Animal Behavior
Love in the Wild: What Drives Red Wolf Pairing Success
Do opposites really attract? With Red Wolves, it just might be true. Our research partner Lovin, a graduate student at Utah State University advised by Dr. Julie Young, is helping uncover the answer. An ongoing investigation into behavior and mate compatibility within the Red Wolf SAFE population aims to uncover behavioral cues that predict reproductive success. Preliminary findings suggest that wolves with contrasting personalities may be more likely to produce offspring than those with similar…
Kinari’s Nursery Tales: Moments from a Pup’s First Weeks
As our ambassador pup Kinari’s time in the nursery has come to an end, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated pup nannies, both staff and volunteers, who spent countless hours caring for and socializing her over these past few months. Throughout their time with Kinari, the nannies shared many laughs and unforgettable moments. Here are a few of their favorite behind-the-scenes stories that truly capture Kinari’s personality and spirit. Please join us in…
WCC is Learning the Power of AudioMoths
Listening to the Wild: How AudioMoths Are Helping Us Understand Gulf Coast Canids and Inform Red Wolf Recovery Over several days this past month, WCC’s Conservation Scientist Colleen O’Donnell found herself wading through waist-high grass and weaving through dense branches to find the perfect trees to attach AudioMoths. What is an AudioMoth? It is a small audio recording device that allows researchers to identify and monitor all kinds of wildlife, including birds, frogs, bats, and…
Listen Closely – Love is in the Air
A screech in the night. A quick whistle through the trees. The stink of a skunk …? These are some of the sounds and scents of mating season in the forest. When forests otherwise seem relatively quiet, it might be alarming to some when they suddenly bustle with sound. Yet late winter is a crucial season of communication for many species. Perhaps the most common and perplexing sound people hear this time of year is…
Snow-Tracking
Though there are those among us who aren’t keen on the frostier elements of winter, perhaps a new hobby could change our minds. Snow is an easy medium for spotting tracks, as they are typically quite obvious indentations in the stark white powder. Fresh snow offers a perfect opportunity to “play detective” and follow the footprints left behind by wildlife as they navigate the snowy outdoors. Paths, trails, and all sorts of meanderings are plainly…
Common Myths About Coyotes
Coyotes are a deeply misunderstood species, the subject of many myths and a persistent stream of misinformation. Many of these misconceptions lead to coyotes being unfairly persecuted by hunters, ranchers, landowners, and government agencies. These practices completely disregard how vital and valuable coyotes are to the ecosystem at large. Unfortunately, the misinformation surrounding this resilient species contributes to an enormous stigma against them. Many people find them frightening and actively call for their removal. However,…
Local Opossum Flaunts Her Baby Bump
Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are North America’s only marsupial. As a marsupial, they give live birth but shortly after carry their young in a pouch on their abdomens. Opossums are typically born between April and August and have the shortest gestation period of any mammal, lasting only about 12.5 days. At birth opossums are as small as honeybees, and are blind and hairless. Newborns will crawl from their mother’s birth canal up toward her pouch…
Meddlesome Mammal Not Ready for Their Close-up
Trail cameras are an oft-used tool for monitoring wildlife, and one of their biggest benefits is their non-invasive nature. A trail camera (also known as remote or wildlife cameras) is easily mounted to a tree with the use of a cord, bungee, or screwed-in mount. It remotely monitors movement, and will begin to record photos and videos once its sensor detects change. Their unobtrusive quality enables one to get an idea of the daily and…
Free Coyote Coexistence Programs Encourage Appreciation for Local Wildlife
Coyotes have a remarkable ability to adapt to any surrounding. With indefatigable survival instincts, coyotes have expanded across much of the continent and live in all of the U.S. save Hawaii, despite the untiring efforts by humans to kill them. A close cousin to the wolves we are dedicated to protecting, coyotes play an equally vital role in our local ecosystem as an apex predator. Coyotes are explorers, opportunists, and one of the most successful…