Wildlife Control Atlantis Wildlife control in Atlantis, FL, helps protect homes and businesses from nuisance animals that may cause damage or create unhealthy conditions. AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches provides professional solutions for wildlife found in attics, crawl spaces, wall cavities, garages, roofs, and other sheltered areas. Raccoons, squirrels, bats,…Wildlife Control Atlantis Wildlife control in Atlantis, FL, helps protect homes and businesses from nuisance animals that may cause damage or create unhealthy conditions. AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches provides professional solutions for wildlife found in attics, crawl spaces, wall cavities, garages, roofs, and other sheltered areas. Raccoons, squirrels, bats, rodents, birds, snakes, and other animals may enter buildings through damaged vents, loose soffits, roof gaps, fascia boards, and utility openings. Common signs of wildlife activity include scratching noises, droppings, unpleasant odors, nesting materials, gnaw marks, disturbed insulation, and visible damage around the roofline. Our wildlife control process begins with a thorough inspection to identify the species, locate active entry points, and evaluate any related damage or contamination. Depending on the situation, AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches may provide humane trapping or exclusion, entry-point repairs, contaminated-area cleanup, sanitation, and prevention recommendations. If you need professional wildlife control in Atlantis, FL, contact AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches today. Our team can inspect your property, recommend an appropriate solution, and help reduce the risk of nuisance wildlife returning to your home or business. More on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsyM6-Ww3d0 On Sound Cloud: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches provides professional and humane wildlife removal services in Atlantis, Florida. Contact Us: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches 4440 PGA Blvd Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens , FL , 33410 561-515-0201 Website: https://palm-beaches.aaacwildliferemoval.com/ Email: palmbeaches@aaacwildliferemoval.com Find us around the web: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aaacwildliferemovalofthepa5785 Facebook: Twitter: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aaac-wildlife-removal Blogger: WordPress: Tumblr:
AAAC Wildlife Removal Atlantis Discover helpful information about professional wildlife removal in Atlantis, FL, with AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches. This playlist covers common wildlife problems affecting local homes and businesses, including animals entering attics, crawl spaces, walls, roofs, and other sheltered areas. Listen to episodes about raccoon removal, squirrel…AAAC Wildlife Removal Atlantis Discover helpful information about professional wildlife removal in Atlantis, FL, with AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches. This playlist covers common wildlife problems affecting local homes and businesses, including animals entering attics, crawl spaces, walls, roofs, and other sheltered areas. Listen to episodes about raccoon removal, squirrel removal, bat exclusion, rodent control, and other wildlife management services. Each track explains common signs of an infestation, the damage nuisance animals may cause, and why timely professional assistance is important for protecting your property. AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches uses humane and property-conscious methods to address unwanted wildlife. Our process may include a detailed inspection, safe animal removal, one-way exclusion techniques, entry-point repairs, contamination cleanup, and practical prevention strategies designed to reduce the risk of future infestations. Whether you hear scratching in the attic, notice droppings near your roofline, or discover damage around vents and soffits, our team is ready to help. Follow this playlist to learn more about wildlife control in Atlantis, FL, and contact AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches to schedule a professional inspection for your home or business. More on Sound Cloud: On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUTiEbX5Tu4Y AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches provides professional and humane wildlife removal services in Atlantis, Florida. Contact Us: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches 4440 PGA Blvd Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens , FL , 33410 561-515-0201 Website: https://palm-beaches.aaacwildliferemoval.com/ Email: palmbeaches@aaacwildliferemoval.com Find us around the web: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aaacwildliferemovalofthepa5785 Facebook: Twitter: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aaac-wildlife-removal Blogger: WordPress: Tumblr:
“Chocolate, avocados, onions, and moldy foods are some of the most poisonous items you can leave out for squirrels. Even small amounts of these everyday ingredients can cause serious health issues—or be fatal—for these sensitive rodents.” Squirrels may look harmless scampering across your fence or chasing each other up a…“Chocolate, avocados, onions, and moldy foods are some of the most poisonous items you can leave out for squirrels. Even small amounts of these everyday ingredients can cause serious health issues—or be fatal—for these sensitive rodents.” Squirrels may look harmless scampering across your fence or chasing each other up a tree, but when they show up in your attic or tear through your garden, that charm disappears fast. In leafy neighborhoods where parks are close by and backyard bird feeders are everywhere, it’s no surprise that squirrels are regular visitors—and sometimes uninvited tenants. While many people enjoy watching them or even tossing out food, what you leave behind can actually be dangerous to squirrels—and a bigger headache for you without proper squirrel control . This article isn’t about harming wildlife. It’s about knowing what food is poisonous to squirrels so you don’t accidentally invite them in or make them sick. If you’ve been leaving out scraps, filling feeders, or composting without thinking twice, there’s a good chance you’re creating a squirrel buffet without even realizing it. Let’s break down what to avoid, what to secure, and how to protect both your home and the squirrels from a bad encounter. What Is The Most Dangerous Foods for Squirrels? Chocolate and Caffeinated Products Chocolate is one of the most toxic substances you can accidentally leave out for squirrels or any rodent. It contains theobromine—a stimulant that these small animals can’t metabolize effectively. Just a small amount from a brownie, chocolate almond bar, or sugar-filled candy can trigger tremors, elevated heart rate, or seizures in squirrels. Since they have such fast metabolisms and tiny bodies, the toxic effects hit hard and fast, often with serious consequences. Caffeinated foods and drinks are equally dangerous. Coffee grounds , soda spills, or chocolate-covered espresso beans tossed into a compost pile can be life-threatening if a squirrel gets into them. Where outdoor parties and backyard BBQs are common, it’s easy for sugary or caffeine-rich snacks to end up where rodents roam. To keep squirrels safe and your property clear of unwelcome visitors, make it a habit to clean up thoroughly and store all sweet or stimulant-laced foods securely. Avocados Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin found in the fruit’s skin, pit, and even its leaves. While persin might not harm humans, it can be toxic to many animals, including squirrels. The risk isn’t just in eating an avocado—squirrels that nibble on a discarded peel, chewed seed, or exposed pit can experience digestive issues or worse. What makes this even more concerning is how easily avocado waste can be overlooked, especially in compost bins. If you’re growing avocado trees or preparing guacamole from scratch, this is something to stay mindful of. As urban farming and composting become more popular, the risk of accidentally exposing squirrels to this toxic fruit increases. Make sure avocado scraps are properly sealed or discarded, and if you have a tree, regularly clear fallen fruit from the yard. It’s better to be safe than to unknowingly poison a local animal. Onions, Garlic, and Spicy Foods While these aromatic kitchen staples may keep your chili full of flavor, they spell serious trouble for squirrels. Onions and garlic contain compounds that can damage red blood cells, leading to anemia and other health complications. The danger extends to cooked dishes, too. If a squirrel gets into leftover food seasoned with garlic or onions, even in small amounts, it can suffer lasting effects. In worst cases, repeated exposure can be fatal over time. Spicy foods also pack a punch that squirrels can’t handle. Hot sauce remnants, chili powder, or discarded tacos can cause severe digestive distress. Where spicy dishes are a staple, food waste often ends up in outdoor bins or compost piles. Make sure spicy scraps are stored in critter-proof containers, and avoid tossing seasoned leftovers near your patio or yard. The goal isn’t just to avoid harming squirrels—it’s to stop inviting them altogether. Alcohol and Fermented Fruit Alcohol might seem like an unlikely threat to wildlife, but squirrels are highly sensitive to it. Whether it’s beer spills from a tailgate, wine left out on the porch, or sugary cocktails left on patio tables, these drinks can lead to disorientation, slowed reaction time, and eventually liver failure in squirrels. Their small bodies can’t handle even trace amounts, and it doesn’t take much to put them in serious danger. Another sneaky culprit? Overripe or fermenting fruit, especially in backyards with peach, fig, or persimmon trees. As the fruit falls and begins to break down, it can release natural alcohols that attract squirrels and get them intoxicated. They may stagger, fall from trees, or become easy prey for predators. Regularly clean up fruit from the ground and keep alcoholic beverages secure during outdoor events. Salty Snacks and Chips Salt is another ingredient that can easily disrupt a squirrel’s internal balance. While humans can handle a salty snack during a football game or backyard hangout, squirrels don’t process salt well. Even a few bites of junk food like chips, pretzels, or salted walnut snacks can dehydrate them and overwork their kidneys. These types of treats also contain added sugar and artificial ingredients that offer zero nutritional value for squirrels—making them both harmful and useless from a dietary perspective. Many of these items—especially sugary breakfast cereals or processed snack mixes—are casually dropped or tossed outside without much thought. But to a hungry squirrel, that forgotten bowl of cereal or spilled trail mix is a full meal. Where outdoor events, food trucks, and weekend cookouts are part of the culture, squirrels quickly learn where the good stuff is. Cleaning up sugary crumbs and sealing snack waste tightly are easy steps that help discourage squirrels from turning your yard into their favorite buffet line. Surprising “Healthy” Foods That Still Poisonous To Squirrels Not all squirrel-dangerous foods are obviously harmful. Some look totally natural or even nutritious—but for squirrels, they can cause more harm than good. These foods often show up in gardens, bird feeders, compost piles, or well-meaning attempts to “feed the wildlife.” Here’s what to watch for. Raw Corn (Especially Moldy Corn) Corn might seem harmless—it’s a common ingredient in bird seed, livestock feed, and even human snacks. But when corn starts to mold, it can develop aflatoxins, which are highly toxic to squirrels and many other animals. Aflatoxins are produced by certain types of fungi and can affect liver function, immune systems, and even lead to cancer in wildlife. A squirrel doesn’t have to eat much moldy corn for it to cause serious internal damage. The risk goes up during warm, humid stretches—especially in summer—when moisture speeds up mold growth. Corn that’s left outside for too long, stored improperly in feeders, or tossed into compost piles can quickly become a hidden hazard. If you’re putting out corn in a feeder, store it in a dry place, change it frequently, and never offer anything that smells off or looks discolored. It’s not just about nutrition—it’s about safety. Bread and Processed Carbs Bread might feel like a safe, throwaway snack for critters—but it’s actually a poor and potentially harmful food choice for squirrels. Bread, crackers, and other refined carbs offer little to no nutrition, and they can expand in a squirrel’s stomach, leading to bloating or discomfort. In some cases, processed bread products contain preservatives and additives that are hard for squirrels to digest, weakening their system over time. Squirrels that eat too much bread often end up malnourished despite feeling full. This is especially common in neighborhoods where residents leave out food “just to be nice.” Unfortunately, the kindness backfires. Instead of helping, you may be attracting squirrels that grow dependent on an unhealthy food source—and more likely to take up permanent residence in your attic. If you want to be squirrel-friendly, stick to natural deterrents and avoid the bread basket. Peanuts (Especially Salted or Moldy) Peanuts are a bit of a wildcard. While they’re often seen in squirrel food blends or used to lure wildlife for photos, they aren’t actually nuts—they’re legumes. And when they’re salted, roasted, or worse, moldy, they become a serious risk. Moldy peanuts, like corn, can carry aflatoxins that attack a squirrel’s liver and immune system. Salted peanuts, on the other hand, can cause dehydration and kidney stress. This matters because many people use peanuts to feed birds or squirrels without realizing the risks. In fact, some birdseed mixes from big-box stores still include them. If you’re trying to keep squirrels away from your yard—or avoid poisoning them by accident—skip the peanuts. And if you must use them, go for raw, unsalted, and fresh, and use a squirrel-proof bird feeder so your effort to help one species doesn’t endanger another. Foods That Attract Squirrels (But Shouldn’t) Some foods might not be poisonous, but they’re basically neon signs saying “Free Snacks Here!” for squirrels. These attractants can lead to more frequent visits, nesting, and eventual infestations. If you’re trying to squirrel-proof your yard or keep them from invading your home, these are the items to manage carefully. Bird Seed and Pet Food Bird feeders are one of the top culprits for squirrel problems. Many blends contain sunflower seeds, millet, corn, and peanuts—aka squirrel candy. Once they find a reliable food source, squirrels will return again and again, sometimes destroying the feeder in the process. The same goes for pet food left outside. Dry kibble and wet food alike are high-protein, calorie-dense meals that squirrels will happily devour. Where backyard birdwatching is popular and outdoor pet bowls are commo
Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management TWS Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Newsletter:Spring 1999 - Volume 6(2) Date of this Version 1999 Document Type Article Abstract Forward -- Scott Craven; 1999 Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Officers:; Contributors To This Issue; Wildlife Damage Management Around The World - Part 4; Wildlife…Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management TWS Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Newsletter:Spring 1999 - Volume 6(2) Date of this Version 1999 Document Type Article Abstract Forward -- Scott Craven; 1999 Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Officers:; Contributors To This Issue; Wildlife Damage Management Around The World - Part 4; Wildlife Damage Management In Mexico; Next Edition Deadlines; Conditioned Food Avoidance For Predator Depredation Alert; Preliminary Program 6th Annual Conference * September 7-11, 1999; Tws 6th Annual Conference Working Group Sponsored Sessions; In Memory: William D. Fitzwater; Next Edition Deadlines; In Memoriam: Jack H. Berryman; A Wildlife Contraception Technical Review Committee; Call For Papers 19th Vertebrate Pest Conference; Application For Membership / The Wildlife Society DOWNLOADS Since November 09, 2010 COinS
AAAC Wildlife Removal Atlantis AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches provides professional wildlife removal services for homes and businesses throughout Atlantis, Florida. Our experienced team helps property owners address nuisance animals that enter attics, crawl spaces, wall cavities, garages, roofs, and other sheltered areas. Raccoons, squirrels, bats, rodents, birds, snakes, and…AAAC Wildlife Removal Atlantis AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches provides professional wildlife removal services for homes and businesses throughout Atlantis, Florida. Our experienced team helps property owners address nuisance animals that enter attics, crawl spaces, wall cavities, garages, roofs, and other sheltered areas. Raccoons, squirrels, bats, rodents, birds, snakes, and other wild animals can create noise, damage insulation, contaminate surfaces, and leave vulnerable entry points around a property. This video explains common signs of wildlife activity and why a detailed inspection is important for identifying the animal, locating access points, and determining the appropriate solution. Our wildlife control process may include humane removal or exclusion, secure entry-point repairs, contaminated-area cleanup, and practical prevention recommendations. We tailor our approach to the species involved and the specific conditions of each Atlantis property to help resolve the current problem and reduce the chance of future wildlife activity. If you hear scratching or movement, discover droppings, notice damaged vents or soffits, or suspect an animal has entered your property, contact AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches. Schedule an inspection today and let our team provide dependable wildlife removal services in Atlantis, FL, and nearby Palm Beach County communities. More on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9D2POgdV3Q On Sound Cloud: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches provides professional and humane wildlife removal services in Atlantis, Florida. Contact Us: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches 4440 PGA Blvd Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens , FL , 33410 561-515-0201 Website: https://palm-beaches.aaacwildliferemoval.com/ Email: palmbeaches@aaacwildliferemoval.com Find us around the web: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aaacwildliferemovalofthepa5785 Facebook: Twitter: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aaac-wildlife-removal Blogger: WordPress: Tumblr:
Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management Newsletter of The Wildlife Society Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Interactions: Volume 15 Issue 1 Winter 2009 Date of this Version 2009 Document Type Article Abstract See You In Saratoga! Letters from Gary; A Brief Report from The WDMWG Meeting and the 2008 TWS Annual…Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management Newsletter of The Wildlife Society Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Interactions: Volume 15 Issue 1 Winter 2009 Date of this Version 2009 Document Type Article Abstract See You In Saratoga! Letters from Gary; A Brief Report from The WDMWG Meeting and the 2008 TWS Annual Conference; New Product Announcement Backyard Wildlife: Vole Control And Ground Squirrel Management Dvd; Publication Announcement Latest Issue of Human Wildlife Conflicts Is Now Available; Conference Announcement Bird Strike North American Conference; Conference Announcement TWS Conference Preliminary Program; New Publication Available 23rd Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings; Calls from the Field (Or A House, Or A Farm, or A…); 2009 Wildlife Damage Management Conference Preliminary Schedule; 2009 Wildlife Damage Management Conference Registration Information; The Wildlife Society Wildlife Damage Management Working Group; Upcoming Meetings, Conferences, And Events DOWNLOADS Since November 09, 2010 COinS
Wildlife Removal Atlantis Wildlife Removal Atlantis, FL, from AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches provides professional solutions for nuisance animals affecting local homes and businesses. Our team handles wildlife problems in attics, crawl spaces, wall cavities, garages, roofs, and other areas where animals may seek food, shelter, or nesting space. Raccoons,…Wildlife Removal Atlantis Wildlife Removal Atlantis, FL, from AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches provides professional solutions for nuisance animals affecting local homes and businesses. Our team handles wildlife problems in attics, crawl spaces, wall cavities, garages, roofs, and other areas where animals may seek food, shelter, or nesting space. Raccoons, squirrels, bats, rodents, birds, snakes, and other wild animals can damage insulation, chew building materials, contaminate surfaces, and create disturbing noises. Common warning signs include scratching sounds, droppings, unpleasant odors, nesting materials, damaged vents, and openings around soffits or rooflines. AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches begins with a detailed property inspection to identify the animal and locate active entry points. Depending on the situation, our services may include humane trapping or exclusion, entry-point repairs, wildlife damage cleanup, sanitation, and prevention recommendations tailored to the property. If you need wildlife removal in Atlantis, FL, contact AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches today. Our team can inspect your property, explain the recommended solution, and help protect your home or business from recurring wildlife activity. More on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9D2POgdV3Q On Sound Cloud: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches provides professional and humane wildlife removal services in Atlantis, Florida. Contact Us: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches 4440 PGA Blvd Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens , FL , 33410 561-515-0201 Website: https://palm-beaches.aaacwildliferemoval.com/ Email: palmbeaches@aaacwildliferemoval.com Find us around the web: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aaacwildliferemovalofthepa5785 Facebook: Twitter: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aaac-wildlife-removal Blogger: WordPress: Tumblr:
A snake can stay in your house for weeks or even months if it finds steady food, water, and shelter. Without these resources, most snakes leave on their own much sooner. Snakes that slip indoors don’t always leave quickly – they can remain hidden for weeks or months if they…A snake can stay in your house for weeks or even months if it finds steady food, water, and shelter. Without these resources, most snakes leave on their own much sooner. Snakes that slip indoors don’t always leave quickly – they can remain hidden for weeks or months if they find prey, water, and safe shelter. This makes them more than a passing nuisance, as their presence often signals underlying issues like rodent infestations or entry gaps in the home. This article explains how long snakes typically stay inside, what conditions encourage them to remain, and where they tend to hide. It also covers seasonal behaviors, removal timelines, and how AAAC Wildlife Removal provides safe, lasting solutions to prevent repeat encounters. What Attracts a Snake Indoors, and How That Affects Stay Duration Snakes rarely wander into houses by accident; they follow resources that allow them to survive comfortably. The more of these resources they find, the longer they are likely to remain hidden indoors. Food Sources Rodents are the primary reason snakes settle inside homes, as they provide a steady food supply. If a house has signs of mice or rats, snakes may extend their stay for weeks or months. They are opportunistic hunters and will remain as long as prey is available. This connection makes rodent control essential for reducing snake residency. Shelter and Hiding Spots Snakes prefer undisturbed, dark spaces like attics, crawl spaces, or basements. These areas provide safety from predators and human activity, encouraging snakes to remain longer. The more clutter or storage available, the more hiding places snakes can exploit. A well-protected environment can turn a temporary visit into a long-term stay. Access to Water Even non-venomous snakes need consistent water sources to survive indoors. Leaky pipes, pet bowls, or damp basements provide the hydration they seek. If water remains available, a snake has little reason to leave. Addressing indoor moisture problems helps make the environment less appealing. Temperature and Seasonal Comfort Snakes use indoor environments to escape extreme outdoor conditions. During cold months, heated spaces offer warmth, while in hot months, basements provide cooler refuge. This seasonal benefit can extend their presence significantly. As long as temperatures indoors remain stable, snakes may choose to stay well past their initial entry. Common Hiding Places that Encourage Longer Residency Snakes seek quiet, dark spaces where they can avoid detection and feel secure. These locations allow them to remain indoors for weeks or even months without being noticed. Attics Attics offer warmth, insulation, and little human disturbance, making them ideal for snakes to settle in. Rodents often use attics as nesting sites, which attracts snakes looking for prey. Once inside, snakes can remain hidden among insulation or stored items. Because attics are rarely visited, residents may not realize a snake is living there. Shed skins or droppings are often the first signs of their presence. Crawl Spaces Crawl spaces provide consistent shelter with easy access through foundation cracks or vents. They stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, giving snakes year-round comfort. Moisture from plumbing leaks or ground dampness can also provide a water source. These spaces often host insects and rodents, adding to the attraction. Without inspection, a snake can live in a crawl space undisturbed for long periods. Basements Basements are another prime hiding spot due to their low light, clutter, and accessibility from ground-level entry points. They often contain water sources such as sump pumps or leaky pipes. Storage boxes and furniture provide additional cover for snakes to hide behind or under. Rodents may also be active here, keeping snakes well-fed. Regular use of the basement increases the chances of detection, but in underused ones, snakes may remain unnoticed. Garages and Sheds Garages and sheds often have gaps under doors or unsealed vents that allow easy entry. Snakes take advantage of stored tools, boxes, or clutter for concealment. These areas may also house pests like crickets or mice, which become an immediate food supply. Because garages and sheds are not always sealed tightly, snakes can enter and exit freely. This flexibility makes them convenient temporary homes that sometimes turn into longer stays. Inside Walls and Cabinets Some snakes slip into gaps around plumbing or wiring and end up inside walls. Once there, they can remain for extended periods since the space is dark and rarely disturbed. In kitchens or bathrooms, cabinets near plumbing offer similar shelter and sometimes water access. These hiding places make snakes especially difficult to locate without professional help. Scratching noises or shed skins near wall gaps may be the only clues to their presence. Seasonal Behaviors Indoors Snakes adjust their indoor stays based on outdoor weather conditions. Seasonal changes can extend how long they remain hidden inside a home. Winter Brumation : During cold months, snakes may brumate in attics, basements, or walls to conserve energy. This state allows them to stay indoors for weeks or months until temperatures rise. Spring Activity : As weather warms, snakes become more active in search of food and mates. If prey remains available indoors, they may continue staying inside instead of leaving. Summer Heat : High outdoor temperatures drive snakes to cooler indoor spots like basements or crawl spaces. These areas provide stable climates that encourage extended residency. Fall Preparation : In autumn, snakes seek shelter to prepare for colder months. Homes with easy entry points can become long-term refuges before winter arrives. How Long Does It Actually Take to Remove a Snake? Snake removal can be quick or time-consuming depending on where the animal is hiding and what species is involved. Professionals assess access, safety risks, and behavior before determining how long the job will take. Simple, Visible Encounters If a non-venomous snake is out in the open, removal may only take minutes. Professionals can safely capture it with minimal tools and relocate it quickly. These cases usually occur in garages, porches, or open rooms where snakes are easy to spot. The process is straightforward, with little disruption to the household. Hidden in Clutter or Storage When snakes hide under boxes, furniture, or insulation, locating them requires more time. Each potential hiding spot must be checked thoroughly to avoid missing the animal. The extra steps slow down removal, often extending it to an hour or more. Careful handling ensures both safety and effectiveness in these situations. Venomous Species Removing venomous snakes takes longer due to the added precautions required. Specialized tools, protective gear, and sometimes multiple handlers are necessary. Every step must be deliberate to minimize risks of bites or escape. This makes venomous removals more time-intensive than non-venomous cases. Inside Walls or Crawl Spaces Snakes that slip into walls, crawl spaces, or attics are the hardest to remove. Professionals may need to use inspection cameras, traps, or repeated visits to confirm the snake’s location. These removals can take several hours, and in rare cases, multiple days. The complexity comes from the snake’s mobility and the difficulty of access. Final Takeaway on Snakes Staying Indoors How long a snake remains in your house depends on the resources it finds—food, water, shelter, and stable temperatures. In some cases, snakes may only stay a few days, but when conditions are favorable, they can remain hidden for weeks or even months. Their presence is often a symptom of broader issues like rodent activity or unsealed entry points. Professional removal provides a faster, safer solution than waiting for a snake to leave on its own. Experts not only locate and remove the animal but also identify how it entered and what keeps it inside. With AAAC Wildlife Removal, homeowners gain both immediate relief and long-term prevention to ensure snakes don’t make the house a recurring refuge.
Wildlife Removal Near Me Atlantis Searching for “wildlife removal near me” in Atlantis, FL? AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches provides professional wildlife control solutions for homeowners and businesses dealing with nuisance animals. Our team can inspect attics, crawl spaces, wall cavities, garages, roofs, and other areas where wildlife may hide…Wildlife Removal Near Me Atlantis Searching for “wildlife removal near me” in Atlantis, FL? AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches provides professional wildlife control solutions for homeowners and businesses dealing with nuisance animals. Our team can inspect attics, crawl spaces, wall cavities, garages, roofs, and other areas where wildlife may hide or build nests. Raccoons, squirrels, bats, rodents, birds, snakes, and other wild animals can cause property damage and create unhealthy conditions. Scratching noises, droppings, unpleasant odors, damaged insulation, gnaw marks, and openings around the roofline may indicate that wildlife has entered your property. Our wildlife removal process begins with a detailed inspection to identify the animal, locate active entry points, and assess any related damage or contamination. Depending on the situation, AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches may provide humane trapping or exclusion, entry-point repairs, cleanup, sanitation, and prevention recommendations. When you need wildlife removal near you in Atlantis, FL, contact AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches. Schedule an inspection today and let our team develop a solution that addresses the current wildlife problem and helps reduce the risk of animals returning. More on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRVWhccl5po On Sound Cloud: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches provides professional and humane wildlife removal services in Atlantis, Florida. Contact Us: AAAC Wildlife Removal - Palm Beaches 4440 PGA Blvd Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens , FL , 33410 561-515-0201 Website: https://palm-beaches.aaacwildliferemoval.com/ Email: palmbeaches@aaacwildliferemoval.com Find us around the web: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aaacwildliferemovalofthepa5785 Facebook: Twitter: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aaac-wildlife-removal Blogger: WordPress: Tumblr:
< Previous Article Next Article > Home ICWDM TWS WDM News 26 Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management TWS Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Newsletter: Vol. 10, Issue 2 Fall 2003 Authors Date of this Version 2003 Document Type Article Abstract Forward ; Working Group Annual Meeting Minutes ; 2003 Wildlife…< Previous Article Next Article > Home ICWDM TWS WDM News 26 Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management TWS Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Newsletter: Vol. 10, Issue 2 Fall 2003 Authors Date of this Version 2003 Document Type Article Abstract Forward ; Working Group Annual Meeting Minutes ; 2003 Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Board Member Ballot; News And Announcements; Executive Board Candidates; Application For Membership / The Wildlife Society Download DOWNLOADS Since November 09, 2010 Included in Environmental Health and Protection Commons COinS
Co-owner of The Pest Posse Foster Brusca and PMP Senior Editor Diane Sofranec preview this month's edition of PMP magazine. The post Today’s PMP previews PMP’s May edition first appeared on Pest Management Professional.
Florida has always been a land of profound changes. Seas have naturally risen and fallen over thousands of years, greatly expanding and contracting the peninsula. A key difference now is … Read more The post Connecting to Wild Florida and the Gulf in an Era of Climate Change appeared first…Florida has always been a land of profound changes. Seas have naturally risen and fallen over thousands of years, greatly expanding and contracting the peninsula. A key difference now is … Read more The post Connecting to Wild Florida and the Gulf in an Era of Climate Change appeared first on The National Wildlife Federation Blog.
Everyday stress has a significant effect on a cardinal’s internal ecosystem The post Even songbirds sweat the small stuff appeared first on The Wildlife Society.
During remarks at an energy conference last year, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told oil, gas and mining executives that “if someone was sending me revenue, they [aren’t] the enemy. They [are] the customer.” To some extent, Burgum’s statement is accurate. Energy use is an integral part of our daily lives,…During remarks at an energy conference last year, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told oil, gas and mining executives that “if someone was sending me revenue, they [aren’t] the enemy. They [are] the customer.” To some extent, Burgum’s statement is accurate. Energy use is an integral part of our daily lives, and as long as society’s energy needs continue to grow, energy development will grow alongside it. Energy development is also a legitimate activity under the guise of multiple-use mandates for managing our public lands. However, the generation of direct revenue is not what makes energy industry executives the customer. All Americans are owners of the nation’s public lands and its natural resources—including oil, natural gas and other energy sources. So in that regard, we are all customers and beneficiaries of any products and services provided by our public lands. It is not productive dialogue to frame conservation as being at odds with energy development. Nor is it productive to vilify services driven by our own societal needs. It leads to a dangerous rhetorical dichotomy that weakens the ability of professionals to influence or minimize the adverse impacts of energy development on wildlife populations and their habitats. The repeal of the 2024 Public Lands Rule on May 11 provides a perfect example. The Public Lands Rule When the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued the 2024 Public Lands Rule, placing conservation squarely alongside grazing, energy, recreation and other multiple uses in federal land management decisions, it felt like a long-awaited and much-needed recognition of the work wildlife professionals were doing. The symbolic resonance of the rule reverberated across TWS’ membership , and less than two years later, its removal has now landed with a resounding and understandable thud across much of the wildlife profession. Many within the profession and beyond are now concerned not only about policy outcomes but also about what the Public Lands Rule repeal signals for the future of conservation in the United States. As wildlife professionals, though, we owe ourselves, our natural resources and the landscapes we steward a clear assessment of what repealing the rule really means. Despite the political rhetoric, durable policy tools remain at our disposal, and understanding them will enable us to better focus on the challenges ahead. The narrative matters and it can mislead The Public Lands Rule introduced meaningful changes. It formally placed conservation on equal footing with extractive and recreational uses on public lands, expanded ecosystem resilience as a management standard and introduced new tools, such as restoration and mitigation leasing. Since the Public Lands Rule repeal, a powerful narrative has taken hold: conservation itself has been “canceled,” “killed,” “eliminated,” “abandoned” and “stripped” as a legitimate consideration in public land management. This interpretation, though, is not exactly accurate. Neither the Public Lands Rule nor its repeal alters the underlying legislation upon which the rules are based: the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). The truth is more nuanced. From its enactment in 1976, FLPMA has required the BLM to manage public lands on “the basis of multiple use and sustained yield” and to “prevent unnecessary or undue degradation” of public lands and their various resource values. The quality of scientific, scenic, ecological, environmental and wildlife values are specifically listed within the law as resource values to be managed without permanent impairment. Further, FLPMA specifically mentions that the “harmonious and coordinated management of various resources” does not necessarily mean “the combination of uses that will give the greatest economic return or the greatest unit output.” These legal mandates remain intact. The Public Lands Rule repeal removes the regulatory framing that elevated conservation as a more explicit “use” under FLPMA’s multiple-use mandate, but it does not remove conservation-related mandates from the text of FLPMA, nor does it bestow preferential treatment to public land uses that produce the greatest revenue. If we accept the narrative that conservation has been erased, we risk something more dangerous than a policy rollback. We risk increasing polarization of public opinion, moving us further away from the harmony envisioned in FLPMA land management decisions. Perhaps more importantly, we risk doing real damage to the morale of wildlife professionals across agencies, NGOs, academia and private industries who work every day to support conservation on public lands distinct from the political rhetoric. The real challenges ahead While the underlying foundation of FLPMA remains intact, the broader and more subjective text of the law does not provide as clear a backing for conservation as the prescriptive guidance of the Public Lands Rule. Combined with the political rhetoric that frames conservation as an illegitimate use of resources on public lands, the wildlife community faces a heightened risk of losing influence in federal land management planning—if we allow that to happen. The following are ways the repeal creates real challenges for wildlife professionals: Greater pressure on discretionary decision-making: Without the rule’s explicit elevation of conservation, more weight will fall on local planning teams to ensure ecological and wildlife values are meaningfully integrated into management decisions. Recent federal staff cuts and reorganizations could exacerbate the pressure by limiting local capacity to adequately assess complex environmental impacts, making informed decisions more difficult and harder to defend. Loss of emerging conservation tools: The absence of restoration and mitigation leasing removes a flexible mechanism that could have accelerated large-scale wildlife habitat work. The rule applied uniform, landscape-level health standards to all public lands, requiring standardized monitoring and data collection. Without these tools, BLM may return to a more fragmented leasing and assessment approach that makes it harder to track ecosystem-wide decline or apply adaptive management. Potential for increased imbalance: In light of the political rhetoric and without a clear regulatory counterweight to energy development and other extractive resource uses, wildlife professionals may need to work harder to ensure that considerations for wildlife and their habitats are not marginalized during land management planning and decision-making. Regional interpretations of FLPMA may also emerge in the absence of clear federal guidance on conservation in land management planning, resulting in inconsistent standards across the nation and greater risks of litigation. It’s important to remember, though, that despite these challenges, the Public Lands Rule was still a developing system that had yet to be fully implemented. As a result, wildlife professionals are not starting from a position of sudden institutional loss with the repeal of the Public Lands rule. Rather, we are returning to a framework of conservation on public lands that we have effectively worked within for decades. Moving forward without losing our way The repeal of the Public Lands Rule is not a reason for despair, nor is it a time for complacency. The wildlife profession has an opportunity to lead with confidence and professionalism by rejecting narratives that diminish our role or the tools we still possess; by leaning into science, data and field expertise in every planning and permitting process; by strengthening collaboration across different sectors; and by advocating clearly and constructively for conservation outcomes within existing frameworks. Wildlife conservation on public lands has always depended on more than rules. It depends on the people committed to carrying it out across all sectors. The same individuals working to support conservation under the Public Lands Rule are the same individuals working to support conservation today. As divisive narratives take hold on the national stage, it’s important that those divisions don’t fracture the diverse entities and relationships necessary to support conservation work on the ground. Ultimately, the regulatory structure and boundaries of FPLMA will evolve. Courts will consider novel legal questions, new administrations will alter their rules and Congress will tweak the statute’s text. Aldo Leopold reminds us: “We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations, the important thing is not to achieve but to strive.” Conservation requires constant adaptation and care. Regardless of the challenges before us, our collective responsibility remains the same: to strive toward harmony with the land. Public lands belong to all Americans, and so does the responsibility to steward them wisely. If we are all customers, then we are all stakeholders in the outcome. The task before wildlife professionals is not to win a transient political argument, but to ensure that science, stewardship and conservation continue to have a seat at the table, regardless of which narrative dominates the moment. The perspectives in this article were shaped by TWS’ Position Statement on the Use of Science in Policy and Management Decisions and Energy Development and Wildlife . Read the text of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act . Article by Cameron J. Kovach
A scientist from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, England has identified seven previously unknown species of a distinctive frog-like insect. The insects belong to the genus Batracomorphus , a group of leafhoppers. Dr. Alvin Helden discovered the new species while conducting fieldwork in the tropical rainforest of Uganda. The…A scientist from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, England has identified seven previously unknown species of a distinctive frog-like insect. The insects belong to the genus Batracomorphus , a group of leafhoppers. Dr. Alvin Helden discovered the new species while conducting fieldwork in the tropical rainforest of Uganda. The name Batracomorphus comes from Greek and means "frog-shaped." These leafhoppers are usually green and have large eyes. They move by jumping with long hind legs that sit alongside their bodies, giving them a frog-like appearance. Details of Dr. Helden's findings were published in the journal Zootaxa . The discoveries represent the first new Batracomorphus species recorded in Africa since 1981. Before this study, scientists had identified only 375 species of Batracomorphus worldwide, with just two documented in the United Kingdom. All seven newly discovered species were collected using light traps in rainforest areas more than 1,500m above sea level in Uganda's Kibale National Park. How Scientists Confirm New Leafhopper Species One of the most difficult parts of the research was proving that the insects represented species that had never been documented before. Leafhoppers in this genus appear almost identical externally, making visual identification extremely difficult. To distinguish them, scientists must examine the insects' genital structures. This is the only reliable way to tell species apart. Leafhoppers reproduce using what scientists call a "lock and key" system. In this process, the male genitalia act as the key and have a unique shape that fits only with the corresponding female structures of the same species. These intricate structures are made from the same durable material as the insects' exoskeleton. Because of this precise match, successful reproduction occurs only between members of the same species, preventing hybridization. Why Leafhoppers Matter to Ecosystems Dr. Helden, an entomologist and member of the Ecology, Evolution and Environment Research Centre at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "Leafhoppers are beautiful, endearing creatures. Although some can be pests, and are associated with crops such as maize and rice, overall leafhoppers are a really undervalued group of herbivores. "They are an important source of food for birds and other insects, and their presence is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. "Finding these new species has taken a lot of painstaking fieldwork in the rainforest, dealing with heat and humidity, but it is incredibly satisfying to find species previously unknown to science -- it makes all the hard work worthwhile. "I've named six of the leafhoppers, in Greek, after their distinctive features or where they were found. One, Batracomorphus ruthae , carries a very personal meaning. It honors my mother, Ruth, who I lost in 2022. "Ruth was a scientist, who worked in a hospital laboratory. She bought me my first microscope, which I still have, and encouraged my love of science from the very beginning, so naming a species after her feels like the most fitting tribute I could give."
Is that bird a shade of pecan, syrup or penny brown? A new dataset aims to end the debate by quantifying color variation in bird feathers, enabling scientists to explore better questions in behavioral ecology and to examine how birds may respond to climate change. Color variation in birds is…Is that bird a shade of pecan, syrup or penny brown? A new dataset aims to end the debate by quantifying color variation in bird feathers, enabling scientists to explore better questions in behavioral ecology and to examine how birds may respond to climate change. Color variation in birds is important for social communication, sexual selection, human interactions and thermoregulation, making it a long-standing subject of research. But turning something subjective into something measurable has eluded researchers. Researchers examined 18,757 images from Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive , representing 10,290 species, including 5,288 subspecies as well as the different colors between females and males, multiple color forms and different ages. Colors are made from a composite of blue, green and red light, and the intensity of the three decides what color we see. In the bird photos, the team quantified the red, blue, and green light values. They clustered the values to identify and classify different feather colors—essentially breaking down the color shades. By translating plumage into standardized data, the dataset gives wildlife professionals a new tool to track how traits shift across landscapes and over time. Access the resource on Dryad or read more about the process in Ecology .
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Reolink and National Wildlife Federation are teaming up again to help college students capture and research owl activity on campus with a goal of advancing conservation and increasing awareness of … Read more The post Reolink Supports Owl Conservation at SUNY Morrisville appeared first on The National Wildlife Federation Blog.
Bats in California’s Central Valley Bats provide a remarkable natural pest-control service, helping protect California’s Central Valley crops, from rice and vegetables to orchards of fruit and nut trees. Across … Read more The post The Heat Is On: Understanding How Mexican Free-tailed Bats Regulate Body Temperature During High Heat…Bats in California’s Central Valley Bats provide a remarkable natural pest-control service, helping protect California’s Central Valley crops, from rice and vegetables to orchards of fruit and nut trees. Across … Read more The post The Heat Is On: Understanding How Mexican Free-tailed Bats Regulate Body Temperature During High Heat appeared first on The National Wildlife Federation Blog.
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Sometimes, the most exciting discoveries begin when nature challenges what we think we know. For many years, my colleagues, students and I have studied migratory grassland birds in the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico. One of these species is the grasshopper sparrow ( Ammodramus savannarum ), which we regularly encountered…Sometimes, the most exciting discoveries begin when nature challenges what we think we know. For many years, my colleagues, students and I have studied migratory grassland birds in the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico. One of these species is the grasshopper sparrow ( Ammodramus savannarum ), which we regularly encountered during winter surveys in the grasslands of Durango. Because these grasslands are an important wintering area for migratory birds, we had come to think of the grasshopper sparrow primarily as a winter visitor. It was one of many species that arrived from northern breeding grounds, spent the winter in Mexico and then migrated north again. Martín Pereda But fieldwork eventually showed us that we knew only part of the story. During the summer of 2017, while conducting surveys in the Cuchillas de la Zarca grasslands of northern Durango, we detected male grasshopper sparrows singing and behaving territorially. Their presence at that time of year immediately caught our attention. Instead of assuming that they were simply late migrants or occasional summer visitors, we decided to follow the evidence. What happened next became one of the most memorable experiences of my career in wildlife research. We captured males and females showing clear signs of reproductive condition. Then, while observing the behavior of the adults, we noticed birds repeatedly carrying food toward the ground. Following them through the grass eventually led us to something we had not expected to find: a nest containing four chicks. We later documented fledglings, including one in a separate territory, providing further evidence that reproduction was occurring in these grasslands. Until then, we had viewed these grasslands mainly as winter habitat for this migratory species. Finding that nest changed our perspective. Our observations provided the first confirmed breeding record of the grasshopper sparrow in Durango and, to our knowledge at the time, the first confirmed nesting record within the Chihuahuan Desert grasslands of Mexico. The discovery also changed the way I thought about the conservation value of the landscape. Cuchillas de la Zarca was not simply a place where migratory birds survived the winter. For at least some grasshopper sparrows, these grasslands were also a place to establish territories, build nests, raise young and complete another critical part of their life cycle. Pereda and his colleagues train in mist-netting and the capture of grassland birds in the Chihuahuan Desert. Credit: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies This made the conservation of these grasslands even more important. The study ultimately emphasized the need to maintain the vegetation characteristics required by breeding grasshopper sparrows and other declining grassland birds. For me, this experience captures one of the things I value most about field biology. We begin our research with previous knowledge, expectations and hypotheses, but we must always be willing to let nature challenge them. Sometimes, an unexpected observation becomes a question; the question leads us to look more carefully and what we find changes our understanding of a species. That small nest hidden among the grasses of Durango reminded me that unexpected results are not failures of science. Very often, they are where discovery begins. Learn more about Wildlife Vocalizations , and read other contributions . Submit your story for Wildlife Vocalizations or share the submission form with your peers and colleagues to encourage them to share their story. Article by Martín Pereda
Three public hunting and conservation areas in Louisiana grew by hundreds of acres Wednesday after the state Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a series of real estate deals.
Scattered among computers and hard drives across state, provincial and international borders is a treasure trove of information detailing the flight paths of traveling shorebirds. Although the number of birds carrying small satellite tracking backpacks has increased, the data is often inaccessible to people on the ground who may not…Scattered among computers and hard drives across state, provincial and international borders is a treasure trove of information detailing the flight paths of traveling shorebirds. Although the number of birds carrying small satellite tracking backpacks has increased, the data is often inaccessible to people on the ground who may not be aware a tracked shorebird traveled near them. Accessing and using shorebird tracking data has struggled to keep up with data collection because the data demand specialized expertise to answer conservation questions. Autumn-Lynn Harrison, a research ecologist at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and her collaborators published a study recently in Conservation Biology describing their work. They discussed how they took millions of observations, scattered across institutions; combined them into a centralized resource; and developed ways to more quickly deliver insights from these complex movement data to conservation practitioners. Harrison founded the Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective , an initiative that translates the combined findings of shorebird tracking data into on-the-ground conservation action. The Collective has received data contributions from 87 organizations, including over 10.2 million shorebird observations that form movement paths for 3,998 individuals representing 38 species tracked across the Americas. With this data, they have informed over 50 conservation projects. For our latest Q&A, The Wildlife Society caught up with Harrison to discuss the challenges of turning shorebird tracking data into actionable conservation and how the Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective is working to narrow the gap. What inspired this work? I’ve been doing animal tracking work for about 20 years, uncovering previously unknown migrations and collaborating with many partners. You always hope that science reaches decision-makers, but especially for shorebirds, much of the work is new and takes years to get published and into managers’ hands. Co-author Paul Smith’s work shows that over 50% of monitored North American shorebird populations have declined by over 50% since 1980, and the science is needed for conservation now. I realized practitioners aren’t usually going to have time to find 20 datasets, email 20 scientists and analyze the data themselves. It’s just too slow. So, I started thinking about creating a kind of “matchmaking service” to connect science directly with conservation questions and make that process as frictionless as possible. How have advances in tracking technology changed the field, and why does working with that data remain so complex? When I started, I worked with large animals like seals using large tracking tags. Back then, processing the data was difficult because the code wasn’t really available for the public to use for it yet. There weren’t user-friendly tools; it was just complicated software, and it took a lot of work to even process the data. So, I’ve seen two major advances. Firstly, satellite tags got much smaller, opening up many research avenues. Secondly, the ability to process data and handle errors, irregular sampling and other data collection methods that make ecological data messy is now standardized. There are shared code libraries to handle it. Autumn-Lynn Harrison and co-author Lee Tibbitts attaching a satellite tag to monitor bird movement. Credit: Elyse Gottesman/USGS But the data are still messy. We’re often bringing together data collected with multiple technologies over time and from different manufacturers. We have some tracking devices that may collect only one position per day, while others may collect 20 positions or more per day. Trying to integrate those into a statistical system for conservation insights can be tricky. The other sampling messiness we see a lot is if a tag does not always collect data on the schedule that you want. A hurricane might come through, and the tag goes offline for a couple of weeks. Dealing with data gaps and understanding when you can make inferences across them, when you can’t and when you would be stretching beyond what the data say makes it complicated. At the Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective, we aren’t simply a data repository; we’re also serving as data interpreters to inform conservation. Why has the Collective been successful? We took a thoughtful approach to setting up the data-sharing agreement and introducing the idea to the community. I developed the idea for a shorebird collective with Rick Lanctot, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). He’s now the chair of our advisory group. Before we even submitted our funding proposal, we had a webinar with everyone we knew who tracked birds. We talked through the idea with them and asked questions about what they would be comfortable with and what level of data sharing they would want. Many people advised us to make the simplest possible data-sharing agreement that would allow us to use the data liberally without further permissions. This would certainly help reduce our administrative load, but we ignored that advice, and we ended up making it quite customizable. Distribution and density of species tracked with satellite and GPS devices in the Americas contributed to the Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective. Credit: The Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective We have developed solutions that could inform the conservation request while still addressing the owner’s concerns. That takes a lot of time and thoughtfulness. It is not just saying we want all your data; you have to be comfortable with what we want to do with it. We meet people where they are in terms of comfort level with data sharing. Some people were not yet comfortable with making their data fully open access. This was often for important reasons, because a student’s dissertation was still in progress or the data involved an endangered species. However, these researchers still wanted to share their data for conservation purposes. To facilitate this, we gave them the option to approve requests individually through the data agreement. If someone’s not quite ready to share all their data yet, that’s totally cool. There’s no judgment, you know? Sometimes we’ll make a derived product like a simplified map or an infographic, so we don’t have to show the bird’s exact movement path. So far, 93% of data sharing requests have been approved. I also really wanted a process that could report back to the data contributors. They get a report back each time their data is used. They can put how many requests that their data informed on their CV or funding applications. Recently, we supported a species status assessment in Canada. These committees work quickly; they must because they only last a year or two. They typically would have had to contact 20 different data owners to get that data. We were able to aggregate the data, produce maps and connectivity analyses, and answer questions such as “Should we list parts of the population as endangered separately?” It’s really exciting because that’s important national-level policy. Article by Kaylyn Zipp
Cutlines and structures that the oil and gas industry built in the Canadian boreal forest may be attracting—and potentially resulting in the death of—wood bison. New research shows that these seismic surveying pathways and pipelines may be causing a plateau in numbers for a reintroduced population. “They may be a…Cutlines and structures that the oil and gas industry built in the Canadian boreal forest may be attracting—and potentially resulting in the death of—wood bison. New research shows that these seismic surveying pathways and pipelines may be causing a plateau in numbers for a reintroduced population. “They may be a trap because bison are attracted by them, but those features may not confer benefits,” said TWS member Thomas Jung, an adjunct professor in biology at the University of Alberta. Seismic surveying is a method used to discover oil and gas buried under the soil. In northern Alberta and British Columbia, companies cut paths through the boreal forest so surveyors can conduct their work. These lines have cut up tens of thousands of kilometers of the fossil fuel-rich area of Canada into grid patterns. Researchers have determined the effects these cutlines and other oil and gas infrastructure have on species like caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ), moose ( Alces alces ) and coyotes ( Canis latrans ) . But scientists have often neglected to study wood bison’s ( Bison bison athabascae ) response to these lines, perhaps due to the misconception that these large herbivores are resilient to human impacts. The wood bison population in northeastern British Columbia has plateaued. Credit: Chris Lewis Indeed, they can seem impervious, unphased as they forage in herds along the sides of highways. Some people even see them as a nuisance when they congregate around roads or oil and gas infrastructure. “Bison have a public image issue,” Jung said. But while Canada’s Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada recommended downlisting the species from “threatened” to “special concern” in 2013 , the national Species at Risk Act still considers them officially “threatened.” Five out of 10 wood bison populations reintroduced as part of the species’ recovery strategy are in the greater oil sands region of Canada. “We expect it’s going to be a growing issue as existing populations expand and, perhaps, new populations reintroduced,” Jung said. He and his colleagues wanted to see whether cutlines and other oil development-related features were affecting bison. The wood bison herd in northeastern British Columbia was first introduced in 1999 and 2000. Managers translocated 43 animals from the population in Elk Island National Park in Alberta. These few dozen animals reproduced and grew, reaching roughly 400 individuals about a decade ago. The population moves back and forth between British Columbia and Alberta, but researchers still didn’t know much about them. Tracking a restored bison population In a study published recently in Animal Conservation , the team surveyed bison movement in the northeastern corner of British Columbia bordering Alberta and the Northwest Territories. In 2020, the team first began conducting aerial surveys of the population. Then, in 2022, they began to fit animals with GPS collars, tracking them until the end of 2023. Once they got the data, they ran models to determine the way that 14 collared bison were using the landscape in the summer and winter. They found that bison seemed to spend more time near seismic lines, pipelines and facilities like oil pumps, said Lisa Koetke, first author on the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station at the University of Montana. She said that the bison are likely using these cutlines to travel through the landscape, foraging on the grasses and young forbs as they move along. Wood bison seem to have a limit for how much disturbance they can tolerate, though. When human disturbance is too dense, bison avoid the area, said Koetke, who did this work on contract with the provincial government of British Columbia while finishing her PhD at the University of Northern British Columbia. An ecological bison trap While bison may gravitate toward features like roads and seismic trails, the cutlines likely don’t do the big ungulates any good. That creates a lot of potential for human interaction, said Ingebjørg Jean Hansen, a coauthor on the study and the president elect of the British Columbia Chapter of The Wildlife Society. British Columbia Government wildlife biologist Michael Bridger (left) and Shawn Stone (right), vice president of operations at Bailey Helicopters Ltd., fix a collar to a tranquilized wood bison. Credit: Chris Lewis The bison cross roads, where they can get killed or injured by vehicles. Poachers also sometimes kill them due to perceived problems they cause to oil and gas operations. Chris Lewis, another coauthor on the paper and an ecosystems biologist with the British Columbia government, said that he has found some evidence of this through other GPS tracking work. “We’ve picked up collars on carcasses, and origin of death is questionable,” he said. Further, young bison using cutlines may be more at risk from predators like gray wolves ( Canis lupus ), which also make use of these fast lanes through otherwise dense boreal forest. All of these reasons may contribute to the fact that the bison population isn’t growing as quickly in this area—it has hovered around 400 for about a decade. “We haven’t seen the population take off in numbers,” said Hansen, who was working as a senior ecosystems biologist with the British Columbia government at the time of this research. “That’s pretty poor population performance for bison,” Koetke added. The main implications of this research, Koetke said, are that wood bison need to be managed a little different than caribou, another at-risk species in the area. “There are times when they diverge and times when they converge,” Jung said. Just the same, the researchers cautioned against taking away the message from their research that bison prefer cut forests. “We’d like to have wild bison out there that aren’t reliant on anthropogenic habitats,” Jung said. Article by Joshua Rapp Learn
The National Wildlife Federation was founded in 1936, largely by the will of hunters and anglers who were fed up with widespread habitat degradation, wildlife populations dwindling, and politicians who … Read more The post Securing Colorado’s Rich Outdoor Recreation: Amendment 83 appeared first on The National Wildlife Federation Blog.
