Concurrent Meetings/Workshops

Idaho Bat Working Group Idaho Bird Conservation Partnership. Idaho Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Fisher Symposium

Program and Abstracts

43rd Annual Meeting of the

Idaho Chapter of the Wildlife Society

11 - 14 March 2013

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Table of Contents

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Meeting Introduction and Host City Meeting Introduction The annual meeting of the Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society, will take place 11-14 March 2013 in Coeur

-line, secure registration http://www.ictws.org

a plenary session, fisher symposium, contributed oral and poster presentations, social activities and the annual business meeting. Host City

With about 44,000 residents, Coeur d'Alene (/ k r d le n/ KORR d -LAYN) is the largest city and county seat of Kootenai (/ ku tni / KOOT-nee) County. The city is located about 30 mi (48 km) east of the larger Spokane, Washington, with a resulting metropolitan area population of just under 600,000. The city is located on the north shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene, 25-mile (40 km) in length. French Canadian fur traders allegedly named the local Indian tribe the Coeur d'Alene out of respect for their

mean "sharp-hearted" or "shrewd." Others interpret "Heart of the Awl" to translate to "Eye of the Needle", perhaps referring to the narrow passage through which the lake empties into the Spokane River on its way to the Columbia. A few things to do while here: Hike Tubbs Hill - Tubbs Hill consists of over 120 acres and is bordered by Lake Coeur d'Alene on the west, south and east sides. There are several miles of hiking trails on the hill that provide spectacular scenery for everyone to enjoy. The trail head on the west side of Tubbs Hill is located at the southern end of 3rd Street in the parking lot. The east side trail head is located at the south end of 10th Street. A 2.2 mile interpretive trail follows the perimeter of Tubbs Hill. Coffee

scattered up and down Sherman and adjacent streets. Walk along the shore over to North Idaho College Just a nice walk along the dike. Fort Sherman Park is on your right, with a nice community playground for anyone with kids. Take a drive out of your way If coming from the south, maybe consider taking Highway 3 from Lewiston, (White Pine Scenic Route) or turn on Highway 6 at Potlatch, until it hits Highway 3 south of St. Maries. North

trail!). Or maybe come up along the lake on Highway 97. Take a drive along CDA Lake This is a nice evening drive. Go east on Sherman, but turn right on the old highway just before you get to I90. The old I90 ran along the shoreline, but was redesigned by Dick Schwartz (former IDFG Commissioner) as a bike/running path with an adjacent 2-lane road for wanderers. During December, many folks park at the dead end to watch up to 200 eagles feeding on spawning kokanee. Conference Venue

-4000. www.cdaresort.com. The Idaho Bird Conservation Partnership

Conference Contact Don Kemner - don.kemner@idfg.idaho.gov;; 208-863-0092

Registration fees include admission to all oral sessions, symposiums, concurrent workshops, coffee breaks, social activities, and the program and abstracts. In addition, fees include the banquet and a complimentary meeting gift. ICTWS is offering free registration to all university students and retirees.

Registration Fees: ICTWS $ 110 Full registration (includes symposium, social, banquet, and meeting gift)

$ Free Retiree registration (includes symposium, social, banquet, and meeting gift) $ Free Student registration (includes symposium, social, banquet, and meeting gift) $ 25 Fisher symposium ONLY $ 30 Extra banquet ticket $ 135 Late registration after February 21st

The registration desk will be open at the following times: Monday 11 March 4:00 pm 6:00 pm Tuesday 12 March 7:00 am 11:00 am and 3:00 pm 4:00 pm Wednesday 13 March 7:00 am 1:30 pm Messages, job postings, and volunteer opportunities We will set up a message and job board near the registration desk. Parking

ICTWS registration desk.. Parking on the street is restricted to 2 hours at a time. Alternatively, there are some nearby parking lots: 3rd Street parking lot east side of the Resort Under construction was free today! Museum of North Idaho (Sherman Park) $1/hour Lakeside Street, west side of the Resort $1/hour or $8 for 10 hours Memorial Field (Sherman Park ) First hour free, $1/hour thereafter Human Rights Education Institute (Sherman Park) $2/hour Other Blue Diamond Parking lots downtown Organizing Committee Don Kemner Chair and President-Elect Dave Musil President Shane Roberts Vice-President Sandra Vistine-Amdor Secretary Laura Wolf Treasurer Jim Hayden Past-President

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Registration and Logistics

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Sponsors and Contributors to the 2012 Annual Meeting We wish to thank the Idaho State Office of the Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Power, Power Engineers, Idaho Conservation League, and Wildlife Habitat Nursery for sponsoring the annual meeting of the Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society. We also wish to thank the individuals, businesses, and organizations who provided special contributions or donated items for our raffle and silent auction.

The Committee would like to thank the awards committee (Kerry Reese, Jack Connelly, and Tom Hemker), the paper awards committee (Duston Cureton and Anna Owsiak) and judges, session chairs, and all of the students and volunteers that helped with AV and other logistics.

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Program At a Glance Monday 11 March

Time Room Bay 1

08:00-12:00 Idaho Bat Working Group

13:00-15:00 Idaho Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

Tuesday 12 March

Time Room Bay 5

08:00-08:10 Welcome - ICTWS President: Dave Musil

08:10-10:20 ICTWS Plenary Session Strengthening Public Trust in Science Invited Speakers: Dr. John Freemuth, Nancy Hadley, Bert Stevenson, Jim Caswell & Dr. Troy Hall

10:40-11:30 Panel Discussion

11:30-13:30 BUSINESS LUNCHEON (Room Casco/Kidd/N Cape)

Room Bay 5 Room Bay 6

13:30-15:10 Mammalian Ecology Avian Ecology

15:40-17:20 Methods/Genetics To The Point Session I

17:30 Poster Session and Social (Room Bay 4)

Wednesday 13 March

Time (approximate) Room Bay 1 Room Bay 5

08:00-10:00 Sage-grouse Ecology & Management Carnivore Ecology

10:30-12:00 (see full program) Disease/Habitat Fisher Symposium (start 09:40)

12:00-13:30 (see full program) LUNCH - on your own

13:30-15:20 (see full program) Habitat/Outreach Fisher Symposium

15:50-17:30 To The Point Session II Fisher Symposium

18:30 Banquet, Raffle, and Auction (Room Bay 4-5)

Thursday 14 March

Time Room Bay 1 Room BLM Office (page 19)

08:00-10:00 Program R Short-Course Idaho Bird Conservation Partnership (08:30-­17:00) 10:30-11:30 Getting a Job in Natural Resources

Locations All Idaho Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Idaho Bat Working Group, and Idaho Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation sessions and meetings will be held in The Conference Center Bays (Bays 1, 4, 5, or 6) or The Bayview Rooms (Casco Bay, Kidd Island Bay, and North Cape Bay) in

Oral Presenters Please take note of your presentation date and time. Please note that all general session talks should be limited to 20 minutes total, whereas To The Point session talks should be limited to 10 minutes (including discussion). Respect other speakers and your audience by staying within your scheduled time. It is extremely important that we maintain this schedule, so that attendees can move amongst sessions. For general session talks, a brief (5 minute) period post-presentation should be left so members of the audience can ask a few questions. Take the time to practice so your delivery fits into the scheduled interval. Check with your session chair well in advance of the start of your session to make sure that you know where the tools are that you need for your talk (e.g., slide advance monitor, laser pointer) and how to use them. This is also the time to check and see if your PowerPoint presentation (ideally created saved in Microsoft Office PowerPoint Show [.pps] format) runs properly on the projector and projection computer. Presentations should be uploaded no later than the break preceding your talk. Posters The poster session will be held during the Social on Tuesday, March 12, in Conference Center Bay 4. Poster displays should be set up after the afternoon session of contributed papers. Putty to secure posters to the wall will be provided. All authors should be at their posters and prepared to discuss their work from 18:00 to 20:00 on Tuesday evening. Posters must be removed after the social. Notice to all attendees: As a courtesy to all presenters, we request that all attendees turn off cellular phones while attending the symposia, meetings, or general sessions.

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Attendee and Presenter Information

Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society Awards

The Special Recognition Award is intended to honor any person or group who has made an out-standing contribution within the state of Idaho to wildlife conservation, management, science, conser-vation education, the wildlife profession or to an area of endeavor species, community, ecosystem or region. Any person or group who has made such a contribution in the last 3 years is eligible for this award. The Charles E. Harris Professional Wildlifer Award honors professionals in wildlife management. It is given to demonstrate outstanding contributions to Idaho's wildlife resources as appreciated by one's peers. The award is meant to recognize outstanding professional contribution and promote pub-lic understanding of significant wildlife management accomplishments in Idaho.

Dr. John Freemuth - John is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Boise State University. His primary academic interest is with the public lands of the United States. Currently his work gravitates towards puzzling out the relationship between science and public policy as it relates to issues surrounding the public

Ecology and Conservation of Greater Sage-Grouse: A Landscape Species and Its Habitats (University of California Press, 2011) and chaired the Science Advisory Board of the Bureau of Land Management, after being appointed by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. He has also been a high school teacher and seasonal park ranger at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. He might be a public policy wonk but as a former ranger, he likes being outside whenever possible. Nancy Hadley - experience in accounting, finance, and business management. She is a Sandpoint native and has grown up appreciating her community and natural resources. She believes in giving back to the community that has given her so much and is involved with several organizations. She is the Past-President of the Sandpoint Rotary club, Treasurer of the Bonner General Hospital Foundation, serves on the local chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and is a retired Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner (1997-2005), being the first woman to serve in that position. She is also active in the Financial Planning Association.

- Bert is an Idaho native;; attended Ricks College, served in the Army, and is active in his church and local Kiwanis Club. He has been director of his local irrigation and fire districts and a member of planning & zoning and ground water district boards as well as serving 8 terms in the Idaho House of Representatives for Jerome and Minidoka Counties. He served on several House committees including: State Affairs, Agricultural Affairs, Environment and Technology, and was chairman of the Natural Resources and Conservation Committee which oversees water issues and Departments of Fish & Game, Lands, and Parks and Recreation. For the last 4 years, Bert has been co-chair of the Water Policy Group for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region and is currently serving on the board of directors for the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce and was appointed by Governor Butch Otter to the Water Resources Board. Bert and his wife Elaine raised 3 children and are now enjoying 12 grandchildren. Jim Caswell - Jim spent 41 years in various federal and state resource management positions within Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service (USFS), and the

Office of Species Conservation (OSC);; 12 of those years serving as forest supervisor on the Clearwater and Targhee National Forests, 6 years as Administrator of OSC, and concluded his career as the 16th Director of BLM. A Vietnam veteran and 1967 graduate of Michigan State University, Jim holds a BS degree in Forestry. He and his wife Susan have been married 48 years and have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. Dr. Troy Hall Troy holds degrees in Anthropology and Forest Resources with a social science emphasis. She worked for many seasons as a wilderness ranger for the U.S. Forest Service prior to becoming a faculty member in the Department of Forestry at Virginia Tech (4 Years) and then in the Conservation Social Sciences Department at the University of Idaho. In her free time, Troy enjoys cooking, hiking with her dog, and gardening.

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Plenary Session Invited Speaker Biographies

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Fisher Symposium Invited Speaker Biographies Gene DeGayner;; USFS Northern Region, Missoula, MT Gene has been with the USFS and a member of The Wildlife Society for over 30 years. He served as USFS National Wildlife Program Leader in Washington, DC for 4 years and is currently the Director for Renewable Resources Management for the USFS Northern Region in Missoula, MT. He received a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Lowell Diller;; Green Diamond Resource Company, Korbel, CA Lowell is the senior biologist at Green Diamond Resource Co, Korbel, CA and adjunct professor, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University. He received a B.S. and M.S. at Oregon State University and a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Idaho. Lowell has worked for the last 22 years conducting research and monitoring focused on the development and implementation of habitat conservation plans for a variety of forest species on private timberlands. Joel Sauder;; Idaho Department of Fish & Game, Lewiston, ID Joel is a Regional Nongame Biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish & Game and a doctoral candidate at the University of Idaho where is he is using Argos satellite telemetry to study habitat selection of fishers in north-central Idaho. Dr. Michael Schwartz;; USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT Mike is the Conservation Genetics Team Leader for the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula MT. For the past 10 years he has been heavily involved in fisher research across the Western United States. Dr. Craig Thompson;; USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Fresno, CA Craig is a research ecologist with the US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. He received a M.S. degree in landscape ecology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Ph.D. in wildlife ecology from Utah State University. He has been involved in studying the impacts of forest management on fishers in the Sierra Nevadas for the last five years. Richard Weir;; British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC Rich is the Carnivore Conservation Specialist for the Province of British Columbia. He has spent the majority of the past 20 years conducting ecological research on fishers and has published numerous scientific and popular articles on the species. Scott Yaeger;; U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yreka, CA Scott is a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and

searching for fishers in 1991. He received a M.S. degree from Humboldt State University after tracking radio-collared fishers for several years in various locations in northern California. Scott reports he still feels fortunate for being able to have fisher a main part of his duties.

Idaho Bat Working Group (Chairs: Rita Dixon & Bill Doering) 08:00-08:10 Welcome and Introductions 08:10-12:00 - Individual reports and updates - Acoustic deployment and monitoring protocol discussion Bill Doering - White-nose Syndrome Response and Surveillance Rita Dixon - Idaho State Wildlife Action Plan Revision (Species assessment [i.e., ranking] and prioritization) - Western Bat Working Group Regional (Landscape Conservation Cooperatives [LCCs]) Conservation Status Assessment (Great Northern and Great Basin LCCs for Idaho) Rita Dixon

- Mixed-agency regional breakout groups Regional leads will be solicited to serve as chairs of breakout sessions (e.g., by ecoregion/ecological section)

- Western Acoustic Monitoring Initiative (WAMI) Rita Dixon - Funding Opportunities - Announcements - Requests for information and assistance 12:00-13:00 Lunch 13:00-15:00 Continuation of status assessment breakouts (optional) Idaho Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (Chairs: Denim Jochimsen) 13:00-15:00 - National and Regional PARC update - State and/or regional projects related to amphibian and reptile conservation - General discussion of projects and other topics of interest

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Monday All Day Room Bay 1

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Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society Plenary Session (Chair: Dave Musil) 08:00-08:10 Welcome: Dave Musil, ICTWS President

Strengthening Public Trust in Science 08:10-08:35 Invited Speaker: Dr. John Freemuth Human Dimensions 08:35-09:00 Invited Speaker: Nancy Hadley Public Perspective 09:00-09:25 Invited Speaker: Bert Stevenson Political Perspective 09:25-09:50 Invited Speaker: Jim Caswell Natural Resource Manager Perspective 09:50-10:20 Invited Speaker: Dr. Troy Hall Effective Communication

10:20-10:40 BREAK 10:40-11:30 Panel Discussion

Business Meeting and Luncheon 11:30-13:30 in Room Casco/Kidd/N Cape

Lunch Provided

Tuesday Morning Room Bay 5

Names of presenters are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students Mammalian Ecology (Chair: Jim Hayden) 13:30-13:50 Spatio-temporal dynamics of ungulate fear: calibrating predation intensity of central

Idaho wolves. SCOTT BERGEN, P. Zager, and J. Horne 13:50-14:10 Untangling Rocky Mountain elk ecology and population dynamics: a regional synthesis

across the northwestern U.S. Western Elk Research Collaborative and PETE ZAGER 14:10-14:30 Forage selection by maternal mule deer in contrasting landscapes. JESSIE SHALLOW*, M. Hurley, C. Hendricks, and T. Bowyer 14:30-14:50 Hunting in noise: how road and gas compressor noise affects foraging latency in the gleaning bat Antrozous pallidus. JESSIE BUNKLEY* and J. Barber 14:50-15:10 Mammalian hybrid zones: a review. QUINN SHURTLIFF 15:10-15:40 BREAK Methods/Genetics (Chair: Janet Rachlow) 15:40-16:00 Using brownian bridge movement models to identify hazards to long- distance pronghorn migration. RENEE SEIDLER, S. Bergen, J. Berger, and J. Beckmann 16:00-16:20 Tracking wildlife-vehicle collisions with smartphone technology. DANIEL OLSON* and J. Bissonette 16:20-16:40 Using synoptic modeling of animal locations to ask important questions about wildlife ecology and management. EDWARD O. GARTON, J. Horne, and A. Wells 16:40-17:00 Evaluating DNA degradation rates in faecal pellets of the endangered pygmy rabbit. STEPHANIE DEMAY*, P. Becker, C. Eidson, J. Rachlow, T. Johnson, and L. Waits 17:00-17:20 CSI Newfoundland: molecular determination of caribou calf predators. MATTHEW MUMMA*, C. Soulliere, S. Mahoney, and L. Waits

Social and Poster Session 17:30 in Room Bay 4

No host-

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Tuesday Afternoon Room Bay 5

Names of presenters are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students Avian Ecology (Chair: Alan Dohmen) 13:30-13:50 Relationships between climate and bird migration suggest that trends in phenology and

energetic condition are the result of short-term plasticity not long-term population change in response to warming. ROBERT MILLER*, J. Carlisle, N. Paprocki, G. Kaltenecker and J. Heath

13:50-14:10 Habitat use of foraging white-faced ibis in eastern Idaho. COLLEEN MOULTON, J.

Carlisle, and R. Cavallaro 14:10-14:30 Foraging behavior of white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) in agricultural fields surrounding Market Lake and Mud Lake WMAs. JAY CARLISLE, C. Moulton, and R. Cavallaro 14:30-14:50 Teton Basin trumpeter swan breeding habitat suitability assessment. JEFFREY KLAUSMANN, R. Cavallaro, and M. Lucia 14:50-15:10 Incubation patterns of trumpeter swans at Grays Lake NWR: preliminary results. ADAM LENZ*, C. Mitchell, J. Snyder and D. Delehanty 15:10-15:40 BREAK To The Point Session I (Chair: Kevin Warner) 15:40-15:50 Decadal trends in vegetation growth across the Northern Rockies, 2001- 2011. SCOTT BERGEN and P. Zager 15:50-16:00 A new slug species in Idaho! Exciting the public with exceptionally large genitalia. MICHEAL LUCID 16:00-16:10 A comparison of elk survival rates calculated from age structure vs. radio-telemetry and management implications. JIM HAYDEN 16:10-16:20 Can ya get there from here? Some thoughts on practical management of large carnivores in remote areas. JIM HAYDEN 16:20-16:30 Grouse and grazing in Idaho: a collaborative approach to answering difficult questions. JACK CONNELLY, C. Conway, D. Kemner, K. Launchbaugh, W. Pratt, K. Reese, E. Rinkes, J. Robison, E. Strand, and J. Whiting 16:30-16:40 . DIANE EVANS MACK

16:40-16:50 Code name: Nostril. BILL BOSWORTH, B. Studer, and B. Thomas 16:50-17:00 Your data is only real when shared. BEN STUDER and B. Thomas

17:00-17:10 Empowering wildlife data exchange. BRENT THOMAS

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Tuesday Afternoon Room Bay 6

Names of presenters are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students Sage-grouse Ecology and Management (Chair: Kerry Reese) 08:00-08:20 Characterizing important seasonal habitat using community gradients: occurrence and success of greater sage-grouse broods. SETH HARJU, C. Olson, L. Martin, S. Webb, M. Dzialak, J. Winstead, and L. Hayden-Wing 08:20-08:40 Applying home range models to greater sage-grouse biotelemetry data. CARL RUDEEN* and D. Delehanty 08:40-09:00 Satellites and sage-grouse: a case study exploring pros and cons of new technology. DAVE MUSIL and A. Moser 09:00-09:20 Factors influencing the ecology of greater sage-grouse on the Bear Lake plateau and valley, Idaho-Utah. CASEY CARDINAL*, T. Messmer, and J. Connelly 09:20-09:40 Population structure and genetic diversity of greater sage-grouse in Mono County, California. JOEL TEBBENKAMP*, S. Gardner, K. Reese, and L. Waits 09:40-10:00 -grouse conservation alternative. DON KEMNER 10:00-10:30 BREAK Disease/Habitat (Chair: Trish Hebdon) 10:30-10:50 Spatio-temporal dynamics of pneumonia in a bighorn sheep metapopulation. FRANCES CASSIRER, R. Plowright, K. Manlove, P. Cross, A. Dobson, K. Potter, and P. Hudson 10:50-11:10 Contact between bighorn sheep and domestic livestock. MARK DREW, K. Rudoph, A.

Ward, and G. Weiser 11:10-11:30 JANET RACHLOW, M.

Camp, B. Woods, L. Shipley, J. Forbey, T. Johnson 11:30-11:50 Fifty years of photo-points and habitat change on elk winter range in the upper Selway-

Bitterroot Wilderness. JIM WHITE and C. Hayes 11:50-12:10 Habitat loss and fragmentation effects upon C. castanea, a short-tailed fruit bat.

RHIANNA HOHBEIN*, K. Cleary, and L. Waits *12:10-13:40 LUNCH - on your own

*Note the differing lunch schedules between sessions

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Wednesday Morning Room Bay 1

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Wednesday Morning Room Bay 5 Names of presenters are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students Carnivore Ecology (Chair: Michael Lucid) 08:00-08:20 . PHIL HOUGH 08:20-08:40 Home alone: influence of individual, pack, and environmental variation on pup attendance behavior in gray wolves. DAVID AUSBAND, J. Ruprecht, M. Mitchell, P. Zager, E. Garton, S. Bassing 08:40-09:00 Using remote cameras and DNA to monitor wolf pack reproduction in the Idaho panhandle. LACY ROBINSON, J. Hayden, M. Lucid, N. Albrecht, L. Wolf, W. Wakkinen, D. Spicer, and J. Rachael 09:00-09:20 Using winter bait stations to detect forest carnivores in the Idaho panhandle. LACY ROBINSON, M. Lucid, S. Cushman, L. Allen, N. Albrecht, and C. Heusser 09:20-09:40 Investigating the responses of wolverines to winter recreation in central Idaho. K. Heinemeyer, J. Squires, M. Hebblewhite, J. Copeland, and DIANE EVANS MACK Fisher Symposium (Chair: Joel Sauder) 09:40-10:00 Habitat selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in north-central Idaho. JOEL SAUDER and J. Rachlow 10:00-10:30 BREAK 10:30-10:50 Status of fisher in the northern Idaho panhandle and adjacent mountain ranges.

MICHAEL LUCID, L. Robinson, S. Cushman, L. Allen, M. Schwartz, and K. Pilgrim 10:50-11:10 Effects of snow on fisher and marten distributions in Idaho. NATHAN ALBRECHT, C. Heusser, J. Sauder, and R. Vinkey 11:10-11:30 Modeling the effects of dispersal on predicted contemporary and future fisher (Martes

pennanti) distribution in the U.S. Rocky Mountains. LUCRETIA OLSON and M. Schwartz

11:30-11:50 Fisher population and landscape genetics. MICHAEL SCHWARTZ, J. Sauder, K. Pilgrim, R. Vinkey, M. Lucid, S. Parks, and N. Albrecht *11:50-13:10 LUNCH - on your own *Note the differing lunch schedules between sessions

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Wednesday Afternoon Room Bay 1 Names of presenters are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students *Note the differing start times between sessions Habitat/Outreach (Chair: Karen Fullen) *13:40-14:00 Addressing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) expirations with the Columbian

sharp-tailed grouse CRP-SAFE 14:00-14:20 Habitat mitigation areas managed by Idaho Power Company. ANTHONIE

HOLTHUIJZEN, G. Holmstead, A. Utz, and B. Dumas 14:20-14:40 Wildlife Management Areas in Idaho conserving important habitat through planning

and partnerships. TOM HEMKER, T. Thomas, R. Cavallaro, and S. Roberts 14:40-15:00 Development and deployment of the Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (CHAT) for the

western United States. GREGG SERVHEEN, G. Veceillio, B. Bosworth, S. Knetter, L. Svancera, C. Murphy, S. Grunder and S. Kiefer

15:00-15:20 Engaging the citizens: the 2012 Idaho Wildlife Summit. BRUCE ACKERMAN, M.

Beucler, and L. Hebdon 15:20-15:50 BREAK To The Point Session II (Chair: Sal Palazzolo) 15:50-16:00 - and off-site wildlife education program. BETH PARAGAMIAN 16:00-16:10 Multi-species Baseline Initiative: surveying for 17 species of greatest conservation need

that are under-represented, misunderstood and sometimes slimy. SHANNON EHLERS 16:10-16:20 Citizen naturalists: empowering people to see what's out there. LESLIE VAN NIEL 16:20-16:30 State Wildlife Action Plan best practices. RITA DIXON 16:30-16:40 White-nose syndrome response and surveillance in Idaho: 2013 update. RITA DIXON

and M. Drew 16:40-16:50 Going mobile! A new tool for monitoring bat populations. JEREMY BAUMGARDT 16:50-17:00 Biodiversity in ground beetles of northern Idaho forests. LAINIE SMITH* 17:00-17:10 Assessing measurement error of avian flight height data used in risk assessments.

SYLVIA COPELAND 17:10-17:20 Brucellosis surveillance in elk in eastern Idaho. MARK DREW 17:20-17:30 See critters naked with aerial thermal imaging. JOHN ROMERO

Names of presenters are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students *Note the differing start times between sessions Fisher Symposium (Chair: Joel Sauder) *13:10-13:30 Fisher research in the U.S. Rocky Mountains: a critical overview. MICHAEL

SCHWARTZ and J. Sauder 13:30-13:50

years and counting. SCOTT YAEGER 13:50-14:20 Importance of forest structure in fisher habitat functionality: what can be learned from

30 years of Sierra Nevada research? CRAIG THOMPSON 14:20-14:50 Developing a vision for fisher conservation in the Northern Rockies: lessons learned

from conservation efforts on private timberlands in California. LOWELL DILLER 14:50-15:20 Habitat and harvest management of fishers in British Columbia: what works, what

. RICHARD WEIR 15:20-15:50 BREAK 15:50-16:20 Fisher conservation and forest management from a National Forest perspective. GENE

DEGAYNER 16:20-17:30 Panel Discussion

Banquet 18:30 in Room Bay 4-5

No host-bar/mixer & dinner Raffle, silent auction, awards, & election results

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Wednesday Afternoon Room Bay 5

Workshops (Chair: Dave Musil) 08:00-10:00 De-mystifying Program R: A Statistical Program Short-course. ROB LONSINGER Rob is a PhD student in the Laboratory for Evolutionary, Ecological and Conservation Genetics at the University of Idaho. His dissertation research couples noninvasive genetic sampling techniques, capture-recapture modeling, and co-occurrence modeling to assess the demographic parameters of and competition between kit foxes and coyotes in western Utah. Rob has 12 years of experience investigating the ecology and conservation of carnivores and has over 6 years of experience employing the R programming language for data management and analysis. Prior to attending the University of Idaho, Rob was a Regional Wildlife Biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He previously earned his M.S. in Wildlife Science from New Mexico State University and a B.S. in Biology from Gannon University. Program R, freeware developed among academics, is a statistical program rapidly becoming the industry standard.

10:00-10:30 BREAK 10:30-11:30 A Young Professional's Guide to Getting a Job in Natural Resources: Panel Discussion and Workshop. Panel Members LYDIA ALLEN, Forest Wildlife Program Manager for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, U.S. Forest Service;; B.S. Wildlife Biology, Colorado State U.;; M.S. Wildlife Resources, U. of Idaho;; M.S. Natural Resources, U. of Idaho SHANNON EHLERS, Wildlife Research Biologist, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game;; B.S. Biology, Truman State U.;; M.S. Ecology and Evolution, U. of Akron JIM FREDERICKS, Regional Fisheries Supervisor, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game LANCE HEBDON, Coordinator of the Wild Salmon and Steelhead Monitoring Program, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game JANET RACHLOW, Associate professor of wildlife ecology at U. of Idaho;; B.A. U. of Iowa;; M.S. Wildlife Management, U. of Alaska;; Ph.D. Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology, U. of Nevada LACY ROBINSON, Sr. Wildlife Research Biologist, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game;; B.S. Biology, Western Washington U.;; M.S. Wildlife Ecology, U. of Maine

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Thursday Morning Room Bay 1

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Idaho Bird Conservation Partnership (Chair: Jay Carlisle)

08:30-09:00 Coffee & Greetings 09:00-11:45 (All together) with a break at ~ 10:15 Introductions Overview of Goals & Objectives Partner Updates Potential topics include: IDFG IBIS report/program update, IMBCR database Working Group Updates (brief) with opportunity for all-audience input Pressing Issues will present/discuss action plans for top 5 ranked issues Outreach/Education & Citizen Science will likely discuss the IBCP logo design process, etc. 11:45-12:45 Lunch 12:45-15:45 Divide into working group breakout discussions (with a break at 14:15) - At minimum, Conservation Delivery, Monitoring & Research, Outreach/Education & Citizen Science, & SWAP revision will all need group discussion time and will welcome members of other groups to join them and provide input - Conservation Delivery and Monitoring & Research will likely meet together for part of this time to brainstorm about opportunities for effectiveness monitoring 16:00-17:00 (All together) Updates back to group, any remaining discussions, action items, and closing thoughts 18:30 No-Host GROUP DINNER (for those interested);; location TBD

Thursday All Day BLM Office

ACKERMAN, BRUCE, M. Beucler, and L. Hebdon. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, Idaho, 83707. ENGAGING THE CITIZENS: THE 2012 IDAHO WILDLIFE SUMMIT. Wildlife management in Idaho was established through a 1938 citizens' initiative, lead by hunters and anglers. Since then, Idaho's human population has tripled, from 525,000 in 1940 to 1.6 million in 2010. People's values about wild-life and their needs, expectations, and interests about wildlife are changing as well. Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) has operated and been funded essentially the same for years. IDFG manages wildlife in trust for all the citizens of Idaho, yet hunters and anglers pay nearly the entire bill. As a result, IDFG struggles to address emerging wildlife conservation issues while retaining core hunting and fishing programs. On August 24-26, 2012, IDFG hosted the Idaho Wildlife Summit, in 7 cities at once. The purpose was to convene a conversation among Idahoans about the current status and direction of wildlife management in Idaho;; to keep it relevant to changing values, needs, and inter-ests of Idahoans;; and to hear what they expect from their state wildlife agency. Desired outcomes were to: create a renewed understanding, commitment, and enthusiasm for wildlife conservation in Idaho;; motivate more Idahoans to support wildlife conservation and engage in wildlife management;; give IDFG a clear sense of what Idahoans want;; and help Idahoans better understand what IDFG does and how those efforts benefit wildlife. The Summit was ground-breaking for IDFG in that all wildlife stakeholders were encouraged to participate: hunters, anglers, as well as wildlife-watchers and others. Technology was used to engage anyone with an internet connection. Surveys were con-ducted of participants and compared to a random phone survey of 1,600 Idahoans, to assess their opinions about wildlife and IDFG. This presentation will describe how the Summit was designed, as well as lessons learned and how the information is being used to transform the wildlife management model in Idaho. ALBRECHT, NATHAN1, C. Heusser1, M. Schwartz2, J. Sauder3, and R. Vinkey4. 1Plummer,ID, 83851;; 2Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Missoula, MT, 59801;; 3Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Lewiston, ID, 83501;; 4Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Philipsburg, MT, 59858. EFFECTS OF SNOW ON FISHER AND MARTEN DISTRIBUTIONS IN IDAHO. Studies have suggested that deep snow may limit fisher (Martes pennanti) distribution, and that fisher populations may in turn limit marten (Martes americana) distribution. We tested these hypotheses in the Northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho, a region which differs from previous study areas in its climate and relative fisher and marten abundance, but in which very little is known about their distributions. We hypothesized that due to the assumed disparity in abundance between the sympatric members of the Martes genus (i.e., much greater marten abundance than fisher) fishers would not limit martens and their distributions would be indistinguishable based on snow attributes. We compiled data from multiple detection efforts conducted by various agencies where non-invasive hair-snaring devices were used to obtain DNA for species identifications of several mid-sized carnivores. We compared a suite of modeled snow attributes from fisher (n = 123) and marten (n = 173) detection sites and used logistic regression to combine our snow variables with habitat attributes at Martes detection sites. We found only minor differences in fisher and marten detection sites based on snow variables alone, and sites were indistinguishable based on combined climatic, vegetative, and topog-raphic variables. However both species appeared to avoid the deepest snow zones. Our results support our hypothe-sis, suggesting that martens are more abundant than fishers in Idaho, and that snow attributes alone cannot be used to

the importance of maintaining connectivity to known fisher population centers. Since both species appeared to avoid the deepest and softest snow, managers should consider snow attributes as well as vegetative and topographic factors when assessing habitat suitability for Martes. Furthermore, fisher reintroduction efforts may be more successful in areas with relatively low snow accumulations.

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Abstracts of Contributed Papers Presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society Presenter names are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students

AUSBAND, DAVID, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812;; Joel Ruprecht, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844;; Michael S. Mitchell, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812;; Sarah B. Bassing, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812;; Oz Garton, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844;; Pete Zager, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Lewiston, Idaho, 83815. HOME ALONE: INFLUENCE OF INDIVIDUAL, PACK, AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION ON PUP ATTENDANCE BEHAVIOR IN GRAY WOLVES. Pup-guarding is an important aspect of helping behavior exhibited in some cooperatively breeding species. Within cooperatively breeding species, groups of animals lacking the ability to adequately attend and guard young can have decreased fecundity. We studied pup attendance in gray wolves (Canis lupus) using location data from 17 GPS-radiocollared wolves from 7 packs in Idaho. Breeding females had the highest attendance rates, however once pups were weaned nonbreeding wolves increased their attendance. We hypothesize that attendance behavior of nonbreeding wolves has benefits for their own, subsequent pup-rearing. The dominant predictor of pup attendance rates after weaning was the number of helpers in the pack, where attendance rates of individuals dropped by 7.5% with each additional helper. Our results suggest that wolves in small packs experience a costly tradeoff when they forego foraging time in order to attend pups adequately. Preliminary results from additional analyses using data from wolves in Alberta, Idaho, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park indicate sex of the helper, genetic relatedness, and surrounding predator and prey densities may also influence pup attendance rates. BERGEN, SCOTT1, P. Zager2, and J. Horne2. 1 Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, 1345 Barton Road, Pocatello, ID 83204;; 2 Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, 3316 16th St., Lewiston, ID 83501. SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF UNGULATE FEAR: CALIBRATING PREDATION INTENSITY OF CENTRAL IDAHO WOLVES. This study analyzes high frequency location data collected from GPS collared from wolves in the South Payette River area collected from 2008 to 2012 (51 individual wolves within 4-5 packs). Within the study area there are seasonal changes in ungulate concentrations, especially in winter when elk concentrate in the valley and adjacent areas. Pack structure and the number of wolves within each pack changes seasonal and inter-annually as food resources and

-scale analysis of the spatial and temporal nature of these behaviors has not been conducted in central Idaho since wolf

season, pack membership, and inter-annual location using Brownian Bridge Movement Models (BBMM) and accessory Kernel Density Estimation techniques (KDE). Monthly estimates derived from individual location data is compared among all individuals during that period. Percentile classes of probable use characterize the interaction of individual wolves within the pack to those of adjacent packs by evaluating the amount of area shared and the geometric mean percentile shared between these individuals. When individual wolf pack location fidelity is expressed, larger scale pack presence on the landscape can be estimated through time by calibrating pack location estimates with pack surveys that have been conducted during the study period. The resulting fine-be used to better understand the interaction of wolves and elk in part of a larger scale multi-factor analysis of these population dynamics. BUNKLEY, JESSIE* and J.R. Barber, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725. HUNTING IN NOISE: HOW ROAD AND GAS COMPRESSOR NOISE AFFECTS FORAGING LATENCY IN THE GLEANING BAT ANTROZOUS PALLIDUS. With the rapid growth of the human population there is a concurrent increase in anthropogenic noise. Noise is considered a pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency. It has been shown that many organisms are negatively affected by noise, including acoustically-specialized predators. Gleaning bats are one such predator, relying on prey-generated sounds to hunt. This acoustic sensitivity makes gleaning bats particularly susceptible to a louder soundscape. We investigated the effects of road and gas compressor station noise on the foraging behavior of the gleaning bat Antrozous pallidus. The bats took significantly longer to locate prey when exposed to noise conditions. This reduction of foraging efficiency, especially during energy-intensive life history stages, such as pregnancy, could

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impact survival and reproductive success. By better understanding the effects of noise on gleaning bats, mitigation efforts can be developed to alleviate the impacts of this unique pollutant. CARDINAL, CASEY*, T.A. Messmer, and J.W. Connelly, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322. FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ECOLOGY OF GREATER SAGE-GROUSE ON THE BEAR LAKE PLATEAU AND VALLEY, IDAHO-UTAH. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus, hereafter sage-grouse) was designated as a candidate species in March 2010 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Lack of effective regulatory mechanisms to protect the species across the jurisdictional boundaries and habitat loss were singled out as two major range-wide sage-grouse conservation threats. To address these concerns may require more information about the ecology of specific meta-populations that may inhabit multiple jurisdictions. Little is known about the ecology, seasonal movements, and cover type use patterns of the sage-grouse populations that inhabit the Bear Lake Plateau and Valley relative to existing or potential land uses for application to management. This meta-population may occupy habitat in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. The purpose of this research is to document meta-population vital rates, seasonal distribution and habitat-use patterns, determine if differences observed in movement and habitat-use patterns are related to sex, age class, or land-use, and evaluate if natural and anthropogenic land-use patterns and activities may contribute to habitat loss and fragmentation of sage-grouse habitats. Radio-collared sage-grouse representative of this population will be monitored from March 2010 until August 2012 to collect data on habitat use and movements and vital rates relative to land uses, nest and brood sites vegetation structure and potential relationships to success, and mortality factors. This research will be critical to the development of an interstate sage-grouse plan between Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. This research will define core use areas to mitigate the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the Bear Lake Plateau and Valley sage-grouse meta-population. CARLISLE, JAY*, Idaho Bird Observatory/Boise State University;; C. Moulton, Idaho Department of Fish and Game;; and R. Cavallaro, Idaho Department of Fish and Game. FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF WHITE-FACED IBIS (PLEGADIS CHIHI) IN AGRICULTURAL FIELDS SURROUNDING MARKET LAKE AND MUD LAKE WMAS. As part of a feeding habitat preferences study of white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) in eastern Idaho, we assessed individual and group foraging behaviors. We examined the data in relation to crop type, vegetation height, water availability, irrigation practice, and distance from colonies. Results from the two approaches (individual and group) were quite comparable, both in terms if the proportion of different behaviors (foraging, resting, movement, preening, alert posture, and aggression) and use of available habitats. Group size averaged 45, ranging from 1 to over 300 birds, and over 60% of individuals were engaged in foraging. Though sometimes difficult to ascertain, we were able to document foraging success for over 75% of individuals. Most ibis were found in flood-irrigated fields and 46-68% of observations occurred in alfalfa. We will discuss relationships between group size and variables such as vegetation type and distance from breeding colonies and also consider how variables such as vegetation height affect vigilance behavior. These data will contribute to a greater understanding of the habitat needs of this species of greatest conservation need.

CASSIRER, FRANCES, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 3316 16th St. Lewiston, ID, 83501;; Raina, K. Plowright and Kezia R. Manlove, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802;; Paul C. Cross, United States Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center , Bozeman, MT 59715;; Andrew P. Dobson, Princeton University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton, NJ 08544;; Kathleen Potter, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164;; Peter J. Hudson, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802. SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF PNEUMONIA IN A BIGHORN SHEEP METAPOPULATION.

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Spatio-temporal patterns can reveal underlying processes of disease. Understanding these processes can provide a framework for management, especially in the absence of a known disease agent. We analyzed patterns of pneumonia over 14 years in 14 of 16 bighorn sheep populations that comprise the Hells Canyon bighorn sheep metapopulation in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. From 1997 2010, pneumonia-caused mortalities were confirmed in 53 of 447 radio-collared adults, 12 unmarked adults, and 92 lambs. Initial pneumonia epizootics in bighorn sheep populations were associated with all-age mortality followed by years of pneumonia-induced mortality in susceptible lambs presumably due to chronic infection in surviving, resistant adults. All-age epizootics had the greatest immediate impact on populations, but pneumonia outbreaks restricted to lambs occurred most frequently and were associated with the highest rates of mortality. While two populations remained healthy throughout the study, once infected, a population subsequently had a 60% or greater probability of pneumonia (usually in lambs) every year. A discrete-time Markov model of transition probabilities between age-structured disease states predicted that all pneumonia states would persist in the metapopulation and about 80% of populations would be affected each year. These patterns suggest that this disease is perpetuated by carriers and identifying conditions that lead to disease and pathogen fade out is an important aspect of managing pneumonia in bighorn sheep. DEGAYNER, GENE. U.S. Forest Service, Northern Region, Missoula, MT. FISHER CONSERVATION AND FOREST MANAGEMENT FROM A NATIONAL FOREST PERSPECTIVE. DEMAY, STEPHANIE*, Penny A. Becker2, Chad A. Eidson2, Janet L. Rachlow3, Timothy R. Johnson4, Lisette P. Waits1,3. 1Department of Environmental Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3006, USA;; 2Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ephrata, WA 98823-9699, USA;; 3Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1136, USA;; 4 Department of Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1104, USA. EVALUATING DNA DEGRADATION RATES IN FAECAL PELLETS OF THE ENDANGERED PYGMY RABBIT. Noninvasive genetic sampling of faecal pellets can be a valuable method for monitoring rare and cryptic wildlife populations, like the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensismonitoring, we evaluated the effect of sample age on DNA degradation in faecal pellets under summer field conditions. We placed 275 samples from known individuals in natural field conditions for 1 to 60 days and assessed DNA quality by amplifying a 294 base pair (bp) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) locus and 5 nuclear DNA (nDNA) microsatellite loci (111 221 bp). DNA degradation was influenced by sample age, DNA type, locus length, and rabbit sex. Both mtDNA and nDNA exhibited high PCR success rates (94.4%) in samples <1 day old. Success rates for microsatellite loci declined rapidly from 80.0% to 42.7% between days 5 and 7, likely due to increased environmental temperature. Success rates for mtDNA amplification remained higher than nDNA over time, with moderate success (66.7%) at 21 days. Allelic dropout rates were relatively high (17.6% at < 1 day) and increased to 100% at 60 days. False allele rates ranged from 0 to 30.0% and increased gradually over time. We recommend collecting samples as fresh as possible for individual identification during summer field conditions. Our study suggests that this method can be useful for future monitoring efforts, including occupancy surveys, individual identification, population estimation, parentage analysis, and monitoring of genetic diversity both of a reintroduced population in central Washington and across their range. DILLER, LOWELL, Green Diamond Resource Company, P.O. Box 68, Korbel, CA 95550. DEVELOPING A VISION FOR FISHER CONSERVATION IN THE NORTHERN ROCKIES: LESSONS LEARNED FROM CONSERVATION EFFORTS ON PRIVATE TIMBERLANDS IN CALIFORNIA. Concern about the status of the fisher (Martes pennanti) in the Pacific states has led to three federal and one state petition to list the species pursuant to federal and state Endangered Species Acts. Following lessons learned from the spotted owl, all the major private timberland owners in California conducted surveys to determine the status of fishers on their ownership. Fishers were found on most of the major commercial timberlands within its historical range, and the distribution and abundance of fishers did not show an obvious pattern related to historical silvicultural practices. Fishers tended to use a range of habitats for foraging. In the coastal redwood zone, a fisher occupancy (foraging) model based on track plate data indicated that fisher occupancy increased with elevation, greater proportion of

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whitewoods and with decreased amounts of young (<20 years) forest stands. Data from all studies on private timberlands indicated that fishers used cavities in large residual conifer and hardwood trees for denning, and with some exceptions, also used large trees for rest sites. This suggests that repeated harvest entries that eliminate potential den and rest trees may be the limiting factor for fisher occupancy on commercial timberlands. The California forest practice rules have provisions to retain these critical fisher habitat elements, but a variety of exemptions raises

-party certification or other company objectives. These company-specific plans are difficult to assess, because they have a variety of policies for retention of snags, green wildlife trees, hardwoods, and coarse woody debris. One potential solution that has been adopted by Green Diamond is to implement a scoring system that insures all highly valuable wildlife trees are retained on the landscape regardless of their commercial value. DREW, MARK, Karen M. Rudoph, Alton C. S. Ward, and Glen C. Weiser - Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Caldwell, ID 83607 (Drew and Rudolph), University of Idaho, Caine Veterinary Teaching Center, Caldwell, ID 83607 (Ward and Weiser). CONTACT BETWEEN BIGHORN SHEEP AND DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK. Seventeen bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) with known or suspected contact with domestic ruminants on public or private land were removed to prevent possible disease transmission. Live bighorns maintained in captivity were monitored for evidence of respiratory disease. Cattle contact (n=4) occurred from December to February while most contacts with domestic sheep (n=10), goats (n=3) or both (n=1) occurred between April and October. Four bighorns died within 7 days following capture and 10 survived from 47 days to 57 mo in captivity. Five bighorns had gross and/or histological evidence of pneumonia. Pasteurellaceae were isolated from 17/18 bighorns, and domestic ruminants contacted by 4 bighorns. Isolates included multiple biovariants of Mannheimia spp. and Bibersteinia trehalosi, and Pasteurella multocida subspecies and biotypes. Pasteurellaceae from pneumonic lungs included Mannheimia spp. biovariant 1, P. multocida multocida a, and B. trehalosi biovariant 2B. The Mannheimia spp. biovariant 1, isolated from two pneumonic bighorns and contacted domestic sheep, had restriction fragment length pattern similarity coefficient values of 1.0 indicating high similarity and likely sharing between the species. Management implications include the need for species separation and rapid responses to contact situations since 28% of the bighorns died with evidence of respiratory disease likely associated with domestic ruminant contact. GARTON, EDWARD O., Jon S. Horne and Adam G. Wells, Department of Fish and Wildlife Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA. USING SYNOPTIC MODELING OF ANIMAL LOCATIONS TO ASK IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT WILDLIFE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT. We present a new approach to analysis of animal location data that combines animal movements, home range and resource selection analyses into a synoptic model of space use in order to ask important questions about space use of animals. To develop a synoptic model requires the following steps: 1) State research question clearly with details of why location data are required to answer it. 2) Define animal population of interest and sampling approach providing inference to it. 3) Identify potentially important strata (e.g. age-sex-behavior classes, temporal seasons). 4) Select either to delineate a sharp boundary (polygon) or a smooth boundary or density estimator (kernel) or continue to model movement or space use (synoptic model of movement or home range and resource selection). 5) List potential ecological factors/processes/drivers to evaluate for models (e.g., food resources, inter-specific and intra-specific competitors, predators, security or thermal cover, water or salt sources, energetic demands, hazards). 6) Formulate set of competing synoptic models. 7) Assemble potentially predictive covariate maps. 8) Fit multiple competing synoptic models for each stratum. 9) Re-evaluate original strata by evaluating/testing differences and collapsing strata where feasible. 10) Refit models. 11) Write it up, present it, use it for adaptive management and start validating and improving it. We will present numerous examples of synoptic models including space use of white rhino males in Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe, mountain goats in Cascade Mountains, Washington, golden eagles migrating from Idaho to British Columbia, Canada and Alaska, wood thrush in Costa Rica and Ocelot in Texas.

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GULLETT, BRETT1 2. 1Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Pocatello, Idaho 83204;; 2Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401. ADDRESSING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP) EXPIRATIONS WITH THE COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE CRP-SAFE. The Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) (CSTG) was once considered the most abundant and well-known gallinaceous bird in the northern Intermountain Region;; however, due to over-harvest and habitat loss sharp-tails occupy less than 5-10% of their historic range. Similarly, over 95% of the CSTG breeding populations within North America occur within three metapopulation in the Intermountain west and British Columbia. Of which, southeastern Idaho supports approximate 75% of that remaining populations. During 2010-2012, over 450,000 acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expired within the southeastern portion of Idaho. A large portion of these acres are located in the southeastern Idaho. CRP-SAFE (State Acres For Wildlife) is a continuous CRP practice with 10 year contracts targeted to address wildlife concerns. The CRP-SAFE program for southeast Idaho is designed for CSTG. Southeastern Idaho was allocated 106,100 acres since 2008. Idaho is the leading state in CRP-SAFE allocations. CRP and crop fields within 1.2 miles of an occupied CSTG lek are eligible to enroll into the program. Nearly, 90,000 acres within southeast Idaho have CRP-SAFE contracts. With over 40,000 acres Power County has the most acres of CRP-SAFE enrolled. CRP-SAFE coupled with general CRP signups have equaled 92% of the expired acres in Power County. HARJU, SETH, C. Olson, L. Martin, S. Webb, M. Dzialak, J. Winstead, and L. Hayden-Wing. Hayden-Wing Associates, LLC, Laramie, WY, 82070. CHARACTERIZING IMPORTANT SEASONAL HABITAT USING COMMUNITY GRADIENTS: OCCURRENCE AND SUCCESS OF GREATER SAGE-GROUSE BROODS. Individual components of a biotic landscape may be ecologically and spatially associated, a situation that may not be detected when habitat components are treated as independent of one another. We applied a community-level approach to quantify greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) brood-rearing habitat. We used principal components analysis to combine insect and vegetation variables into community gradients and used logistic regression to link these components with brood survival and occurrence. We found that brood success was higher in the following communities: 1.) high insect abundance and low coverage of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), 2.) high insect abundance and low coverage of forbs, western wheatgrass (Elymus smithii), and invasive Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus), or alternatively, 3.) communities with high coverage of forbs, western wheatgrass, and Japanese brome and low abundance of insects. A relationship between brood occurrence and insect-vegetation gradients was not apparent. We acknowledge that the data are from a single year and thus do not suggest that these particular results should guide management. However, the high spatial resolution of the data and solid performance under cross-validation suggest that identifying insect-vegetation communities is a promising technique to gain additional information on important animal habitats. A community-level approach has the advantage of incorporating associations among habitat features, encompassing a community-level view of how animals interact with the environment, and aligning identification of important habitats with the scale at which land management actions are commonly applied (e.g., fire management, grazing, herbicide application, mechanical treatments, etc.). Kimberly Heinemeyer, Round River Conservation Studies, Salt Lake City, UT 84103;; John Squires, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT 59801;; Mark Hebblewhite, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59801;; Jeff Copeland, The Wolverine Foundation, Tetonia, ID 83452;; DIANE EVANS MACK, Idaho Fish and Game, McCall, ID 83638 . INVESTIGATING THE RESPONSES OF WOLVERINES TO WINTER RECREATION: AN ON-GOING RESEARCH EFFORT IN CENTRAL IDAHO. The growing popularity of backcountry winter recreation has resulted in expanding winter use in habitats used by wolverines. The potential effects of winter recreation on wolverine habitat use, behavior and reproduction are unknown and the management of winter recreation for wolverine persistence has little scientific foundation. We are using a unique combination of approaches to simultaneously monitor both wolverines and winter recreation in central Idaho. Our study design focuses on multiple study areas to increase the sample size both of wolverines and landscapes supporting a diversity of recreation types and intensities. We monitored 13 wolverines for 1-3 years across 3 study areas from 2009-2012 using GPS collars programmed to obtain a location every 20 minutes using a stratified

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sampling of high and low recreation days. Concurrent to wolverine monitoring, we provided GPS units to volunteer recreationists at trailhead parking areas, with 90% participation. High participation is partially due to community and stakeholder partnerships that provide broad support for the research. Each winter, 700-1000 individual recreation tracks have been collected. To validate the recreation track sample, we conducted 1-3 aerial surveys/winter to document the recreation intensity and footprint. Additionally, we established trail use counters to provide estimates of total counts and timing of recreation use. Analyses of recreation data reveal wide variation in space and time in the level and intensity of recreation within wolverine winter home ranges that we are relating to habitat use and selection using a resource selection function framework. We are also evaluating movement and activity rates, as well as denning locations in relation to recreation activity and patterns. Preliminary results suggest that wolverine response to human winter recreation is complicated, with wide variation between individuals across spatial scales. Additional data and analyses are required to increase our understanding of the interaction between wolverines and winter recreation. HEMKER, TOM, T. Thomas, R. Cavallaro, and S. Roberts. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, Idaho 83707. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS IN IDAHO CONSERVING IMPORTANT HABITAT THROUGH PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIPS. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game manages 32 wildlife management areas (WMAs) totaling over 350,000

Craig Mountain WMA to 314 acres on Red River WMA. These properties have a wide variety of habitats and include

these WMAs. We propose that an effective way to enable a broader influence over the future of WMAs is through the use of conservation target management. The most pervasive threats to WMA ecological integrity, such as noxious weeds, rural residential/commercial development, increased water diversion, and conflicting land uses on public lands, likely come from outside their boundaries. Identifying landscape-scale conservation targets across ownership boundaries more-completely addresses wildlife-related issues on WMAs and creates a platform for conservation partnerships in the surrounding landscape. This step also enables the WMA to have a greater influence in maintaining the ecological functions that sustain WMA-dependent wildlife. In addition to habitat, each WMA provides public recreation totaling about 700,000 user days annually. Growing use by recreationists not engaged in wildlife-based recreation is becoming a management challenge on some WMAs, especially close to urban areas. Monitoring outcomes of management actions is essential to ensuring that management actions are efficient and effective. HOHBEIN, RHIANNA*, K. Cleary, and L. Waits. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83843. HABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATION EFFECTS UPON C. CASTANEA, A SHORT-TAILED FRUIT BAT. Anthropogenic habitat loss and fragmentation are often considered to be the greatest contributors to the loss of global biodiversity. However, because the variety and magnitude of their combined effects within each altered landscape depend upon a multitude of factors, the full spectrum of their consequences is not yet understood. This study uses a combination of landscape genetic and phylogeographic approaches to evaluate the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation upon the genetic diversity, gene flow, and genetic structure on populations of the short-tailed fruit bat, Carollia castanea, residing in isolated forest patches in Costa Rica. C. castanea and other Phyllostomid bats play a critical role in the pollination and dispersal of neotropical plant species;; therefore, their persistence in fragmented landscapes ensures the persistence of these plant communities as well. However, it has been suggested that the foraging strategy of C. castanea, characterized by shorter forays rather than longer search flights, may put them at a higher risk for experiencing negative habitat loss and fragmentation effects. If this is correct, populations residing in more fragmented habitats will show decreased genetic diversity, obstructed levels of gene flow, and a higher genetic structure. We have sampled 204 bats from 13 patches across a fragmentation gradient and are generating ~375 base pairs of sequence data from the mitochondrial DNA control region. Currently, we have completed sequencing on 178 bats. We will compare levels of heterozygosity and nucleotide diversity across each study area, as well as estimate global Fst values. This research will add to our understanding of genetic impacts of habitat fragmentation and contribute to the conservation of bats in fragmented landscapes throughout the neotropics.

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HOLTHUIJZEN, ANTHONIE, G. Holmstead, A. Utz and B. Dumas. Idaho Power Company, Boise, Idaho 83702. HABITAT MITIGATION AREAS MANAGED BY IDAHO POWER COMPANY. During the past 20 years, Idaho Power Company (IPC) applied for new licenses to continue operating its hydroelectric projects along the Snake River. Between 2004 and 2012, new federal licenses were issued for 7 projects along the Snake River between Swan Falls and Twin Falls. An application has been submitted to relicense the Hells Canyon Complex (HCC), but a license has not yet been issued. To mitigate for ongoing operational impacts, IPC has designated about 27,350 acres of land as wildlife habitat mitigation lands. Most lands purchased are in proximity of

- Snake Projects, habitat management plans were developed, approved and implemented in consultation with state and federal agencies, Tribes, and other entities. Management of the largest acreage, associated with the C.J. Strike Project (3,300 acres), focuses on recreational hunting and fishing as a public priority use. Management of other mid-Snake mitigation properties focuses on restoration of upland and riparian communities to support wildlife and botanical resources. IPC has developed public access sites at all mitigation properties, many of which are only accessible by foot or boat. Mid-Snake mitigation properties are managed by IPC staff at the C. J. Strike Wildlife Management Area (WMA) office. HCC mitigation lands were purchased primarily to protect and enhance big game habitat. HCC mitigation lands in Idaho are open to non-motorized public access, but Oregon lands are largely closed to the public, except for youth-hunts and special purpose hunts. HCC mitigation lands are managed by IPC staff at the Daly Creek WMA near Richland, Oregon. Formal habitat management plans have not been developed for these HCC lands, because a new license is still pending. Livestock grazing has been deferred or limited on mitigation lands. Infrastructure- (fencing, general clean-up), habitat restoration-, and vegetation monitoring projects have been implemented over the past 5-7 years. HOUGH, PHIL Executive Director, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Sagle, ID. PANHANDLE

During the winter of 2011-2012, a grant from Zoo Boise Conservation Fund allowed Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) to purchase 27 wildlife cameras, hire a project coordinator and bring together a coalition of community groups with 147 volunteers, including 39 students, to assist Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) in their study of Wolverines and other rare forest carnivores such as fisher, marten, lynx and ermine in the Idaho

rare forest carnivores, photograph them and obtain DNA samples. This information has assisted the Forest Service in

threatened species status. Information on wolverines and other rare forest carnivores is critical to wildlife

We continued this research partnership during the 2012-2013 winter field season as part of the Multi Species Baseline

rare forest carnivores and led to a better public understanding of the work that federal and state agencies are undertaking towards their conservation. results form 2011-2012 can be found on our website at: http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/all-things-wolverine/ KEMNER, DON, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, Idaho 83707. SAGE-GROUSE CONSERVATION ALTERNATIVE.

Executive Order 2012-02 establishing a 15-member Sage-Grouse Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force was to provide Governor Otter with recommendations by June 1, 2012, to ensure the species' long-term viability in Idaho and to prevent the need for federal protection under

Task Force recommendations. In September 2012, Governor Otter submitted the alternative to the Secretary of Interior for inclusion in a Bureau of Land Management Environmental Impact Statement. The EIS will analyze several alternatives for revising land-use plans (LUPs) to incorporate consistent sage-grouse management objectives

management themes (habitat zones) across sage-grouse habitat in 4 sage-grouse conservation areas of Idaho. The 3 habitat zones represent a continuum that includes at one end, a relatively restrictive management approach aimed at

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providing a high level of protection to sage-grouse, and on the other end, a relatively flexible approach allowing for more multiple-use activities. The alternative identifies population and habitat baselines to measure future trends against that may trigger changes in land management addressing sage-grouse conservation. Idaho Department of Fish and Game will begin implementing and monitoring some components of the alternative in 2013. KLAUSMANN, JEFFREY, Intermountain Aquatics Inc, Driggs, Idaho 83422 , R. Cavallaro Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401 and M. Lucia. Teton Regional Land Trust, Driggs, Idaho 83422. TETON BASIN TRUMPETER SWAN BREEDING HABITAT SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT. Teton Basin contains unoccupied but suitable trumpeter swan nesting habitat within the core breeding area of the Tri-state Area Flocks of the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of Trumpeter Swans. It is uniquely situated amid active breeding sites in Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole Wyoming and state and federal management areas in eastern Idaho. Establishing a new nesting flock in Teton Basin will help fulfill a major objective in the Pacific Flyway RMP Trumpeter Swan Management Plan (2008) to rebuild U.S. breeding flocks by providing adequate habitat for breeding pairs. The Pacific Flyway Council requires habitat assessments prior to approving allocation of captive reared swans for translocation. A habitat suitability assessment was designed to evaluate the suitability of Teton Basin wetlands for supporting nesting trumpeter swans and to identify locations where landowners would be willing to participate in future swan translocations. We used 2011 aerial photography and built a Geographic Information System (GIS) based platform to map all open water wetland habitat in Teton Basin. After filtering out wetlands smaller than 5 acres, we identified 17 sites for in-depth field habitat evaluation. Biologists verified data collected through aerial photograph interpretation and estimated or measured quality and quantity of swan forage, nesting cover, islands, relative water depths and water pH. Biologists also mapped potential fence line and power line hazards. We conducted landowner interviews to collect current land use information and gauge landowner willingness to support future swan releases. Biological and management data were then used to rank all wetlands in Teton Basin. We identified three wetlands as immediate release sites for captive reared swans. All sites are large, isolated and with good forage abundance;; management and landowner willingness are in place to help ensure a positive outcome. Several other sites will likely qualify for future translocations with some additional work. LENZ, ADAM*, C. Mitchell, J. Snyder and D. Delehanty. Idaho State University Biological Sciences, Pocatello, Idaho 83209. INCUBATION PATTERNS OF TRUMPETER SWANS AT GRAYS LAKE NWR - PRELIMINARY RESULTS. We used around-the-clock video monitoring to observe three Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) nests within Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Cameras recorded at 410k pixel resolution using 9 950-nm infrared LED lights. We recorded incubating swans 24 hd-1 for the duration of the incubation period (early June to early July). Cameras were powered by a 12-volt battery and all images were recorded to a 32 gb SD card by a digital video recorder encased in a waterproof container approximately 30 m from the nest. We quantified incubation constancy, length and frequency of incubation recesses, sex of the incubating adult, and potential causes of nest disturbance. Average recess length at the 3 nests was relatively constant at <90 min for the first 31 d of incubation activity and mean incubation constancy among the nests was 89%. Incubation behavior decayed after 31 d with the onset of nest failure. Average number of recesses per day did not change, but recess time was correlated to weather. Females were the predominant incubating sex. Male incubation was observed on at least 3 occasions. Territorial intrusions by other swans were the most frequently observed cause of nest disturbance and may have played a role in nest failure for at least one pair of breeding swans. LUCID, MICHAEL, L. Robinson, S. Cushman, L. Allen, M. Schwartz, and K. Pilgrim. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Coeur d' Alene, Idaho 83815. STATUS OF FISHER IN THE NORTHERN IDAHO PANHANDLE AND ADJACENT MOUNTAIN RANGES. The Multi-species Baseline Initiative (MBI) is a collaborative of organizations which is conducting a comprehensive inventory for fisher (Martes pennanti) and other wildlife species across the Idaho Panhandle and adjacent mountain

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ranges. From 2010-2012, MBI partners established 112 forest carnivore bait stations to collect photographs and DNA from 22 wildlife species including fisher in the Purcell, Selkirk, and West Cabinet Mountains. We detected fisher at one bait station in the Selkirks and 32 bait stations in the West Cabinets. We did not detect fisher in the Purcells. We used molecular techniques to genotype individual fisher from the Selkirks (n = 1) and West Cabinets (n = 28). During the winters of 2013-15 we plan to establish an additional 364 bait stations across the Idaho Panhandle and northeastern Washington. MILLER, ROBERT*, J. D. Carlisle, N. Paprocki, G. S. Kaltenecker and J. A. Heath. Idaho Bird Observatory, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CLIMATE AND BIRD MIGRATION SUGGEST THAT TRENDS IN PHENOLOGY AND ENERGETIC CONDITION ARE THE RESULT OF SHORT-TERM PLASTICITY NOT LONG-TERM POPULATION CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO WARMING. Climate change is having a dramatic effect on many migratory species. These impacts are influenced by many aspects of climate change and can differ regionally. We studied songbirds and raptors during autumn migration in the Intermountain West of North America. Utilizing 16 years of songbird banding results and raptor migration counts and captures we used quantile regression to evaluate a number of climate variables as predictors for both migratory timing and energetic condition. Climate variables represent average climactic conditions across the portions of Bird Conservation Region 10 (Northern Rockies) that lie north of Lucky Peak and west of the continental divide. Climate

timing is trending later and energetic condition is improving. However, the year-to-year variation in timing and condition is much more strongly associated with annual average climate patterns than long-term trends. The year-to-year variation in both timing and condition are influenced by variables which could be predicting food availability. We conclude that autumn migratory timing and condition of most species is reasonably plastic and probably influenced more by food availability than a direct response to the change in weather. MOULTON, COLLEEN1, J. Carlisle2, and R. Cavallaro3. 1Idaho Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box. 25, Boise, ID 83707;; 2Idaho Bird Observatory, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725;; 3Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 4279 Commerce Circle, Idaho Falls, ID 83401. HABITAT USE OF FORAGING WHITE-FACED IBIS IN EASTERN IDAHO. White-faced ibis is a species of greatest conservation need in Idaho that breeds colonially and requires expansive marsh habitat for nesting. Of six ibis colonies in Idaho, two are within 25 kilometers of each other in the Upper Snake region of the state, and together, the colonies at Market Lake and Mud Lake Wildlife Management Areas contain upwards of 30,000 breeding ibis. As this species often uses agricultural habitats for resting and foraging, and the agricultural landscape in the region is rapidly changing, we designed a study to assess the current distribution and habitat associations of foraging ibis surrounding these two colonies. In 2012, we conducted field and driving route surveys, and collected incidental observations, within 22km of both colonies between late April and mid-July. We collected 210 observations of foraging ibis in the study area. Foraging group sizes ranged from just single birds to 700 birds. We observed foraging birds predominantly in flooded agricultural fields (75%), but also in wetland habitats (11%), flooded edges of center-pivot fields (8%), sprinkler-irrigated fields (3%), and center-pivot fields (2%). Of 184 foraging observations in cultivated fields, alfalfa was the most common crop type used by observed foraging birds (38%). We also frequently observed foraging birds in barley/wheat (27%) and pasture/hay (18%). The spatial distribution of foraging observations differed between the two colonies. We recorded 80% of the foraging observations around Mud Lake within 12km of the colony. In contrast, approximately half of the foraging observations around the Market Lake colony were between 12km and 22km. We documented the majority (75%) of these observations south and southeast of the colony where flood irrigation was the predominant agricultural practice. The results from this study reveal the importance of flood-irrigated agricultural lands to white-faced ibis nesting in the Upper Snake region.

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MUMMA, MATTHEW*1, C. E. Soulliere2, S. P. Mahoney2 and L. P. Waits1. 1Department of Fish and Wildlife, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID;; 2Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Environment and Conservation, NL, Canada. CSI NEWFOUNDLAND: MOLECULAR DETERMINATION OF CARIBOU CALF PREDATORS. Determining the predator species at kill sites is a first step in understanding predator-prey relationships. Predator species assignment is often determined through field observations at kill sites, which is dependent on observable remains, distinct killing and feeding methods between predator species and biologist experience. We used molecular tools to analyze predator saliva, scat and hair from caribou calf kill sites in Newfoundland, Canada to identify the predator species, individual and sex. We sampled DNA from 33 carcasses using moistened, cotton swabs to collect predator saliva. We used fragment length analysis and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA to distinguish between coyote, black bear, Canada lynx and red fox and used nuclear DNA microsatellite analysis to identify individuals. We compared the predator species detected using molecular tools to the predator species assigned via field observations at each kill. We identified a predator species at 94% of carcasses using molecular methods, while field observations assigned a predator species to 64% of kills. Molecular methods attributed 65% of kills to coyote and 35% to black bear, while field observation methods assigned 38%, 47.6%, 9.6% and 4.8% to coyote, black bear, Canada lynx and red fox, respectively. Individual identification was successful at 70% of kills where a predator species was identified. Only one predator species and a single individual were identified at each kill, but some individuals were found at multiple kills. Predator sex for coyote and black bear was predominantly male. We demonstrate the first large-scale evaluation of predator species, individual and sex identification using molecular techniques to extract DNA of predator saliva swabs from wild prey carcasses. Our results indicate that kill site swabs (1) can be highly successful in identifying the predator species and individual responsible and (2) serve to inform and complement traditional field methods. MUSIL, DAVID and A. Moser. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, Idaho, 83707. SATELLITES AND SAGE-GROUSE: A CASE STUDY EXPLORING PROS AND CONS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY. Use of satellite transmitters has been restricted to large mega fauna with sufficient mass to effortlessly withstand the added weight without affecting movements, behaviour, and survival. Recently, this technology has progressed to include tracking smaller wildlife including birds. We explore the costs and benefits of traditional very high frequency (VHF) necklace-style radio transmitters and platform terminal transmitters (PTT) integrated with global positioning systems (GPS). The largest benefit of PTT over VHF is the bulk and accuracy of the telemetry locations but the PTTs continue to be expensive ($4,000/unit) and have monthly download fees. Though biologists can obtain massive amounts of data in the comfort of their offices, having boots on the ground tracking VHF radios does have the benefits of learning subtle behaviours and insight not obtained remotely, as well as contacting landowners on a regular basis. We recommend biologists weigh all the costs and benefits when deciding on which technology to choose and recommend a mixture of the two when economically feasible. OLSON, DANIEL* and J. Bissonette. Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322. TRACKING WILDLIFE-VEHCILE COLLISIONS WITH SMARTPHONE TECHNOLOGY. Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) are a nearly global problem that results in expensive property damage, human injuries, and usually the death of the animal involved. Because WVCs are a public safety hazard and can potentially impact wildlife populations, it is important to track the locations, numbers, and species involved. Our objective was to create a reporting system for WVCs that 1) was inexpensive, 2) easy to use, 3) allowed multiple users to enter information into one database, 4) minimized data entry errors and entry time, and 6) provided a way to easily visualize WVCs locations. The reporting system that we developed gives field technicians the ability to record information on

When reporting a carcass, the app automatically populates information on user ID, date, time, highway number, and extracts location coordinates from the smartphone GPS. The technician then enters data for species, sex, and age class through dropdown menus. The information is transferred to an online database, where the location is automatically mapped on the reporting system website in the ESRI Maps API. ESRI Maps, which is similar to Google Maps, is an excellent visualization tool that allows carcass locations to be overlaid on high-resolution satellite imagery

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depicting road networks and topography. The reporting system is revolutionizing the way WVC data are collected and used in Utah. OLSON, LUCRETIA and M. Schwartz. US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, Montana 59801. MODELING THE EFFECTS OF DISPERSAL ON PREDICTED CONTEMPORARY AND FUTURE FISHER (MARTES PENNANTI) DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. ROCKY MOUNTAINS. Many species at high trophic levels are predicted to be impacted by shifts in habitat associated with climate change. While temperate coniferous forests are predicted to be one of the least affected ecosystems, the impact of shifting habitat on terrestrial carnivores that live within these ecosystems may depend on the dispersal rates of the species and the patchiness of the environment. Much of the Northern U.S. Rocky Mountains is comprised of high to moderate elevation mountain ranges separated by large river valleys, extensively used for agriculture. Connectivity among

affects projected future available habitat for a threatened, endemic carnivore, the fisher (Martes pennanti). We designed a survey to detect fisher using non-invasive genetic sampling across their historical distribution in Montana and Idaho. We subsequently modeled the distribution of fisher across western Montana and northern Idaho using a suite of vegetative, topographic, and climatic variables. To model future distribution under a changing climate, we used only topographic and climatic variables found to be important in the current distribution model, since vegetative variables could not readily be projected into the future. We considered a global climate model with two climate change scenarios (high emissions [A2] or reduced emissions [B2]) and three time steps (2030, 2060, and 2090). We incorporated the effect of dispersal ability into our species distribution model by varying the distance at which newly created patches of habitat could be colonized. We found that the probability of current fisher occurrence was highest given the presence of mesic forest types with tall trees, high annual precipitation, and mid-range winter temperatures. Future predictions of fisher habitat show an increase in area of high-probability habitat under most dispersal assumptions. RACHLOW, JANETa, Meghan J. Campb, Bonnie A. Woodsa, Lisa A. Shipleyb, Jennifer S. Forbeyc, Timothy R. Johnsona. aUniversity of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1136;; bWashington State University, Pullman, WA 99164;; cBoise State University, Boise, ID 83725-1515. EVALUATING HABITAT IN A FUNCTIONAL

Cover is broadly considered one of the primary resource needs of wildlife, and it serves many potential functions. Cover can provide refuge from climatic conditions (thermal cover), protection from predators or conspecifics (security cover), opportunities to evade predators (escape cover), or the ability to avoid detection by potential prey (ambush cover). We conducted a review of the concept of cover in wildlife studies to assess how biologists have defined cover, what habitat features were assessed, and how they were quantified. The most common type of cover considered in the studies we reviewed was security cover, usually measured as the function of concealment (i.e., the ability of the habitat to hide an individual). Most often, these measures were conducted using profile poles or cover boards. We suggest that such an approach simplifies this important concept in several ways that might obscure underlying habitat relationships. First, concealment provided by habitat structure has an opposing functional property (i.e., visibility or availability of sightlines that allow prey animals to detect predators). Second, assessments of security cover should consider the diversity of potential predators and their sensory and motor capabilities, as well as different antipredator strategies used by prey species. Third, in addition to visual security cover, many animals also likely use habitat features that provide olfactory or auditory cover. We use examples from our field studies to illustrate these concepts. We suggest that our understanding of wildlife-habitat relationships would be advanced by a more functional characterization of cover focused on evaluating how habitat features interact with animal behavior to influence survival and reproduction.

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ROBINSON, LACY, J. Hayden, M. Lucid, N. Albrecht, L. Wolf, W. Wakkinen, D. Spicer, and J. Rachael. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Coeur d' Alene, Idaho 83815. USING REMOTE CAMERAS AND DNA TO MONITOR WOLF PACK REPRODUCTION IN THE IDAHO PANHANDLE. Post-delisting monitoring requirements for grey wolves include documentation of wolf pack reproduction and the survival of pups to the end of the year they were born. We evaluated the feasibility of meeting these monitoring requirements through the use of DNA analysis and remote cameras. During the summer of 2012, we placed remote cameras at 72 locations across the Idaho panhandle in an attempt to acquire pack counts and pup counts. Remote camera results yielded pack counts or pup counts for five wolf packs. We also collected DNA samples from scats at wolf rendezvous sites. We compared genotypes from scats to those collected from captured pups to determine if known individuals could be detected and accounted for in scats collected at rendezvous sites. These techniques have potential to provide an efficient means of monitoring wolf pack reproduction. ROBINSON, LACY, M. Lucid, S. Cushman, L. Allen, N. Albrecht, and C. Heusser. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Coeur d' Alene, Idaho 83815. USING WINTER BAIT STATIONS TO DETECT FOREST CARNIVORES IN THE IDAHO PANHANDLE. The Multi-species Baseline Initiative (MBI) is a collaborative of organizations which is currently conducting a comprehensive inventory for 20 Species of Greatest Conservation Need across the Idaho Panhandle and adjacent mountain ranges. From 2010-2012, MBI partners established 119 winter bait stations to collect photographs and DNA from forest carnivore species in the Purcell, Selkirk, Saint Joe, and West Cabinet Mountains. The bait station setup includes a large piece of meat and gunbrushes to collect hair (DNA) samples attached to the bait tree and a remote camera attached an adjacent tree. During the winters of 2010-2012, one wolverine, two lynx, and 30 individual fishers were detected at bait stations in addition to numerous marten, bobcat, wolves, and other species. Bait stations are an effective means of detecting rare and elusive carnivores during the winter months. The MBI forest carnivore monitoring effort will continue during the winters of 2013-15 with the establishment of 364 additional bait stations throughout the Idaho panhandle. RUDEEN, CARL* and David J. Delehanty. Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83207. APPLYING HOME RANGE MODELS TO GREATER SAGE-GROUSE BIOTELEMETRY DATA. While biotelemetry is moving towards high density GPS derived datasets, historically significant sage-grouse location data exists from an era when VHF technology was the standard. Therefore, it is important to understand how best to derive information from this historic data. Many home range models and model variations have been developed for estimating home range for free-ranging animals. We evaluated 14 home range models using actual VHF biotelemetry datasets for five greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the brood-rearing phase of reproduction. We evaluated the minimum convex polygon model, 12 kernel models, and the Brownian bridge movement model. Stable models, i.e., models that are insensitive to small changes in input variation, yield reproducible results. Through random draws from actual datasets, we experimentally varied the sample size of field locations of sage-grouse and assessed variation in model estimates of 95% isopleth home range size as a function of sample size. We found that the adaptive kernel model using likelihood cross-validation (CVh) bandwidth estimator was a good choice for estimating home range size using when using VHF biotelemetry data describing movement of brood-rearing female sage-grouse insofar as this model yielded consistent estimates across range of re-sighting sample sizes. The fixed kernel model using the CVh bandwidth estimator produced similar results. Analysis of the change in estimated home range size with varying sample sizes indicated that home ranges could be reliably calculated using the adaptive kernel model and CVh bandwidth estimator with as few as 11 locations forming the dataset. We identified an appropriate methodology for the analysis of valuable historic data. SAUDER, JOEL, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 3316 16th Street, Lewiston, ID 83501;; J. RACHLOW, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1136. HABITAT SELECTION BY FISHERS (MARTES PENNANTI) IN NORTH-CENTRAL IDAHO. The fisher (Martes pennanti) is a secretive forest carnivore generally associated with mesic, closed canopy, mature forests across its distribution. However, habitat use and selection by fishers in the Northern Rockies are poorly studied, and a better understanding of their habitat needs would contribute to development of conservation plans in

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multi-use forest landscapes. Between 2007 and 2010, we deployed Argos satellite telemetry collars on 26 fishers in north-central Idaho. We assessed resource selection at the home range scale using a synoptic modeling approach in which the home range and resource selection are estimated simultaneously. We developed a suite of a priori models of habitat selection based on current knowledge of the ecology and habitat requirements of fishers. We used LANDFIRE and VMAP GIS habitat layers in Program FRAGSTATS to calculate habitat composition and configuration metrics and evaluated support for our competing models in an information theoretic framework. We expected that habitat selection would differ between sexes due to differences in reproductive strategy and that resource selection at the home range scale might not be consistent with patterns of habitat selection documented at other spatial scales (i.e., landscape and micro-site). As predicted, resource selection differed between sexes;; however, individuals exhibited marked variation in selection for vegetation resources across our study area. We discuss how managers of private and public forests can use this type of information in planning forest harvest strategies that will facilitate occupancy of fishers. SCHWARTZ, MICHAEL, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula MT, 59801;; J. Sauder, Idaho Department of Fish & Game, 3316 16th St, Lewiston, ID, 83501. FISHER RESEARCH IN THE US ROCKY MOUNTAINS: A CRITICAL OVERVIEW. In this talk we review the recent fisher research and monitoring efforts that have occurred throughout Idaho and Montana in past 2 decades. We begin this talk with a summary of the habitat relationship work that has examined fisher habitat use at multiple scales. These have largely been conducted using radio and satellite telemetry, although a new, joint effort to use GPS tags on fisher to understand their habitat use in multiple-use, xeric stands is underway. Next we discuss our progress in the arena of molecular genetics and genomics. We note the progress that has been made in the realms of phylogenetics and taxonomy, population genetics, landscape genetics, and understanding gene flow. We also discuss needs to begin to examine genomic markers under selection to better understand how fishers that we reintroduced into Idaho and Montana from both British Columbia and the Midwestern United States have adapted compared to fishers that have native genes that persisted in the Bitterroot Mountains. Subsequently, we review several fisher species distribution modeling efforts, including efforts to project these models under various climate change scenarios. Finally we review our multiple agency monitoring work, describing what these efforts can tell us about fishers (i.e., distribution) and what we still need to understand (i.e., trends). We end this discussion with an honest critique of our progress to date on these research areas, and provide some open-ended questions to help us develop a research agenda for this rare carnivore for the coming decade. SCHWARTZ, MICHAEL, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula MT, 59801;; SAUDER, JOEL D., Idaho Department of Fish & Game, 3316 16th St, Lewiston, ID, 83501;; PILGRIM, KRISTINE L., USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula MT, 59801;; VINKEY, RAY, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Philipsburg MT;; LUCID, MICHAEL K., Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2885 Kathleen Ave., Coeur d' Alene, ID 83815;; PARKS, SEAN, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula MT, 59801;; ALBRECHT, NATHAN, Coeur d'Alene Tribe, 401 Anne Antelope Rd., Plummer, ID 83851. FISHER POPULATION AND LANDSCAPE GENETICS. This talk provides a population and landscape genetic overview of fishers in Idaho and Montana. We start by discussing some of our initial findings using mitochondrial DNA (Vinkey et al. 2006, Schwartz 2007, Knaus et al. 2011). On balance these results demonstrate the uniqueness of a native haplotype that persisted in the Bitterroot Selway Ecosystem. They also show the mixing of this native type with reintroduced individuals from British Columbia and the Midwest United States. Subsequently, we examine the genetic substructure of fishers throughout the Rocky Mountains using a panel of microsatellite (nuclear ) DNA markers. These data also show a strong break between areas where fishers have been reintroduced and where the native populations persisted. We end this talk presenting some preliminary landscape genetic analyses that examine how course landscape features such as mesic and xeric forests influence gene flow at multiple scales.

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SEIDLER, RENEE1, S. Bergen2, J. Berger3,4, and J. P. Beckmann3. 1Wildlife Conservation Society, North America Program, P.O. Box 936, Driggs, ID 83422 USA;; 2Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Southeast Region Office, 1345 Barton Road, Pocatello, ID 83204 USA;; 3Wildlife Conservation Society, North America Program, 301 North Willson Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59715 USA;; 4Organismic Biology and Ecology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. USING BROWNIAN BRIDGE MOVEMENT MODELS TO IDENTIFY HAZARDS TO LONG-DISTANCE PRONGHORN MIGRATION. Major land use changes are challenging our concept of space, openness, and free-roaming wildlife in the western USA. Long-distance migrations continue to be threatened by progress, including industrial development, habitat loss, fences, and roads. If such ecological phenomena are to be conserved, information on the relative magnitude of growth consequences is critical to conservation planning. Migrations must be rigorously characterized to enumerate existing impediments and to predict where anthropogenic change may hinder or sever migrations in the future. Spatial analysis of animal movement data can contribute to reasonable management prescriptions. To assess threats to a long-distance migration of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in a rural setting experiencing a natural gas production boom and varying highway and fencing arrays in Greater Yellowstone, we applied Brownian bridge movement models. We delineate impediments and barriers to migration by assessing hazard-induced stopovers as indicators of sites which are compromised by anthropogenic obstacles. Areas of high use probability allowed us to identify previously undocumented impediments to pronghorn movement. Highways with relatively high-volume traffic and non-wildlife friendly fences produced complete barrier effects. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering the effects of growth prior to development and identify areas where targeted mitigation may alleviate existing pressure on migratory animals. SERVHEEN, GREGG, G. Veceillio, B. Bosworth, S. Knetter, L. Svancera, C. Murphy, S. Grunder and S. Kiefer. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Boise, Idaho 83706. DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE CRUCIAL HABITAT ASSESSMENT TOOL (CHAT) FOR THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. Under the auspices of the Western Governors Association (WGA) and their Wildlife Corridors Initiative, 17 western states including Idaho have been working since 2010 to develop a crucial habitat assessment tool (CHAT) by the end of 2013. The CHAT will be a web-based decision support tool that provides consistent and matched wall-to-wall data for categorizing the entire west, including Alaska, into 6 categories of crucial habitat. These categories are based on both fine and coarse-scale data for species and their habitats including landscape integrity and connectivity. After defining and rectifying data definitions and common data layers across state boundaries;; multi-state work groups developed data layers for species of greatest conservation need, landscape integrity, and species of economic and recreational importance. These layers were aggregated and then combined into a single rolled up layer based on either an additive and/or categorical rule sets to define and map 6 crucial habitats across the west. We describe the data used and how it was assembled together among cooperating states to provide a west wide crucial habitat layer while still providing for state specific needs. We also explain how that information will be refined over the coming months and then made available on the web as an application to help conservation and development decision making at landscape scales. SHALLOW, JESSIE*, Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello ID 83209, USA;; and Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Salmon, ID 83467, USA;; Mark A. Hurley, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Salmon, ID 83467, USA;; Curtis Hendricks, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Falls, ID 83201,USA;; R. Terry Bowyer, Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello ID 83209, USA. FORAGE SELECTION BY MATERNAL MULE DEER IN CONTRASTING LANDSCAPES. Food is a critical component of fitness in ungulates, but forage availability and quality varies widely in natural landscapes. We determined forage selection by maternal mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) for 2 areas in Idaho, USA. In 2010, we radiocollared 44 neonates between 1 June and 17 June in southeastern Idaho, and 52 neonates between 1 June and 16 June 2011 in central Idaho. We used microhistological examination of fecal pellets to index diets of maternal deer. We hypothesized that maternal deer would select foraged based on protein content and digestibility, and that diet selection would differ with time (parturition versus peak lactation) and by ecotype. In landscapes with high-quality forage (aspen woodlands of southeast Idaho), maternal deer selected forage based on crude protein

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content (CP);; however, this selection was based primarily on CP only of shrubs. Mule deer from a habitat of low-quality forage (mixed-conifer grassland of central Idaho) differed in patterns of forage selection compared with deer from aspen woodlands. Females from the low-quality area had greater selection coefficients for graminoids and forbs high in in-vitro dry matter digestibility;; this increased selection for digestibility is likely a function of lower abundance of high-quality forage in the coniferous grasslands compared with the aspen woodlands. We suggest that maternal deer in the low-quality habitat needed to be more selective to maximize nutrient acquisition. Knowledge of plants that are selected by lactating mule deer, and what characteristics of those plants are selected, can help provide information necessary for enhancement of habitat quality for mule deer. SHURTLIFF, QUINN. Wildlife Conservation Society, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. MAMMALIAN HYBRID ZONES: A REVIEW. A hybrid zone is a region where interbreeding occurs between two or more genetically distinct populations. Recent studies have shown that mammalian hybrid zones occur in nature more frequently than previously thought. I summarize the history of research on mammalian hybrid zones, highlighting contributions that demonstrate genetic, behavioral, and environmental mechanisms responsible for spatial distribution of genotypes, maintenance or elimination of reproductive barriers, and evolutionary outcomes of hybridization. The role of hybridization in mammalian evolution, adaptation, and diversification is demonstrated by the existence of hybrid swarms (e.g. caribou) and species genesis via homoploid hybridization (e.g. primates, bats). Mammalian hybrid zones are ideal settings in which to investigate genetic mechanisms that influence mate preferences, as well as other questions regarding sexual selection. Many evolutionary processes and mechanisms associated with sexual selection have been well demonstrated in primate, rodent, and seal hybrid zones by combining behavioral and genetic, and environmental techniques. Investigations of interbreeding chromosomal races of mouse Mus musculus and shrew Sorex araneus provide insight into the role of chromosome rearrangements in the speciation process. Because the genomes of some mammals that hybridize in nature are fully sequenced, rapid progress is being made towards understanding genetic underpinnings of phenotypes governing reproductive isolation. Future studies of mammalian hybrid zones will incorporate genomic techniques with increasing frequency and taxonomic representation. As methods improve, researchers will be better positioned to advise managers and policy makers about the potential outcomes of hybridization. This may be increasingly important as previously isolated forms come into contact as a result of global climate change. TEBBENKAMP, JOEL*1, Scott C. Gardner2, Kerry P. Reese1, and Lisette P. Waits1. 1University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844. 2California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, California 95814. POPULATION STRUCTURE AND GENETIC DIVERSITY OF GREATER SAGE-GROUSE IN MONO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. The Bi-State population of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The status of the Bi-State DPS is based largely on its genetic and geographic isolation from other greater sage-grouse populations. Within the Bi-State population, there are multiple localized populations that appear to be demographically independent, yet limited fine-scale genetic data are available to address potential genetic differences. To more fully understand the dynamics within the Bi-State population our objectives were to identify genetically distinct populations, assess genetic diversity, and identify first-generation dispersers using molecular techniques. Through capture and noninvasive genetic sample collection during 2007 - 2011 we sampled 331 sage-grouse throughout 6 of the 7 localized populations within Mono County, California, characterizing each individual at 17 nuclear microsatellite loci. Pairwise FST between localized populations ranged from 0.065 - 0.246, representing moderate to high genetic structuring at a relatively fine spatial scale. Combining the results of the pairwise FST estimates and 2 Bayesian clustering analyses, we identified 5 genetic populations;; however, genetic diversity indices (He = 0.58 - 0.60, AR = 2.86 - 3.19) were not significantly different between populations. We also identified 8 first-generation dispersers, illustrating that despite geographic separation and genetic differentiation contemporary conditions permit occasional dispersal events between localized populations.

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THOMPSON, CRAIG. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Fresno, CA, 93710. IMPORTANCE OF FOREST STRUCTURE IN FISHER HABITAT FUNCTIONALITY: WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM 30 YEARS OF SIERRA NEVADA RESEARCH? Over the past 30 years, extensive research has been completed in California on various aspects of fisher ecology. Over the past 2 years, several research syntheses have been completed summarizing this body of work and highlighting areas of both agreement and divergence. One consistent theme has been the importance of forest structure;; early work characterized fishers as old-forest obligate species, yet evidence has accumulated suggesting that forest structure, not age, is the critical factor. As data have accumulated it has become apparent that fishers respond to habitat at 4 discreet spatial scales: microsite, stand, home range, and landscape. At each scale, different aspects of forest composition and configuration appear to play critical roles in requirements such as security, thermoregulation, and prey availability. We review the history of fisher research in California, emphasizing what has been learned and what is still unknown about the role and importance of forest structure to fisher viability. We also discuss the application of this information by forest managers, the ongoing efforts to alleviate the apparent competition between fisher conservation and fuel reduction, and how these data may be used to guide fisher conservation efforts in the Rocky Mountain region.

WEIR, RICHARD. British Columbia Ministry of Environment, PO Box 9338 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC CANADA V8W 9M1. HABITAT AND HARVEST MANAGEMENT OF FISHERS IN BRITISH

Fishers (Martes pennanti) are a species of conservation concern in the province of British Columbia. Although their distribution is widespread, they occur at low densities and their populations are closely tied to specific forest attributes that are often negatively affected by forest harvest. Because of their at-risk status, forestry companies are required to incorporate fisher habitat needs in their forest management plans. We have taken 20 years of research and developed an in-depth extension program that helps everyone from machine operators to forest planners incorporate fisher habitat needs into their decision-making processes. The end goal of this program is to ensure that sufficient habitat is conserved, recruited and enhanced at different spatial scales to sustain populations of fishers distributed throughout their historical range in BC. Although they are a priority conservation species, approximately 250 fishers (out of an estimated population of 2236 - 3715 individuals) are trapped each year for their fur on registered traplines in central and northern BC. The registered trapline system is a type of spatially explicit tenure which grants the trapline holder the exclusive right to harvest furbearing mammals. Harvests of fishers are concentrated in the central and northeast parts of the province, but are largely incidental to the harvest of American martens (~14,000 harvested/year). Currently there are no restrictions on the number of fishers that can be harvested on a trapline, with the season running from November to mid-February. WHITE, JIM and C. Hayes. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Lewiston, Idaho 83501. FIFTY YEARS OF PHOTO-POINTS AND HABITAT CHANGE ON ELK WINTER RANGE IN THE UPPER SELWAY-BITTERROOT WILDERNESS. In 2012 we completed a third series of photo-points in elk winter range in the upper Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness on the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest. The photo-points, first established in 1952 by Clay McCulloch, then re-

during three time periods over a 50 year span. From a qualitative perspective, the interspersion and relative proportion of timber, shrub, and open grassland habitats appears to be adequate in terms of elk winter range. Nevertheless, spotted knapweed continues to dominate the open south and west aspects. Further investigations to quantify the degree of community change, and the effectiveness of spotted knapweed control is needed to begin addressing elk habitat issues in the upper Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.

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YAEGER, SCOTT. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yreka, CA 96097. WEST COAST FISHER AND THE

COUNTING. In 1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received a petition seeking protection for fishers (Martes pennanti) in Washington, Oregon, and California under the Endangered Species Act. This petition set into motion a cyclic series of petitions, findings, and litigation that has substantially influenced scientific research priorities, collaborative partnerships, and funding availability for fisher conservation in this portion of its range. Using the West Coast Fisher Distinct Population Segment as a case study of the ESA listing process, I will provide a synopsis of events, an overview of the Federal listing process, and discuss how the listing process and scientific research may have affected one another. A better understanding of these events will allow us to explore the concept of whether we should consider a petition finding to be an endpoint to the process, or consider the process to be just hibernating until the next petition or lawsuit arrives. If the latter, what insight can be gained from this exploration to identify conservation actions to help avoid the need to list fishers in the Northern Rocky Mountain DPS? Western Elk Research Collaborative (representatives from 7 state wildlife management agencies, 4 Cooperative Wildlife Research Units, 1 university, National Park Service) and PETE ZAGER. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Lewiston, Idaho 83501. UNTANGLING ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK ECOLOGY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS: A REGIONAL SYNTHESIS ACROSS THE NORTHWESTERN U.S. The Western Elk Research Collaborative (WERC) is a group of state and federal biologists and university faculty that is pooling Rocky Mountain elk data from 7 states to understand factors affecting elk population dynamics at broad

-develop their respective datasets. Our initial efforts pooled data from 12 elk populations to evaluate calf survival and cause-specific mortality (Journal of Animal Ecology 80:1246-1257) and 45 datasets to assess adult female survival and cause-specific mortality (Journal of Applied Ecology in press). We will briefly describe those findings. We also seek to understand how reproductive output varies across space and time as a function of factors such as weather, plant productivity, and predation. Therefore, we are assembling population and reproduction data from our 7 state study area. The spatial and temporal (up to 25 years) scales are unique and may provide insight into the effects of climate change on elk population dynamics. As a direct result of the exceptional cooperation and communication among

that will provide a fertile arena to investigate relevant management and research questions.

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BAUMGARDT, JEREMY. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. GOING MOBILE! A NEW TOOL FOR MONITORING BAT POPULATIONS. Mobile bat transects have recently been proposed as a new way to monitor bat populations. The use of this technique is rapidly expanding in the Eastern United States but has not gained wide use the West. We developed a project to collect data annually on the bat community from the Middle Fork CFLRP Project area such that changes in species assemblage and possibly abundance could be monitored and detected over time. I will explain pros and cons of the methods we used, along with estimates of cost for those interested in developing a similar monitoring program in their region, and discuss the techniques potential for use in a citizen science framework. BERGEN, SCOTT and P. Zager. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. DECADAL TRENDS IN VEGETATION GROWTH ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES, 2001- 2001. Vegetation growth has been found to be an important determinant of ungulate population trends for a variety of species. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index satellite imagery (NDVI, MODIS satellite) tracked vegetation phenology across the Northern Rocky Mountains in the conterminous US from 2001 to 2011. To characterize trends in vegetation general linear regression analysis is preformed on a pixel basis across the time span of the study for the annual statistics of Total Integrated NDVI (TIN), Start of Season (SOS) and End of Season (EOS). Significant and differing trends are found across the study area. We characterize these trajectories across different eco-regions, elevations and vegetation classifications across Idaho and explore the uses and dissemination of this data for natural resource management purposes. BOSWORTH, BILL, B. Studer, and B. Thomas. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. CODE NAME: NOSTRIL We will present a comprehensive online resource focused on Idaho animal diversity. Our approach to information delivery is to organize online content into an interactive animal encyclopedia. Information is served on the Idaho Fish and Game website, providing an information hub for wildlife enthusiasts, as well as the academic and resource management communities. CONNELLY, JACK, C. Conway, D. Kemner, K. Launchbaugh, W. Pratt, K. Reese, E. Rinkes, J. Robinson, E. Strand, and J. Whiting. GROUSE AND GRAZING IN IDAHO: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO ANSWERING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. Livestock grazing is the most extensive land use within greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat and the effects of grazing on sage-grouse are often hotly debated. Some view livestock as a significant threat to sage-grouse while others argue that livestock grazing may have a positive impact on grouse because of reduced fuel loads resulting in less wildfire. Unfortunately, no empirical data are available to assess either claim, and no experimental studies have examined the effects of grazing on sage-grouse vital rates or habitat characteristics. Here we describe a collaborative

influence sage- COPELAND, SYLVIA. Power Engineers. ASSESSING MEASUREMENT ERROR OF AVIAN FLIGHT HEIGHT DATA USED IN RISK ASSESSMENTS. For risk assessments of proposed wind facilities, only birds observed within 800-m plots and within the rotor -swept zone (RSZ) are included in collision risk models. During pre-construction surveys, biologists estimate distances and flight heights of raptors. In order to evaluate the accuracy of flight height estimates, I conducted a pilot project with kites flown at known flight heights while another observer estimated flight height. I present results on measurement errors and how these errors could be minimized for collision risk models.

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Abstracts of To The Point Papers Presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society Presenter names are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students

DIXON, RITA. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN BEST PRACTICES. In 2012, a national working group developed best practices for states to use when revising their State Wildlife Action

Wildlife Action Plan revision. DIXON, RITA and M. Drew. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME RESPONSE AND SURVEILLANCE IN IDAHO: 2013 UPDATE. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is working with partners to coordinate white-nose syndrome (WNS) surveillance and response efforts in the state. This presentation will provide an update of the status of WNS in North America, as well as efforts to date in Idaho. DREW, MARK. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. BRUCELLOSIS SURVEILLANCE IN ELK IN EASTERN IDAHO. From 1998-2012, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has been conducting surveillance of elk in eastern Idaho for brucellosis. Elk have been captured in corral traps, in drive nets and by net gun. Blood is collected, centrifuged and subjected to a variety of serological tests to detect antibodies to brucellosis. In addition, holders of controlled cow tag permits in eastern Idaho have been sent sampling kits from harvested animals. To date, 2713 good quality samples from hunter harvested elk have been tested for brucellosis with 68 seropositive animals for an overall seroprevalence of 2.5%. The seropositive samples came from GMU 59, 60A, 61, 62, 62A-1, 64, 66A, 67, and 76. Several samples show cross reactions with Yersinia spp. on western blot tests, but the confidence in the western blot results is limited. A total of 1080 elk have been captured for management of research purposes, with a seroprevalence of 11%, with the majority of the seropositive animals coming from the Rainey Creek feedgound. The distribution of positive samples and the prevalence are stable over the sampling period. EHLERS, SHANNON. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. MULTI-SPECIES BASELINE INITIATIVE-SURVEYING FOR 17 SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED THAT ARE UNDER-REPRESENTED, MISUNDERSTOOD AND SOMETIMES SLIMY. EVANS MACK, DIANE. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. SATELLITE TRAP TRANSMITTERS:

Satellite trap transmitters are an innovative technology to remotely monitor animal live-traps. Email and text messages provide instantaneous notification when a trap is triggered. Switching from VHF to satellite trap transmitters on the Central Idaho wolverine/winter recreation project allowed quicker response times, better allocation of resources in the field, and less holding time for the animal. HAYDEN,JIM. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. A COMPARISON OF ELK SURVIVAL RATES CALCULATED FROM AGE STRUCTURE VS. RADIO-TELEMETRY AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS HAYDEN,JIM. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. CAN YA GET THERE FROM HERE? SOME THOUGHTS ON PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT OF LARGE CARNIVORES IN REMOTE AREAS. LUCID, MICHAEL. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. A NEW SLUG SPECIES IN IDAHO! EXCITING THE PUBLIC WITH EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE GENITALIA. Several new slug species have been described in northern Idaho in recent years. Never heard of them? I didn't think so, but you can expect to hear about this one!

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PARAGAMIAN, BETH. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. IDFG ON- AND OFF-SITE WILDLIFE EDUCATION. Information on the Nature Center and on- and off-site wildlife education program offerings in the Panhandle Region of northern Idaho. Information on a Nature Center visit for those interested. ROMERO, JOHN. Owyhee Air Research, Inc. SEE CRITTERS NAKED WITH AERIAL THERMAL IMAGING. Forget what you knew about thermal imaging. New cooled thermal imaging systems have changed the way biologists are viewing this technology. With their superior sensitivity and resolution, cooled thermal imagers bring a whole new dimension to wildlife research. SMITH, LAINE*. University of Idaho. BIODIVERSITY IN GROUND BEETLES OF NORTHERN IDAHO FORESTS. As part of the Multi-Species Baseline Initiative (MBI), communities of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) have been surveyed throughout Northern Idaho forests. Ground Beetles contribute to the health of the ecosystem in many ways, and have often been used as indicator species to gauge ecosystem health in turn. Findings and brief analysis of the survey will be presented. STUDER, BEN and B. Thomas. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. YOUR DATA IS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED. You work across agencies and boundaries to observe and document the species you study. Whether the focus be the Selkirks, sage-

things easier. THOMAS, BRENT. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. EMPOWERING WILDLIFE DATA EXCHANGE.

empowers innovation. Biological data need to operate more like electricity: 1) We need to de-couple the data that powers our research from the tools we use to collect and analyze. 2) We need to enable biological data to flow freely across landscapes, bureaucracies, and research projects using open platforms exposed to pluggable interfaces. Idaho Fish and Game is exploring a new open source platform (and set of protocols) that work together to answer the big questions of species distribution and abundance. Through small pluggable applications this platform may be extended allowing citizens and scientists access to reuse, remix and record biological observations. This talk will

VAN NIEL, LESLIE. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. CITIZEN NATURALISTS:

Citizen naturalists and the Multi-species Baseline Initiative are the epitome of synergy. We believe it is important to get people outdoors and involved in their natural community. Building sense of place, connection to community, awareness for environmental issues, and scientific literacy are all natural outcomes to citizen science. The Multi-species Baseline Initiative (MBI) is a natural venue for citizen naturalists due to the scope and scale of the project. With so many aspects to the project, it is bound to appeal to a wide variety of volunteer citizen naturalists. MBI will benefit from citizen naturalist involvement in many ways, including match hours for the funding grant, samples collected, and comprehensive searches for amphibians.

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BLEWETT, TINA, Chris Bonsignore, and Brian Heck. Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Spokane, WA. MONITORING THE RESULTS OF WETLAND RESTORATION AT SITES IN LINCOLN COUNTY, WA: BIRD RESPONSE, HABITAT RESPONSE, AND WATER REGIME. In 2012, Ducks Unlimited Inc. (DU) was contracted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conduct bird, vegetation and water level monitoring at 19 wetlands on BLM lands in Lincoln County of eastern Washington. These wetlands were restored by DU/BLM between 2000 and 2008. This may be the first study in the Channeled Scablands that investigates the response of wetland-dependent birds after wetland restoration. Bird surveys performed by DU biologists from February through July 2012 found a high number of species from numerous bird groups (waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds, song birds, raptors) during both migration and breeding seasons. During migration, on average, more than 2,150 birds of 28 species were observed using these wetlands per survey, all sites combined. These included large numbers of American widgeon, mallard, and northern pintails, moderate numbers of Canada geese, green-wing teal, ring-neck ducks, and smaller numbers of many more species. During the breeding season, 31 species of birds were found using the wetlands, 21 of these are considered high priority species for conservation by the Intermountain West Joint Venture, including cinnamon, green- and blue-winged teal, mallards, Canada geese, gadwall, American widgeon, northern shoveler, redheads, and ruddy ducks. Water level monitoring and vegetation data were also critical elements of this survey, as these factors influence which species use the wetlands, when they are there, and how long they stay. We found that wetland habitat diversity and wetland function were generally favorable across these 19 sites, but potential for improvement was identified at individual wetlands. With this monitoring data, DU provided recommendations to the BLM for improving and maintaining habitat through vegetation control measures or management of water levels. The end result from this work should be better habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife for many years into the future. CARLISLE, JAY, Idaho Bird Observatory/Boise State University. THE IDAHO BIRD CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP: A COORDINATION POINT FOR BIRD CONSERVATION IN IDAHO. Idaho Bird Conservation Partnership (IBCP) has recently been formed to provide a foundation for state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, private industry, and interested citizens to cooperate and collaborate for the management, science delivery, outreach, and conservation of birds and their habitats in Idaho. The IBCP will also strive to implement strategic management and conservation efforts that contribute to the achievement of high priority

formed, and our accomplishments to date. DIXON, RITA, and Angela McIntire. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID 83712;; Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ 85086. WESTERN BAT WORKING GROUP REGIONAL CONSERVATION STATUS ASSESSMENT OF WESTERN BATS. In 1998, the Western Bat Working Group (WBWG) held a workshop in Reno, Nevada to assess the conservation status of western bat species. The product of the workshop Western Bat Species: Regional Priority Matrix was intended to provide states, provinces, federal land management agencies, and interested organizations and individuals a better understanding of the overall status of a particular bat species by ecoregion within its western North American range. Since that time, emerging threats such as climate change, wind energy, and white-nose syndrome necessitate a reevaluation of the existing matrix. In addition, advances in methodology for assessing status provide a means toward deriving more consistent, repeatable, and transparent ranks. To update the matrix, WBWG has embarked upon a

status ranks. We plan to assess status within each of eight Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs) (i.e., ecologically based conservation regions) that occur in the western United States. For each bat species, regional teams

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Abstracts of Contributed Posters Presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society Presenter names are capitalized;; those presenters with an * are students

will compile available information for eight core status rank factors range extent, area of occupancy, population size, number of occurrences, number of occurrences or percent of area occupied with good viability, overall threat impact, and short- and long-term trend. The initial assessment will be presented for review and discussion during the April 2013 WBWG Biennial Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The WBWG sees this as a necessary first step toward prioritizing conservation actions for bats in the West. Jericho Whiting, BILL DOERING and Bill Bosworth. Gonzales-Stoller Surveillance, Idaho Falls, ID 83402;; Power Engineers, Boise, ID 83642;; Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID 83712. USE OF CAVES

-EARED BATS IN SAGEBRUSH STEPPE: IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION.

-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii) in the western USA. Certain caves in sagebrush-steppe habitat serve as important hibernacula for these mammals. However, long-term winter use patterns of caves and the dynamics of hibernation colony

-eared bats across 28 years to assess trends in the number of those bats hibernating in two caves in Idaho. We also compiled within- -eared bats. Surveys were conducted during six winters between 1985 and 2011 in Middle Butte and Rattlesnake caves, which are separated by 9.1 km. Across surveys, counts increased substantially in Middle Butte Cave but were highly variable ( = 168, SD = 197, range = 15 to 464);; in contrast, counts remained relatively stable in Rattlesnake Cave (

= 142, SD = 16, range = 127 to 175). During winter 1992-1993, twenty-two surveys were conducted in -eared bats entered hibernation in early November 1992 and colony size remained

stable ( = 141, SD = 4.9, range 131 to 151) until early April 1993. Our results indicate that across decades some seemingly lesser- -eared bats, while other caves have consistent colony sizes across time. We also provide biologists with an optimal range of dates to conduct winter counts for this species. GEHLKEN, KRISTINA*1, J. Utz1, J. Forbey1, J. Rachlow2, and L. Shipley3. 1Boise State University, Boise ID 83725;; 2University of Idaho, Moscow ID 83844;; 3Washington State University, Pullman WA 99163. USE OF FECAL PELLETS TO EXAMINE INTENSITY OF FINE-SCALE HABITAT USE BY PYGMY RABBITS. Understanding the habitat features that maximize food intake and minimize predation risk for wildlife provides critical information that can be used to identify, manage, and potentially restore quality habitat. However, assessments of habitat use by wildlife often are analyzed on scales that are scale limited by the spatial resolution of tracking equipment (e.g., GPS and telemetry collars), which might not be relevant to individual animals using habitats at finer scales. We investigated use of fecal pellet counts for assessing intensity of fine-scale habitat use by a small, specialist herbivore, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). Preliminary data in our lab documented that monoterpene concentration (a measure of diet quality) was lower and concealment (a measure of cover quality) was higher in sagebrush when fecal pellets were present at a plant than without pellets, suggesting that rabbits might trade off cover quality for forage quality. To validate the use of fecal pellets as an indicator of use, we deployed trail cameras to record activity of pygmy rabbits at shrubs with >10 (high use), 1-10 (medium use), and 0 (low use) pellets around their base. We detected a significant difference (Kruskal-wallis, c2=7.68, p=0.02) in the total amount of video footage of rabbits among the three categories of putative use. The high use category had 35 times more footage (188.6±104 seconds) than the low use category (5.3±5.3 seconds, Z=2.6, p=0.025). These results support use of pellet counts to quantify how specific habitat features influence fine-scale habitat use by pygmy rabbits. We are currently investigating how diet and cover quality influence use of plants by pygmy rabbits at this fine-scale across a landscape over different seasons. This effort will allow us to better identify and conserve quality habitat at both the fine-scale and landscape levels.

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JEFFRIES, MICHELLE*, R.A. Miller, M.D. Laskowski and J.D. Carlisle. Idaho Bird Observatory and Raptor Research Center, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725. HIGH PREVALENCE OF LEUCOCYTOZOON PARASITES IN NESTLING NORTHERN GOSHAWKS (ACCIPITER GENTILIS) IN THE NORTHERN GREAT BASIN USA. The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is currently listed as a sensitive species by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Previous research in the South Hills of the Minidoka Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest revealed possible signs of parasite infections among the banded adults and nestlings, which could influence their breeding success. We sought to quantify the parasite prevalence and intensity of Leucocytozoon parasites among Northern Goshawk nestlings in the unique high elevation shrub-steppe habitat of the Sawtooth National Forest in south-central Idaho during the 2012 breeding season. We screened 27 nestlings from 12 nests for Leucocytozoon by examining blood smears per ca. 10,000 erythrocytes. Within these nestlings, 100% were infected with Leucocytozoon and the intensity ranged from 1.68 to 75.26, with a mean of 29.47 ± 4.08 Leucocytozoons per ca. 10,000 erythrocytes. We used elevation, distance-to-water, age, sex and nesting substrate as predictor variables for parasite infection intensity with Generalized Estimating Equations. Our model results showed no indication that our predictor variables were informative for infection intensity. We conclude that the infection intensity cannot be estimated using these variables, possibly due to insufficient sample size, lack of variation within the variables, or ubiquitous prevalence of the disease and the black fly vectors. LANKFORD, AMBER*, Leona K. Svancara, Joshua J. Lawler, and Kerri Vierling. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83843. COMPARISON OF CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS FOR WILDLIFE. The need for climate change vulnerability assessments has increased over the past decade. Vulnerability assessments have seen a rapid increase in use by wildlife and land managers concerned about the potential effects of climate change on individual species and landscapes. Although there are many approaches to assessing vulnerability to climate change, little is known about the similarity of results from different methods. We compared the outputs of three widely available assessments in use in the Western United States: the NatureServe Climate Change Vulnerability Index (NSCCVI), the US Forest Service System for Assessing the Vulnerability of Species (SAVS), and the Climate Change Sensitivity Database (CCSD) using a broad categorical comparison and by looking for correlations among rankings. We found little agreement in the ranking of species between pairs of assessments approaches. There is also no apparent pattern within or between taxa or habitat associations that could explain this poor correlation. Such disparities likely result from differences in question format, which data are directly incorporated, or how overall vulnerability, or sensitivity, is calculated. A close look at the vulnerability equation is needed, particularly species sensitivity and adaptive capacity, because current understanding of species and community level responses to climate change exposure is limited. With the increasing need to include climate change scenarios in management actions and decisions, we suggest that increased cooperation among assessment developers could greatly aid in eliminating this discrepancy. MACKEY, ANDREW*, C. Conway, T. Prather, and J. Wallace. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83843. IMPACTS ON TREE SWALLOW NESTLING GROWTH RATES DUE TO VENTENATA INFESTATION. A two-year observational study was initiated in 2012 to identify the effects of ventenata (Ventenata dubia) invasion on neotropical passerines within Conservation Reserve Program lands. Ventenata is an exotic winter annual that is displacing perennial grass and forbs in the Pacific Northwest, thereby potentially decreasing plant and insect diversity within conservation lands. Observations took place at four study sites within the Palouse region of northcentral Idaho. Nest boxes (n=26) were located at two sites in high ventenata cover (>60%) and at two sites (nest boxes;; n=31) in low ventenata cover (<5%). We collected growth rates of tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings at 4, 6, 10, and 12 days after hatching. Nest boxes were monitored weekly from April to August to record nesting demographics and success. Preliminary results suggest that there is evidence of a ventenata density effect on fledgling number (P=0.02) and marginal evidence on egg viability (P=0.09). However, growth rates between high and low ventenata sites were not measurably different. These trends suggest that ventenata invasion may be negatively impacting tree swallow fledgling success, but further investigation is needed to identify the primary ecological factors

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contributing to such impacts. Observations of tree swallow fledgling success will be repeated in 2013. MEINTS, DARYL, Bryan Aber, Shane Roberts, Hollie Miyasaki, Paul Atwood, Duston Cureton and Rob Cavallaro. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401. REGION WILDLIFE PROGRAM: A PROGRAMATIC PURSUIT OF OUTCOMES THAT IMPROVE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF GAME ANIMALS AND SPECIES AT-RISK. The Upper Snake Region Wildlife staff focuses field efforts on managing population survey/monitoring activities and conducting or supporting research on game animals and Idaho Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Results of these field efforts guide regional wildlife management priorities such as establishing harvest quotas and hunting seasons and quantifying the status of rare or at-risk species. Through outreach and partnership, we also strive to utilize our knowledge gained in the field to enable conservation outcomes that benefit wildlife, habitat and our public. MILLER, ROBERT*, J. D. Carlisle, M. J. Bechard and D. Santini. Idaho Bird Observatory and Raptor Research Center, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725. EFFECTS OF PREY ABUNDANCE AND FOREST STRUCTURE ON OCCUPANCY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF NORTHERN GOSHAWKS WITHIN A UNIQUE FOREST LANDSCAPE OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. We evaluated the influence of prey abundance, territory structure, and nest stand structure on Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) occupancy and productivity within a high-elevation mixed forest and shrub-steppe landscape in south-central Idaho, USA. We combined multi-species prey surveys using distance sampling along line transects with nest stand data collected at ground level and territory data generated from GIS imagery to predict goshawk nest occupancy and productivity. We accounted for uncertainty in prey estimates and goshawk detection by using hierarchical bayesian analysis. We found that avian prey abundance but not mammalian prey abundance influenced territory occupancy in 2011. In 2012, no effect of prey abundance was present. Nest stand and territory habitat variables failed to show an effect on occupancy in either year. We found no effect of prey abundance or habitat structure on within year productivity, but did find an insignificant correlation between avian prey abundance and productivity among years. Avian abundance may be more influential on nest survival than nest occupancy, especially when mammalian prey is delayed by late spring conditions. Once ground squirrels emerge, the dominant mammalian prey of goshawks in the area, they appear to be sufficiently abundant for goshawk breeding success, even in territories with low relative abundance. Lastly, we believe that goshawks show little sensitivity to the relative structural or prey abundance quality of a territory or nest stand once a given threshold has been reached. WARE, HEIDI*, Dr. Christopher J.W. McClure, and Dr. Jesse R. Barber. Boise State University. Boise, ID 83725. ROAD NOISE AFFECTS STOPOVER OF MIGRATING SONGBIRDS Recently, the scientific community has developed a greater interest in the effects anthropogenic noise has on ecosystems. Road noise in particular is becoming an important focus of research, since its pervasive nature and continued increase in both urban and natural areas have implications for the future of wildlife and habitat

to investigate the impacts of road noise on migrating songbirds. Here we present our preliminary results, in which some species show an apparent decrease in their ability to gain body mass during stopover under noisy conditions. This decrease in ability to gain mass could represent an overall degradation in the value of a habitat as a result of noise. These conclusions have broad application to management concerns, since mitigation of noise could potentially prevent this degradation in habitat quality. WARNER, KEVIN1, and J. Holderman2. 1Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho 83705;; 2Bureau of Land Management, Boise, Idaho 83705. SOLAR GPS PTTS ON GOLDEN EAGLES IN THE MORLEY NELSON BIRDS OF PREY NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA. The Morley Nelson Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA) has historically been home to numerous golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nesting pairs. In recent years there has been increased concern from USFWS regarding an apparent downward trend in golden eagle populations range wide and within the NCA, which has experienced several habitat altering fires since its establishment. In the mid-1990s, before many of these fires, a series of golden eagle

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studies were conducted on the NCA to gather territory and habitat use data. In 2011/12 the BLM, IDARNG and USFWS began a collaborative effort to capture and tag 4 golden eagles with 65 gram solar GPS PTTs (Platform Transmitter Terminal). The goal of this effort is to better understand current golden eagle habitat use, important foraging areas, and general territories and compare to historic information gathered in the 1990s studies. In addition, this information will be used to focus habitat restoration projects on important golden eagle areas within the NCA. Data for all 4 GPS tagged golden eagles were downloaded monthly and tracked using ArcGIS. An update of the seasonal paths and current locations of these 4 golden eagles will be provided and future project plans will be briefly presented. WARNER, KEVIN1, B. Doering2, B. Bosworth3, J. Whiting4, R. Cavallaro5 and C. Baun1. 1Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho 83705;; 2Power Engineers, Meridian, Idaho 83642;; 3Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Boise, Idaho 83712;; 4Gonzales-Stoller Surveillance, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401;; 5Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE WING UPDATE, IDAHO BAT MONITORING COLLABORATIVE. Addressing region-wide concerns about bats facing emerging threats (e.g. energy development, white-nose syndrome, and habitat degradation) requires good information on species distribution, status, important habitats, movement corridors, and seasonal occurrence patterns. For Idaho bats (critters commonly overlooked) data are sorely lacking and no framework exists to coordinate efforts, share limited resources, standardize methods, and archive compiled

formed to begin tacking these issues. Collaborative partners include IDFG, Idaho Army National Guard, BLM, Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service and INL. To support shared goals and address site-specific bat conservation planning, a substantial bat research program across Idaho was initiated. To begin data collection, a combination of AnaBat SD2, Wildlife Acoustics SM2 and Pettersson acoustic monitoring units and supporting equipment were obtained. We established permanent bat acoustical monitoring stations at the INL facilities and the Orchard Combat Training Center (IDARNG), several driving/road transects and numerous temporary acoustic stations. In addition, we monitored several important winter bat hibernacula. An update will be provided and future research plans will be briefly presented. WIGGINS, NATASHA and J. Forbey, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725;; M. Crowell and L. Shipley, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164. NOT ALL SAGEBRUSH IS CREATED EQUAL: CHEMISTRY INFLUENCES DIETARY PREFERENCES OF THE PYGMY RABBIT (BRACHYLAGUS IDAHOENSIS). We investigated the chemical composition of two species of sagebrush, Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis) and low sagebrush (A. arbuscula Nutt. ssp. arbuscula), and the influence this had on the feeding preferences of the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). We collected big and low sagebrush from two locations in Idaho. Sagebrush was offered to pygmy rabbits (n=6) as paired diet combinations: big+big sagebrush (Magic and Owyhee big sagebrush);; low+low sagebrush (Magic and Owyhee low sagebrush);; and big+low sagebrush (Magic big and Magic low sagebrush). Pygmy rabbits ate significantly more of the low sagebrush combination than the big sagebrush combination, whereas intake of the big+low Magic sagebrush combination did not significantly differ from either big+big or low+low diet combinations. The chemical composition of sagebrush varied between species and location. The most notable difference in chemical composition between species occurred for the volatile oils (total monoterpene content, AUC/mgDW): low sagebrush contained significantly less monoterpenes than big sagebrush. We are currently running complementary field trials in Idaho to determine if these feeding preferences hold for wild pygmy rabbits foraging in the winter. WITT, CHRIS. U.S.F.S. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis, Boise, Idaho 83702. USING FOREST INVENTORY DATA FOR WILDLIFE APPLICATIONS IN IDAHO. The U.S. Forest Service's Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program annually collects data on permanent plots systematically located across all forested lands of the United States. These data are routinely used to produce landscape-level estimates of forest resources and to track changes in forest health and resource availability. On each plot, field crews measure and record over 120 plot- and tree-level attributes that convey the structure, health,

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community composition, and physical state of the stand being sampled. In addition to the standard resource estimates, these data can be used to quantify and qualify habitat for species that use forested lands at some point in their life history. There are three methods currently being used to apply FIA data to wildlife habitat monitoring and research. The most straight-forward approach uses the public database to produce estimates of a specific condition known to be important to a focal species or guild. The second method co-locates faunal surveys on FIA plots in order to directly tie floral data to species accounts. The third method involves placing off-grid ("phantom") FIA plots on known habitat features of a focal species (den, nest cavity, midden, cache, etc.), measuring the vegetative elements using FIA protocols., then relaying these data back to the standard FIA data to produce landscape-level habitat estimates. Cavity-nesting birds, gastropods, and pinyon jays provide case studies for how each of these methods is currently being used to address wildlife habitat questions in Idaho.

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