Fall 2010: Expansion and Focus
Dear NRCC Supporter,
Autumn in the Tetons is looming. The elk are starting to bugle, the leaves are turning, the parking lot across from our office is thinning itself of out-of-state license plates. Though our busy summer is behind us, we still have much on our plates for the fall.
Old Bill's Fun Run was held on September 11, 2010 on the Town Square here in Jackson. A much-anticipated community event, Old Bill's is a great way for non-profits to fundraise with a matching gift opportunity. If you have been thinking about making a donation, this is the time! Donate online. Donations are accepted until September 17, 2010 at 5 PM MST. Thanks to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole for making this event and opportunity a possibility.
Jason and Rebecca are settled back in after spending time this summer in Mongolia. Look for the full report on their wolverine reconnaissance mission in our print newsletter in November.
Several NRCC research associates and board members convened at the Murie Center in July for a forum to discuss current research and potential for collaboration.
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-NRCC Staff
pilot research underway in Mongolia
In August, NRCC staff Rebecca Watters and Jason Wilmot traveled to Mongolia for the first stage of our Mongolian Wildlife and Climate Change Project, focusing on identifying wolverine research opportunities. Embere Hall, of the Teton Science Schools joined Rebecca in Mongolia as well, investigating opportunities for pika monitoring work. This pilot phase was very successful in delineating research areas and specific applications of high conservation value, and how to work with Mongolian students and institutions in the future. Rebecca looks forward to building on her momentum. Stay in the loop by following her blog. Look for a full spread on the trip in our Fall 2010 print newsletter.
Photo: ©Jason Wilmot.
summer interns report from Banff
Interns Lauren Richie and Daniel Oppenheimer, having interviewed participants involved in a collaborative process to manage grizzly bears in Banff National Park, Alberta, are now in the early stages of writing an appraisal of the stakeholder engagement process. Learn more.
wolverine news
NRCC continues to monitor marked wolverines in the Absaroka range in Montana in partnership with the Gallatin National Forest. NRCC and partners are seeking resources to continue and build wolverine monitoring opportunities around Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas in Wyoming. Thanks to Patagonia for their recent support to expand our wolverine awareness work. Contact Jason at NRCC for more information, and visit our wolverine ecology page.
research associate reports
from the rockies to the karakorum and back
Tanya Rosen
This summer was a busy one as I left the Rockies for Asia. I first worked on a NSF-funded grasslands study on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. After trapping plateau pikas, looking for argali, blue sheep, bears and snow leopards, I travelled to Islamabad. A 29-hour bus ride on the Karakorum Highway, landed Rich Harris of the University of Montana and myself in Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan where we met with Shafqat Hussain and Ghulam Mohammad of Project Snow Leopard. Read more about Tanya's summer work.
Photo: Snow leopard caught on remote camera. © Shafqat Hussein
people & carnivores program updates
Working closely with NRCC staff and partners, research associates Steve Primm and Seth Wilson worked throughout the spring and summer to cultivate new foundation support for the emerging People & Carnivores Program. These efforts should pay off based on positive feedback from foundation program officers and recent pledges. We expect to be in a strong financial position as we head toward 2011.
· Research Associate Seth Wilson recently completed a report that investigated the link between human-bear conflict management and welfare impacts to bears. Wilson used case studies, literature reviews, and interviews with more than thirty bear biologists across the world for the investigation on six species of bears. The report is currently being peer reviewed and will be available by December.
· Field tests of a new portable electric fence system developed by Blackfoot Valley ranchers, the Blackfoot Challenge, and NRCC appear promising. Further tests will be conducted in early October and NRCC will have a full report on this emerging technique. The fencing system can be used to non-lethally deter grizzly and black bears from a variety of "attractants" and is designed to deter wolves.
Our print newsletter will be available in November, 2010 via our website. Stay tuned for the next e-newsletter in December!