New Lab paper looks at #HumanDimensions of grizzly bears in Montana, USA. As feds/states wrestle with management, we investigated Montanan’s beliefs about grizzly populations, satisfaction with management, and factors behind these cognitions 1/ doi.org/10.1111/csp2.1… #ConSocSci

1/4🧵Our latest paper from our long-term U.S. National Science Foundation LTREB grant - Bull elk survival, migration & harvest by Hans Martin. Amongst the 1st studies of adult bull elk in Canada -@ #YaHaTinda 1 of Alberta’s prime hunting areas, with a 6-point antler rule (APR). doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.2…

Harvest mortality increased once males had >=6 points, usually by 4-5 years of age, with only 42% annual survival. Harvest risk increased every 1km closer to a road, confirming road management can increase bull elk survival. Most 6-point males were harvested each year.

While BC’s budget has literally grown by orders of magnitude, the budget for fish, wildlife, land, air and water has flatlined. If we didn’t fund health care and education we would have a bunch of people without jobs, dying an early death. That is BC’s story for ‘wildlife’.

Here it is as a proportion of the provincial budget. From > 5% of the budget to just over 1%. Were essentially living in a record low. If one wanted to hurt the environment, defunding renewable resource management is one of the best ways to accomplish that. Some good news….

“Adjusted for inflation, funding for natural resources in B.C. peaked in 1996, and has declined under both Liberal and NDP governments since.” Jesse Zeman helping us understand BC’s interest in looking after the natural world—something that makes BC so special, but is vanishing

A regulated and ultra sustainable low-take grizzly hunt would enable 💰to protect, connect, and enhance Gbear habitat. What an 👇🏼excellent social science study - integral intel for decision makers.

The answer to this - and others - question(s) is perhaps too long for a tweet. We hope to give a B.C. Wildlife Federation webinar soon on this topic. But the short answer is not really. See our meta-analysis of predator control studies here doi.org/10.1111/1365-2…

This is an excellent thread that closely relates to some of the work we are endeavouring to do/ study here in the Yukon.

Rangelands > suburbs

Josie Osborne 🇨🇦 @solidplans Great observation Josie Osborne 🇨🇦 ! Roosevelt elk are one of BCs greatest wildlife conservation success stories! #WiRELab PhD student Angus Smith & partners are working on new migration and habitat models to support this effort, more info here: x.com/HCTFBC/status/…

Hudson Bay polar bears sticking to the west this year. It's been a cold winter so the bears likely have good ice to hunt. Bear L is east of Cape Churchill & should have her 2 cubs but it's dangerous. 1 new cub was killed by an adult male just as they got to the ice this spring.

Our vice-president, @JakobAndrian has been working hard on his impressive undergrad thesis examining mule deer birth site selection in southern BC. Jakob also hunts and eats mule deer. #EmergingWioBio

Love to see this: UBC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers - Okanagan co-founder, Biodiversity Pathways star, and forever #WiRELab member Mateen Hessami featured in the Spring 2023 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers journal for his Mitacs award!!! Go Mateen and Go Caribou!

If you fly over British Columbia, the most acute problem affecting our forests becomes clear; it’s not just Fairy Creek, old growth logging or clearcutting, it’s the astonishing rate of logging that is happening due to the provincially set Annual Allowable Cut. A 🧵 #bcpoli

The recipe for growing moose populations while promoting reconciliation is best prepared in a room full of Indigenous and Local Knowledge holders 🙏🏼 #LakeBabine

This Twitter thread = excellent science communication👇🏼

Join us, this Wednesday (March 13th) for an evening of knowledge-sharing and inspiration about British Columbia's spectacular landscapes, wildlife, and human history. All are welcome and there is no cost.