Summer and Fall Research '10

It has been a while since my last post, I thought I would give a recap on summer and fall research. Currently I have started, and am almost finished with, my first semester at Mississippi State University as a Graduate student. Despite my absence, a lot of work goes on every fall up north. This summer ended with 3 wolves, 2 bobcats, 7 coyotes, and 18 bear with collars. We also had captured 44 fawns with collars. To date 14 fawn mortalities have occurred. In June-September wolf and coyote howl surveys were conducted with pretty good response from the wolves, but response was lower from coyotes than last year. In October deer camera surveys were conducted to estimate a population size within the study area. GPS collars are also starting to blow-off and are being collected to be re-furbished to be used again next year. As the snow is starting to fall up north bear dens are also being located, and their entrances marked, so we are better to able access them in a month when there is heavy snow on them.
Currently we are getting geared up for winter deer trapping, bear den checks, as well as carnivore capture which we are going to try during mid-winter this year rather than spring.
I head up north December 8th and we will start male bear den checks shortly after that, as well as deer trapping. If you ever want more information please visit http://fwrc.msstate.edu/carnivore/predatorprey/index.asp, this is the official project website.

- Tyler