Biology
According to research by Wyoming scientists, efforts to improve sage-grouse habitat through conventional management practices may be ineffective—and even counterproductive. Sagebrush reduction strategies, including mowing and herbicide application, are often employed to enhance habitat for the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and other sagebrush-dependent species. The theory is that clearing large sagebrush shrubs improves food sources…
The top story of Yellowstone National Park this year is the unfortunate incident where an as-of-yet unidentified tourist attempted to “rescue” a baby bison. Unfortunately, in this case – as with many others – the well-intentioned act ended with rangers deciding to euthanize the calf after multiple attempts to reunite it with its mother failed.…
As part of ongoing efforts to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will conduct capture operations in northwest Wyoming beginning this spring and continuing through early fall. Established in 1973, the I.G.B.S.T. monitors and researches grizzly bears in their ecosystems as part of a…
What’s in a name, or in this case, a designation? A new collaborative study suggests a proper designation would improve wild horse management on public lands – and it might be the only foolproof solution to a persistent problem. According to a new paper by researchers at the University of Wyoming and Oklahoma State University,…
Wyoming’s “Groundhog Day” is the first grizzly of spring, which has emerged from its hibernation in Yellowstone National Park one year to the day since the first bear of 2022 was spotted. On Tuesday, March 7, a Yellowstone National Park wildlife biologist on a radio telemetry flight observed the first grizzly bear of 2023 to…
Buffalo Bill State Park is one of many Wyoming state parks joining in a citizen science effort to see and record all flora and fauna for scientific research. “From birds and bees to stamens and pistils, BioBlitz in the Park is for families and outdoor explorers to get up close and personal with Wyoming’s diverse…
After captivating the world for almost two years, Grizzly 399 and her four cubs are going their separate ways – to the delight and dismay of the public and biologists. According to the Jackon Hole News and Guide, Grizzly 399 and her four cubs appear to be separating. Of course, this is no surprise to…
Smallmouth bass is the latest aquatic invasive species threatening Yellowstone National Park, so anglers are asked to do what they do best to stop the fish. On Wednesday, March 9, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks confirmed a smallmouth bass had been caught in the Gardner River near the spot where it meets the Yellowstone River.…
It’s a sign of spring in Yellowstone National Park: the first grizzly of the season has emerged from hibernation and is voraciously foraging for food. On Monday, March 7, a pilot supporting Yellowstone National Park wildlife research observed the first grizzly bear of 2022 – an adult walking in a meadow in the west-central part…
Wyoming Game and Fish is hosting two meetings in Park County to discuss the management of two mule deer herds living in northwest Wyoming. Mule deer management is a top priority in Wyoming, especially with new migration initiatives and the persistent spread of chronic wasting disease. As biologists study and manage local herds, the public’s…