Wildlife professionals continue to work diligently to understand and manage the spread between humans and wildlife of the beta coronavirus SARS-COV-2 that causes COVID-19. Zoonotic disease management often requires the involvement of wildlife, livestock, and human health professionals to address these issues. Recently, news stories have emerged concerning SARS-COV-2 in farmed mink and steps taken to minimize the risk of humans potentially transmitting SARS-COV-2 to bats.

In late September, 40 teams of volunteers rode their bikes over 2,600 miles across Montana to gather data on wildlife killed along Montana’s roads. This was the fourth and largest sample period in the Montana Wildlife Connectivity project conducted by Adventure Scientists in partnership with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP). The teams identified over 1,200 wildlife mortalities, including 445 ungulates. Data from this project will contribute to planning and implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) and lower transportation-related barriers to wildlife movement. Senior Volunteer Manager Michelle Toshack said the project is one of two studies Adventure Scientists is coordinating that engage citizens to leverage agencies’ capacity to gather data to support conservation worldwide.

The Wildlife Management Institute (supported by a Multi-State Conservation Grant) provides you with this quarterly snapshot of the excise tax collections to help you understand the health of the American System of Conservation Funding. This system of funding was established in the 1930s and expanded and perfected over the past 40+ years. This reliable source of annual funding for state fish and wildlife agencies represents a unique partnership between the agencies and the hunting, shooting sports, angling, and boating industries. In rough national numbers, these excise tax deposits made by the partner industries represent about half of the state fish and wildlife agencies’ annual budget. That said, there are a number of state fish and wildlife agencies that enjoy other sources of funding (i.e., state level appropriations, specific sales tax additions, lottery funds, etc.). Regardless of other funding sources, the funding generated and made available to state wildlife agencies is substantial. Therefore, it is imperative to conservation that agencies (from the commissioners down to the field biologists) understand the industry trends and work with these industries to ensure a strong income flow going forward.

On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Conservation without Conflict Coalition, the Wildlife Management Institute is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Lauren Ward as the new Coalition Executive Director. Dr. Ward, who has a Ph.D. in Forest Resources and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia, is currently employed with the Forest Landowners Association as General Counsel and Director of Regulatory Affairs. Lauren has demonstrated her ability to lead diverse interests to achieve common conservation goals and possesses a keen knowledge of the legal and practical approaches to enhance the viability of at-risk species.

The USGS Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (ORCFWRU) at Oregon State University (OSU) is partnering with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to generate biological and socio-economic insights, develop new monitoring tools, and evaluate alternative management actions for a high-value, mixed-stock recreational fishery on fall-run Chinook salmon at the mouth of the Columbia River.