Bat Removal Deer Park Bat removal in Deer Park, TX is an important service for property owners who discover signs of bats roosting in attics, wall voids, or other quiet areas of their homes or buildings. In a community like Deer Park, Texas, where residential structures are close to green…Bat Removal Deer Park Bat removal in Deer Park, TX is an important service for property owners who discover signs of bats roosting in attics, wall voids, or other quiet areas of their homes or buildings. In a community like Deer Park, Texas, where residential structures are close to green spaces and waterways, bats often have access to ideal roosting and feeding environments, which can lead them to occasionally enter human structures. In this playlist, AAAC Wildlife Removal of TX Gulf Coast explains how bat activity typically begins and what signs residents should watch for. Common indicators include high-pitched chirping sounds at dusk, droppings accumulating in attic spaces, dark staining near entry points, and occasional sightings of bats exiting from rooflines or vents at sunset. Because bats are nocturnal and often discreet, infestations can go unnoticed for some time. Effective bat removal requires a careful, humane, and regulated approach. AAAC Wildlife Removal of TX Gulf Coast uses proper inspection methods to identify entry points, determine roosting areas, and carry out exclusion techniques that allow bats to leave safely without re-entering. Sealing access points is a critical part of the process to ensure long-term prevention. This playlist is designed to help Deer Park residents better understand bat behavior and the importance of professional wildlife control services. Whether you are currently dealing with bat activity in your home or looking to prevent future wildlife issues, AAAC Wildlife Removal of TX Gulf Coast provides trusted guidance and effective solutions to keep properties safe, compliant, and free from unwanted bat intrusions. More on Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/aaac-wildlife-removal/sets/squirrel-removal-deer-park On YouTube: AAAC Wildlife Removal of TX Gulf Coast offers professional bat removal services in Deer Park, Texas. Contact Us: AAAC Wildlife Removal 726 Gou Hole Rd Baytown, TX 77523 832-662-7677 Website: https://txgulfcoast.aaacwildliferemoval.com Email: txgulfcoast@aaacwildliferemoval.com Find us around the web: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbOS5l-xSWQIho_arDIY52Q Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaacwildliferemovaltxgulfcoast/ Twitter: https://x.com/ric79352 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aaactxgulfcoast Blogger: https://aaactxgulfcoast.blogspot.com/ WordPress: https://aaactxgulfcoast.wordpress.com/ Tumblr: https://aaacwildliferemovaltexas.tumblr.com/
“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 INTERACTIONS: Newsletter of The Wildlife Society Wildlife Damage Management Working Group, Volume 16 Issue 3, Summer 2010 Date of this Version Summer 2010 Document Type Article Abstract FINAL COLUMN….. IT’S BEEN FUN. -- Gary San Julian ADVISORY COMMITTEE BEING FORMED TO AID NWCOA REBIRTH OF…Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management INTERACTIONS: Newsletter of The Wildlife Society Wildlife Damage Management Working Group, Volume 16 Issue 3, Summer 2010 Date of this Version Summer 2010 Document Type Article Abstract FINAL COLUMN….. IT’S BEEN FUN. -- Gary San Julian ADVISORY COMMITTEE BEING FORMED TO AID NWCOA REBIRTH OF A LEGEND -- THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN IS BACK WSB CALL FOR PAPERS -- SPECIAL ISSUE ON DEER MANAGEMENT MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT 17TH ANNUAL WILDLIFE SOCIETY CONFERENCE 1ST ANNUAL NWCOA CONVENTION MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT 17TH ANNUAL WILDLIFE CONTROL INSTRUCTIONAL SEMINAR CANDIDATE FOR CHAIR-ELECT -- MICHAEL MENGAK CANDIDATE FOR CHAIR ELECT -- JAY BOULANGER CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY / TREASURER -- CHRIS CROSON CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY / TREASURER -- JOHN EISEMANN CANDIDATE FOR BOARD MEMBER -- WENDY ARJO CANDIDATE FOR BOARD MEMBER-- TRAVIS DEVAULT CANDIDATE FOR BOARD MEMBER -- LAURIE MARKER CANDIDATE FOR BOARD MEMBER -- PHILIP MASTRANGELO CANDIDATE FOR BOARD MEMBER -- Dale Rollins CANDIDATE FOR BOARD MEMBER -- EDWARD “ZAK” ZAKRAJSEK UPCOMING MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND EVENTS DOWNLOADS Since January 31, 2011 COinS
United States Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications Aakash Pandey , Michigan State University Follow Chris Wojan , University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Abigail Feuka , United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,…United States Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications Aakash Pandey , Michigan State University Follow Chris Wojan , University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Abigail Feuka , United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado Follow Meggan E. Craft , University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Kezia Manlove , Utah State University Follow Kim M. Pepin , United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado Follow Document Type Article Date of this Version 2024 Citation Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2024) 379: 20220532 doi: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0532 Supplemental material is appended as well as available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7389792 Abstract Social and spatial structures of host populations play important roles in pathogen transmission. For environmentally transmitted pathogens, the host space use interacts with both the host social structure and the pathogen’s environmental persistence (which determines the timelag across which two hosts can transmit). Together, these factors shape the epidemiological dynamics of environmentally transmitted pathogens. While the importance of both social and spatial structures and environmental pathogen persistence has long been recognized in epidemiology, they are often considered separately. A better understanding of how these factors interact to determine disease dynamics is required for developing robust surveillance and management strategies. Here, we use a simple agent-based model where we vary host mobility (spatial), host gregariousness (social) and pathogen decay (environmental persistence), each from low to high levels to uncover how they affect epidemiological dynamics. By comparing epidemic peak, time to epidemic peak and final epidemic size, we show that longer infectious periods, higher group mobility, larger group size and longer pathogen persistence lead to larger, faster growing outbreaks, and explore how these processes interact to determine epidemiological outcomes such as the epidemic peak and the final epidemic size. We identify general principles that can be used for planning surveillance and control for wildlife host–pathogen systems with environmental transmission across a range of spatial behavior, social structure and pathogen decay rates. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The spatial–social interface: a theoretical and empirical integration.’ DOWNLOADS Since November 23, 2024 Included in Natural Resources and Conservation Commons , Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons , Other Environmental Sciences Commons , Other Veterinary Medicine Commons , Population Biology Commons , Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons , Veterinary Infectious Diseases Commons , Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology Commons , Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons , Zoology Commons COinS
United States Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series Date of this Version 2-2020 Document Type Article Citation Peebles, L.W. and J.O Spencer Jr. 2020. Common Ravens. Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series. USDA, APHIS, WS National Wildlife Research Center. Fort Collins, Colorado. 17p.…United States Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series Date of this Version 2-2020 Document Type Article Citation Peebles, L.W. and J.O Spencer Jr. 2020. Common Ravens. Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series. USDA, APHIS, WS National Wildlife Research Center. Fort Collins, Colorado. 17p. Abstract Damage Management Methods for Common Ravens Type of Control -- Available Management Options Exclusion -- Often ineffective or impractical Fertility Control -- None available Frightening Devices -- Effigies • Pyrotechnics and propane cannons • Lasers and flashing lights Habitat Modification -- Bale and bury garbage • Install dumpsters with secure lids • Remove or bury dead livestock • Remove abandoned houses, sheds, and barns to eliminate nesting structures Nest Treatment -- Allowed with proper Federal and State permits; Egg oiling or addling and nest destruction Repellents -- Methiocarb (EPA Reg. No. 56228-33) • Methyl anthranilate (food-grade grape flavoring agent) Shooting -- Allowed with proper Federal and State permits; Requires use of non-toxic/non-lead ammunition Toxicants -- Compound DRC-1339 Concentrate (EPA Reg. No. 56228-29, 56228-63); May only be used by USDA Wildlife Services employees or people working under their supervision. Trapping -- Allowed with proper Federal and State permits; Live-trapping with modified soft-catch #1½, #2 or #3 coil-spring traps DOWNLOADS Since February 10, 2020 COinS
Scientific Name Salvator merianae (Duméril & Bibron, 1839) (formerly known as Tupinambis merianae ) ( Harvey et al. 2012 ) Common Name Argentine black and white tegu, Argentine giant tegu Native To Date of U.S. Introduction First established population documented in Florida in 2006 ( Wood et al. 2018 )…Scientific Name Salvator merianae (Duméril & Bibron, 1839) (formerly known as Tupinambis merianae ) ( Harvey et al. 2012 ) Common Name Argentine black and white tegu, Argentine giant tegu Native To Date of U.S. Introduction First established population documented in Florida in 2006 ( Wood et al. 2018 ) Means of Introduction Impact Image use policy Argentine black and white tegu, adult Credit Photo by Alicia Wellman; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Source Selected Resources The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source. Partnership Federal Government State and Local Government Academic Citations Engeman, R.M., B.W. Kaiser, and K.J. Osorio. 2019. Evaluating methods to detect and monitor populations of a large invasive lizard: the Argentine giant tegu . Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26:31717–31729. Harvey, M.B., G.N. Ugueto, and R.L. Gutberlet, Jr. 2012. Review of Teiid morphology with a revised taxonomy and phylogeny of the Teiidae (Lepidosauria: Squamata) . Zootaxa 3459:1–156. Wood, J.P., S.D. Beer, T.S. Campbell, and R.B. Page. 2018. Insights into the introduction history and population genetic dynamics of the Argentine black-and-white tegu ( Salvator merianae ) in Florida . Genetica 146:443–459.
United States Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications Document Type Article Date of this Version 2024 Citation Proceedings, 31st Vertebrate Pest Conference, paper 12 Published August 30, 2024 Editors: Rober M. Timm and D. M. Woods Abstract The…United States Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications Document Type Article Date of this Version 2024 Citation Proceedings, 31st Vertebrate Pest Conference, paper 12 Published August 30, 2024 Editors: Rober M. Timm and D. M. Woods Abstract The United States Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) established the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. The program funded US$75M for 5 years, split evenly between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), both programs within the United States Department of Agriculture. The agencies solicited joint programs from states with high densities of feral swine in two phases. In Texas, NRCS and APHIS submitted three multi-county project areas along watersheds for Phase I funding and one eradication effort along with two crop protection projects in Phase II. The eradication project was adjacent to a Phase I project area and after extensive surveillance, it was determined to be successful, the first such project in Texas. All the remaining projects were designed with a direct management effort, a self-help effort through trap loans and a damage assessment process. Landowner in-kind contributions were identified and captured to detail the effects of the program. DOWNLOADS Since November 23, 2024 Included in Natural Resources and Conservation Commons , Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons , Other Environmental Sciences Commons , Other Veterinary Medicine Commons , Population Biology Commons , Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons , Veterinary Infectious Diseases Commons , Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology Commons , Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons , Zoology Commons COinS
Let’s talk about something every pest control business owner wrestles with: price increases. Read below for 5 tips for raising rates worry-free. Most of us know we should raise prices, but many delay it because we don’t want uncomfortable conversations, worried customers or potential cancellations. Here’s the reality: If you’re…Let’s talk about something every pest control business owner wrestles with: price increases. Read below for 5 tips for raising rates worry-free. Most of us know we should raise prices, but many delay it because we don’t want uncomfortable conversations, worried customers or potential cancellations. Here’s the reality: If you’re not raising prices right now, […] The post 5 tips for raising rates worry-free first appeared on Pest Management Professional.
Back to Resources The Roadless Rule protects parts of Carson National Forest, which sits along the Rio Grande River in New Mexico. Credit: USFS The U.S. Department of Agriculture has moved to rescind the Roadless Rule. Passed in 2001, the rule limits road construction and timber harvest within national forests.…Back to Resources The Roadless Rule protects parts of Carson National Forest, which sits along the Rio Grande River in New Mexico. Credit: USFS The U.S. Department of Agriculture has moved to rescind the Roadless Rule. Passed in 2001, the rule limits road construction and timber harvest within national forests. The Roadless Rule currently protects 44 million acres of the 193-million-acre National Forest System from large-scale commercial logging operations and the construction of roads in wilderness areas. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said that getting rid of the rule will help local managers make their own decisions about how to manage areas. “It’s time to turn the page on the failed roadless rule and return our forests to health and productivity,” Rollins said in an agency press release. The USDA is accepting comments until Sept. 21, 2026, here . Read more at the USDA.
Sea turtles are known for extraordinary journeys across the ocean. They can navigate using cues from Earth's magnetic field, the sun, and ocean currents, traveling long distances to find food before eventually returning toward the places where they were born to reproduce. That reputation made one population in the Galápagos…Sea turtles are known for extraordinary journeys across the ocean. They can navigate using cues from Earth's magnetic field, the sun, and ocean currents, traveling long distances to find food before eventually returning toward the places where they were born to reproduce. That reputation made one population in the Galápagos especially surprising. Rather than roaming across vast stretches of ocean, these turtles appeared to spend much of their time close to home. "Here we show that 'yellow-morph' green sea turtles - one of two genetically distinct forms - occupy individual foraging areas which span one or more islands in the Galápagos. We expected them to migrate to distant beaches in the western Pacific to reproduce, yet interestingly, none of our satellite-tagged turtles even left the Galápagos Marine Reserve over the three years of our study," said Dr. John W Rowe, a professor at Alma College in the United States and the corresponding author of a new study in Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science . Two Distinct Types of Green Sea Turtle Green sea turtles stand apart from the other six living sea turtle species because adults are primarily vegetarian. Young turtles begin life eating both plants and animals, but as they mature, their diet shifts mainly to seagrasses and algae. Scientists recognize two genetically distinct forms involved in this study. Yellow morph green sea turtles are generally found across tropical and subtropical parts of the western Pacific, while black morphs occur in the eastern Pacific west of the Americas and south of southern California. The Galápagos is the only known place where both forms share the same waters. There, yellow and black morphs mingle and feed on the same types of marine vegetation. They are not completely alike, however. Young yellow morphs tend to grow more quickly than young black morphs, suggesting that there may be physiological differences between them that scientists have not yet fully characterized. Tracking Turtles Across the Galápagos Rowe and his colleagues wanted to better understand where yellow morphs spend their time, how much territory they use, and whether they travel between islands within the 198,000 sq km Galápagos Marine Reserve. In 2015, the team carefully captured nine adults in shallow water near four islands. The group included seven males and two females. Researchers gave the turtles nicknames and attached electronic transmitters that sent location signals to the low orbit Argos satellite network. The turtles were followed for as long as 418 days. Tracking generally ended when a tag detached or stopped sending signals. The results revealed a strong preference for shallow coastal habitat. Although the turtles occasionally traveled as far as 25km from shore, most remained much closer to the islands. Five of the nine spent most of the study near a single island. Bernardo and Sara moved between Isabela and San Cristóbal, while Leandro traveled between Isabela and Española. Ainoa was the most adventurous of the group. After being tagged near San Cristóbal, she later traveled to Santa Cruz and then to Isabela. The researchers also noticed a seasonal pattern. Movement between islands occurred only during the cooler period from April through October. On average, each turtle used a home range covering 1,498 sq km, although the size of that territory differed considerably from one animal to another. Surprisingly Reluctant To Leave Taken together, the tracking data suggest that yellow morph green sea turtles living around the Galápagos can be remarkably homebound. The researchers cautioned that their observations capture only a limited period in the turtles' lives. Longer migrations could occur at other times and therefore may not have appeared during the study. That possibility is especially important for females. "Since female yellow-morph green sea turtles are not known to lay eggs on the beaches of the Galápagos, we believe that they will eventually leave the area to return to their natal beaches in the western Pacific. In contrast, some female black-morph green turtles do nest in the Galápagos: depending on the individual, those may be year-round residents in the archipelago, travel to other nearby oceanic islands, or even to feeding grounds off Central and South America," said coauthor Dr. Juan Pablo Muñoz Pérez, a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Protecting a Network of Turtle Habitat The findings also carry implications for conservation. Because some turtles move among several islands, protecting only one favored feeding location may not be enough. Researchers emphasized the importance of preserving the coastal waters and routes between islands that the turtles depend on as they move throughout the archipelago. "Since individual turtles may rely on waters around multiple islands, the quality of habitat that is available for foraging should be maintained intact across all islands, and not allowed to degrade anywhere," said Rowe.
Perspective is often shaped by how we experience a landscape. For some, insights come from standing still, developing a deep understanding of a place by spending years observing its rhythms and nuances. For others, perspective is shaped by movement. Experiencing a landscape at the speed of migration reveals patterns that…Perspective is often shaped by how we experience a landscape. For some, insights come from standing still, developing a deep understanding of a place by spending years observing its rhythms and nuances. For others, perspective is shaped by movement. Experiencing a landscape at the speed of migration reveals patterns that are difficult to see from any single location. For many wildlife species, survival depends not on a single habitat but on the connections between habitats. Following those connections across thousands of kilometers provides a unique perspective on one of the most fundamental elements of conservation: landscape connectivity. Seen through the lens of migration, the world becomes less of a collection of places and more a network of pathways (and challenges) that wildlife must successfully navigate year after year. One human-powered expedition, Wings of Survival , is doing its best to trace the migratory pathway of a whimbrel ( Numenius phaeopus ) from the northern reaches of Alaska to the southern tip of Patagonia by bike. On a not-too-foggy San Francisco morning, I had the privilege of meeting the Wings of Survival team, Leanna Carriere and Timm Döbert, as they crossed the Golden Gate Bridge on day 58 of their remarkable expedition. During my time with Carriere and Döbert, the conversation often touched on the idea of perspective. Carriere and Döbert take a brief rest in front of the Golden Gate Bridge before continuing their journey south. Credit: Sarah Segovia A journey fueled by people and purpose Having now traveled approximately one-fifth of the way through their total planned 30,000-kilometer (18,641-mile) expedition, I was eager to see how Carriere and Döbert felt about the road ahead. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was encouraged to find that the duo still demonstrated the same determination, resilience and passion that originally sparked this journey. Wings of Survival was founded to raise awareness for wildlife conservation, habitat protection and the importance of connecting people with nature. I can only imagine how challenging the expedition has been both mentally and physically, but neither Carriere or Döbert showed it. They seemed genuinely fueled by the notion that every kilometer traversed was a new opportunity to engage communities, share conservation stories and build support for the protection of species and their habitats. The perfect pairing While Carriere and Döbert shared the same passion for the mission, I was fascinated by how differently they interpreted the journey so far. Although they shared every mile of the route and experienced the same places and challenges, their reflections on the journey often focused on different aspects of the experience in ways that I found both interesting and deeply complementary. Carriere frequently highlighted the individuals she had met along the way. She spoke fondly of their creativity, passion and dedication and how that inspired local communities to address local conservation challenges. For Carriere, the journey was as much about human connections and personal discovery as it was about the physical challenge. Döbert was equally enthusiastic but often viewed the expedition through a broader ecological lens. His reflections frequently returned to the birds they had GPS tagged and the scientific questions driving the project. He spoke about discoveries emerging from the expedition’s tagged whimbrels, the importance of understanding migration across landscapes that span entire continents and the need to think critically about how wildlife experiences the world around it. Together, this spectrum of perspectives seemed to encapsulate the expedition itself. Wings of Survival is both a human story and a conservation story. It is about the people who care enough to take action and the wildlife whose journeys inspire those actions. In many ways, Carriere and Döbert appear to be the perfect pairing for a journey that will ultimately take them halfway around the world. Perspective and scale Spending time with someone who has biked 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) inevitably reshapes how one thinks about movement, endurance and distance. Just looking at the map of Carriere and Döbert’s journey to date, it’s hard to comprehend the sheer scale of their accomplishment. I equate it to how humans often struggle to make sense of the difference between numbers like a million, a billion and a trillion. Inspired by the expedition, artist Tora Benzeyen will be providing monthly sketches of birds to celebrate milestones along the route of Wings of Survival. In his first sketch, Benzeyen features a whimbrel in honor of the expedition’s focal species. Credit: Tora Benzeyen This led me to the realization that despite looking at and using migration maps for years, I never fully contextualized the scale of wildlife migrations until meeting the people who are attempting to recreate these incredible journeys. Without a relatable real-world comparison, I had taken for granted the physical and navigational feats accomplished by migratory birds and other wildlife, reducing them to little more than lines on a map. For example, I have pointed out shorebirds to my kids many times with the explanation that they flew all the way from the Arctic Circle, but that never really resonated until Carriere and Döbert shared stories of their journey. Now, my kids are not only giving me daily updates on Wings of Survival’s progress but also asking questions about every bird they see. More than a bike ride As Wings of Survival departs San Francisco and continues southward, their journey serves as an inspiration to conservation professionals, students, outdoor enthusiasts and beyond. Everyone I speak with about this expedition is inspired by a different aspect of the journey or finds a unique connection to it, which exemplifies the beauty of conservation. We all have a different perspective on the world but are connected across boundaries by this unifying force in nature and the wildlife that traverses it. To borrow a perspective often shared during the Wings of Survival expedition: birds may well be the world’s greatest athletes. As Wings of Survival continues south, the expedition is helping people see migration through a different lens, not as lines drawn on a map but as incredible journeys requiring extraordinary endurance, resilience and connection. With 6,000 kilometers down and many more ahead, we wish Carriere and Döbert safe travels as they continue tracing one of nature’s greatest journeys. We look forward to following the next chapters of their adventure and the conservation connections they continue to foster along the way. Article by Cameron J. Kovach
This April, the National Wildlife Federation joins conservationist and anglers around the globe in celebrating the milestone 50th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, also known as … Read more The post Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the MSA and the Angler Contributions that are Critical to…This April, the National Wildlife Federation joins conservationist and anglers around the globe in celebrating the milestone 50th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, also known as … Read more The post Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the MSA and the Angler Contributions that are Critical to Healthy and Abundant Marine Fisheries appeared first on The National Wildlife Federation Blog.
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
Back to Resources The endangered salmon-crested cockatoo on Seram Island, Indonesia. Credit: Balázs Tisza/Wildlife Messengers Indigenous Indonesians have come to a solution to help conserve an endangered cockatoo species important for cultural practices. The salmon-crested cockatoo ( Cacatua moluccensis ) is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of…Back to Resources The endangered salmon-crested cockatoo on Seram Island, Indonesia. Credit: Balázs Tisza/Wildlife Messengers Indigenous Indonesians have come to a solution to help conserve an endangered cockatoo species important for cultural practices. The salmon-crested cockatoo ( Cacatua moluccensis ) is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to habitat loss and hunting and trapping the birds. They are only found on Selam Island in Indonesia and a few smaller surrounding islands. The Huaulu people of Seram Island have traditionally hunted the charismatic birds for their feathers, which are important for initiation ceremonies that define adulthood. But the Huaulu people are now working with government authorities and conservation researchers to instead harvest moulted feathers from salmon-crested cockatoos held in wildlife rehabilitation centers. The solution came about after participatory focus group discussions with the Huaulu community. “We found that for the contemporary Huaulu, the spiritual potency of the Cidaku ritual relies less on the violence of the hunt and more on the inherent spiritual integrity of the species itself,” said George Olah, a scientist from the Australian National University, in a press release. Read more at the Australian National University.
Back to Resources Monarch caterpillars increased their development speed when exposed to artificial night light. Credit: Kerry Wixted Artificial night lights might accelerate the growth of monarch butterflies. While street lamps and other sources of human light may confuse the migration routes of birds, sea turtles and other creatures, new…Back to Resources Monarch caterpillars increased their development speed when exposed to artificial night light. Credit: Kerry Wixted Artificial night lights might accelerate the growth of monarch butterflies. While street lamps and other sources of human light may confuse the migration routes of birds, sea turtles and other creatures, new experiments on insects reveal the complexity of responses among wildlife. For two years, scientists exposed monarch caterpillars ( Danaus plexippus ) to white LED streetlights at night. They found that caterpillars under lights had a 16% higher growth rate than those that weren’t exposed to night light. They also took less time to develop into adults. Caterpillars raised on one kind of milkweed had 7% larger wings than those experiencing darker nights. The researchers believe that the monarchs grow faster by accelerating their investment in early development. “Our findings underscore that light pollution at night alters the entire developmental trajectory of these holometabolous insects, highlighting its strong capacity to reshape insect life histories in the Anthropocene,” the authors said in the study. Read the study in Ecology .
Genetic research on Hawaiian honeycreepers from different islands has revealed why low-elevation populations may be more resistant to malaria. The discovery provides a rare slice of hope for a species in which many populations are struggling for their survival, though the practical applications of such discoveries are still far away.…Genetic research on Hawaiian honeycreepers from different islands has revealed why low-elevation populations may be more resistant to malaria. The discovery provides a rare slice of hope for a species in which many populations are struggling for their survival, though the practical applications of such discoveries are still far away. Most of the Hawaiian Islands are no more than about 7 million years old—a blink of an eye in evolutionary time. That means most honeycreeper species there are relatively new. Finches arrived at the islands sometime after they emerged from the ocean, eventually evolving into the various honeycreeper species found across the archipelago today. When the finches first arrived, they found a malaria-free paradise. As the finches became Hawaiian honeycreepers, they lost their resistance to the infection in favor of more useful adaptations for Hawaiian life. Everything was fine until European settlers brought mosquitoes and birds infected with avian malaria to the archipelago in the early 1900s. “Because there was this absence of selective pressure because of the [malaria] parasite, there may have been some deleterious mutations that made them very susceptible to the disease when introduced in late 1800s early 1900s,” said John Neddermeyer, a PhD student at the time of research in biology at Northern Arizona University. A blood smear of a honeycreeper infected with malaria. The darker blots represent red blood cells, while the malaria parasite is more circular and blotchier in pattern. Credit: John Neddermeyer The impact was devastating for native bird species, especially lowland birds that were already coping with habitat destruction brought by colonialism. While birds in the highest elevations were protected by chilly weather typically too cold for mosquitoes, the valleys and beaches didn’t have that protection. Entire bird species have gone extinct from avian malaria, while others are only hanging on by a thread. But not all species have been equally affected by the disease. The Oahu ʻamakihi ( Chlorodrepanis flava ) suffers some losses from the population, but the species is still doing fairly well compared to its counterparts in other areas in the archipelago. The genetic code of malaria resistance To learn more about why these birds are more resistant to malaria, Neddermeyer and his colleagues examined the whole genome of 35 Oahu ʻamakihi individuals. In a study published recently in Ecology and Evolution , he and his colleagues described what they found in the genomes that might hold secrets to malaria resistance. The team first ran blood tests on the 35 birds to determine if they were infected or not. They then compared the genomes between infected and noninfected birds. “We looked for associations between genetic changes in our samples and malaria infection prevalence,” Neddermeyer said. The team found 582 genetic variants associated with avian malaria infection. “A good chunk of these alleles were associated with calcium regulation,” Neddermeyer said. Calcium plays a role in helping malaria move around in the bloodstream and reproduce in blood cells. Some gene functions are better at regulating the calcium in blood cells, giving malaria less opportunity to reproduce and more opportunity to a bird’s immune system to resist the disease. Oahu ʻamakihi are among the few honeycreeper species resistant to malaria. Credit: John Neddermeyer Overall, though, birds that survive malaria or are resistant to it have immune systems better equipped to target blood cells infected with malaria. Birds whose immune systems indiscriminately kill red blood cells regardless of infection status eventually die of anemia. Neddermeyer and his team still aren’t sure exactly how any of these genetic changes might be helping or hindering individual honeycreepers. It’s also unclear whether the honeycreepers resistant to malaria adapted these traits in recent decades in response to the return of avian malaria or whether these genetic traits are much older. To find that out, he said, researchers would need to see if they could get genomes from old museum specimens of honeycreepers dating back a century or so. In any case, he said that identifying with more specificity which genetic changes are responsible for malaria resistance would be useful, particularly for identifying the best individuals for captive breeding and reintroduction programs. But in the meantime, the most effective strategy for bird conservation in Hawaii is likely still mosquito management. Article by Joshua Rapp Learn
Taiwan, once widely known as Formosa, conceals a remarkable natural world within its steep and rugged interior. It is one of the few places on Earth capable of supporting truly giant trees, including specimens that rise more than 80 meters above the forest floor. Since 2014, our group, the 'Taiwan…Taiwan, once widely known as Formosa, conceals a remarkable natural world within its steep and rugged interior. It is one of the few places on Earth capable of supporting truly giant trees, including specimens that rise more than 80 meters above the forest floor. Since 2014, our group, the 'Taiwan tree seekers,' has worked to find, measure, and document these extraordinary trees. The team brings together professional tree climbers, ecologists, geologists, and remote sensing specialists. That long search reached a major milestone in 2023, when we identified an 84.1-meter-tall (276-foot-tall) Taiwania fir ( Taiwania cryptomerioides ). It is now recognized as the tallest tree in Taiwan and all of East Asia. The Indigenous Rukai people have a poetic name for these immense firs: 'The tree that hits the moon'. Taiwan's Mountainous Landscape Taiwan's geography helps explain why trees of this size can grow there. The island covers roughly 36,000 square kilometers, making it similar in area to Switzerland. Much of the landscape is mountainous, with 258 peaks rising above 3,000 meters. The highest, Mt. Jade, reaches 3,952 meters. This wide range in elevation supports an exceptional variety of plant life. An estimated 5,000 plant species grow across Taiwan, occupying environments that extend from humid tropical rainforests near sea level to cold alpine tundra at the highest elevations. About 60% of Taiwan is still covered by forest, with an estimated 950 million trees growing across the island. Industrial logging from 1912 to 1991 removed much of the original primary forest. However, the steepest and most inaccessible terrain acted as a natural barrier, protecting important areas of old-growth forest that logging crews could not easily reach. The First Expeditions Our organized search began in August 2014, when researchers from the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TFRI) entered the Cilan conservation area for a major expedition. The goal was to investigate a famous group of giant Taiwania firs known as the 'Chilan Three Sisters'. Local communities had known about the three trees for many years, but the giants had never been carefully measured or scientifically documented. Our survey showed that the tallest stood 69.3 meters high and had a trunk nearly three meters wide. The trees drew international attention in 2017, when professional climbers from 'The Tree Projects' in Australia came to Taiwan to photograph the Three Sisters in full. Their work helped introduce the remarkable scale of Taiwan's forests to a wider global audience. A Difficult Search Near Great Ghost Lake Encouraged by the discovery, we turned our attention to a more isolated area near Mt. Benya. Reports suggested that the region might contain Taiwan's largest concentration of Taiwania firs. It lies close to Great Ghost Lake, a place considered sacred by Indigenous peoples. Reaching the area required four days of demanding hiking while carrying heavy equipment. The expedition also revealed a major problem with searching for giant trees from the ground. In an old-growth forest with a dense, multi-layered canopy, visual estimates can be highly misleading. During that trip, we climbed a tree measuring 71.7 meters. Even so, it became clear that traditional ground surveys alone would not be enough. We needed a more reliable way to examine vast areas of remote forest. Using LiDAR to Map Giant Trees Searching among 950 million trees scattered across mountains and deep valleys was like looking for a needle in a haystack. To make the process more efficient, we partnered with remote sensing specialists at National Cheng Kung University and began using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). LiDAR is an advanced 3D scanning method that sends laser pulses from an aircraft toward the landscape below. By recording how long each pulse takes to return, the system can build a detailed 3D model of the terrain and estimate the height of individual trees. Citizen Scientists Join the Search Taiwan's steep and irregular terrain created another challenge. Automated software often reported trees as being much taller than they really were, especially when they stood beside cliffs or sharp changes in elevation. People were better than the algorithm at recognizing these geological 'tricks'. In 2020, the project expanded into a large community effort. Hundreds of Taiwanese citizens began examining LiDAR profile images and helping the researchers eliminate tens of thousands of false candidates. The scale of the problem was substantial. The automated system had incorrectly measured 93% of the trees it identified. Without citizen scientists reviewing the data, researchers could have spent years traveling to trees that were far shorter than the maps suggested. By the end of 2022, the collaboration produced the 'Taiwan Giant Tree Map,' which documented 941 individual trees taller than 65 meters. Finding the 'Heaven Sword' In January 2023, during the Lunar New Year holiday, we used the new map to investigate the strongest candidate for the title of 'tallest tree'. Reaching it required tracing a river for 20 kilometers, followed by two days of steep uphill hiking. After climbers reached the crown, they lowered a measuring tape from the highest point to the ground. The final measurement was 84.1 meters. The tree was named the 'Heaven Sword of the Da'an River,' and it was officially recognized as the tallest known tree in both Taiwan and East Asia. By early 2026, our continued surveys had identified and climbed ten Taiwania trees taller than 70 meters. Two of them exceeded 80 meters. Hidden 'Temples of Giants' The Giant Tree Map also guided us toward exceptional concentrations of massive trees that we call 'temples of giants'. Near Mt. Benya, one hectare of forest contained 11 trees, each more than 65 meters tall. Ten years after our first journey to the Great Ghost Lake region, we returned and encountered an even more astonishing sight. Roughly 30 giant Taiwania firs were growing together in a dense and ancient 'pure forest'. The scale of the cluster left the team speechless. Giant Forests as Carbon Vaults These forests are important not only because of their beauty and size. They may also play a major role in storing carbon and supporting the health of the planet. In 2024, we joined 15 citizen scientists to conduct a detailed study of the 'Tao Tree' valley, home to Taiwan's third-tallest tree. The goal was to determine how much carbon dioxide the forest removes from the atmosphere and stores in its wood. The findings were remarkable. The forest's total carbon density (even without counting the massive root systems) reached 1,384.5 Mg/ha. That figure places Taiwan's giant forests among the most carbon-dense ecosystems in the world, comparable to some of Earth's most celebrated old-growth forests. The 'trees that hit the moon' are more than towering natural monuments. They are also essential guardians of the environment.
