limiting points in the life cycle for a given population.