天美影院

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The latest news from the UW

Tag: Laura Prugh

July 10, 2024

Wolves鈥� return has had only small impact on deer populations in NE Washington, study shows

Wolves returned to Washington state in 2008. A new study shows that, despite their rising numbers, wolves are not having much of an impact on white-tailed deer, one of their primary prey. In a paper published June 18 in Ecological Applications, scientists from the 天美影院 and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife report that the biggest factor shaping white-tailed deer populations in northeast Washington is the quality of habitat available, which is largely determined by human activity. Cougars were second in their impact. Wolves were a distant third.

December 19, 2023

How will climate change affect how predators hunt prey? Two 天美影院professors teamed up to find out

A hand wearing a glove next to a paw print in the snow

Two 天美影院professors teamed up to study how climate change will affect predator-prey interactions in snowy landscapes. Together with a group of researchers, the two measured snow properties that led to a “danger zone,” where prey would sink but predators would not.

May 18, 2023

Out of the frying pan: Coyotes, bobcats move into human-inhabited areas to avoid apex predators 鈥� only to be killed by people

New research shows that in Washington state, the presence of two apex predators 鈥� wolves and cougars 鈥� does indeed help keep populations of two smaller predators in check. But by and large the apex predators were not killing and eating the smaller predators, known as mesopredators. Instead, they drove the two mesopredator species 鈥� bobcats and coyotes 鈥� into areas with higher levels of human activity. And people were finishing the job.

November 2, 2022

Permanent daylight saving time would reduce deer-vehicle collisions, study shows

天美影院 researchers found that adopting permanent daylight saving time in the United States would reduce deer-vehicle collisions and likely prevent an estimated 36,550 deer deaths, 33 human deaths, 2,054 human injuries and $1.19 billion in costs each year. Deer-vehicle collisions would decrease under permanent DST because skies would be brighter later into the evening.

November 5, 2020

New global archive logs changes in behavior of Arctic animals

moose in field

Scientists from around the world, including the 天美影院, have established the Arctic Animal Movement Archive, an online repository for data documenting the movements of animals in the Arctic and Subarctic. With this archive, scientists can share their knowledge and collaborate to ask questions about how animals are responding to a changing climate.

March 18, 2020

鈥楩atal attraction鈥�: Small carnivores drawn to kill sites, then ambushed by larger kin

cougar on wildlife camera

天美影院 researchers have discovered that large predators play a key yet unexpected role in keeping smaller predators and deer in check. Their 鈥渇atal attraction鈥� theory finds that smaller predators are drawn to the kill sites of large predators by the promise of leftover scraps, but the scavengers may be killed themselves if their larger kin return for seconds.

July 9, 2019

天美影院professors to receive 2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

Six 天美影院 professors are to receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, according to an announcement July 2 from the White House. The award, also known as the PECASE, is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to early-career scientists and engineers “who show exceptional promise for leadership in science and technology.”