As Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to increase in geographic distribution and prevalence in infected populations, so too does its potential to cause negative impacts on healthy ecosystems and generate large economic costs for agencies and Tribes charged with wildlife management responsibilities as well as industries that depend on revenue from cervids or cervid products. All this in addition to the damage CWD continues to cause on the culture and food security of communities with meaningful and long-standing traditions tied to cervid hunting and cervid population health. Two recently released reports provide insights into CWD research and management.

Happy New Year ONB readers. It’s 2025! Admittedly, for someone my age who very vividly recalls a time as a child doing the math to determine the likelihood of still being alive in the year 2000, 2025 sounds more like a year from a science fiction title than it does our current calendar year. Despite that, here we are in 2025, with numerous science fiction-like tools and technologies impacting our lives in ways many never imagined.

The world of conservation is more vibrant and impactful than many realize, especially for those who love angling, boating, hunting, recreational shooting, or simply exploring the backcountry. To bridge the gap between outdoor enthusiasts and the intricate business of conservation, the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), in partnership with the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) and Tyee Resources, has launched a groundbreaking podcast: Connecting with Conservation.

If we truly aim to conserve and recover species, we must evolve beyond our traditional approach of managing isolated, siloed programs. Conservation success in the modern era requires a collaborative, integrated strategy where resources and efforts are leveraged across various sectors to conserve habitats and ecosystems holistically. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) can play a pivotal support role in state-led efforts, working in tandem with state initiatives to harness multiple federal authorities. This essay explores how this partnership can enhance the effectiveness of State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) in safeguarding our nation's biodiversity.

USGS researchers at the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, at Auburn University, are researching the habitat fragmentation and biodiversity debate. This research is a collaboration among the Alabama CRU, Oregon State University, University of Florida, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Carleton University, and Arizona State University.