2021 ARCHIVES | Symposia Presentation Abstracts
Presentation abstracts in the Special Symposia are available here to read. All of these presentations were live presentations for registered conference attendees to watch during the Northeast Fish & Wildlife Conference, via the virtual event website.
Select a symposium title from the list below to jump to the abstracts within that symposium.
Select a symposium title from the list below to jump to the abstracts within that symposium.
- S-01: Retaining New and Reactivated Participants: R3 During a Pandemic
- S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast
- S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats
- S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management
- S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast
- S-06: Wild Trout Management
- S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals
- S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region
- S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles
| S-01: Retaining New and Reactivated Participants: R3 During a Pandemic | |
| S-01: Retaining New and Reactivated Participants: R3 During a Pandemic - Symposium Introduction | |
| Track: | S-01: Retaining New and Reactivated Participants: R3 During a Pandemic |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 1:00 PM - 1:03 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Symposium Organizer: Coren Jagnow, Research and Education Division Chief, Human Dimensions Specialist, Pennsylvania Game Commission, [email protected] |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Symposium Overview: Behavior changes associated with the Covid-19 pandemic created an unprecedented increase in outdoor recreation, particularly hunting, fishing, shooting sports, and boating. This “bump” in participation is fueled by both new recruits and those who have reactivated. As Covid-19 restrictions ease and normal schedules and activities resume, understanding those who were recruited or reactivated is critical to secure their continued participation. Determining the motivations of hunters, anglers, shooting sports participants, and boaters who were newly recruited or reactivated, through both qualitative and quantitative methods, is critical to ensuring that this increase in participation and license purchase is not temporary. After the initial surge of license buyers in Spring 2020, the need to encourage continued participation from these individuals became clear. In response, many state agencies and organizations started to create retention plans for the 2021. To better retain these audiences, state agencies and organizations must first identify who these participants are, including their motivations and constraints. Effective retention plans will incorporate research results to better provide the necessary resources allowing individuals to become more comfortable in their continued participation and eventually expand their outdoor recreation pursuits. Sharing ideas and learning from others about their successes and failures from retention efforts can greatly expand existing knowledge and create more effective retention programs. The presentation of findings from research of newly recruited or reactivated hunters, anglers, shooting sports participants, and boaters is the goal of this organized symposium. Additionally, presentations from new campaigns and efforts focused on retaining these new customers are encouraged. Theme: R3, hunting and fishing retention, marketing, participation research |
| Tags: | R3 |
| A Regional Approach to Retaining New Hunters, Shooters and Anglers | |
| Track: | S-01: Retaining New and Reactivated Participants: R3 During a Pandemic |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Eddie Herndon, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The NEAFWA R3 Committee received a Multistate Conservation Grant to develop retention strategies and address critical marketing needs for all states in the region. This presentation will focus on how this effort was coordinated, and what products and outcomes have been achieved. |
| Tags: | Hunting, Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| R3 After 2020 in Pennsylvania: Understanding Motivations of New and Reactivated Hunters | |
| Track: | S-01: Retaining New and Reactivated Participants: R3 During a Pandemic |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Coren P. Jagnow, Pennsylvania Game Commission; Stephen P. Smith, Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Hunting license sales in Pennsylvania have risen by nearly three percent for the current 2020-21 license year, an increase that has not occurred in nearly forty years. Increased free time from the Covid-19 pandemic is assumed by many as the cause of this increase since participation in other activities was prohibited or restricted, allowing more time for hunting. Although it is likely this played a role in the increased sales of hunting licenses, it is important to determine the role it played for newly recruited or reactivated hunters. Additionally, many license types like archery, migratory bird, pheasant, and bear saw an even greater increase in sales for this license year in Pennsylvania. Qualitative and quantitative methods, along with analysis of license sales trends, were used to measure hunter motivations. Interviews with new hunters and surveys of reactivated hunters were conducted to identify the causes of increased hunting participation. Analysis of licenses sales revealed a lot about who these new hunters are and their patterns of license purchase. Identifying the factors that enabled this increase in participation is a critical first step in retaining these new or reactivated hunters. In addition to Covid-19, several changes were made to popular hunting seasons and it is important to identify the role that these changes made in the increased number of hunters. Also, Sunday hunting was offered on three Sundays in November 2020, the first time that Sunday hunting was permitted for big game in Pennsylvania. Surveys of reactivated resident hunters were sent at the completion of hunting seasons to identify trends in participation, reasons for reactivation, and the role Covid-19 played in their decision to hunt in Pennsylvania this year. Understanding these hunters will play an important role in developing R3 strategies to retain them as consistent participants in the future. |
| Tags: | Human Dimensions, R3, Survey Methods |
| West Virginia Division of Natural Resources 2021 Hunting and Fishing License Giveaway | |
| Track: | S-01: Retaining New and Reactivated Participants: R3 During a Pandemic |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Kayla Donathan, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources - Wildlife Resources Section |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Like many states, West Virginia saw an increase in outdoor recreation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As things begin to return to normal, the retention of this audience must be a top priority. In an effort to retain these participants, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources held a special 2021 license campaign. The promotion encouraged resident hunters and anglers to purchase their 2021 license early, ensuring both funding and participation in the coming year. By making an early purchase, the license buyers were entered into a giveaway for numerous prizes, including a lifetime hunting and fishing license. This presentation focuses on the logistics and results of the 2020 promotion, which show a positive trend toward participation in 2021. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast | |
| S-02 Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast - Symposium Introduction | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 1:00 PM - 1:03 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Symposium Organizers: Julie Ellis, Senior Research Investigator, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, [email protected]; Andrew Di Salvo, Bureau of Wildlife Management, Wildlife Health Division, PA Game Commission ([email protected]) |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Symposium Overview: Disease emergence and resurgence threatens the sustainability of healthy population levels and long-term survival for many wildlife species in the Northeast. Disease outbreaks in wildlife can erode biodiversity and threaten ecosystem health. This symposium brings together university researchers and state agency staff to present their findings on diseases that are significant to wildlife conservation, as well as diseases that are transmitted between wildlife and domestic animals. Through this symposium, we seek to raise the profile of wildlife disease research and management in the region. |
| Tags: | Other |
| The Invasive Pentastome Raillietiella Orientalis: A Threat to Reptile Species in the Eastern United States? | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Robert J. Ossiboff, Aquatic, Amphibian, and Reptile Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The introduction of novel pathogens to naive hosts can have significant and deleterious effects on wildlife health. Raillietiella orientalis is an obligate, pentastome parasite of reptile respiratory tract. The parasite has a wide natural range throughout southeastern Asia and Australia, but was introduced into southern Florida, presumably by invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the 1990s. While the invasive range of Burmese pythons is limited to the southern part of the state, the parasite has been documented to extend farther north while infecting native Florida snakes. This presentation will provide an overview of the invasive parasite, documented range extensions over time, and the potential clinical ramifications of pentastomiasis in native and non-native hosts. |
| Tags: | Amphibian/Reptile, Diseases/Parasites, Exotic/Invasive Species |
| Prevalence and Genetic Identity of Gammaherpesvirus and Parvovirus Infection in Vermont Bobcats (Lynx rufus) | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Dagan A. Loisel, Owen Sanborn, Lauren Walsh, Emily Ferreri, Megan McCauley - Saint Michael’s College |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Viral pathogens play an important role in shaping the health of wildlife populations. Apex predators, such as the North American bobcat (Lynx rufus), encounter a diverse array of viral species through their behaviors, diet, and biological interactions. To better understand the frequency and potential impact of viral infections on bobcat population health, we conducted a molecular epidemiological study of two viruses in the Vermont (VT) bobcat population. Specifically, we used endpoint and quantitative real-time PCR and DNA sequencing to investigate the presence, prevalence, and genetic identity of the bobcat gammaherpesvirus (GHV), LruGHV1, and of viruses in the Protoparvovirus genus (i.e. parvoviruses). The results indicate that LruGHV1 infection was common and widespread in the bobcats, with LruGHV1 DNA being detected in approximately 64% of all animals. In contrast, parvovirus infection was significantly less common, with parvovirus DNA being detected in only ~8% of animals. These two viruses also differed markedly in levels of genetic variation observed in the VT population: only a single sequence was observed for the LruGHV1 gene, Glycoprotein B, while 11 different sequence variants of the parvovirus VP2 gene were detected in the population. The clear differences in prevalence and genetic diversity of these viruses may reflect differences in viral ecology, transmission, and replication dynamics, as well as variation in host factors, such as age, sex, and immunocompetence. |
| Tags: | Diseases/Parasites, Genetics-Wildlife, Mammal |
| Anticoagulant Rodenticide, Canine Distemper Virus, and Necropsy Findings in Fisher, Gray Fox and Red Fox from NH | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | David B. Needle, NH Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, UNH; Patrick Tate, New Hampshire Fish & Game; Chiara Antonioli, Molecular Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, UNH; Lisa Murphy, Department of Pathobiology, PADLS, Wildlife Futures Programs, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine; Yung-Yi Mosley, Tifton Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, UGA |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Carcasses from 11 red fox (Vulpes Vulpes), 9 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and 15 fisher (Pekania pennant) from the 2019-2020 winter season in NH were examined in this pilot study. Testing included gross dissection and histopathology for evidence of disease, high-performance liquid chromatography to attempt to identify anticoagulant rodenticide accumulation, and PCR and sequencing for canine distemper virus identification and phylogeny. Findings were highlighted by diagnosis of canine distemper virus in 4/35 animals (3 gray fox and one fisher), and anticoagulant rodenticides in 34/35 animals. The canine distemper viruses all fell within the recently identified clade distinct to northern New England, and one potentially novel strain. The anticoagulant rodenticides identified included Diphacinone, Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Chlorophacinone, Difethialone, and Dicoumarol. Coumachlor, Coumafuryl, Difenacoum, Pindone, and Warfarin were not identified in any animal. Canine distemper virus was identified in Grafton and Strafford counties; anticoagulant rodenticides were widely dispersed. These findings indicate that anticoagulant rodenticides are distributed throughout the state, and that canine distemper virus remains in circulation in mesocarnivores in NH. |
| Tags: | Diseases/Parasites, Game Species, Mammal |
| Evaluation of Real Time RT-PCR Panel for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Bat Guano | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Eman Anis, University of Pennsylvania; Greg Turner, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management; Julie C. Ellis, Northeast Wildlife Disease Cooperative, University of Pennsylvania, Andrew Di Salvo, Pennsylvania Game Commission,Bureau of Wildlife Management; Lisa Murphy, University of Pennsylvania |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), which is an ongoing global health concern. The exact source of the virus has not been identified, but it is believed that this novel coronavirus originated in animals, and bats in particular have been implicated as the primary reservoir of the virus. It has been documented that this virus can also be transmitted from humans back to some animals including tigers, cats and mink. Consequently, infected people who work directly with bats could transfer the virus to a wild North American (NA) bat, resulting in a new natural reservoir for the virus, and lead to new outbreaks of human disease. The goal of this study was to evaluate a real time RT-PCR (RT-rtPCR) panel for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in bat guano. The panel evaluated in this study was found to be highly specific for SARS-CoV-2 and was able to detect the virus in bat guano samples spiked with SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. Additionally, we used the evaluated panel to test 130 bat guano samples collected from rehabilitation facilities across Pennsylvania and all the tested samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2. These results showed that this panel could be utilized by wildlife agencies to test bats in rehabilitation facilities prior to their release to the wild, minimizing the risk of spreading this virus to wild populationss. |
| Tags: | Mammal, Survey Methods, Wildlife Techniques |
| Rehab to the Rescue: Measuring the Risk of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Transmission to Wildlife | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Kaitlin Sawatzki, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University; Wendy Puryear, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University; Nichola Hill, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University; Laura Borkenhagen, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University; Alexa Foss, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University; Jonathan Runstadler, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | In winter 2020, during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic in the New England area, we developed a rapid response study to investigate the potential for human-to-animal spillover and onward transmission in domestic, farm, zoo and wildlife species (CoVERS: Coronavirus Epidemiological Response and Surveillance). To date, we have screened 1500 animals from >60 species for evidence of human-to-animal spillover. Our results suggest that human-to-animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be common with a relatively low barrier for infection in some species. We present surveillance case study examples, including from wildlife mammals in rehabilitation settings. We compliment these surveillance efforts with in vitro experiments to investigate the risk of transmission, infection and disease in species of concern. Our preliminary data provides evidence of low natural transmission risk to regional bats, but experimental data suggests grey seals are at risk of human spillover. To date, we have identified no positive wild animals via RT-PCR or ELISA. |
| Tags: | Diseases/Parasites, Human Dimensions, Mammal |
| SARS-CoV-2 Evolution in Companion Animals, and Potential for Spillover into Wildlife | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 2:40 PM - 3:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Roderick B. Gagne, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine; Laura Bashor, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; Mark Stenglein, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; Sue VandeWoude, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | SARS-CoV-2 likely originated in wildlife species prior to ignition of a global pandemic. Spillback into domestic and wild animals following contact with infected humans has been well documented. Experimental inoculation of a number of mammalian hosts has demonstrated wide species susceptibility. We deep sequenced pronasal fluids recovered from experimentally infected cats (n=6), dogs (n=3), hamsters (n=3) and ferret (n=1). Sequencing data revealed 13 nonsynonymous variants (6 in nonstructural genes, 6 in spike, 1 in orf8) and 1 synonymous variant (in N) that were detected at > 50% frequency in one individual or were detected in all individuals of one species. Ten of these variants were present in the viral inoculum at < 3% and four were not identified in the viral inoculum at all. Live virus was not cultured from inoculated dogs yet substitutions in replicase were readily detected from amplified sequence and it was the only species with shared variants recovered from all individuals. Both species-specific and trans-species variants were identified, and some of the emergent residues (Spike H69R, N501T, D614G) mirrored relevant human SARS-CoV-2 variants. These findings are specifically relevant to identification of rapid selection of SARS-CoV-2 variants in potential new mammalian hosts. Residues under selection provide clues to specific virus-host interactions necessary for optimal SARS-CoV-2 replication and illustrate the possibility that animals might serve as spill-back reservoir hosts capable of accelerating evolution of new viral lineages. Control of the current pandemic, and prevention and prediction of future outbreaks requires an understanding of potential animal reservoirs and viral capacity to adapt to new host environments. Our findings indicate that domestic cats are capable of shedding virus and that viral variants, including potentially de novo variants, arise within the cats. These findings, coupled with those of captive wild felids, suggest wild felids in North America could be reservoir hosts for SARS-CoV-2. |
| Tags: | Diseases/Parasites |
| Break | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 3:00 PM - 3:20 PM (ET) |
| Lethal Parasites Impact the Survival of Young Bull Moose (Alces alces) in the Adirondack Park of New York State | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Patrick Connelly, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab; Brenda Hanley; Cornell Wildlife Health Lab; Jacqui Frair, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Joseph Hinton, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; David Kramer, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Jeremy Hurst, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; James Stickles, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Ashley Ableman, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Kevin Hynes, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Krysten Schuler, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Recently documented moose (Alces alces) abundance estimates in New York, United States (NYS) have indicated that the moose population in the Adirondack region is significantly smaller than those found in contiguous states. While initial research highlights that a lack of early successional habitat may inhibit equivalent moose densities, the role at which parasitic mortality plays in individual recruitment is unknown. We hypothesized that mortalities of young adults by lethal parasites have influenced population dynamics of moose in the Adirondacks. We incorporated veterinary data from necropsies of moose with the demographic characteristics of the life cycle of cow and bull moose into a matrix population model to determine whether mortalities from parasites (brain worm, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis; liver fluke, Fascioloides magna) have impacted the annual survival of young adult moose. We found that both parasites significantly lower annual survival of young bull moose, which may inhibit in situ population recruitment. |
| Tags: | Diseases/Parasites, Management, Modeling |
| Improving Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Through Mathematical Modeling and Data Science | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Nicholas Hollingshead, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, Cornell University; Brenda Hanley, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, Cornell University; Rachel Abbott, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, Cornell University; Krysten Schuler, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, Cornell University |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal degenerative neurological disease in captive and free-ranging cervids. Since the disease was first recognized in mule deer in Colorado in the 1960s, it has spread steadily across North America, and has been detected in several Northeast states and provinces. Annually, state and provincial wildlife agencies dedicate significant resources to CWD testing, surveillance, outbreak response, and management. The Surveillance Optimization Project for Chronic Wasting Disease (SOP4CWD) is a multi-institution collaboration that uses mathematical modeling and data science to address the challenges of CWD surveillance. The project is led by the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab at Cornell University and the Boone and Crockett Quantitative Wildlife Center at Michigan State University. The goal of the project is to provide wildlife agencies with a new suite of tools that support data-driven decision-making for CWD surveillance. In this presentation we will report on progress, demonstrate tools currently in development and provide a roadmap for the project’s future. SOP4CWD collaborators continue to develop a CWD surveillance data warehouse and integrated web applications that will allow agencies to explore surveillance strategies and management options. All state and provincial wildlife agencies are welcome and encouraged to join SOP4CWD. |
| Tags: | Management, Modeling, Technology/Geographic Information Systems |
| Blood-lead Declines in Wintering American Black Ducks in New Jersey Following the Lead Shot Ban | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Nicole Lewis, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; Ted Nichols, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; Christina Lilley; NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife; Doug Roscoe, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife (retired); Jan Lovy, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Lead shot ingestion by waterfowl has been an issue in the United States as far back as the 1870s. A study conducted by the Illinois Natural History Survey in 1959 found that between 1938-1954 approximately 2-3% of the North American waterfowl population died annually from lead toxicity. In response to this, a phase-out of lead shot for waterfowl hunting began in the Atlantic Flyway in the 1970s and was subsequently banned throughout the United States and Canada prior to 2000. We compared blood-lead levels in American black ducks (Anas rubripes) wintering in coastal New Jersey in 1978, prior to the lead ban, and in 2017, about 39 years after lead shot was first banned for use in Atlantic coastal marshes and 27 years after it was banned for waterfowl hunting in New Jersey. We found a significant decline in blood-lead levels, similar to other studies, however, lead is still being detected in black ducks indicating that a source of lead remains in the environment that may be negatively impacting the health of the waterfowl population in the Atlantic Flyway. |
| Tags: | Avian, Management, Wetland |
| The Impact of Lead Toxicosis on Bald Eagle Population Recovery in the Northeast United States | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 4:20 PM - 4:40 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Patrick Connelly, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab; Brenda Hanley, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab; Kevin Hynes, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; André Dhondt, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Mark Pokras, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine; Justin Brown, The Pennsylvania State University; Elizabeth Bunting, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab; Maria Forzan, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab; and Krysten Schuler, Cornell Wildlife Health Lab |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) populations have appeared to have recovered across their range following endangered species listing, despite lead (Pb) toxicosis as a recurrent cause of morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to assess the population-scale impacts of Pb toxicosis on bald eagles in the Northeast United States by evaluating whether Pb-associated mortalities altered the dynamics of population recovery from 1990 – 2018. Through the integration of necropsy and demographic data into a matrix population model, we compared population recovery under Pb (actual) and Pb-free (hypothetical) scenarios. The presence of Pb decreased annual survival of immature and non-breeding adults, population inertia, and the long-term growth rate; increased fall survival of fledglings; and did not alter annual survival of breeding adults or the stochastic growth rate. We determined that bald eagle population abundances could have been 2.4 – 7.1% higher in the spring of 2018 had Pb been absent from the environment during population recovery. |
| Tags: | Diseases/Parasites, Management, Modeling |
| Cooperative Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) Winter Mortality Investigation, 2013-2020 | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | *Erica. Miller ([email protected]) and Sherrill Davison, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine; Cindy P. Driscoll, Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | This report presents the findings from a portion of the work done by veterinary team members from Project SNOWstorm, begun during the Snowy Owl irruption in the winter of 2013-2014. The veterinary team conducted gross necropsies and collected morphometrics on over 300 birds found in twelve states, the District of Columbia, and three Canadian provinces during this period. Identical diagnostics were not run on all specimens, but diagnostics conducted on at least fifty percent of the birds included: radiographs; liver toxicology screens for heavy metals, organic chemicals, and anti-coagulant rodenticides; histopathology; parasite collection and identification; and general screening for pathogens including West Nile virus and avian influenza virus. During the first winter, most mortalities were associated with trauma (largely vehicular impact), and most of these birds were in good body condition. During the subsequent winters, many of the birds were in a thin to emaciated body condition, and many had secondary fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infections. Data analysis shows that while many birds did have exposure to rodenticides, heavy metals, and organochlorines, levels were not high enough to be a significant contributor to mortality. Nearly all birds, regardless of body condition, were infested with external lice of the genus Strigiphilus. |
| Tags: | Avian, Diseases/Parasites |
| S-02 Wildlife Health Symposium - Moderated Panel Discussion | |
| Track: | S-02: Ongoing and Emerging Threats to Wildlife Health in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 26, 2021; 5:00 PM - 5:20 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Julie C. Ellis, MS, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor, Senior Research Investigator, Co-Director, Wildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Join symposium organizers and presenters for a moderated panel discussion and Q&A. |
| Tags: | Other |
| S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats | |
| S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats - Symposium Introduction | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 8:20 AM - 8:30 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Moderator: Eric Boehm, Senior Fisheries Biologist, Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Symposium Overview: As a century of land use changes have left critical aquatic habitats fragmented, part two of the symposium shifts to reconnecting aquatic habitats. Collaborative partnerships have been successful in reconnecting aquatic habitats through dam removals, culvert replacements and habitat restoration efforts. Aquatic passage assessments such as those performed by the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) help guide partnerships by identifying and prioritizing impediments to aquatic passage. Presentations documenting various aquatic connectivity projects will allow for a comparison of varying project design and implementation strategies as well as provisions for or effectiveness of pre- and post-project monitoring. Monitoring efforts are critical to understanding impacts to and response of the aquatic community (fish, mussels, reptiles, amphibians, etc.), as well as documenting changes in channel morphology and in-stream habitat. The goal of this session is to exchange information concerning various aquatic connectivity approaches and their effect on aquatic biota and their habitat to help facilitate future aquatic connectivity projects and partnerships. Theme: Habitat connectivity (aquatic and land),dam removals, planning, implementation |
| Tags: | Other |
| Assessing Barrier Effects of Road-Stream Crossings on Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms in the Northeastern United States | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 8:30 AM - 8:50 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Scott Jackson, University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) is a network of individuals from universities, conservation organizations, environmental businesses, and state and federal natural resource and transportation agencies focused on improving aquatic connectivity across a thirteen-state region, from Maine to Virginia. The NAACC has developed common protocols for assessing road-stream crossings (culverts and bridges) and a regional database that allows for the storage, scoring and retrieval of field data. In 2015, the NAACC released a protocol for assessment aquatic connectivity for non-tidal streams. A Tidal Stream Crossing Assessment protocol was developed in 2019 as a complement to the non-tidal protocol. It is particularly challenging to assess aquatic passability for tidal streams because daily fluctuations in water levels and flow characteristics mean that, for some streams, barrier effects may vary greatly throughout a single day. Conditions that would be impassable at low tide might be fine at high tide. These two crossing assessment protocols are rapid assessment methodologies designed to provide a rough assessment of the barrier effects of culverts and bridges on aquatic organism passage. Data from these assessments are incorporated into an aquatic barriers prioritization tool developed by The Nature Conservancy and Critical Linkages analyses conducted by UMass Amherst. These prioritization systems quantify or rank restoration potential for each crossing and can be used to identify high priority bridges and culverts for upgrade or replacement. In additional to aquatic passability modules, the NAACC also has new protocols for assessing culvert condition and passability of road-stream crossings for terrestrial wildlife. |
| Tags: | Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream, Survey Methods |
| Collaborative Aquatic Conservation Opportunities with the Natural Resources Conservation Service | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Ben Naumann, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | As funding tightens and construction costs continue to rise, getting aquatic restoration projects to the finish line seems daunting. Regardless, the number of aquatic connectivity projects in Maine continues to grow annually thanks to the efforts of many federal, state, tribal and non-government partners. This growth has led Maine Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to create an aquatic restoration team, which is working closely with partners and private landowners to provide project assistance. This presentation will provide valuable insight to partners interested in collaborative conservation funding mechanisms that can be applied to aquatic restoration projects. It will also describe aquatic project case studies that have utilized NRCS programs for collaborative conservation. |
| Tags: | Habitat, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream |
| Aquatic Connectivity Projects, Strategies, and Partnerships in Maine | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Eileen Bader Hall, The Nature Conservancy |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Road-stream crossings generally fragment habitat, reducing healthy stream function. Road-stream crossing failures cause environmental damage downstream through sedimentation and changes to stream channel morphology and flow patterns. Barriers created by dams and undersized and perched culverts block access to essential refugia for temperature-sensitive species like endangered Atlantic salmon and brook trout; prevent access to habitats critical to their life histories; and isolate gene pools. Furthermore, undersized or poorly installed culverts at road crossings are more susceptible to catastrophic storm failure and wear out faster than properly sized, more river-friendly designs. Blow-outs damage downstream habitats, cost more to fix than planned installations, and create expensive detours for commerce, schools and emergency services. Data has been collected, as part of the overarching North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaboration (NAACC) effort, on more than 25,000 road-stream crossings in Maine; approximately half are known direct barriers to fish passage. The Nature Conservancy in Maine has experience with inventory, assessment, prioritization, design, permitting, developing funding mechanisms, implementing replacements, and monitoring results on aquatic connectivity projects both on public and privately-owned crossings. We have developed cutting-edge interactive tools to focus limited funds for the most benefit. Specifically, the Maine Statewide Barrier Prioritization Tool, is an online decision support tool to help the river restoration community in Maine identify and prioritize in-stream barriers for removal or improved passage. The tool allows users to explore barriers to fish movement, including dams and road-stream crossings, and assess how any given barrier impacts key fish guilds. This presentation will provide an overview of aquatic connectivity efforts in Maine and drill down into strategies and tools for prioritizing projects and leveraging innovative partnerships and funding mechanisms, as well as lessons learned and thoughts on how to continue to build upon successes to achieve increasingly impactful restoration. |
| Tags: | Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Aquatic Connectivity Through Climate Ready Infrastructure | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Isabelle Stinnette, NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program, Hudson River Foundation |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Aquatic connectivity is a key restoration goal for the New York – New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP) and its partners. The Hudson Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Plan has the long-term objective of removing or otherwise obviating one barrier to fish passage per year, prioritizing connections to the saline waters of the estuary. While aquatic connectivity has been studied in Estuary watersheds of New Jersey with respect to dams, the effectiveness of aquatic passage at crossing infrastructure has not been assessed. The creation of the assessment protocols, training methods and collective database developed by the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) has streamlined and galvanized the effort to prioritize barrier removal. In HEP’s aquatic connectivity project, the information collected during the NAACC assessment was also used in a model, developed by Cornell University, that evaluates the hydraulic right-sizing of culverts. This analyses use culvert size and watershed information to assess which maximum storm interval (e.g. a 10-year storm event) the culvert can accommodate without the flow over-topping the road and causing roadside/streambank erosion. This can help predict whether the culvert can handle water flows now and under future climate change scenarios. HEP has developed recommendations for barrier removal in three sub-watersheds in the Hudson Raritan Estuary based on NAACC, dendritic connectivity, and the hydraulic model results, as well as metrics of opportunity such as planned projects from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. The goal of our project is to provide stakeholders with these results to advance planning and capital projects to replace problematic road-stream crossings with climate-ready, connectivity-friendly versions. |
| Tags: | Climate, Diadromous Fish, Habitat, River/Stream |
| Prioritizing USFWS Aquatic Connectivity Restoration Efforts Across the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 9:50 AM - 10:10 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Will Duncan, Cathy Bozek, Gabe Gries - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Aquatic connectivity restoration efforts can be more efficient and effective when concentrated on multiple barriers within a single watershed, rather than scattered across many watersheds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s North Atlantic-Appalachian Region (Service) is undertaking an effort to 1) identify watersheds where connectivity restoration can be expected to have the greatest benefits for Service trust species and habitats, and 2) to focus Service aquatic connectivity investments and achieve a collective "lift" in these important places. This set of watersheds is referred to as the “Service Watershed Investment Map” (SWIM). SWIM will allow the Service to focus our development of aquatic connectivity projects and deliver resources to projects in strategic areas, and enable the Service’s multiple conservation programs to collectively invest in important efforts. The map will also be used in communications with external partners, such as state fish and wildlife agencies, to convey Service priorities and as a starting point for determining where we can combine efforts with other groups and where we may want to “divide and conquer.” This talk will explain the development of SWIM, how information from states and other partners has been incorporated, and how the Service will use the map to collaborate with states and other partners to improve aquatic connectivity in the region. |
| Tags: | Diadromous Fish, Freshwater Fish, River/Stream |
| Break | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 10:10 AM - 10:30 AM (ET) |
| Restoring and Assessing Aquatic Connectivity on the Pawcatuck River in Rhode Island | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Alex Haro, USGS; Brett Still, URI; Suzanne Paton, USFWS; Philip Edwards, RIDEM; Jim Turek, NOAA |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The Wood-Pawcatuck River Watershed encompasses 307 square miles and forms the southwestern border between Rhode Island and Connecticut. While the watershed is more than sixty percent forested and includes substantial wetlands, it is also characterized by many villages with defunct mills and failing dams that have historically affected river habitats and its native fish populations. As a high priority for diadromous fisheries within the state and broader region, the 38-mile long mainstem of the Pawcatuck River has been the focus of intensive restoration efforts for more than a decade. A diverse partnership of Federal, State and non-governmental organizations have worked collaboratively to remove run-of-the-river dams, construct nature-like fishways and install or retrofit Denil technical fishways at six sites along the river, cumulatively investing more than $6 million in funding. To evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts and quantify fish passage efficiency of the barrier removal sites, a two-year biotelemetry study was initiated in 2018, utilizing radio telemetry as well as passive integrated transponder (PIT) technologies. Telemetry receivers were stationed downstream and upstream of historic passage impediments, restored passage sites, and at tributary mouths to suspected alewife spawning habitat. A total of 193 alewife and 83 American shad were tracked throughout each spring season, and the resulting passage efficiencies and times were calculated for each site. An additional 447 alewife received PIT tags which provided more detailed passage efficiency data for two Denil fishways. Overall, passage performance of both species was improved by removal or modification of barriers, with alewife ascending into upper tributaries and high quality spawning habitat. Upstream limit of movement of American shad within the watershed remains unclear but does not appear to be impeded by the restoration actions. We anticipate that the study results will inform future restoration actions within this watershed and in the broader region. |
| Tags: | Diadromous Fish, Restoration/Enhancement, Survey Methods |
| Removal of a Head-of-Tide Dam: Reconnecting the Weweantic River Estuary, Wareham, MA | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Sara N. da Silva Quintal, Buzzards Bay Coalition; James Turek, NOAA Restoration Center |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Horseshoe Mill dam on the Weweantic River in Wareham, Massachusetts was removed in 2020, restoring tidal flow, fish passage and ecological functions of the lower Weweantic River and estuary. This head-of-tide dam blocked tidal exchange and anadromous fishes from accessing spawning habitat for nearly 200 years. The river is known to support the southernmost viable population of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), a species that has been in serious decline in southern New England. Removal of the dam allows for natural adaptation of the river to rising sea levels, including natural upriver wetland recovery and habitat expansion of at least two rare vascular plant species. The Buzzards Bay Coalition, as property owner, oversaw the dam removal, partnering with the Buzzards Bay Trustee Council to secure natural resource damage settlement funds for the various project phases. The transition of the former impoundment to riverine and estuarine habitat will be monitored for at least five years using multiple methods and metrics, including geomorphic channel adjustments using aerial drone photography, fyke net and fish egg deposition surveys, transects and plots for plant community succession, and water quality indicators within, downstream and upriver of the former impoundment. Preliminary pre- and post-construction monitoring results focusing on the dynamic changes within the former impoundment will be presented. The project also incorporates public access enhancements through trail and kayak launch improvements, and educational signage to present the ecological benefits of dam removal. |
| Tags: | Diadromous Fish, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream |
| Assessing the Ecological and Social Impacts of the Columbia Lake Dam Removal | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 11:10 AM - 11:30 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Kyle Walker, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame; Dominic Chaloner, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame |
| Student or Professional: | Student-Undergraduate |
| Abstract: | Dam removal is increasingly used as a common approach to river restoration. The impact of restoration efforts on ecological conditions is often monitored, but rarely is this extended to the social impacts, even though they are recognized as an important outcome of resource management actions. To study both the ecological and social dimensions of dam removal, we used the Columbia Lake Dam as a case study. Removal of a 5.5 meter hydropower dam, located in the Paulins Kill River in Columbia, NJ, was completed in 2019 as part of a greater restoration initiative in the Paulins Kill watershed organized by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The goal of the dam removal was to enhance river health for native species and improve spawning grounds for anadromous fish. We considered whether dam removal had altered both the ecological and social value of the river by examining changes in water quality data while also surveying public perception of these changes. Water quality data analyzed included daily average, minimum, and maximum of both temperature (℃) and dissolved oxygen concentrations (mg/L), collected continuously by TNC from 2016 to 2020. To understand social impacts, we distributed an online survey to recreational users of the Paulins Kill that asked about perceptions of the Columbia Lake Dam removal, focusing on changes in water quality, fish habitat, and recreational experiences. Findings from the analysis of water quality and user surveys were reconciled to determine whether or not recreational impacts predicted from empirical scientific data matched the perceptions of recreational users. The research described will specifically enable TNC, NJDEP, and other stakeholders to better understand both the social and ecological outcomes of the Paulins Kill River Restoration Project, while also improving the broader knowledge of the many consequences of dam removal. |
| Tags: | Human Dimensions, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream |
| Columbia Lake Dam Removal: Using Drones for Quantitative Evaluation of River Restoration | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 11:30 AM - 11:50 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Beth Styler-Barry, The Nature Conservancy; Geoffrey Goll, PE, Princeton Hydro; Christiana Pollack, CFM, GISP, Princeton Hydro; Casey Schrading, EIT, Princeton Hydro; Kelly Klein, Princeton Hydro; Thomas Hopper, Princeton Hydro; Ellen Creveling, The Nature Conservancy Drone Team: Chuck Gullage, Bill Leavens, Nigel Robinson |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The Columbia Lake Dam was built in 1909. This 18- foot high, 330-foot-long dam was located on the Paulins Kill less than 0.25 miles upstream from its confluence with the Delaware River. Hydropower production was deemed to unprofitable and the dam became a candidate for removal. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) removed this “first blockage” as the cornerstone of the larger restoration project which opened 10 miles of river for fish migration, improved recreation, floodplain reconnection, habitat enhancement and higher water quality. Dam removal activities commenced in June 2018 and continued through the Spring of 2019 and will be followed by five years of monitoring. This is the largest dam removal in New Jersey to date and is the first to use passive efforts for sediment management; including adaptive management planning and extensive on-the-ground monitoring. Monitoring of the effects of dam removal on the river and its ecosystem is vitally important to determine long-term ecological uplift, short-term positive and negative effects, and develop data to provide information for future dam removals. TNC is interested in understanding the effectiveness of drone or UAV technology to evaluate the effects of the dam removal, including the calculation of increased floodplain habitat, development of vegetation communities, changes in sediment deposit elevations and distribution, and channel migration evolution. Due to the programmable and repeatable nature of drone flight paths, such monitoring will be able to be conducted for years and decades, producing invaluable data for research and future project design. The presentation will review parameters investigated, results and significance of the data retrieved, and recommendations for use of this technology for future ecosystem restoration projects. Checks on the data will be presented, including the comparison between the elevational data collected by the drone flights and land survey elevations of selected cross sections through the former impoundment. |
| Tags: | Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream, Technology/Geographic Information Systems |
| Lunch Break | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (ET) |
| Maine’s ‘Connectivity Problem’: How to Implement a Statewide Stream Connectivity Enhancement Program Without Really Having One | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Merry Gallagher, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Maine is home to bountiful wild Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and other native coldwater fishery resources. It is also a state where significant alterations to aquatic habitats, past and present, continue to compromise riverine habitat quality and network connectivity. Although there is broad recognition that connectivity enhancement is a primary goal for attaining many fisheries enhancement objectives, such as strengthening wild brook trout populations or diadromous species restoration, the statewide scale of the problem and the often conflicting agendas and jurisdictions of the state’s agencies and industries has traditionally stymied any meaningful progress. As an attempt to understand the complexities involved, as well as to foster communication regarding the ‘connectivity issue’ among the State’s sometimes contentious players, the State of Maine convened the Stream Connectivity Work Group in 2009 as a forum for networking and coordination to inform, leverage, and enhance the work of on-the-ground restoration practitioners and planners. The Group continues to provide a forum for information exchange, develop common assessment tools and data sharing platforms, and implements the Maine Stream Smart outreach and education program. Accomplishments to date include a now completed statewide inventory of all road/stream crossings for condition and aquatic organism passability, an online map tool for data sharing and outreach to those responsible for stream crossing replacements, and the growing Maine Stream Smart program that provides varying levels of training and educational workshops for multiple audiences involved with stream connectivity enhancement. As a result of the Group’s work over the past decade, the ‘connectivity issue’ has been elevated as a statewide priority across multiple agencies and industries and is among Maine’s primary strategies to adapt to climate change. |
| Tags: | Freshwater Fish, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream |
| Building Better Rivers and Roads for Virginia's Eastern Brook Trout | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Celia Vuocolo, Claire Catlett, Piedmont Environmental Council |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), a 501C-3 nonprofit and land trust, has been a leader in land conservation for over 50 years in the Northern Virginia Piedmont. Over the past 8 years, we have been visualizing conservation through a new lens; a fish-eye perspective for protecting and restoring the best cool, clean water for the Eastern brook trout. By working to restore a local charismatic species, PEC has developed cross-cutting tools and connected with the communities of the Blue Ridge foothills that have long held a special place in their culture for this fish, and unique habitat and Shenandoah National Park in their backyard. PEC initiated our Trout Stream Restoration Initiative in 2013 by completing a survey of barriers to AOP passage on private and public road-stream crossings in a 4 county region. Since then, PEC has tackled four fish passage improvement projects on private lands, created a project prioritization model, collected, managed and synthesized fish population data, and developed a network of partners ranging from private foundations to state and federal agencies, all committed and invested in bringing back the brook trout. In Fall 2019, PEC officially launched a partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) with grant awards from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for two pilot projects on public road-stream crossings at Piney River and Bolton Branch (both in Rappahannock County). We have been working concertedly with VDOT staff and USFWS and have developed cost-effective designs that meet fish passage and flood resiliency goals, with a target construction date of 2021. |
| Tags: | Freshwater Fish, Game Species, Habitat, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream |
| Fish Ramps for Culverts Rehabilitated with Concrete Inverts: Collaborations and Successes | |
| Track: | S-03: Reconnecting Aquatic Habitats |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | John Mage, NH Fish and Game Department; Peter Kehoe, NH Department of Transportation; Tom Ballestero, UNH Civil Engineering Department |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Ideally, a full replacement is done when a stream crossing is in major structural disrepair. However, the cost of replacement of a round culvert, especially under busy highways where there exists a great deal of fill, can be not only impractical, but it can be difficult or impossible to justify the financial cost. A common method to rehabilitate and extend the life of such a culvert is to line the invert with several inches of concrete. Because this raises the outlet invert, it can create or exacerbate a perched outlet, negatively impacting aquatic organism passage (AOP). We will present a novel fish ramp project that was used to restore AOP in a wild brook trout stream in central New Hampshire. The project was possible only because of the strong collaborative relationships among the transportation and natural resource agencies involved. At northbound and southbound Interstate culverts, solutions were designed and constructed to accommodate native fish species. Typical of many such settings, the perched culvert along with the desire to minimize downstream disturbance results in very steep solutions. An additional constraint was that the culvert slip-lining would result with the culvert itself being a passage barrier at low flows, therefore the solution needed to back-up water to the culvert entrances to provide AOP through the culverts as well. Rather than technical fish passes, rock ramps were selected as the solution for both culverts. The final designs incorporated slopes within the range of upstream riffles. The rock ramps employed rock bands that bracketed resting pools: the step pool sequences geomorphically similar to upstream characteristics. Through standardized electrofishing surveys, we were able to demonstrate that both ramps worked and seem to provide AOP to multiple fish species and lifestages, including young of the year. |
| Tags: | Freshwater Fish, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream |
| S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management | |
| How Is Climate Change Interacting with Non-climate Threats to Exacerbate and Complicate Wildlife Management in the Northeast Region? | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Michelle Staudinger, USGS, DOI Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Climate change is having pervasive impacts on fish and wildlife throughout the Northeast region as species respond to rising temperatures, changes in precipitation and hydrology, extreme storm events, sea level rise and other threats. While management and conservation efforts have a long history of developing strategies and actions for non-climate threats such as land use change and harvest, the added effects of climate change create new challenges that intensify and accelerate management options and timelines. Developing strategies and actions to address the additive effects of climate and other threats requires innovative, efficient, and collaborative solutions that take advantage of the tools and expertise that managers already have in their toolboxes but also combine cutting edge research on climate impacts, species’ sensitivity, and adaptive responses. Natural resource managers also need to be prepared to deal with unexpected complications and equipped with information to guide the public away from unintended, maladaptive responses, and misperceptions. This presentation will provide an overview of the rising and interactive threats of climate change and non-climate stressors, information on climate vulnerabilities of Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and how these factors manifest as complex challenges across diverse habitats in the Northeast region. In addition, this presentation will consider how such information can be used to inform regional coordinated planning and implementation through important partnerships and efforts such as the State Wildlife Action Plans and Forest Action Plans. |
| Tags: | Climate, Conservation Biology, Management |
| Forest Habitat Management in a Changing Climate: The Tradeoffs and Backlash | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Sharon Petzinger, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Forest management by means of cutting trees/logging has been a highly debated and divisive topic for decades. It has fueled tensions between game and nongame wildlife managers, foresters and wildlife biologists, preservationists and conservationists, and now potentially between climate activists and managers of wildlife habitat. In a state that is only 40% forested and a population density over 1,200 people per square mile, many people and organizations are incredibly passionate about preserving forests and want a say in how and why the state manages, or doesn’t manage, its forests. The squeakiest wheel is usually the one that gets the most attention, and right now that attention is turned to how forest management contributes to climate change. For example, in New Jersey there is a lot of emphasis on creating young forest habitat on state lands for imperiled wildlife such as the golden-winged warbler and the suite of species associated with young forest habitat. By doing this kind of habitat management, not only are state officials not protecting and increasing the carbon that is stored in our existing forests, but we are removing trees that sequester carbon. The perception, then, is that we are purposefully fragmenting intact forests and damaging biodiversity, climate resilience and carbon sequestration. Whatever we decide, whether the status quo or a change to mitigate climate change - managing forests to maximize biodiversity, connectivity, or lessen impacts of future fires or pest outbreaks, replacing species/ecosystems with ones better adapted to the future climate, or going all in on carbon sequestration through natural climate solutions or proforestation - someone or something will lose out and state officials will bear the brunt of the backlash. My presentation will address trying to balance forest management for wildlife and climate change, the tradeoffs, and the backlash. |
| Tags: | Forest, Habitat, Management |
| Trade-offs and Opportunities for Forest Carbon and Wildlife Using a Climate Adaptation Lens | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Caitlin E. Littlefield, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont; Anthony W. D'Amato, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | On a warming planet, a key challenge natural resource managers face is how to protect wildlife while mitigating climate change, as through forest carbon storage, to the greatest extent possible. In some ecosystems, habitat restoration for imperiled species may be incompatible with maximizing carbon storage. For example, promoting early successional forest habitat does not maximize stand-level carbon storage, but uniformly promoting high stocking or mature forest conditions in the name of carbon storage excludes species that require open or young forests. Here, we briefly review the literature regarding carbon and wildlife trade-offs and then explore four case studies from the northern forest region of the US. In each case, human activities have largely dampened the influence of natural disturbances. We propose that a landscape-scale climate adaptation lens can help uncover trade-offs and illuminate paths forward that jointly support carbon storage and wildlife protection while promoting resilience in an uncertain future. |
| Tags: | Climate, Forest, Habitat |
| Renewable Energy Urgency and Incentives Drive “Energy Sprawl,” Habitat Loss, and Poor Accounting of Wildlife Impacts | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Amanda Freitas, Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife & Rhode Island Natural History Survey |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | There is broad scientific consensus that we must cut greenhouse gas emissions rapidly; yet the belated rush to decarbonize the Northeast’s energy portfolio is causing undesirable wildlife impacts without adequate science and policy tools in place to effectively minimize those impacts. Northeast Wildlife Action Plans identify habitat loss and fragmentation as among the most pressing threats across taxa. However, the most-efficient way to meet ambitious energy goals is often to clear forests and displace other key habitats for large wind and solar installations while developed and degraded spaces remain underutilized. Even when proposed installations pose significant hazards to at-risk species and biodiverse habitats, global species loss prevention is cited as reason for both moving forward and foregoing mitigative measures. Wind has additional direct impacts to wildlife beyond habitat displacement and alteration. Avian species collide with turbine blades, and the population level impacts from these casualties are poorly understood for many species, including tree bats. In marine habitats, the impacts of wind on at-risk species, including the critically endangered Northern Right Whale, are of utmost concern. With a foreshortened timeline to curb emissions, it is incumbent upon scientists, governments, non-profits, and the private sector to work cooperatively toward viable solutions that minimize wildlife impacts. Doing so requires advancing the science quickly, providing guidance to decision-makers, and shifting the incentive mechanisms driving siting decisions. It also requires determining how the variable timelines of costs and benefits will factor into their weight, how cost-benefit uncertainties will be addressed, and how cumulative impacts to populations and species can be assessed fairly and effectively even as most projects are presented singly and opportunistically. This presentation will summarize challenges and efforts underway in the Northeast and beyond to address these critical needs and will identify examples and opportunities to improve energy development outcomes for Northeast wildlife. |
| Tags: | Climate, Habitat, Policy/Law |
| Threats to Marine Wildlife from Offshore Wind Energy Development | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Daniel Pendleton, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium; Michelle Staudinger, DOI Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center & University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Laura Ganley Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium; Christopher Sutherland, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Jeff Adams, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries; Adrian Jordaan, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Wind energy development is gaining momentum and a range of projects are currently in the planning stage along the U.S. Northeast Atlantic coast. There is much concern over the potential impacts of renewable energy on marine fish and wildlife including elevated anthropogenic noise, increases in vessel traffic, displacement of animals, and alteration of habitats. This presentation will summarize the potential impacts on regional species of greatest conservation need. A more detailed case study will focus on ongoing efforts to assess the interactive risks of renewable energy development and responses to climate change through shifts in distribution and habitat use in proposed New England wind energy areas using North Atlantic right whales as an illustrative example. We will also discuss emerging tools and long-term datasets that can allow stakeholders and decision makers to evaluate and visualize spatio-temporal variation in risk due to the combined impacts of development, shipping, and the added complications of climate change. Additionally, we report on our progress in implementing these objectives for the wind energy areas south of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, which are awaiting construction. Outcomes from these efforts are anticipated to provide information on the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of marine wildlife to changing environmental conditions, and can aid long-term resource management planning efforts seeking to reduce impacts on marine animals as society increases consumption of renewable energy. |
| Tags: | Climate, Mammal, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Break | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM (ET) |
| Habitat Restoration Approaches to Improve Community and Ecosystem Resilience | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Rick Bennett, US Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Sandy (2012) demonstrated the power of extreme weather events to exacerbate and inflict major physical and economic damages on coastal ecosystems and communities. Paradoxically, these major storm events also showed that under certain circumstances, damages to communities may be mitigated by natural systems and infrastructure such as dunes, oyster reefs, and wetlands. In response to Hurricane Sandy, the Department of the Interior (DOI) received $360 million (P.L. 113-2) to build a more resilient Atlantic Coast after Hurricane Sandy. Resilience funded projects, restored and strengthened coastal marshes, wetlands and shoreline; connected and opened waterways to increase fish passage and improve flood resilience; and bolstered local efforts to protect communities from future storms. Assessing the results of Department of the Interior funded Hurricane Sandy resilience projects gives communities and natural resource manager’s tools to inform best practices, guide future enhancements, address knowledge gaps and sustain improvements in coastal resilience. The ability to measure and evaluate additional ecosystem services or benefits that can be realized through implementing the use of natural and green infrastructure approaches will further advance informed and sustainable decisions for achieving coastal resilience at local, State and National levels. This presentation will focus on results of the DOI Hurricane Sandy Resilience program to optimize protection and resilience of coastal species, habitats, and human communities to the rising impacts of sea level rise, coastal storms, and interactions with land-use change and development. The presentation will draw upon lessons learned from implementation and subsequent monitoring of resilience projects. Results will focus on strategies and actions that can be implemented to provide coastal resilience into the future, focusing on beach dune complexes, marsh restoration approaches and aquatic connectivity. |
| Tags: | Climate, Habitat, Restoration/Enhancement |
| Quantifying the Relative Impacts of Climate Change and Urban Growth on the Capability of the Northeast to Support Wildlife | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | William V. DeLuca, National Audubon Society; Ethan Plunkett, University of Massachusetts; Bradley W. Compton, University of Massachusetts; Joanna Grand, National Audubon Society; Scott Jackson, University of Massachusetts |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Climate change and urban growth are projected to be major drivers of environmental change over the next century and wildlife species distributions are likely to shift to reflect these changes. This is particularly the case for coastal species given the already detrimental effects of sea level rise. Therefore, understanding the relative importance of each of these drivers is vitally important for developing effective conservation strategies. As part of a landscape conservation design for the northeastern U.S., we developed landscape capability models for 30 representative species, 10 if which are coastal species, and applied them to a custom-built urban growth model, climate change projections, and sea level rise models for the northeast. We then quantified the relative importance of each change driver for the landscape capability of each species. We found that, in general, the landscape capability of the 10 coastal representative species will be substantially more sensitive to climate change than urban growth. This work will provide users with information that identifies the primary mechanism by which future species landscape capability will be influenced. Management strategies can then be customized for surrogate species and the systems they represent with an understanding of whether climate or urban growth are likely to drive distribution shifts. |
| Tags: | Climate, Conservation Biology, Landscape Ecology |
| Translating Science into Practice for Improved Invasive Species Management in the Face of Climate Change | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Toni Lyn Morelli, US Geological Survey-Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center; Carrie Brown-Lima, New York Invasive Species Research Institute; Jenica Allen, Mount Holyoke College; Audrey Barker Plotkin, University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Evelyn M. Beaury, University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Emily J. Fusco, University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Nancy Olmstead, Maine Natural Areas Program-Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Julie Richburg, The Trustees; Bethany A. Bradley, University of Massachusetts-Amherst |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | As climate change makes invasive species management even more challenging, research managers and scientists look to combine efforts to improve outcomes. Translational Invasion Ecology (TIE) provides a process to work across disciplines to answer by the question “How can we manage for upcoming biological invasions in the light of climate change?”. For the last five years, the Northeast Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change (RISCC) Management network implements TIE by identifying stakeholder needs, synthesizing existing research, developing new research and tools, and supporting increased collaboration among scientists and managers. To identify stakeholder needs, we surveyed over 200 national invasive species managers to assess barriers to management in the context of climate change. We have synthesized existing information through summaries of recent literature targeted at a general audience and by crafting two-page ‘management challenge’ documents that translate the state of the science, which are distributed to a listserv of 350 members. We are developing new research to prioritize range-shifting invasive species based on their impact, and new online tools to create state-level watch lists of range-shifting species. RISCC hosts symposia and workshops to bring together scientists and managers to learn about these combined topics. Moving forward, we will use the information gleaned from these interactions to inform future research translation, implementation, and communication efforts. |
| Tags: | Climate, Conservation Biology, Exotic/Invasive Species |
| Novel Efforts and Partnerships to Beat the Invasive Advantage in a Changing Climate: The New York Experience | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Justin Perry, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | As the fourth most populous state in our country, a global hub with international borders, ocean coastline and Great Lakes, New York is situated in one of the most influenced environments in the USA. New York boasts a diverse landscape ranging from transitional hardwood forests, pine barrens and rivers to the eroded plateau of the Catskills, farmland in the southern tier, and the high peaks of the Adirondacks. New York has also been no stranger to invasive plant, animal and disease introductions. With events such as the Gypsy moth invasion starting in 1868, Dutch elm disease first discovered in 1930, to the epicenter of chestnut blight in 1904 and Asian longhorned beetle in 1996, New York has seen its share of invasive challenges. Climate change has only added to the challenge of finding and combating invasive pests. We’ve seen hemlock woolly adelgid expand north as our winters warm. Speculation posits the introduction of southern pine beetle to Long Island carried by strong winds during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Longer summers with heavy rain events have created ideal conditions for spreading invasive plants like giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed. To tackle the diversity of invasive species in a changing climate, New York must combine every resource to detect invasions early and hit hard on all fronts. This presentation will introduce the audience to the novel ways New York has developed grassroots partnerships, established laws and regulations to prohibit the spread of the most invasive pests, and teamed with multiple state and federal agencies to meet this growing threat. We will explore how following the incident command system (ICS) has helped maintain an organized and effective approach to a rapid response from multiple partners. |
| Tags: | Diseases/Parasites, Exotic/Invasive Species, Forest |
| S-04: Moderated Panel Discussion | |
| Track: | S-04: Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Michelle Staudinger, Science Coordinator, DOI Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, [email protected] |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | A moderated panel discussion and Q&A with the presenters of the Emerging Threats and Unintended Consequences: How Climate Change Exacerbates and Complicates Wildlife Management Symposium. |
| Tags: | Other |
| S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast | |
| S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast - Symposium Introduction | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 1:00 PM - 1:05 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Symposium Organizers: Catherine Tredick, Associate Professor, Stockton University, [email protected]; Andrew Timmins, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Symposium Overview: Overview: Bear-human conflict management continues to represent a critical component to overall jurisdictional bear management throughout the Northeast. As bear populations grow in states with some of the highest human densities, understanding bear-human conflict dynamics and appropriate strategies to manage these conflicts becomes critical. This symposium is designed to synthesize information related to bear-human conflict dynamics, conflict management strategies, and best practices for outreach and education for use by management agencies. An ultimate goal of this session is to identify ways that managers can create a more informed and responsible public as a means of minimizing conflicts between bears and people. Speakers may include, but are not limited to, agency personnel from various states who have or are currently dealing with bear conflict issues, experts who have evaluated the efficacy of various conflict management strategies (including hunting and trash management), and developers of the BearWise program (bear experts from the Southeastern states), an outreach and education program designed to compel the public to be more responsible with human-related attractants in an effort to minimize bear-human conflicts. Theme: black bear management; human-bear conflict; public outreach and education |
| Tags: | Other |
| Mapping and Modeling Human-Black Bear Conflicts in the Catskills Region of New York | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 1:05 PM - 1:25 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Jason Hagani, Columbia University Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology; Sara Kross, Columbia University Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology |
| Student or Professional: | Student-Graduate |
| Abstract: | Black bears (Ursus americanus) are an iconic species in the United States, however, interactions with people can often manifest negatively and lead to conflicts. These negative interactions are primarily a product of food and trash mismanagement, as black bears are highly attracted to anthropogenic sources of food and garbage. In the Catskills region of New York state, home to a large population of black bears, over 400 such conflicts are reported each year. While the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has seen progress recently in educating residents of the region on how to reduce unwanted interactions with bears, they have had less success with the 12 million tourists that visit the Catskills each year. Modeling and mapping human-wildlife interactions has emerged as an effective tool for minimizing conflicts between humans and large carnivores. Understanding where conflict may occur in the future, and the environmental and anthropogenic factors that precede it, may help preemptively reduce these unwanted interactions. Therefore, we designed resource selection probability functions (RSPFs) to examine the relationship between human-black bear conflicts in the Catskills with a suite of landscape and anthropogenic data, using conflicts reported to the DEC in 2018-2019. We found that human-black bear conflicts were significantly correlated with medium population densities, near major roads, and in forested areas - all characteristics of suburban areas that comprise large portions of the Catskills. Our results will provide the DEC and other conservation managers in the region the ability to create more targeted plans for mitigating unwanted human-black bear interactions, and to minimize conflicts with tourists. However, continuous and future work is undoubtedly needed to ensure our models are truly predictive. |
| Tags: | Human Dimensions, Modeling, Urban Wildlife |
| BearWise®: A Multi-State Regional Approach to Communicating Consistent and Effective Messages About Black Bears | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 1:25 PM - 1:45 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Colleen Olfenbuttel, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission; Dan Gibbs, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; Maria Davidson, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Dave Telesco, Florida Wildlife Commission |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | With expanding black bear (Ursus americanus) populations, agencies are spending an increasing amount of their limited resources responding to human-bear conflicts and educating the public on co-existing with bears. Complicating agency educational efforts is the mobility of our modern-day society that creates a continually moving target audience, who also have 24-hour access to misinformation from unqualified sources. To address these educational challenges, BearWise was created by bear biologists from the SEAFWA’s 15 member states to help people live responsibly with bears by providing science-based resources and consistent messaging for bear managers, agencies, and the general public. By taking a regional and cooperative approach, we are developing a “brand” with our messages that focus on basic proactive steps to prevent human-bear conflicts and how to create BearWise communities. In the two years since BearWise was introduced, the program has expanded its offerings and reach. BearWise is now on social media platforms, which is magnifying the BearWise messages by engaging with people across the United States and beyond. With the click of a “share” or “retweet”, social media followers can promote BearWise content with their networks, while agencies can share ready-made and science-based graphical and engaging messages to educate their constituents on how to live responsibly with bears. We have also expanded what is available on the BearWise platform (bearwise.org), including an Article Bank, regular emails to BearWise subscribers, and customizable state branded BearWise outreach materials. This outreach material can be used to reach different audiences (e.g., kids, adults, communities, Spanish-speaking constituents), has been vetted and tested by bear managers, and saves agencies time and effort in creating their own untested material. BearWise has broad appeal, encourages partnerships, stretches agency budgets, all while providing credible bear information to address today’s modern management challenges. |
| Tags: | Game Species, Management, Urban Wildlife |
| Utilizing BearWise to Create Effective Partnerships That Address Human Bear Conflicts | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 1:45 PM - 2:05 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Dan Gibbs, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; Maria Davidson, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Colleen Olfenbuttel, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission; Dave Telesco, Florida Wildlife Commission |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | A primary goal of the BearWise® program is to provide consistent proactive messaging that teaches people how to co-exist with bears. Strategic partnerships in recent years have facilitated this goal by expanding the reach and effectiveness of the BearWise program. As an example, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s BearWise messaging efforts are targeting a diverse audience approaching 13 million that would be difficult for state wildlife agencies to access independently. The authors will review examples of BearWise partnerships that have been developed in multiple southeastern states with partners including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U.S. Forest Service, National Parks Conservation Association, and others. |
| Tags: | Management, Marketing/Outreach/Communication, Urban Wildlife |
| Bear Management and Law Enforcement Cooperation in Florida | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 2:05 PM - 2:25 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Janelle Musser, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Mike Orlando, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Dave Telesco, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | When dealing with human-bear conflicts, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Bear Management Program (BMP) cooperates with state and local law enforcement agencies. BMP and law enforcement work with each other to handle injured bears, investigate illegal activity, and perform outreach and education. Law enforcement responds to an average of 460 bear calls per year. BMP trains and trains with law enforcement to conduct bear management. BMP bear response trainings teach officers bear biology, behavior, and how to deploy hazing methods. Starting in 2018, all FWC officers receive bear response training in the academy as part of the standard curriculum. Since 2008, over 2,500 officers from 120 organizations have completed bear response training. In 2016, FWC held their first Wildlife-Human Attack Response Training (WHART) with biologists and law enforcement. Over 50 biologists and investigators have completed the training to respond to wildlife-human attacks. BMP and captive wildlife officers created a chemical capture training which includes a classroom and field portion. Biologists and captive wildlife officers that use chemical immobilization drugs are required to attend the training when they begin their position and renew every four years. BMP and other programs in FWC designed a curriculum for conflict wildlife officer specialists. Bear management teaches these specialists about depredation investigations, humane euthanasia, and FWC’s Wildlife Incident Response Plan. Training together has numerous benefits. Biologists and law enforcement get to know each other, they learn each other’s roles in various situations, and feel more comfortable working side by side. |
| Tags: | Enforcement, Human Dimensions, Mammal, Management, Urban Wildlife |
| S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast - Moderated Panel Discussion and Q&A | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 2:25 PM - 2:40 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Catherine Tredick, Associate Professor, Stockton University |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | A moderated panel discussion and Q&A with symposium presenters |
| Tags: | Other |
| Break | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 2:40 PM - 2:50 PM (ET) |
| Sharing the Cost of Bear-Resistant Equipment in Florida | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | David Telesco, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Mike Orlando, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Human-bear conflicts have been increasing for decades as both the human and bear populations have increased and expanded across Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) focuses efforts on securing garbage since this is the primary driver of human-bear conflicts in Florida. In addition to outreach efforts on this issue, the FWC has been able to cost-share the purchase of bear-resistant equipment with local governments. Between 2007 and 2019, the FWC provided almost $2.1 million in grants to 16 counties that experienced the highest number of human-bear conflicts in the State. Funds were secured through grants from the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida using proceeds from sales of specialty license plates, as well as annual Legislative Budget Requests. The FWC shared the cost of purchasing over 20,000 bear-resistant residential garbage cans, over 13,000 sets of hardware to modify regular trashcans to make them bear-resistant, over 500 dumpster modifications, and over 90 sheds to keep trashcans secure. While there are many more residents and businesses who want bear-resistant equipment, we achieved our goal of provide the opportunity for people to try the many options available to keep trash secure from bears at a reduced cost. Now that thousands of people across the state have seen first-hand how effective this equipment can be in reducing conflicts, interest and willingness to use bear-resistant equipment is high. People are working with their local governments to get bear-resistant equipment, who in turn work with their contracted waste management companies to get those services. We prioritized funding to local governments with ordinances requiring trash be kept secure from bears, as having those requirements is the most effective way to get a community-wide effort. We now have five counties, two cities, and numerous homeowner’s association with ordinances specifically designed to reduce human-bear conflicts. |
| Tags: | Human Dimensions, Mammal, Management, Policy/Law, Urban Wildlife |
| The Florida Black Bear: A Brief History of Hunting | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 3:10 PM - 3:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Mike Orlando and David Telesco, Bear Management Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | In 1900 the human population in Florida was estimated at 500,000 people. In 1914, a short-lived Department of Game and Fish estimated the Florida black bear population (Ursus americanus floridanus) population at ~3,000. Without harvest regulations, early settlers would harvest bears for food and predator control. A 1936 report by the newly created Florida Commission of Game and Fresh Water Fish classified the bear a fur-bearing animal with no bag limit. The state estimated there were 300 bears in Florida in 1940, but they were only afforded protections in Volusia County. The Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (GFC) was created in 1943, however bear harvest continued to be unregulated. After a few hunting seasons, the GFC added regulations to bear size and numbers. In 1971, bear hunting was closed throughout the state except for Baker and Columbia counties and Apalachicola National Forest. The GFC designated the bear as a State Threatened Species in 1974. The GFC removed the threatened designation in 1978 only in Baker and Columbia counties and Apalachicola National Forest to continue bear hunting. Bear hunting continued in those areas until GFC closed bear season statewide after the 1993-94 season due to social and political pressure. In 2012 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) delisted the bear as a State Threatened Species. Florida now has a human population approaching 21 million with over 100 million visitors in 2020. Four human-bear incidents resulting in serious injuries occurred between 2013 and 2014 and led to bear population management methods that included opening a bear hunting in 2015. After the 21-year closure, the FWC faced opposition to the 2015 bear hunt. The FWC closed the 2015 hunt statewide after 304 bears were harvested within the first two days. The FWC Commission decided to suspend future hunts. |
| Tags: | Game Species, Hunting, Mammal, Management, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Resident Support for Hunting to Manage Human-Black Bear Conflict in Connecticut | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Anita T. Morzillo, University of Connecticut; Meagan de Nicolo, University of Connecticut; Howard Kilpatrick, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Jason Hawley, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Paul Rego, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Rick Jacobson, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Human-black bear (Ursus americanus) conflict is an ongoing management challenge throughout the northeastern US. As black bear populations grow and the number of human-black bear conflicts increase, regulated hunts serve as a management tool for reducing the number of conflicts while maintaining the long-term presence of bears. Our objective was to evaluate resident support for a regulated black bear hunting season in Connecticut, where the number of human-black bear conflicts has increased dramatically during the past decade. In winter 2019, mail surveys were sent to residents among 17 towns in Connecticut, categorized by the relative number of black bear sightings during the previous year. Participants were selected based on a stratified random sample within categories of urban development density within each town. Completed surveys (n = 1,421) were well-distributed among towns within the three black bear sighting categories. Although three-quarters of respondents approved of regulated hunting for game species, just over half supported a regulated black bear hunting season in Connecticut. Support for hunting of both game species and black bears was distributed similarly among towns regardless of the number of black bear sightings. The most noted reason for support of a black bear hunt was to reduce or prevent human-black bear conflicts, often with the condition that the hunt be strictly regulated. In contrast, reasons for non-support included moral opposition to animal death, and concerns about human encroachment on habitat. Those who were unsure noted not having knowledge about black bear population data or how the hunt would be regulated. Multinomial regression analysis revealed further relationships between individual respondents and support or non-support for both game hunting and a black bear hunt. Results will be used to guide development of a state black bear management plan and strategies for reducing the number of human-black bear conflicts. |
| Tags: | Human Dimensions, Landscape Ecology, Management |
| S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast -Closing Discussion and Wrap-up | |
| Track: | S-05: Bear-Human Conflict Management in the Northeast |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 3:50 PM - 4:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Symposium presenters will be available to answer your questions. |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | A moderated panel discussion and closing comments for the symposium. |
| Tags: | Other |
| S-06: Wild Trout Management | |
| S-06: Wild Trout Management - Symposium Introduction | |
| Track: | S-06: Wild Trout Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 2:20 PM - 2:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Symposium Organizer: Adam Kautza, Coldwater Biologist, Mass Wildlife, [email protected] |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Symposium Overview: Targeted management of wild stream-dwelling trout is increasingly important as the impact of multiple environmental stressors on the resource becomes more apparent and as diverse angling opportunities for these fisheries continues to be desired by the angling public. States and provinces in the region are addressing this by developing, or revising, their wild trout management plans. However, many state and provincial resource management agencies desire additional information and resources to support the development, or timely revision, of a wild trout management plan. Fisheries professionals working on wild trout management in rivers and streams throughout the region need an avenue to share their knowledge and experiences with others who have been or are currently dealing with similar issues. Providing a means of sharing useful knowledge and experience will allow managers to learn from one another and help to inform the development of wild trout management plans with a greater likelihood of successfully meeting intended goals and objectives. The objective of this symposium is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among various scientists and managers in an effort to better facilitate effective management of wild trout resources in streams and rivers in the region. Theme: Wild Trout, Wild Trout Management, Streams |
| Tags: | Other |
| A Conservation Framework to Increase the Resiliency of Brook Trout in Maryland Amidst an Uncertain Future | |
| Track: | S-06: Wild Trout Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Dan Goetz, MD DNR Fishing and Boating Services; Alan Heft, MD DNR Fishing and Boating Services; Matt Sell, MD DNR Fishing and Boating Services |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Recent projections of brook trout occupied streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed suggest nine percent of stream miles are at risk of extirpation solely due to climate change while 45% are at risk under current land use practices. Brook trout populations in Maryland are ground zero for future uncertainty in the face of a changing climate. Maryland has the southernmost Piedmont brook trout populations in the U.S. and is among one of the most urban states, which further exacerbates the effects of climate change on brook trout with compounding land use issues. A recently completed five-year survey (2014-2018) of all previously known brook trout occupied catchments dating back to 1987 revealed a 27 percent loss statewide. The Piedmont Plateau region (central) of Maryland experienced the greatest declines (~50%) while the western mountainous regions were more stable ~15 percent loss. Additionally, Maryland is a signatory partner for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement which includes a Brook Trout Outcome under the Vital Habitats Goal. The Brook Trout Outcome includes an eight percent increase in occupied brook trout habitat by 2025. In response to brook trout declines and Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement goals, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Freshwater Fisheries Program is developing a conservation plan that, with limited resources, allows us to classify the resiliency of brook trout patches with five rating criteria (e.g. allopatry, abundance, genetic diversity, public land protection and private land protection), prioritize and direct future monitoring based on data gaps, identify candidate streams for reintroductions and work with partners across the state to focus restoration work in key areas. While further loss of brook trout populations in marginal streams is anticipated if climate continues to change, a focused effort to improve habitat in most resilient watersheds will maximize long-term protection and help Maryland reach specific management goals. |
| Tags: | Conservation Biology, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream |
| Assessment of the Wild Brown Trout Fishery in the Upper Deerfield River Tailwater, Massachusetts, USA | |
| Track: | S-06: Wild Trout Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Adam Kautza, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The upper Deerfield River tailwater below Fife Brook Dam in northwest Massachusetts has long been considered a high-quality trout fishery, in particular for trophy Brown Trout (Salmo trutta). However, there has been ongoing debate amongst anglers, guides, and biologists regarding whether the fishery consists of mainly hatchery trout or if enough natural reproduction and recruitment occurs to maintain a viable wild trout fishery. To assess key metrics (e.g., population size, recruitment, mortality, growth) and determine the overall contribution of wild trout to the fishery, we developed a multi-year tag-recapture survey. To date, we have completed two years of raft electrofishing surveys (4 surveys each year) to collect and tag Brown Trout with individually-numbered Floy tags through 12 km of the upper river from Fife Brook Dam to the confluence with the Chickley River. Preliminary results indicate that the upper Deerfield fishery supports a relatively low abundance of Brown Trout (approximately 140/km) dominated by larger individuals (mean length 348 mm; maximum length 610 mm). Reproduction is occurring, with younger age classes present in surveys, albeit in very low abundance. Overall, hatchery Brown Trout are not contributing substantially to the population (only 18-28% of individuals captured had adipose fin clip indicating hatchery origin). Additional work is scheduled for the next several years in order to comprehensively assess recruitment, mortality, and growth before and after a proposed change in dam operations. Ultimately the results from this project will have important management implications for stocking practices and angling regulations, as well as long-term consequences for upstream dam relicensing. |
| Tags: | Freshwater Fish, Management, River/Stream |
| Connecticut’s Cold Water Stream Habitat Map: A Resource for Environmental Planning | |
| Track: | S-06: Wild Trout Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 3:10 PM - 3:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Christopher J. Bellucci, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Mary Becker, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) has developed methods to identify cold water stream habitat using both indicator fish species and continuous water temperature measurements. A recent study conducted by CT DEEP biologists and the U.S. Geological Survey published in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management concluded that summer water temperature was important in defining cold water habitat in Connecticut streams. As a result of this work, an online mapping application (https://ctdeepwatermonitoring.github.io/ColdWaterHab/) was developed and can be used to see where cold water stream habitat is located in the state and inform environmental planning. This presentation will give an overview of the new online tool. |
| Tags: | Ecology, Freshwater Fish, Habitat, River/Stream, Technology/Geographic Information Systems |
| Removal of Brown Trout to Restore Brook Trout in Rinehart Brook, Hacklebarney State Park, New Jersey | |
| Track: | S-06: Wild Trout Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Shawn Crouse, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | A Brook Trout restoration project was initiated on Rinehart Brook, a 2.1-mile tributary to the Black River within Hacklebarney State Park, NJ in 2017. Non-native Brown Trout were the dominant trout species, with the native Brook Trout residing in small numbers. Objectives of this study were: to determine if multiple depletion electrofishing could be an efficient manner to remove Brown Trout, to monitor potential rebound effects of the Brook and Brown Trout populations, to determine if natural boulder waterfalls prevent Brown Trout from recolonization, and to restore Brook Trout. A 1.1-mile section was deemed the core study area, as a dam fragmented the and did not include the section near its confluence with the Black River, as wild Brown Trout recolonization likely. A total of 17 single pass removals of Brown Trout via backpack electrofishing were conducted along Rinehart Brook during 2017 (n=7), 2018 (n=4), 2019 (n=5), 2020 (n=1) in which a total of 1,218 Brown Trout were removed. During the first removal, Brown Trout outnumbered Brook Trout 725 to 57. The highest number of Brook Trout per event increased from 65 in year one, to 147 in year two, to 841 in year three, to 1,169 in year four. The number of age 1 or older increased from 5 to 43 to 52 to 270. In order to determine if Brown Trout could successfully traverse a series of waterfalls to recolonize Rinehart Brook from the Black River, the first 1,048 Brown Trout were fin-clipped and relocated downstream in the Black River. During years two and three 43 and 3 previously clipped Brown Trout were captured upstream of the uppermost waterfall, indicating Rinehart Brook was susceptible to recolonization. Next steps include additional removal of Brown Trout, monitoring of Brook Trout, and enhancement of existing waterfalls to prevent Brown Trout recolonization. |
| Tags: | Freshwater Fish, Restoration/Enhancement, River/Stream |
| Where the Wild Brookies Are: Checking in on Self-Sustaining Populations 27 Years Later | |
| Track: | S-06: Wild Trout Management |
| Date & Time: | April 27, 2021; 3:50 PM - 4:10 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Brian Eltz, CT DEEP Fisheries Division; Mike Beauchene, CT DEEP Fisheries Division |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Since 1988, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Fisheries Division (FD) has been monitoring fish populations in streams and wadeable rivers via electrofishing. Because rivers and streams are dynamic systems that are subject to both natural variation (e.g., flood, drought, and natural changes in temperatures on a temporal and spatial scale) and anthropogenic factors (e.g., industrialization, impoundment, flow diversion, pollution [including thermal], agriculture, development, urban sprawl, and climate change), it is important to maintain current fish population data to make informed management decisions. Because of increasing trends in temperature, human population, and impervious cover, we recently embarked on a project to determine the status of wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) occurrence as compared to sites sampled 1988-1994. Just over one hundred of the sample locations where wild brook trout were detected (one or more individuals) during the 1988-1994 stream survey project were randomly chosen for resampling (within a two year period; 2018-2019). Of the 107 streams/stream sections resampled, 68 (64%) still had wild brook trout present. While this does not mean brook trout have been extirpated from the remaining 39 locations, it does appear that landscape and environmental changes over the past three decades may be reducing the distribution of Brook Trout in Connecticut. Additionally, mean wild brook trout density also decreased between the two sample periods (391 fish/km vs. 138 fish/km; early (1988-1994) and late (2018-2019) periods, respectively). Future work will take a more detailed look at landscape changes at the 39 sites where Brook Trout were not detected. |
| Tags: | Fishing/Field Surveys, Freshwater Fish, River/Stream |
| S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals | |
| S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals - Symposium Introduction & Opening Remarks | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 8:30 AM - 8:40 AM (ET) |
| Symposium Organizers: | Katie Yates, Marketing/R3 Coordinator, Maine Dept. Fish and Wildlife, [email protected]; Courtney Moulton, Media & Graphics Supervisor, MDIFW, [email protected] |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | As states implement R3 plans and R3 coordinators, many departments still struggle with how R3 works and its role in outreach. In Maine, our R3 effort is multi-faceted and heavily based in digital marketing and market segmentation. This symposium will cover the many ways our Department identifies opportunities, strategizes outreach to target user groups, and measures outcomes. In the time of quarantining, shifting values, and online educational programming, not only are we seeing an uptick in outdoor participation, but also a myriad of opportunities to retain new participants unlike ever before. From geofencing, influencers, virtual coffee chats, podcasts, and time-tested digital marketing campaigns, Maine is connecting with the pubic and moving them along the R3 pathway in a variety of exciting ways, setting an example for other states. |
| Tags: | |
| Avoiding Flashy New Object Mentality: Asking Why + How When Creating Content | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 8:40 AM - 8:55 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Courtney Moutlon, Media + Graphics Supervisor |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | When creating outreach methods and developing content, those involved with R3 tend to get excited over the next "flashy object," tool, or method. In this analysis, MDIFW's Media + Graphics Supervisor will examine how to ask the right questions to create the right content for a user group. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3, Relevancy |
| Understanding Your Target Market and Setting Communication Goals with Smartsheet | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 8:55 AM - 9:15 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Courtney Moulton, Media + Graphics Supervisor |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | This is a review of utilizing the project management software Smartsheet to generate strong content calendars to help set communication goals, identify methods of delivery, target audiences, track engagement, and assess engagement and impact on a regular basis. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| Why R3 Is Marketing: Avoiding Programmatic Pitfalls | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Katie Yates, Public Relations Specialist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Of course, R3 has a programmatic element, but when stripped down to the basics, R3 is marketing. R3 is a rebranding of something well-known in private industry: market segmentation. All too often, due to historical methods of outreach, R3 is reduced to a "program," rather than thriving marketing strategy. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| Using Emails as a Communication Tool | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Courtney Moulton, Media + Graphics Supervisor, MDIFW |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | For many state agencies, email is one of the best communication tools we have. In a recent survey administered by the Department, emails were one of the more acceptable ways for the public to receive information. This is a review of strong email design and strategy for maximum engagement. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| S-07: Symposium Q&A | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Kathryn Yates |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Q&A with symposium presenters moderated by: Courtney Moulton, Media + Graphics Supervisor; Katie Yates, Public Outreach Specialist; Lauren McPherson, Wildlife Promotions Coordinator - Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Tags: | |
| Developing "Tasty" Style Cooking Videos for Wild Game | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Courtney Moulton, Media + Graphics Supervisor, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | After determining many Millennials motivation for hunting was sourcing their own food, MDIFW worked with their ad agency to develop several high-quality "Tasty" style cooking videos. This will review the challenging process of creating the videos, how they will be used by the Department, and how to assess engagement. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| YouTube as a Communication Tool | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 10:20 AM - 10:35 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Katie Yates, Public Relations Specialist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Although MDIFW flirted with YouTube, Zoom, and live-streaming prior to COVID-19, since the pandemic, this has become an invaluable outreach tool. With live, interactive YouTube Coffee chats, educational programs, panel discussions, and staff presentations the ability to reach thousands is at our fingertips. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3, Relevancy |
| Fish + Game Changers: Creating, Marketing, and Assessing the Success of a Podcast | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 10:35 AM - 10:55 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Katie Yates, Public Outreach Specialist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The podcast MDIFW Fish + Game Changers is a new communication tool specifically created to engage non-traditional audiences. Currently, the podcast has almost 40, 000 downloads and much acclaim. This presentation will review the creation process and goals, marketing strategy, and review of success. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| S-07: Symposium Q&A | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 10:55 AM - 11:10 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Kathryn Yates |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Q&A with symposium presenters moderated by: Courtney Moulton, Media + Graphics Supervisor; Katie Yates, Public Outreach Specialist; Lauren McPherson, Wildlife Promotions Coordinator - Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Tags: | &NBSP; |
| Building a Creative Team: Using an Ad Agency + Contract Staff | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Courtney Moulton, Media + Graphics Supervisor; Katie Yates, Public Outreach Specialist - Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | MDIFW utilizes the ad agency Rinck and outsources creative work to contract employees--this allows MDIFW to develop some amazing campaigns and creative products. From influencers to geofencing, compelling photography and dynamic webpages. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| Writing for Relevancy | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 11:45 AM - 12:05 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Lauren McPherson, Wildlife Promotions Coordinator, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | In order to better connect the public with the research hunting supports, MDIFW has a WMI contract position focused on understanding the work of our wildlife biologists and communicating that to the public. This unique position has created better streams of communication, breaking down the silos within our agency, and resulting in a better informed public. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3, Relevancy |
| Next Steps + New Opportunities: Post-Hunter Ed Online Engagement | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 12:05 PM - 12:20 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Katie Yates, Public Relations Specialist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | With hunter education moving to a fully online format, state agencies have an incredible outreach opportunity--not just for engagement through next-step learning opportunities, but through online communities such as Mighty Networks and digital outreach. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| Looking to the Future | |
| Track: | S-07: How Marketing Strategy Supports R3 Goals |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 12:20 PM - 12:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Katie Yates, Public Relations Specialist; Courtney Moulton, Media + Graphics Supervisor - Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Looking to the future of R3 and marketing for state agency and reflecting on the work MDIFW has done thus far, this convulsionary presentation will review stumbling blocks, where we would like to explore next, and how we see R3 evolving. |
| Tags: | Marketing/Outreach/Communication, R3 |
| S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region | |
| S-08 Symposium Introduction | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 8:30 AM - 8:40 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Rick Jacobson, Connecticut DEEP and Wendi Weber, USFWS |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | |
| Tags: | Other |
| An Overview of Priority At-Risk Species Conservation in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Anthony Tur, USFWS |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Conserving At-Risk Species (ARS)— unlisted species that are declining and risk becoming candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act — has been identified as a priority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) North Atlantic-Appalachian Region . In 2017, the Service identified a list of priority ARS that would be the focus of game-changing conservation and science for species such as saltmarsh sparrow, Chesapeake logperch, and frosted elfin. In 2021, we expanded the list of Priority ARS drawing from a broader pool of species, including those identified by state agencies as Species of Greatest Conservation Need as well as species listed on the Service’s National Listing Workplan. The Service’s Science Applications program is now tasked with facilitating targeted conservation and science efforts to help preclude listing and address critical data gaps for these species through collaborative partnerships. Science Applications continues to coordinate with Service programs, state agencies, and other partners to implement proactive conservation that will change the trajectory of ARS. This talk will give an overview of the Region's priority ARS list and key mechanisms used to achieve the goals set out by the Service. |
| Tags: | Conservation Biology, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Rapid Response Assessment for At-Risk Species | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 9:00 AM - 9:20 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Steve Fuller, USFWS; Rebecca Longenecker, USFWS |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | In 2018, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Science Applications program established a Rapid Response Team (RRT) that provides technical support to address emerging science needs for At-Risk Species and other regional priorities. The work of the RRT includes developing and implementing field studies that address information gaps for species undergoing review to determine if they warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act. Their work also informs pre-listing conservation planning. Since establishing the RRT, they have implemented multiple surveys to determine population status and distribution, collect samples to resolve taxonomic uncertainty, gain new insights about life histories, and assess habitat condition. Their work extends from our coastal beaches and habitats to the alpine habitats atop our highest peaks, from northern New England to the Gulf Coast , either by leading new science or providing capacity to assist others. This talk will provide an overview of the RRT’s completed and ongoing projects. |
| Tags: | Conservation Biology, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Leveraging Partnerships for At-Risk Species Conservation: USGS | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 9:20 AM - 9:40 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Evan Grant, USGS |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | In fulfilling its mission to conserve declining species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recognizes the importance of strong partnerships. The Service’s Science Applications program leverages such partnerships to implement proactive conservation and science for species at risk of being listed under the Endangered Species Act. Through collaborative efforts with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cooperative Research Units, the Service has helped facilitate actions to benefit a diverse range of taxa including mussels, alpine butterflies, and cave beetles, along with their critical habitats. This talk will highlight the past and ongoing at-risk species work implemented within the framework of a partnership between the Service and USGS within the Region. |
| Tags: | Conservation Biology |
| At-Risk Conservation in the Delaware River Watershed | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 9:40 AM - 10:00 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Mike Slattery, USFWS; Christina Ryder, USFWS |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | In the Delaware River watershed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is using the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund grant program as a tool to cultivate stewardship action to enhance habitat on both private and public lands for At-Risk Species (ARS) conservation. Starting in 2020, the grant program prioritized conservation funding for work whose outcomes will benefit ARS habitat and populations. Because the fund is specific to the Delaware River Watershed, it provides a unique opportunity to target ARS work at a landscape level, providing capacity for our partners to integrate management practices, which benefit wildlife at risk. To date, the fund has awarded more than $17 million to 90 projects in the watershed that support recreation, water quality, water management, and habitat conservation. The Service is working to support the partnership by providing capacity to develop a strategic conservation blueprint building upon core habitats identified in Nature’s Network and reflecting specific site-level needs of priority species. This talk will provide an overview of projects facilitated by the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund. |
| Tags: | Conservation Biology, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Conserving the Saltmarsh Sparrow Through Landscape Scale Partnerships | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Christine McCue, Rebecca Longenecker, Aimee Weldon, Suzanne Paton, Mitch Hartley, Dan Murphy, Anthony Tur, Meagan Racey, Deb Reynolds, Kirsten Luke, Scott Johnston - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The saltmarsh sparrow is a tidal marsh obligate songbird that occurs exclusively in salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Its breeding range extends from Maine south to Virginia including portions of 10 states. The wintering range includes some of the southern breeding states and extends as far south as Florida . Saltmarsh sparrow nests are constructed in the salt marsh grasses just above the mean high water level, and the eggs require 23-day periods where the tides do not reach a height that causes flooding. Across its range, the saltmarsh sparrow is experiencing steep population declines as a consequence of low reproductive success, due primarily to increased nest flooding from sea level rise and predation. The rate of decline for the saltmarsh sparrow population is so steep that a multi-phase population recovery is recommended, which demands significant new investments for habitat protection, creation, enhancement, and restoration to stabilize and reverse population declines. This presentation will provide an overview of new and emerging conservation partnerships planning and implementing innovative work to conserve the saltmarsh sparrow and their salt marsh habitats. |
| Tags: | Conservation Biology |
| Break | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 10:20 AM - 10:40 AM (ET) |
| Leveraging Partnerships for At-Risk Species Conservation: NAFO | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Jimmy Bullock, Resource Management Service, LLC |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The northeastern United States is both the most forested and most populated part of North America. From the spruce and fir dominated landscape of northern Maine to the hardwood dominated ridges of the Central Appalachians, these forests provided habitat for many species of rare and declining fish, wildlife and plant resources. The long-term persistence of these species in inextricably linked to the health of these forested habitats and the stewardship practices of private landowners, who collectively manage approximately 75 percent of the forests in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region. Through collaborative efforts with the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) and others, the U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service is working to promote sustainable forestry for the purpose of extracting valuable forest resources without negative consequences to biodiversity at broad scales of space and time. This talk will describe our partnership while providing information about the species and landscapes we are focusing on. |
| Tags: | Conservation Biology, Forest, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Conserving At-Risk Species Within the Framework of the Sikes Act | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Pamela Sponholtz, USFWS; Jeff Underwood, USFWS |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The U.S. Department of Defense, with the assistance of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states, is responsible under the Sikes Act for carrying out programs and implementing management strategies to conserve and protect biological resources on its lands. Because military lands and waters are often protected from human access and impact, they contain some of our nation’s most significant remaining large tracts of land with valuable natural resources. Congress established the Sikes Act in 1960 to manage these lands for wildlife conservation and human access. This presentation will provide an overview of the Sikes Act, share some examples of projects from the Rocky Mountain States, and explore some opportunities for the Northeast. |
| Tags: | Conservation Biology, Policy/Law |
| Road to Recovery: Addressing the Loss of 3 Billion Birds Through Targeted Science and Implementation | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 11:20 AM - 11:40 AM (ET) |
| Authors: | Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and American Bird Conservancy |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | A recent landmark study in Science documented the loss of nearly 3 billion birds from the North American avifauna, with pervasive declines and loss in every major habitat and among > 300 bird species. Response to this (news) has included a heightened sense of urgency and a re-thinking of conservation priorities, strategies, and (mechanisms) within agencies and organizations responsible for bird populations—clearly “business as usual” has not been effective. Despite general knowledge of threats and a focus on broad habitat protection and management, the specific limiting factors and primary causes of decline for most species remain unknown. We propose a targeted scientific approach to identifying limiting factors, filling critical knowledge gaps, and applying new information towards reversing declines and recovering populations—a process we call the Road to Recovery. Taking a “recovery planning” approach to steeply declining species before they become threatened or endangered will help ensure that conservation will be effective in keeping additional species from needing listing. In the Northeast, shared priority at-risk species reflect the continental patterns of declines, including high concern for coastal-migrating shorebirds and forest-breeding Neotropical migrants such as Cerulean and Golden-winged Warbler and Wood Thrush. More effective strategies for recovering these populations will require an adaptive approach including additional research targeted at identifying limiting factors, full annual-cycle implementation beyond breeding-ground borders, and effectiveness monitoring to evaluate population-level response of largescale habitat management (e.g. NRCS programs). Prioritizing where and when to implement conservation actions within the North Atlantic-Appalachian region will help prevent future listing of at-risk species, while at the same time meeting goals of broader environmental initiatives such as 30-by-30. |
| Tags: | Avian, Conservation Biology, Restoration/Enhancement |
| S-08 Discussion Panel: Strengthening Partnerships for At-Risk Species conservation | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 11:40 AM - 12:20 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Deb Rocque, USFWS; Ryan Brown, Virginia DWR; David Golden, New Jersey DFW; Jimmy Bullock, NAFO; Bridgett Costanzo, NRCS; Valerie Hipkins, USFWS (Moderator) |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | |
| Tags: | |
| S-08 Closing Comments | |
| Track: | S-08: Conserving Joint Priority At-Risk Species in the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 12:20 PM - 12:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | |
| Student or Professional: | |
| Abstract: | |
| Tags: | |
| S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles | |
| S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles - Symposium Introduction | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 1:00 PM - 1:05 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Symposium Organizers: Scott Buchanan, Herpetologist, Rhode Island Fish and Wildlife, [email protected]; Lori Erb, Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology; Jen Sevin, University of Richmond; Julie Slacum, USFWS |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Symposium Overview: The illegal collection and trade of North America’s native turtles is a serious threat with potentially severe conservation implications. The challenges this issue raises are variable and complex and confronting them will require creating a nexus of law enforcement personnel, biologists, legal experts, and others with expertise in husbandry, genetics, forensic science, disease/biosecurity, economics, and public outreach. We intend to foster these relationships during this symposium by creating a forum for a discussion centered around illegal turtle collection and trade. Potential talks include but are not limited to: investigating the scale of illegal collection in eastern Northern America, law enforcement case studies and techniques, case studies of large-scale prosecutions, economic drivers of the illegal trade, use of forensic science to identify collection locations, housing and repatriation of confiscated turtles, and the biology and conservation implications of turtle poaching. Discussions after the talks will focus on needs and solutions. The symposium will be coordinated by the Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Turtle Networking Team's (PARC - TNT) Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles (CCITT) – a grassroots working group composed primarily of biologists, law enforcement officers, and attorneys, whose goal is to advance efforts to better understand, prevent, and eliminate the illegal collection of North America’s native turtles. Theme: Law Enforcement, Herpetology |
| Tags: | Other |
| The Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles (CCITT): Addressing a Conservation Crisis with a Call to Action | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 1:05 PM - 1:15 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Scott Buchanan. Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife Jennifer Sevin, University of Richmond Julie Slacum, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lori Erb, Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The illegal collection and trade of North America’s native turtles is an emerging threat with potentially severe conservation implications. The challenges this issue raises are variable and complex, and confronting them will require the collaboration of a diverse group of professionals. This presentation will provide background information on what is known and what efforts are currently underway to combat the illegal trade, with emphasis on the Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles (CCITT), a grassroots organization of federal, state, university, and non-profit partners working to understand, prevent, and eliminate the crisis. |
| Tags: | Amphibian/Reptile, Conservation Biology, Enforcement, Policy/Law, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Keeping American Turtles SAFE: Building Capacity for Confiscated Turtles | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | David E. Collins, AZA SAFE |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Illegal trafficking is a significant cause of decline in North American turtle populations and, law enforcement efforts to curtail this trade are at a crisis level. The numbers seized in illegal trade exceed the capacity of state and federal agencies and cooperating zoos to hold them. This capacity needs to be expanded. Moreover, there are no established protocols for either releasing confiscated turtles back into the wild or for integrating them into breeding programs to fuel population augmentation, reintroduction or restoration efforts. Focusing on five species of significant conservation concern, the AZA SAFE: American Turtle Program was developed around three goals: 1. Conserve and expand wild populations of spotted, bog, wood, Blanding’s and box turtles. 2. Assist regulators, wildlife managers and law enforcement efforts to protect wild turtles. 3. Develop a pathway for confiscated turtles to contribute to effective conservation efforts. An immediate priority of the American Turtle SAFE Program is to build capacity to accommodate up to 5000 confiscated turtles per year, approximating the number of North American turtles leaving New York illegally annually. The focus and goal of this initial project is to assist Law Enforcement efforts in closing the Port of New York to illegal traffic in North American turtles. Ultimately, this SAFE Program will contribute to the conservation of all species of North American turtles. |
| Tags: | Amphibian/Reptile, Enforcement, Threatened and Endangered Species |
| Coordinated Management Approaches for Confiscated Wildlife | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 1:30 PM - 1:45 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Craig Hooveer, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)l Dave Collins, AZA SAFE American Turtle Program Leader / Co-Chair, CCITT Repatriation and Confiscations Working Group; Meredith Whitney, International Fund for Animal Welfare; Ryan Noel, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | During 2015—2019, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had 834 cases of live “refused seizures or abandoned property,” which included 48,793 individual live specimens that required care and placement. This number averages to 14 new cases per month and 27 live specimens per day. Due to the increasing number of confiscations, and the complexities involved in caring for the live wildlife that are the victims of the illegal trade, it is important that effective and coordinated management approaches are implemented. To address these concerns, in February 2020, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), San Diego Zoo Global, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service organized a two-day summit to discuss efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and the challenges presented when wildlife animals and plants are confiscated by law enforcement. The summit led to the establishment of the Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network (“the Network”), a pilot program establishing a framework to reduce wildlife trafficking and increase support for law enforcement. |
| Tags: | Enforcement, Management, Policy/Law |
| Care and Management of Seized Chelonians: IUCN Guidelines for the Management of Confiscated Live Organisms | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 1:45 PM - 2:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Meredith Whitney, International Fund for Animal Welfare; Neil Maddison, Editor IUCN Guidelines for the Management of Confiscated Live Organisms, [email protected] |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | In a context where illegal trade in wildlife has increased dramatically over the past decades, the response from governments has been to strengthen efforts to disrupt wildlife traffickers. Successful enforcement often involves the seizure and confiscation of wild species from diverse taxa of plants, animals and fungi. These confiscations may be parts of non-living specimens in the form of artifacts, food or medicinal products but, in many cases, they involve live individuals. In practice, frontline officers that do not have the knowledge, skills or attitudes required to manage live confiscations may encounter situations that could threaten their own lives, as well as the lives of seized or confiscated animals. This, combined with increasingly frequent confiscations and often high numbers of individuals involved, makes providing immediate care and short or long-term management of live animals a major challenge to most competent authorities. In the long-term, these challenges can hamper anti-trafficking operations and undermine the important efforts deployed globally to tackle wildlife trafficking, due to increasing pressure on finite resources. IFAW’s ‘Live Animals Seized in Trade’ project works with governments to design sustainable solutions and provide technical guidance that result in increased capacity to frontline officers to ensure safe and humane handling and care. Given the sheer number of animals confiscated, it is paramount that best practice management approaches are followed to maximize the conservation role and the individual welfare of animals. The IUCN Guidelines for the management of confiscated, live organisms aim to provide guidance on the appropriate management options available to countries. In line with these Guidelines, we are challenging the status quo and lead governments to recognize that the management of individual animals, whether they are in the wild or seized in trade, is a critical component for conservation. |
| Tags: | Enforcement, Management, Policy/Law |
| Network Exploring Wildlife Trade (NEWT): Conservation Through Education | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Nancy E. Karraker, University of Rhode Island; Meredith L. Gore, University of Maryland; Christina M. Romagosa, University of Florida; Jennifer Sevin, University of Richmond |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Humans have traded wildlife for millennia, but in the past 10 years wildlife trade has exhibited outsized growth, including in the U.S., with some estimates of illegal trade generating global revenues of USD $7-23 billion annually. As such, wildlife trade, including illegal trade in turtles, is a growing and dynamic global problem with massive biological and social significance. Despite this, few opportunities exist at universities or colleges for undergraduate students to learn about this important conservation issue in ways that would make them more educated consumers or consider careers combatting illegal trade. We partnered with faculty at 30 universities and colleges across the U.S. to create a network of undergraduate biology courses in which learning modules in wildlife trade would be delivered. We developed learning modules that consist of background information on wildlife trade and research activities for students. Background information covers multiple facets of wildlife trade, including effects on wildlife populations, human dimensions of wildlife trade, and role of wildlife trade in the establishment of invasive species and transmission of disease. Research activities undertaken by students include surveying pet stores or online forums and learning to differentiate captive-bred from wild-caught animals, interviewing their friends and family to assess attitudes about pet ownership, or evaluating changes in numbers of endangered species exported from countries over time. In 2021, the program will engage approximately 1,000 undergraduate science students. Learning modules created through this program will eventually be available to anyone worldwide through an online network hub and will exponentially increase our ability to educate others about the global trade in wildlife. |
| Tags: | Other - Wildlife Trade |
| Thinking Outside the Box to Bring Them All Home: Developing Genomic Resources to Facilitate the Repatriation of Confiscated Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | J.J. Apodaca, Tangled Bank Conservation and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Cristina Jones, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Andrew Walde, Turtle Survival Alliance, and Brian Horne, Wildlife Conservation Society |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | The illegal collection of freshwater turtles and tortoises, whether for consumption or for the pet trade, has become one of the most imminent threats to wild turtle populations. There is a desperate need to develop economic, regulatory, and scientific tools to combat this predicament. Currently, there are strong efforts to develop such tools and approaches to dissuade or regulate collection (phase 1) and to seize illegally caught turtles (phase 2). However, there is a scarcity of methodologies and tactics to return turtles to the wild when their origin is unknown (phase 3). The solution to this need lies within our ever-expanding ability to access large amounts of genetic data relatively inexpensively. However, genomic data on their own are of no help in this situation without the development of a fine scale reference database. Here, we discuss the promises, potential pitfalls, and issues related to this approach and introduce a large-scale project to develop a genomic databases intended to help identify the origin of confiscated North American turtles, including box turtles (genus Terrapene), bog turtles, and alligator snapping turtles. To be effective, the development of such tools necessitates the involvement of the larger turtle conservation community and must be widely available to those combating illegal trade on the front line. |
| Tags: | Amphibian/Reptile, Conservation Biology, Genetics-Wildlife |
| Break | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM (ET) |
| The Value of Partnerships in Combating Illegal Turtle Trafficking: A Diamondback Terrapin Investigation Debrief | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 2:45 PM - 3:00 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Captain Shannon Martiak, NJ State Conservation Police; Special Agent Ryan Bessey, U.S. Fish & Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | This presentation will examine a recent international diamondback terrapin trafficking case that was highly publicized. A joint investigation with multiple State, Federal, and International agencies resulted in the confiscation of thousands of terrapins, a federal imprisonment, and a substantial restitution value to NJ. We will discuss and analyze how the case developed and how each agency partnered to investigate, conduct surveillance, and successfully prosecute the defendant. |
| Tags: | Other - Turtles |
| USFWS/OLE Federal Turtle Trafficking Investigations | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | David Sykes, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FWS/OLE Northeast Region |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | Presentation of recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigations into the illegal trade and smuggling of native turtle species with a focus on state impact and lessons learned. |
| Tags: | Other - Turtles |
| S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles - Closing Panel Discussion | |
| Track: | S-09: Illegal Trade of North America's Native Turtles |
| Date & Time: | April 28, 2022; 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (ET) |
| Authors: | Scott Buchanan, Herpetologist, Rhode Island Fish and Wildlife |
| Student or Professional: | Professional |
| Abstract: | A moderated panel discussion with all presenters from the symposium. |
| Tags: | Other |