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Fostered Mexican wolf pups advance genetic recovery effort

PINETOP, AZ — A record 22 captive-born Mexican wolf pups were placed in wild dens to be raised in the wild by their surrogate parents after another successful cross-foster season. For six years, wild Mexican wolves have been raising captive-born pups as their own, helping to boost the genetic diversity of this endangered subspecies and moving the wild population towards recovery.

During April and May, nine pups were fostered into three different packs in eastern Arizona and 13 were fostered into five packs in western New Mexico.

“Fostering is an outstanding example of a working private-public recovery program. Wolf recovery has to recognize the importance of meeting genetic criteria, which requires many private organizations maintaining captive wolves for release into the wild. Without this important partnership, genetic recovery would be essentially impossible,” said Jim deVos, AZGFD Mexican Wolf Coordinator. “Importantly, we are now seeing Mexican wolves that have been fostered producing litters themselves supporting the use of fostering as an effective conservation tool.”

Cross-fostering is a proven method used by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) to increase genetic diversity in the wild Mexican wolf population. It involves placing genetically diverse pups that are 14 days or younger from the captive breeding population into wild dens with similarly aged pups to be raised in the wild by experienced wolves. The IFT has documented that cross-fostered pups have the same survival rate as wild-born pups in their first year of life (about 50%). Read more

BUFFALO, MO – June 8, 2021 – In response to the plight of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations across their range, Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation, Inc., (QUWF) designed and built wild turkey nesting boxes and are now offering those nesting box building plans for free. “The wild turkey decline is cause for serious concern, and we’re delighted to offer this option to help the turkey during this perfect storm,” stated QUWF Executive Director, Craig Alderman. “Nesting site survival rates have decreased steadily due to many factors including extreme weather changes, cold and heavy spring rains, and loss of habitat. Also, due to longer nesting periods, wild turkey nests, hens and their eggs are increasingly exposed to opportunistic predators,” Alderman stated.

Nesting boxes have shown success for many wildlife species and, where utilized, seem to be strong indicators of improved nest survival. Similar nesting boxes have been used on farms and ranches, not on commercial turkey farms. The QUWF wild turkey nesting box is based on a compilation of those designs. Scientific data has yet to be recorded to determine the efficacy of the nesting box, but helping nature out a little, can’t hurt.

“Key design benefits of the nesting box include stable legs – which elevate the box off the ground – and closed sides, back, and top which limits predator approach, especially avian. The box is vented, but prevents access through the vents and due to weather-resistant construction design, averts water saturation of the nest. The center hold-down ground anchor further stabilizes the unit during intense weather conditions, and the box should be positioned with its back to the prevailing winds,” says Nick Prough, Chief Wildlife Biologist of QUWF. “The design incorporates a natural roost bar for easier poult access and egress, and also includes a means by which to attach limbs and branches to the sides of the box, helping conceal its location,” Prough said. Read more

With high temperatures and limited rainfall expected for the next several days, fire danger is high or very high across much of northern Michigan. That means taking precautions to prevent wildfires through the weekend when working or playing outdoors.

“With conditions this dry, a lot of different things can set off fires,” said Jeff Vasher, fire specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “A spark from a campfire can do it. Heat from an ORV or equipment can do it. A chain dragging from a trailer can do it, or a downed power line.” Read more