Tag Wildlife
More homes built near wild lands leading to greater wildfire risk
New research out of the University of Wisconsin–Madison shows that a flurry of homebuilding near wild areas since 1990 has greatly increased the number of homes at risk from wildfires while increasing the costs associated with fighting those fires in increasingly dense developments.
Urban foxes and coyotes learn to set aside their differences and coexist
Diverging from centuries of established behavioral norms, red fox and coyote have gone against their wild instincts and learned to coexist in the urban environment of Madison and the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus.
UW Arboretum joins the Monarch Joint Venture
The first arboretum to partner with the MJV, the UW Arboretum joins more than 70 other partner institutions dedicated to researching monarch butterflies, conserving their habitat, and educating about the charismatic insects.
Invasive worms spreading in Arboretum forests, limited effects so far
Despite Asian jumping worms’ known appetite for leaf litter and tendency to change soil nutrients, researchers found limited evidence of changes to vegetation in areas where the worms have invaded the UW–Madison Arboretum.
Lethal management of wolves in one place may make things worse nearby
Farms that had a wolf killed experienced a 27 percent decrease in risk of another attack, but it was offset by a 22 percent increase at a number of farms in the same township.
Monkey study shows a path to monitoring endangered species
“We think this may be one of the most comprehensive efforts to analyze the data monitoring needs for ensuring the survival of an endangered animal,” says Karen Strier, who has observed muriquis in Brazil for 35 years.
New Arboretum director continues legacy of restoration, teaching
As fall slowly hardens to winter in Madison, part of Karen Oberhauser’s new job is to walk the trails of the UW–Madison Arboretum, getting a sense not just for the geography, but for the land itself. That’s because the land Oberhauser walks is now under her care.
With deer season on horizon, lab ramps up for CWD testing
Chronic wasting diesease (CWD), an infectious neurological disease, has been found in both wild and captive deer in at least 24 Wisconsin counties, mostly in the southern half of the state.
First, but not last, algae bloom spells danger for Madison swimmers, fish
Steve Carpenter couldn’t believe the view from his second-floor office on the shoreline of Lake Mendota. As far as he could see, the still water looked just like teal-blue paint.
Cultural value of natural world doesn’t depend only on species diversity
Researcher Rose Graves' work in North Carolina has implications for other regions with deep ties to nature, such as lake- and forest-filled Wisconsin.
Citizen observations help inform Arboretum’s annual account of spring
Both official and unofficial observations curated by UW–Madison Arboretum staff suggest that the mild winter of 2017 is leading to earlier spring activity in some plants and animals.
Arboretum prairies offer rare refuge for vanishing bumblebee
A proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to seek endangered status for the rusty-patched bumblebee has focused renewed attention on bumblebees living in the 1,200-acre natural area.
New study examines where and how climate change is altering species
A new study shows how and where changing climate conditions could affect the communities of species in any given area. In…
New virus found during investigation into largemouth bass fish kill
The virus has been identified in association with a die-off of largemouth bass in Pine Lake in Wisconsin’s Forest County.
Snapshot Wisconsin: Trail cams to document state’s wildlife
With the help of satellites and a global crowd-sourced database, Wisconsin’s wildlife will soon have its prime time moment.
No snow, no hares: Climate change pushes emblematic species north
UW researchers report that the range of the snowshoe hare in Wisconsin is creeping north by about five and a half miles per decade.
UW scientists contribute to state’s Pollinator Protection Plan effort
Wisconsin’s honey bees help support an $88 billion agricultural enterprise and play an important role in ecosystems throughout the state. But our bees face challenges.
Urban Canid Project helps track Madison’s coyotes and prevent conflicts
Since 2014, the Urban Canid Project has heavily emphasized outreach and public engagement in the study of Madison’s foxes and coyotes. So far, its efforts have met success.
Veterinary medicine partnership with community saves baby crane
A young Wisconsin sandhill crane is back to full health and flying south for the winter thanks to a partnership with the School of Veterinary medicine.
Experts help Green Bay establish new island chain to benefit shipping and wildlife
A partnership between the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the shipping industry and other organizations to restore a chain of islands in Green Bay is, literally, for the birds.