Wolverines are among the rarest of creatures in the lower 48 states. A reputation shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding characterize this creature seen by a fortunate few in the wild. This meso-carnivore (medium sized hunter) is currently threatened by the increase in heli-skiing operations, continuing snowmobile use, and most notably global warming. With a recent federal decision to not list this species as threatened, despite clear evidence that the population in the continental U.S. is in grave peril, how and will wolverines fare into the future?
To address these questions and many others and to provide good scientific evidence of this increasingly rare carnivore's plight we have asked two guests to join us. They are, David Gaillard, with Defenders of Wildlife in Bozeman, MT and Dr. Lisette Waits, University of Idaho.
David Gaillard, Defenders of Wildlife, Bozeman
David works to protect and restore imperiled carnivores and their habitats in the U.S. Northern Rocky Mountains, with an emphasis on mesocarnivores, especially lynx, wolverines, and fishers. Since 1991 he has worked with Predator Conservation Alliance (now called, Keystone Conservation), the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, and Greater Yellowstone Coalition.
David joined Defenders of Wildlife in October 2007 with the opening of our field office in Bozeman, Montana, and his focus is to gain, enhance and maintain federal and state protections for these rare and little-known species, plus their more famous brethren, grizzly bears and wolves. His conservation work focuses on the Northern Rockies because this region represents the best hope for the long-term survival of North America’s great predators. With the restoration of the wolf in the past decade, the Northern Rockies is one of the few areas left on the continent that still supports its full complement of native predators, which also include grizzly bears, mountain lions, lynx, wolverines, fishers and martens.
For more on David Gaillard
Lisette Waits, University of Idaho
Lisette is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho. She is the Co-Director, Center for Research on Invasive Species and Small Populations. In addition to teaching upper level conservation biology courses Dr. Waits recent and current research includes genetic diveristy of gene flow of wolverines, detecting and preventing hydridization of red wolves and coyotes, genetic structure of brown bears in Kamchatka, and landscape genetics of amphibians in Northern Idaho.
For more on Dr. Lisette Waits
Please join us Thursday, April 17, 6:30 p.m. at the University of Idaho. College of Natural Resources, Room 10 (Basement) for this educational program brought to you by Friends of the Clearwater, the Palouse Group of the Sierra Club, the University of Idaho Environmental Club, and the Student Organization for People and the Environment.
Location(s)
- University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Room 10
- 6th St.
- Moscow, ID, 83843
