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A starfish and a mountain lion walk into a bar: A look at the dark side
Sixty years ago, an ecology professor from the University of Washington traveled to the Washington coastline to conduct a simple yet revealing experiment. He selected two separate distinct rocky patches of coastline with common characteristics. Each patch contained a similar mixture of marine organisms, ranging from limpets, snails, and mussel up to and including an […]
What does the public really think about hunting?
When politicians threaten to eliminate Social Security, it is compared to touching the ‘third rail’, the one that carries electricity to power the locomotive. This admonition suggests great political harm may come to the perpetrator; caution is advised. Taking a close look at hunting and some of its facts and flaws is seen by some […]
Nevada’s mule deer ‘problem’: It’s not what they say
Are coyotes and mountain lions the reason Nevada’s mule deer population rests well below historic high levels? Or is it the changing landscape and habitat in this most arid of states? You’ve probably guessed the answer. Here’s some of the story. In the 1800s when wagon trains, explorers, miners, and prospectors were traveling and living […]
What is the worth of a bear’s life?
In 2018, the nation’s fish and wildlife agencies in conjunction with their own polling agency and a couple of universities conducted a national survey of public attitudes regarding a variety of wildlife management issues and values. Nearly 44,000 citizens were queried as to their preferences. The respondents were grouped into four categories: Traditionalist, Mutualist, Pluralist […]