Snapshot USA 2019 has been published!
This enormous effort, with >1,500 camera trap sites from throughout the country and >100 authors, has a lot of promise for monitoring mammal communities across huge geographic regions.
Human Disturbance of Wildlife
New research led by Justin Suraci has just been published in Global Change Biology. We examined how different types of human disturbance (human development and human activity) affect mammal species across the country.
Grad Student Position Available
We are seeking a graduate student to assess the vulnerability of species and ecological communities found in the Forest Preserves of Cook County to future climate change. The position comes with a stipend and tuition covered.
Full details: Climate Change Job Posting
Post-Doc Position Available
INHS is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to evaluate, develop, and implement population estimation methods and strategic conservation planning for the state’s wildlife resources. Applicants should have a strong and diverse quantitative skillset, and the ability to work closely and communicate effectively with a diverse group of collaborators.
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by December 31, 2020. To apply, please via e-mail a 1) cover letter that clearly articulates how your qualifications and experience make you a viable candidate for this position and should address the qualifications listed above, 2) a CV, and 3) the names and contact information (including e-mail addresses) of three professional references to Dr. Max Allen at maxallen@illinois.edu.
Full Details:
First Documentation of a Leucistic Fisher
Our new publication documents a rare discovery- the first scientific record of a white (leucistic) fisher. We also review the prevalence of leucism among carnivores and highlight how community members can contribute to scientific knowledge about wildlife by sharing these type of observations.
Media Coverage by Mongabay
Additional media coverage of our recent paper about the carnivore community in the Apostle Islands.
Camera traps find rich community of carnivores on Apostle Islands
Carnivore Community in the Apostle Islands
Our new research paper studying the carnivore community in the Apostle Islands has been published. The distribution and occupancy of carnivores in the Apostle Islands is largely unknown. We monitored 19 islands with 160 functioning camera traps from 2014-2017, from which we collected 203,385 photographs across 49,280 trap nights.
We documented detected 10 of the 12 terrestrial carnivores found in Wisconsin. Detection rates for species were generally higher in summer than winter. We estimated that terrestrial carnivore species varied in the number of islands they were detected on from 1 island for gray wolves to 13 islands for black bears. The number of carnivores occupying an island also varied substantively from 1 species on Michigan Island to 10 species on Stockton Island. Island size and connectivity between islands appear important for the persistence of the carnivore community in the Apostle Islands
Media Coverage by University of Illinois
Diana Yates, of the University of Illinois News Bureau, wrote a nice summary of our research on the carnivore community in the Apostle Islands:
https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/731064
TWS post on our bobcat research
The Wildlife Society recently wrote up a story on our research into the changing demography of bobcats harvested in Wisconsin.
2018 TWS national conference
Just getting back from the 2018 TWS national conference where I had a great time with my lab. Morgan, Lucas, and I each presented a poster, and David Drake presented on our research with the UW Urban Canid Project.
Morgan presented on her undergraduate research, where she studied the effects of exotic eucalyptus and human recreation on coyotes in the Bay Area. Our paper that comes out of that research is currently in review.
Lucas presented on his second thesis chapter, examining how the ecology of fear from wolves affects habitat selection by white-tailed deer in Wisconsin. Lucas’s first chapter is in review, and he’s getting ready to defend his thesis next semester.