Behavioral and movement ecology of broods are among the most poorly understood aspects of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo ) reproductive ecology. Recent declines in wild turkey productivity throughout the southeastern United States necessitate comprehensive evaluations of brood ecology across multiple spatial scales. We captured and marked 408 female wild turkeys with global positioning system (GPS)‐transmitters

Wilson, R. R., and G. M. Durner. 2020. Seismic survey design and effects on maternal polar bear dens. Journal of Wildlife Management 84:201–212. Since the publication of this manuscript, readers have noted 2 errors in our analysis. Here, we describe the errors and the changes to the supplemental code that will remedy them. The changes do not affect either the resulting expected number of maternal polar

Forests are becoming increasingly fragmented, primarily because of their conversion to production landscapes. Animals occupying modified landscapes may need to expand their ranges and move longer distances between remnant forest patches to find resources. The establishment of plantations in fragmented landscapes, however, may provide complementary habitat for wildlife and improve connectivity, reducing

The importance of conserving migratory populations is recognized across a variety of ungulate taxa, yet the demographic benefits of migration remain uncertain for ungulate populations that exhibit partial migration. We hypothesized that migratory pronghorn (Antilocapra americana ) would experience greater survival compared to residents by moving longer distances to avoid severe winter weather and access

Aligning wildlife management boundaries with accurate biological units promotes effective conservation and management practices that reflect ecological and evolutionary processes. Neutral genetic markers allow for quantitative delineation of population structure without a priori assumptions or biases. In the United States, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis ) are a charismatic component of Wyoming's biodiversity

The Central Georgia Bear Population (CGP) is the least abundant and most isolated of Georgia's 3 American black bear (Ursus americanus ) populations. Beginning in 2011, changes to regulations governing harvest of the CGP resulted in an increase in female bear harvest, creating concern that future harvest could be an important influence on population viability. Hence, our objective was to assess viability

Understanding how reproductive tradeoffs act in concert with abiotic elements to affect survival is important for effective management and conservation of wildlife populations, particularly for at‐risk or harvested species. Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo ) are a high‐interest species for consumptive and non‐consumptive uses, and female survival is a primary factor influencing turkey population dynamics

Wildlife professionals are tasked with sustainably managing habitats and wildlife for the benefit of a variety of stakeholders, and hunters are an important user group. But the number of hunters in North America has continued to decline, and as a result, new wildlife professionals entering the field are less likely to be hunters than their predecessors. We find this trend concerning because future

Numerous factors such as predation, disease, injury, and environmental conditions (e.g., river flows, hydropower operations) can influence survival rates of fish. Although mortality due to predation is commonly assumed to be additive and result in a directly proportional reduction on survival rates, compensatory processes may work to counteract or negate the effects of predation mortality on survival

Every aspect of scientific writing has been examined, but the title is the least studied component of manuscripts (Goodman et al. 2001, Soler 2007) even though some describe the title as the most important element (Garg 2017). When scientists are scanning literature to decide what to read, the title is often the only thing they look at (Stapleton et al. 1995). Useful guidelines for titles are often

Ecology and management programs designed to track population trends over time increasingly are using passive monitoring methods to estimate terrestrial mammal densities. Researchers use motion‐sensing cameras in mammal studies because they are cost‐effective and advances in statistical methods incorporate motion‐sensing camera data to estimate mammal densities. Density estimation involving unmarked

Understanding how species respond to environmental conditions can assist with conservation strategies and harvest management, especially in arctic and boreal regions that are experiencing rapid climate change. Although climatic influences on species distributions have been studied, broad‐scale effects of climate on survival are less well known. We examined the interactive effects of meteorological

Every year, I am asked why manuscripts are rejected from the Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM ), often by wildlife students and early career professionals. And, whenever I see the statistics on rejection rates for JWM (>50%), my first reaction is to cringe. Rejecting more than half of the submitted manuscripts seems draconian; but then again, rejection rates for most major journals are high. And

Aerial surveys flown at low altitudes allow detection, identification, and enumeration of waterfowl and other waterbirds, but few studies have assessed disturbance to these guilds during the nonbreeding period. Excessive disturbance can potentially increase energy expenditure and exposure to hunting mortality contrary to objectives of many waterfowl sanctuaries where surveys are conducted. We used

Autumn waterfowl habitat management often focuses on providing high energy food resources to attract and concentrate waterfowl for harvest. Similarly, many waterfowl conservation plans assume food resources are the primary, controllable limiting factor influencing waterfowl distribution during migration; however, hunting‐related disturbance also influences waterfowl distribution in autumn. We investigated

An estimate or index of target species density is important in determining oral rabies vaccination (ORV) bait densities to control and eliminate specific rabies variants. From 1997–2011, we indexed raccoon (Procyon lotor ) densities 253 times based on cumulative captures on 163 sites from Maine to Alabama, USA, near ORV zones created to prevent raccoon rabies from spreading to new areas. We conducted

Management and research of moose (Alces alces) in Alaska, USA, often require chemical immobilization; however, moose may be prone to capture‐induced hyperthermia while immobilized. We chemically immobilized moose with carfentanil citrate and xylazine hydrochloride to measure rump fat depth, collect blood and fecal samples, and to deploy modified vaginal implant transmitters and global positioning system

The non‐native pet trade contributes directly to species invasions, thereby threatening wildlife. Biological invasions influence environmental change, resulting in species extinctions and biodiversity loss. To mitigate the pet trade invasion risk, interventions are required to prevent trade in non‐native animals with high invasion potential, impulse or ill‐informed purchases of non‐native pets by individuals

Conflicts between humans and wildlife have become increasingly important challenges for resource managers along the urban‐wildland interface. Food conditioning (i.e., reliance by an animal on anthropogenic foods) of American black bears (Ursus americanus) is related to conflict behavior (i.e., being bold or aggressive toward humans, consuming human food or garbage, causing property damage) and often

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis ) inhabiting the midcontinent of North America have been hunted since the 1960s under management goals of maintaining abundance, retaining geographic distribution, and maximizing sustainable harvest. Some biologists have raised concerns regarding harvest sustainability because sandhill cranes have lower reproductive rates than other game birds. We summarized demographic

Radio‐telemetry is a commonly used scientific technique that allows researchers to collect detailed movement, habitat use, and survival data of animals; however, evidence indicates that using telemetry can affect behavior and survival. Using multiple breeding colonies and years, we investigated the effects of attached radio‐transmitters on growth and survival of Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri ) chicks

As wind turbine‐caused mortality of birds and bats increases with increasing wind energy capacity, accurate fatality estimates are needed to assess effects, identify collision factors, and formulate mitigation. Finding a larger proportion of collision victims reduces the magnitude of adjustment for the proportion not found, thus reducing opportunities for bias. We tested detection dogs in trials of

The ability to predict energy and protein allocation to different body condition parameters according to environmental constraints is a key component in understanding the processes underlying population dynamics. We investigated the influence of a proxy of population density and environmental factors on individual body condition parameters of female white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus ) based

Scientific progress depends upon the accumulation of empirical knowledge via reproducible methodology. Although reproducibility is a main tenet of the scientific method, recent studies have highlighted widespread failures in adherence to this ideal. The goal of this study was to gauge the level of computational reproducibility, or the ability to obtain the same results using the same data and analytic

Abundance of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus ) in western North America is often considered lower than desirable for hunting. Some coastal populations of Columbian black‐tailed deer (O. h. columbianus ) in California, USA, near urban development, however, are perceived as a nuisance and may be overabundant. To determine the density of a potential nuisance population in Marin County, California, we used

In the western United States, wolverines (Gulo gulo ) typically occupy high‐elevation habitats. Because wolverine populations occur in vast, remote areas across multiple states, biologists have an imperfect understanding of this species' current distribution and population status. The historical extirpation of the wolverine, a subsequent period of recovery, and the lack of a coordinated monitoring

The Wildlife Society (TWS) Council requires reports on the status of The Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM) and readers regularly ask the staff about various aspects of production. Thus, we continue to update interested readers about journal metrics (e.g., turnaround times, number of submissions, Associate Editors) and summarize changes made to production of JWM.

Understanding environmental factors influencing the abundance of species is important for developing strategies to manage wildlife effectively. Long‐term studies provide the most reliable information upon which to base management decisions. This is particularly important when considering threatening processes, like drought and climate change, and a species' future security. We collected data on abundance

Understanding space‐use patterns by elk (Cervus canadensis ) is essential to alleviating human‐elk conflicts, particularly when crop depredation by elk can make it harder to justify to the public the need to restore elk populations to regions with agricultural landscapes. In 2016–2017, we used global positioning system data from 20 female elk to investigate their selection for agricultural cover during

Beginning in 1977 the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted annual surveys to determine statewide golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos ) occupancy and productivity. Current interest in the regional and national status of the species prompted our investigation to determine utility of historical data in assessing trends in reproduction, and to test efficacy of a sampling protocol that surveyed

There is a long and contentious history of brown bear (Ursus arctos ) harvest management in Alaska, USA, the state that hosts the largest brown bear population in North America. In the mid‐1990s, the Alaska Board of Game set the population objective for brown bears in Game Management Unit 13 A, located in interior southcentral Alaska, to be reduced by 50% to improve survival of moose (Alces alces )

Desert riparian ecosystems are among the most threatened biodiversity hotspots in the United States, and efforts to conserve them have been increasing. In 2010–2011 and 2014–2016, we examined shifts in the distribution, habitat characteristics, diet, nest success, and productivity of the gray hawk (Buteo plagiatus ), 25 years after a Riparian National Conservation Area was established along the San

Energy infrastructure and associated habitat loss can lead to reduced reproductive rates for a variety of species including the greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus ). Our goal was to refine our understanding of how the physical footprint of energy development relates to sage‐grouse nest and brood survival. Our survival analyses were conditional upon the amount of surface disturbance female

Populations of species located at southern range edges may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change as warming temperatures and subsequent changes to ecosystems exceed species‐specific tolerances. One such species is Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), a cold‐adapted mesocarnivore that maintains a large core population in Alaska, USA, and Canada but exists within several peripheral populations

Double‐crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus ) recovered from a demographic bottleneck so well that they are now considered a nuisance species at breeding and wintering grounds across the United States and Canada. Management of this species could be improved by refining genetic population boundaries and assigning individuals to their natal population. Further, recent radio‐telemetry data suggest

Fine‐scale movement data has transformed our knowledge of ungulate migration ecology and now provides accurate, spatially explicit maps of migratory routes that can inform planning and management at local, state, and federal levels. Among the most challenging land use planning issues has been developing energy resources on public lands that overlap with important ungulate habitat, including the migratory

Bird and bat fatalities increase with wind energy expansion and the only effective fatality‐reduction measure has been operational curtailment, which has been documented for bats but not for birds. We performed opportune before‐after, control‐impact (BACI) experiments of curtailment effects on bird and bat fatalities and nocturnal passage rates during fall migration at 2 wind projects, where 1 continued

Knowledge of roost selection by northern yellow bats (Lasiurus intermedius) is limited to a small number of known roost locations. Yet knowledge of basic life history is fundamental to understanding past response to anthropogenic change and to predict how species will respond to future environmental change. Therefore, we examined male northern yellow bat roost selection on 2 Georgia, USA, barrier islands

In North America, wild pigs (Sus scrofa; feral pigs, feral swine, wild boars) are a widespread exotic species capable of creating large‐scale biotic and abiotic landscape perturbations. Quantification of wild pig environmental effects has been particularly problematic in northern climates, where they occur only recently as localized populations at low densities. Between 2016 and 2017, we assessed short‐term

Successful conservation of species that roam and disperse over large areas requires detailed understanding of their movement patterns and connectivity between subpopulations. But empirical information on movement, space use, and connectivity is lacking for many species, and data acquisition is often hindered when study animals cross international borders. The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) exemplifies

Populations of marsh‐breeding birds have declined throughout the southern Laurentian Great Lakes basin. To advance conservation of these species, we used occupancy modeling, a regional prioritization scheme, and data from Birds Canada's Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program (2016–2018) to describe species‐habitat relationships and identify priority habitat areas for 7 obligate marsh‐breeding bird species

Sage‐grouse (Centrocercus spp.) are influencing rapidly evolving land management policy in the western United States. Management objectives for fine‐scale vegetation characteristics (e.g., grass height >18 cm) have been adopted by land management agencies based on resource selection or relationships with fitness proxies reported among numerous habitat studies. Some managers, however, have questioned

Capture techniques to deploy radio‐collars often risk mortality and injury to the animal. Capture‐induced mortality can affect population sizes but also introduces bias in survival estimates based on data from captured animals. In recent years, a large‐scale research and monitoring project in Utah, USA, has involved capturing and radio‐collaring hundreds of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), a species

Avian diet quality is typically measured using true metabolizable energy (TMEN), which is a measure of assimilable energy of food items accounting for innate endogenous losses. Originally developed for use in the poultry industry, TMEN methods have been adapted to determine the value of natural foods consumed by waterfowl to parameterize bioenergetics models for conservation planning. Because there

Adult female survival is an important component to population models and management programs for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), but short‐term survival studies (1–3 yrs) may not accurately reflect the variation in interannual survival, which could alter management decisions. We monitored annual survival and cause‐specific mortality rates of adult female white‐tailed deer (n = 158) for

One of the most challenging tasks in wildlife conservation and management is to clarify how spatial variation in land cover due to anthropogenic disturbance influences wildlife demography and long‐term viability. To evaluate this, we compared rates of survival and population growth by woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) from 2 study sites in northern Ontario, Canada that differed in the degree

Differences in habitat requirements and the spatial distribution of habitat for native and introduced species can determine outcomes of biological invasions. Introduced eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) have displaced native red squirrels (S. vulgaris) in Europe and have been implicated as a contributing factor to the decline of western gray squirrels (S. griseus) in North America. Eastern

Size‐selective harvesting of wild ungulates can trigger a range of ecological and evolutionary consequences. It remains unclear how environmental conditions, including changes in habitat, climate, and local weather conditions, dilute or strengthen the effects of trophy hunting. We analyzed horn length measurements of 2,815 male ibex (Capra pyrenaica) that were harvested from 1995 to 2017 in Els Ports

Understanding how land cover and potential competition with invasive species shape patterns of occupancy, extirpation, and colonization of native species across a landscape can help target management for declining native populations. Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) populations have declined throughout the United States from 1965–2015. The expansion of the Eurasian collared‐dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Supplementary feeding is often used as a conservation tool to reverse the decline of food‐limited populations. The arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is one of the most endangered mammals in Norway and has been the target of several conservation initiatives for almost 3 decades, including supplementary feeding. To measure and improve the efficiency of supplementary feeding as a conservation action, we used

As the interest for nature‐based tourism activities increases, it is important to provide evidence‐based guidelines for wildlife‐human interactions to minimize the disturbance caused to wildlife. In Fennoscandia, the endangered arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is subject to increasing tourism interest and some regions recommend a minimum approach distance of 300 m, but the guidelines have not been scientifically

Resident populations of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are of particular management interest throughout the eastern United States given increased human‐wildlife conflicts due to regional increases in the Atlantic Flyway Resident Population. Within Virginia, USA, growth rates of resident goose populations have been reduced through extended harvest seasons and increased bag limits. Our objective was

Much of the remaining native rangeland in the Great Plains in the United States is privately owned and managed for beef production, and this single priority for land use may be contributing to declining avian biodiversity through a loss of structural heterogeneity. One proposed solution is to use multiple grazing systems across ranches, under the assumption that this approach will increase heterogeneity

The invasive red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) has negatively affected a host of taxonomic groups throughout its acquired North American range. Many studies have hypothesized indirect trophic impacts, but few documented those impacts. We evaluated invertebrate abundance as a factor limiting juvenile survival of the endangered Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri), and whether

Anthrax, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a zoonotic disease that affects humans and animals throughout the world. In North America, anthrax outbreaks occur in livestock and wildlife species. Vaccine administration in wildlife is untenable; the most effective form of management is surveillance and decontamination of carcasses. Successful management is critical because untreated

The random encounter model (REM) is a novel method for estimating animal density from camera trap data without the need for individual recognition. It has never been used to estimate the density of large carnivore species, despite these being the focus of most camera trap studies worldwide. In this context, we applied the REM to estimate the density of female lions (Panthera leo) from camera traps

We compared the number of avian species detected and the sampling effort during fatality monitoring at 50 North American wind facilities. Facilities with short intervals between sampling events and high effort detected more species, but many facilities appeared undersampled. Species accumulation curves for 2 wind facilities studied for more than 1 year had yet to reach an asymptote. The monitoring

Encounters between Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos) and humans that result in human injuries and fatalities typically coincide with den entry in October and November, and commonly occur near a den. Our aim was to determine when bears arrive at their dens, identify potential predictors of this event, document behavior and activity associated with this period, and attempt to explain the increased

We used multi-season occupancy analyses to model 2 fates of northern spotted owl territories in relation to habitat amount, habitat fragmentation, and the presence of barred owls in Washington State, USA, 1989-2005. Local colonization is the probability a territory unoccupied by a spotted owl in year i would be occupied in year i + 1, and local extinction is the probability a territory that was occupied

Bears foraging near human developments are often presumed to be responding to food shortage, but this explanation ignores social factors, in particular despotism in bears. We analyzed the age distribution and body condition index (BCI) of shot brown bears in relation to densities of bears and people, and whether the shot bears were killed by managers (i.e., problem bears; n = 149), in self-defense