CURRENT RESEARCH
Shining the spotlight on small carnivoresSmaller carnivores seldom get the conservation attention given to large carnivores, despite recent global analyses that have found they are declining at a similar rate to large carnivores. We are attempting to shift the narrative that all small to mid-ranking carnivores or mesocarnivores "releasing" (expanding their range and causing destruction to ecosystems) by highlighting their conservation need and the key role they play within ecosystems. In particular, we have provided 6 reasons why smaller carnivores are better sentinels for managers to focus monitoring on than large carnivores. This type of "middle-out" thinking drives how we investigate the structure of carnivore communities, and how we design projects to better understand the ecology of these smaller carnivores.
Related popular articles:
Why weasels and worms should represent the movement to conserve the natural world - Vox Weasels, not pandas, should be the poster animal for biodiversity loss - The Conversation A small carnivore crisis - The Wildlife Professional |
Recent Related Scientific Papers:
Marneweck, C., B.L. Allen, A. Butler, E. Do Linh San, S.N. Harris, A.J. Jensen, E.A. Saldo, M.J. Somers, K. Titus, M. Muthersbaugh, A. Vanak, S.W. Yu, and D.S. Jachowski. 2022. Middle-out ecology: Small carnivores as sentinels of global change. Mammal Review 52:471-479. Marneweck, C., A.R. Butler, L. Gigliotti, S. Harris, A. Jensen, M. Muthersbaugh, B. Newman, E. Saldo, K. Titus, S.W. Yu, and D.S. Jachowski. 2021. Shining the spotlight on small mammalian carnivores: global status and threats. Biological Conservation 255:109005. Jachowski, D.S., A. Butler, R.Y.Y. Eng, L. Gigliotti, S. Harris and A. Williams. 2020. Identifying mesopredator release in multi-predator systems: a review of evidence from North America. Mammal Review 50:367-381. |
Swift fox restorationOver the past decade we have been working with colleagues in the US and Canada on the successful restoration of swift fox populations in northern Montana. Despite being successfully reintroduced in Canada over 3 decade ago, swift fox are rarely observed in this region which serves as a critical link between the population in southern Canada and established populations to the south in South Dakota and Wyoming. We have conducted tracking studies of swift foxes and deploying a wide camera trap array to begin to address what limits the recovery of connectivity between these populations.
In 2020, we became involved in efforts to help restore swift for to Ft. Belknap Reservation which is the homeland of A’aniiih and Nakota communities. If successful, this reintroduction effort could be key to connecting northern and southern existing population of swift fox in the Northern Great Plains. Project collaborators: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Calgary Zoo, Bureau of Land Management, Ft. Belknap Indian Community, Smithsonian Institution Related popular articles: Clemson doctoral student helping continent’s smallest canids return to indigenous lands - Clemson University Cool video by Colorado Parks and Wildlife on our collaborative project to restore swift fox to Ft. Belknap After 51 years, swift foxes return to the grasslands of Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana - World Wildlife Fund Searching for swift foxes - Montana Outdoors |
Related scientific papers:
Butler, A., K. Bly, H. Harris, B. Inman, A. Moehrenschlager, D. Schwalm, and D. Jachowski. 2021. Life on the edge: Habitat fragmentation limits recovery of a reintroduced carnivore. Animal Conservation 24:108-119. Butler, A., K. Bly, H. Harris, B. Inman, A. Moehrenschlager, D. Schwalm, and D.S. Jachowski. 2020. Home range size and resource utilization by swift fox in northeastern Montana. Journal of Mammalogy 101:684-696. Butler, A., K. Bly, H. Harris, B. Inman, A. Moehrenschlager, D. Schwalm, and D.S. Jachowski. 2019. Winter movement behavior by swift foxes (Vulpes velox) at the northern edge of their range. Canadian Journal of Zoology 97:922-930. |
Spotted skunksWe love a challenge, and prior to research accomplished by our team and others over the past decade, the eastern spotted skunk was one of the least understood carnivores in North America. We have conducted a series of studies on this species at multiple field sites from West Virginia to Florida, with our current research focusing on an intensive multi-year study in North Carolina.
We have also led conservation and research for this species nationally, founding the Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group in 2015 and serving as an advisor for the newly formed Island Spotted Skunk Study Group in California. Project collaborators: US Geological Survey, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Virginia Tech, Nemours Wildlife Foundation, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service Related popular articles:
Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group recognized - The Wildlife Society Disease, predation causing Appalachian spotted skunk decline - The Wildlife Society Shining the spotlight on spotted skunks - Wildlife in North Carolina |
Recent Related Scientific Papers:
Harris, S.N., T.J. Doonan, E.L. Hewett Ragheb and D.S. Jachowski. 2023. Home range, movement and activity patterns of the Florida spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius ambarvalis) in prairie habitat. Mammalian Biology doi.org/10.1007/s42991-023-00380-5. Jachowski, D.S., C.J. Marneweck, C. Olfenbuttel, and S.N. Harris. In press. Support for the size-mediated sensitivity hypothesis within a diverse carnivore community. Journal of Animal Ecology. Siegfried, A.C., S.N. Harris, C. Olfenbuttel and D.S. Jachowski. 2023. Effects of sardines as an attractant on carnivore detection and temporal activity patterns at remote camera traps. Wildlife Research doi:10.1071/WR22196. Siegfried, A.C., S.N. Harris, C. Olfenbuttel and D.S. Jachowski. 2023. Den site selection of eastern spotted skunks in North Carolina. Mammal Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-023-00703-4. Dukes, C.G., D.S. Jachowski, S.N. Harris, M.L. Allen, L.E. Dodd, A.J. Edelman, S.H. LaRose, R.C. Lonsinger, and D.B. Sasse. 2022. A review of camera trapping methodology for eastern spotted skunks (Spilogale putorius). Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management e1944.. Marneweck, C., C. Forehand, C. Waggy, S. Harris, T. Katzner and D.S. Jachowski. 2022. Nocturnal light-specific temporal partitioning facilitates coexistence for a small mesopredator, the eastern spotted skunk. Journal of Ethology 40:193-198. Detweiler, G.P., S.N. Harris, C. Olfenbuttel, and D.S. Jachowski. 2022. First tracking of an eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) litter from birth to independence. Mammalia. Harris, S.N., J.L. Froehly, S.L. Glass, C.L. Hannon, E.L. Hewett Ragheb, T.J. Doonan, and D.S. Jachowski. 2021. High density and survival of a native small carnivore, the Florida spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius ambarvalis) in south-central Florida. Journal of Mammalogy 102:743-756. Butler, A., A. Edelman, R.Y.Y. Eng, W.M. Ford, S. Harris, E. Thorne, C. Olfenbuttel, and D.S. Jachowski. 2021. Demography of the Appalachian eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius putorius). Southeastern Naturalist 20:95-109. Jachowski, D.S., and A. Edelman. 2021. Advancing small carnivore research and conservation: the Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group model. Southeastern Naturalist 20:1-12. Harris, S.N., C. Olfenbuttel, and D.S. Jachowski. 2021. Canine distemper outbreak in a population of eastern spotted skunks (Spilogale putorius). Southeastern Naturalist 20:181-190. Harris, S.N., and D.S. Jachowski. 2021. First documentation of above-ground den structures of the Florida spotted skunk. Southeastern Naturalist 20:225-233. Harris, S.N., T.J. Doonan, E.L. Hewett Ragheb, and D.S. Jachowski. 2020. Den site selection of the Florida spotted skunk. Journal of Wildlife Management 84:127-137. Eng, R.Y.Y., and D.S. Jachowski. 2019. Summer rest site selection by Appalachian eastern spotted skunks. Journal of Mammalogy 100:1295-1304. Eng, R.Y. and D.S. Jachowski. 2019. Evaluating detection and occupancy probabilities of eastern spotted skunks in the southern Appalachians. Journal of Wildlife Management 83:1244-1253. |
Coastal island bobcatsOver the past several years we have been interested in the ecology of bobcats in coastal ecosystems. We have used a variety of approaches (camera traps, fecal DNA analysis, etc.) to relate land use and management conditions with bobcat and other carnivore occurrence and behavior.
Beginning in 2021 we are initiating a multi-year project to assess the ecology of bobcats on islands - particularly Kiawah Island where there are concerns regarding population declines. Kiawah island is home to one of the most famous and well-studied bobcat populations, and we will be analyzing long-term historical datasets and conducting new field studies of bobcats to evaluate the demographic and behavioral responses of bobcats to land use change and exposure to rodenticides. Project website: Island Bobcat Research Project collaborators: Kiawah Island, Clemson University, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center |
Recent Related Scientific Papers:
Williams, A., L. Waits, J. Adams, and D.S. Jachowski. In press. Dietary overlap of sympatric terrestrial mammalian carnivores in coastal impoundments of South Carolina. Southeastern Naturalist. |
Where are the weasels?Weasels are notoriously hard to study. If you have seen one in the wild, you know how fast and cryptic they can be. Perhaps that is part of the reason why their decline has gone unnoticed. Following our review of North America weasels in 2021, we created a weasel study group that involves biologists across the US collaboratively trialing new approaches to monitoring for weasels across their range. New tools could help us better understand where weasels persist, trends in their populations, and reasons behind declines over the past several decades across many parts of their historical ranges.
Related Popular Articles:
What Happened to North America's Weasels? - Meateater New Clemson University-led study reveals a declining weasel population in North America - Post and Courier Local Weasel Population Difficult to Assess as National Study Finds Species in Decline - EcoRI World's smallest carnivore, the least weasel, is going extinct - and scientists are scratching their heads trying to figure out why - Daily Mail Weasel out: Clemson-led study shows population of pint-sized predators dwindling - Clemson University |
Related scientific papers:
Jachowski, D.S., R. Kays, A. Butler, A.M. Hoylman, and M.E. Gompper. 2021. Tracking the decline of weasels in North America. PLoS ONE 16:e0254387. |
Mesocarnivore road ecologyRoads can have dramatic impacts on wildlife populations, but most attention is placed on large mammals like deer and bears that are both charismatic and a danger to humans if struck by a vehicle. Accordingly, most research has focused on how to improve wildlife crossing structures targeted at these large mammals, but comparatively less is known about how these structures benefit smaller mammals. We are conducting research to investigate how roads and road crossing structures influence mesocarnivore movement along interstates in North Carolina.
Project collaborators: National Parks Association, Wildlands Network, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
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