Wildlife Management Institute

A series of unrelated incidents that left grizzly bears, mountain goats and a Wyoming man dead has caused a review of some wildlife research projects, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. The U.S. Geological Survey's Northern Rocky Mountain Science Office has temporarily suspended trapping operations for its grizzly study after a man was mauled to death by a mature male bear that had been tranquilized earlier in the day. In addition, Glacier National Park has temporarily halted a University of Montana mountain goat study after two male mountain goats died in mid June after being darted by researchers.

An effort initiated several years ago to increase hunting opportunities significantly has finally come to fruition. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting comments on an interim rule and has provided application procedures for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), according to the Wildlife Management Institute.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing to launch a year-long celebration of a milestone in conservation history — the 50th anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Individuals wishing to stay abreast of up-to-date news and information regarding chronic wasting disease (CWD) now have a resource that will provide timely updates to email accounts, cell phones and personal web pages, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. The Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance has recently created accounts with the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter in order to allow anyone concerned about CWD to receive breaking news, new research and CWD management updates to an electronic platform of their choosing. To find the CWD Alliance on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cwd-info.org and follow the links provided on the homepage. For technical assistance, please submit an inquiry at: http://www.cwd-info.org/index.php/fuseaction/contact.main. (mcd)