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Sex-based Differences in Disease Transmission May Affect Management Efficacy of Chronic Wasting Disease
No full textChronic wasting disease (CWD), a pathogenic prion affecting Cervidae, has repeatedly been observed at higher prevalence among males than female deer. This sex bias is potentially due to differences in susceptibility or transmission, but the underlying mechanism may not be discernable from prevalence data alone. We used an age- and sex-structured simulation model to explore harvest-based management of CWD under three different transmission scenarios that all generated higher male prevalence: (1) increased male susceptibility, (2) high male-to-male transmission, or (3) high female-to-male transmission. Heavily male-biased harvests were typically able to control CWD epidemics and maintain host population sizes under high male-to-male transmission and high male susceptibility scenarios. However, male-biased harvests were ineffective under high female-to-male transmission and female-biased harvests were required to limit disease transmission but resulted in low population sizes. Higher disease prevalence in a sex or age group may be due to higher exposure or susceptibility but does not necessarily indicate if that group also is responsible for more disease transmission. We showed that multiple processes can result in the pattern of higher male prevalence, but that population-level management interventions need to focus on those groups responsible for disease transmission not just those that are most exposed. Disclaimer: This will be presentation from a draft manuscript. Its content is deliberative and predecisional, so it must not be disclosed or released by reviewers. Because the manuscript has not yet been approved for publication by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), it does not represent any official USGS finding or policy
Acoustic Monitoring of Bat Species to Support Multi-Scale Monitoring and Conservation
No full textWith the spread of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the pathogen that causes White-Nose Syndrome, into Montana and the increasing footprint of wind energy and mortality of bats at turbines, Montana’s bat species face significant and increasing threats to persistence. Monitoring of species presence and population trend is necessary to assess impacts of these threats and help guide conservation efforts. In 2020 the state, with support from federal agencies and volunteers, conducted surveys using acoustic methods to detect bats at sites across the state. Survey locations were prioritized using the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) sampling grid with four detectors deployed in selected cells over four nights. We surveyed and recorded data at 350 sites within 96 cells and recorded 588,489 call sequences. Automated analysis indicates the detection of 13 species. These data provide information that can be used across management scales. The observations themselves provide managers with confirmation of species presence at the local level and are valuable for project planning. At the regional level these observations can be used to inform species distribution models and explore habitat associations. At the state-wide level analysis of site occupancy and detection probabilities can be used to establish baselines and guide future monitoring to determine trend. As surveys were performed following a national sampling protocol, these data are compatible with other efforts undertaken in states and provinces across the US and Canada as part of the NABat and will be used to provide information on the species across their continental range
Bumble Bee Selectivity of Native and Non-Native Flowers in Northwest Montana
No full textLoss of native pollinators can have adverse effects on native plant communities. Likewise, the loss of native plant communities can have adverse effects on our native pollinator community. Non-native flowers have been known to detriment native ecosystems, but how does this affect our native pollinators? Bumble bees are a keystone pollinator in Northwest Montana, but bumble bee species have been declining globally in recent years. This study looks at the preference of bumble bees between native and non-native flowers throughout their foraging season. It incorporates two methods of observations, a focal survey of bumble bee activity, and a sweep net capture. Host plant selectivity is compared to the relative abundance of native and non-native flowers. In total, 133 bees were recorded, 59% seen on native flowers and 49% on non-native. The data shows a clear preference towards native flowers throughout the season
First Off-host Survey for Winter Ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) in the Western United States
No full textShiras moose (Alces alces shirasi) hunting success in parts of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana has declined over the past decade indicating a potential regional population decrease. Several likely contributing factors such as increased road mortality, habitat changes, and predation have been researched, but few studies have investigated the synergistic threat from climate change and parasites. The winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) is a well-known ectoparasite of moose which has caused population declines during epizootic years in the Northeast and Midwest, but little is known about winter tick infestation impacts on Shiras moose and which environmental variables may drive epizootics in the Rocky Mountain West. In this study we conduct the first survey for the environmentally vulnerable off-host stages of winter ticks in Shiras moose habitat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Our objectives were to 1) verify the efficacy of known winter tick survey techniques in the West, 2) record the questing window for host-seeking larvae, and 3) identify potential environmental correlates with winter tick distribution, abundance, and activation. Winter ticks were first detected on September 21st and remained active until survey efforts halted on November 24th. Of the more than 7,000 ticks collected, 67% came from grasses or forbs, 19.4% from non-willow shrubs, and 13.6% from willow. Larvae were found questing on vegetation protruding from deep snowpack in temperatures as low as 5º C. Data on questing window and microclimate thresholds can be used to model winter tick epizootics in the future under different climate scenarios while habitat associations can be used by moose managers to target conservation intervention
Attitudes of Montanans Regarding Grizzly Bears and Their Management
No full textIn 2019-20, a collaborative study was conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the University of Montana to better understand Montanans thoughts about grizzly bears and grizzly bear management in Montana. Survey findings revealed generally positive attitudes towards grizzly bears. Despite a high level of support for the presence of grizzly bears in Montana, results from this survey demonstrate that acceptance of bears declined relative to human occupancy and agricultural-ranching use of the landscape. Montanans’ views were mixed regarding whether grizzly bears should be allowed to live anywhere they become established on their own. Most Montanans agreed grizzly bears numbers are expanding in Montana. However, a large percentage of Montanans reported knowing little about grizzly bear numbers across different geographic areas of the state, and the remainder expressed views across a spectrum from “much too low” to “much too high”. There was generally wide support for hunting this species, with half of Montanans reporting they support enough hunting to manage their population size. About 17 percent of Montanans believe grizzly bears should never be hunted. Montanans reported diverse beliefs regarding the success of grizzly bear management and their satisfaction with that management in Montana. However, trust in FWP to manage grizzly bears was relatively high. The results from this important study will be used by FWP as part of ongoing efforts to include public input in grizzly bear management decision-making processes going forward
Mountain Goat Declines in Glacier National Park Associated with Early Summer Precipitation and Temperature
No full textA shifting climate poses threats to alpine-adapted species including mountain goats. We used a 12-year citizen science dataset and a Bayesian N-mixture model to examine population trend of mountain goats in Glacier National Park. Median goats per site declined by 45% (95% CRI = 32%, 57%) from 77.8 (95% CRI = 64.4, 95.1) in 2008 to 42.3 (95%CRI = 34.3, 52.2) in 2019, with detectable consistent declines from 2008 until 2015, when numbers stabilized. These declines exceed IUCN criteria for vulnerable, with >30% declines over only 2 generations. Climate variables had the greatest influence on population growth rate, particularly precipitation between May 15 and June 15 of the previous summer. Higher growth occurred with greater snow water equivalent, mean winter temperature, early summer temperature and early summer precipitation. In addition, the presence of permanent snow and glaciers strongly influenced initial abundance of goats. We are not able to determine the relative contribution of vital rates to this apparent decline. However, the patterns of decline are consistent with other data sources. Research to estimate the population size, evaluate genetic structure, assess changing habitat, human recreation and forage, and to forward project climate effects on persistence will be crucial to conserving this iconic, meta-population at the southern edge of the distribution of native mountain goats
Montana’s Non-bat Cave Life - Incidental Observations and Informal Studies by the Bigfork High School Cave Club
No full textThe Bigfork High School Cave Club, as a result of their involvement with bat studies related to White Nose Syndrome, have accrued numerous incidental observations of wildlife use of Montana caves. Observations include use of caves by wood rats, bears, wolverine. mountain goat, bighorn, sheep, marmot, porcupine, and other species. The club has conducted two informal microinvertbrate studies, one noncollecting study of amphipods, planaria and isopods in caves on Glacier National Park and another statewide study for which macroinvertebrate specimens are being archived at Montana State University for eventual identification and further study
Montana’s Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions Program (IMBCR) - Monitoring for Management and Conservation
No full textConservation partners have conducted landbird monitoring across Montana, under the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) program, since 2009. Today, the IMBCR program represents the most rigorous breeding landbird monitoring program in the US. IMBCR is made possible via a broad partnership of multiple government and nongovernment agencies from the Great Plains to the Intermountain West. The sampling framework allows for inference about avian populations at multiple scales, from a National Forest or Bureau of Land Management field office, up to the state and even ecoregion level. The state of Montana is stratified into over thirty different management areas based on partners’ needs and interests. Each year, landbird density and occupancy estimates are produced for individual management areas, which are combined to produce regional estimates. Bayesian analyses provide robust estimates of population trend over time and a new online tool will provide habitat-specific population estimates for each management area. Managers can use these baseline estimates and habitat-specific information for project-level planning and environmental assessments. The IMBCR program provides context for targeted effectiveness monitoring in project areas to evaluate impacts of land-use change or conservation actions. We highlight several case studies from the Intermountain West, where short-term monitoring efforts leverage the long-term data from IMBCR to evaluate avian response to land management practices
The Emerging Conflict of Common Ravens Roosting on Transmission Line Towers
No full textBird interactions with power lines can cause faults, which are a disruption of electrical service. Faults of unknown origin on 500kV transmission lines in central Montana, which are integral to the Northwest US power grid, became an operational concern during winter 2016–2017. In 2017 we found tower insulators heavily contaminated with bird droppings and discovered a large nocturnal roost of common ravens (Corvus corax). We summarized fault data from the Energy Management System and raven abundance data from the Billings Christmas Bird Count to assess the potential impact of raven roosts on the transmission lines. We also conducted counts at seven roosts during winter 2019–2020. We found a positive relationship between the number of faults reported and raven abundance from 2005–2020. The three largest roosts peaked at 1,000–1,500 ravens on single evenings. The number of faults during winter 2019–2020 decreased after installation of silicon-coated insulators and perch deterrents, and the periodic washing of insulators. Raven populations have increased significantly throughout their range and may cause similar conflicts for other electric utilities on large transmission lines. Long-term management of ravens will need to integrate approaches at both local and landscape scales
Tipping the Scales for Conservation: Leveraging USDA Farm Bill Funding to Conserve Grassland Habitat and Build Working Partnerships
No full textNorth American grasslands have and continue to decline at an alarming rate, with a conversion rate of 1.2 million acres of land per year. Coinciding with this extreme loss of habitat, grassland birds have been identified as one of the fastest declining avian suites, with a 53% reduction in population since the 1970’s. Most grasslands, meanwhile, remain under private ownership making the conservation of private lands through partnerships with agricultural producers ever more critical. In July 2020, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, in partnership with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and Montana FWP, developed a Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP) in Dawson County under the USDA Farm Bill. This program leverages federal funds to assist producers in restoring cropland back to perennial cover for wildlife, while also developing fencing and water infrastructure for livestock to allow these restored grasslands to be productive grazing lands for producers. During the 2021 application period, the program received five applications resulting in approximately 1,300 acres planned for restoration back to grass. Plans are set to be ranked in March, and pending funding, will be implemented beginning as soon as spring of 2021. Building off the momentum of this TIP, a questionnaire to gage interest in a second funding pool was sent to producers in another part of Dawson County in winter 2020, with a goal of creating more grassland connectivity. Producers demonstrated a positive response to the questionnaire, resulting in the ongoing development of another proposal to restore grasslands in the northern portion of Dawson