Journal of Wildlife Management最新文献

{"title":"Vegetation composition and structure influence female wild turkey survival during incubation","authors":"Mark A. Turner,&nbsp;M. Colter Chitwood,&nbsp;Craig A. Harper,&nbsp;David A. Buehler,&nbsp;Anna K. Moeller,&nbsp;Nicolle Butler,&nbsp;Cody P. Griffin,&nbsp;Cyrena Bedoian,&nbsp;R. Dwayne Elmore,&nbsp;Craig A. Davis,&nbsp;Michael R. Barrett,&nbsp;Evan P. Tanner,&nbsp;Lindsey Phillips,&nbsp;Vincent M. Johnson,&nbsp;Joseph P. Quehl,&nbsp;Marcus A. Lashley","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70264","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wild turkey (<i>Meleagris gallopavo</i>) populations have experienced recent declines in some areas, particularly in the southeastern United States. Previous research has focused on vegetation effects on reproduction, especially how vegetative cover affects nest and brood survival. However, recent meta-analyses have determined adult female survival is the most elastic vital rate, and contemporary decreases in female survival may help explain recent population declines. Female survival typically is lowest during nesting season, particularly when females are incubating eggs. There is limited information available on whether vegetation composition or structure around the nest influences incubating female survival. To address this knowledge gap, we monitored 377 turkey nests from 242 females and measured vegetation structure and composition at nest sites in Tennessee and Oklahoma, USA, from 2017–2024. We documented 40 instances of female mortality by predators during incubation. Using an analytical framework to jointly consider nest and female fate, we determined that woody vegetation increased nest survival but also led to increased risk of predation for the incubating female, likely because of decreased ability to escape predators. Conversely, increased herbaceous vegetation in Oklahoma and visual obstruction 0.5–1 m above ground in Tennessee promoted female survival, indicating both vegetation structure and composition play an important role in reducing predation risk for incubating females. We recommend managers interested in increasing turkey vital rates during incubation implement disturbance regimes that promote visual obstruction at least 0.5 m aboveground but limit extensive woody stem development.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Issue Information - Cover","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70273","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70273","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of oiling common raven nests on ravens and greater sage-grouse in sagebrush ecosystems","authors":"Steven R. Mathews,&nbsp;Corina A. Sanchez,&nbsp;Peter S. Coates,&nbsp;Shawn T. O'Neil,&nbsp;David J. Delehanty","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70247","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70247","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Common ravens (<i>Corvus corax</i>; ravens) are generalist avian predators whose populations have rapidly increased across North America, concomitant with anthropogenic development. Raven populations are bolstered by anthropogenic food and nesting resources in areas outside of their historical range and are impactful predators for many prey species of conservation concern, including greater sage-grouse (<i>Centrocercus urophasianus</i>; sage-grouse), primarily through reductions in sage-grouse nest survival. Previous research suggests that coating developing raven eggs in non-toxic oil, a form of egg-addling, positively affects sensitive prey species because the nesting ravens no longer need to provision for young, and thereby forage less. We sought to understand the effects of oiling raven eggs on raven population density and reproductive success, as well as nest survival and population growth rate of co-occurring populations of sage-grouse. By evaluating oil-treated, control, and sham-treated (applied water rather than oil) raven nests in a before-after-control-impact (BACI) research study design, we found that application of oil to raven eggs reduced raven egg hatchability by 94.5% and reduced raven densities at treatment sites relative to control sites. Sage-grouse nest survival probabilities more than doubled at egg-oiled treatment sites, resulting in a relative increase of 93.0% at treatment sites relative to control sites over the same period of inference. Finally, estimated abundances of sage-grouse increased at oil-treated sites by 44% relative to controls following oil treatments of raven eggs, also measured in a BACI framework. Oiling of raven eggs had strong and immediate impacts on co-occurring populations of sage-grouse and ravens.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70247","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can't outrun recurrence: Long-term outcomes of treating American black bear sarcoptic mange","authors":"Raquel Francisco,&nbsp;Viviana Berdecia-Martinez,&nbsp;Marcelo Jorge,&nbsp;Jillian R. Broadhurst,&nbsp;Katherine Martin,&nbsp;Carl Tugend,&nbsp;John Tracey,&nbsp;Karra Pierce,&nbsp;Peach Van Wick,&nbsp;Michael J. Yabsley","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70241","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The growing incidence of sarcoptic mange in American black bears (<i>Ursus americanus</i>) has become a concern for wildlife managers in the eastern United States. Inconsistency in the use of single and multi-dose treatment approaches makes it difficult to evaluate their effects on post-release outcomes of mange-rehabilitated bears, which remain poorly understood. We documented the treatment of 14 black bears admitted for mange at the Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV) between 2016 and 2023 and monitored their survival upon release after recovery. We fit 4 individuals with global positioning system (GPS) collars and characterized their movement patterns via telemetry. All individuals were released only after negative serial skin scrapes and gross clinical recovery, defined by resolution of alopecia and scabbing, improved condition, and improved hematologic values relative to WCV reference ranges. Among the 4 collared bears, 3 were euthanized because of recurrence of severe mange lesions, and 1 was found dead with no gross lesions or definitive cause of death. Among the 10 uncollared bears, 3 experienced mortality events presumably unrelated to mange recurrence, and 7 had unknown outcomes. Movement data from collared individuals indicated declines in activity prior to mortality or euthanasia, particularly following den emergence. Our findings indicate that although clinical recovery was achieved for a short period in captivity, protection did not persist after release into mange-endemic environments. These results raise concerns about the long-term sustainability of treatment protocols and highlight the need for integrated disease management strategies that consider the logistics of treatment, reinfestation risk, drug withdrawal periods, and post-release behavioral ecology.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70241","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Linking distribution and return-on-investment models to optimize woody management for prairie grouse in Nebraska","authors":"Kevin W. Barnes,&nbsp;Bryan J. O'Connor,&nbsp;Andrew A. Bishop,&nbsp;Roger C. Grosse,&nbsp;Gregory Brinkman,&nbsp;Clinton B. Leach,&nbsp;Neal D. Niemuth,&nbsp;Kevin L. Pope,&nbsp;Bradly S. Thornton,&nbsp;John Laux","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70260","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Grasslands in Nebraska, USA, face threats from agricultural conversion, urban development, and woody encroachment, all of which negatively affect prairie grouse (<i>Tympanuchus</i> spp.) populations. To optimize conservation planning, Nebraska wildlife agencies developed probabilistic area-based surveys for greater prairie-chicken (<i>T. cupido</i>) and sharp-tailed grouse (<i>T. phasianellus</i>) to sample landscapes across a range of environmental conditions. This design improves historical surveys and enables the development of distribution models that quantitatively define habitat associations and support scenario-based conservation planning. Using survey data collected during 2020–2022, we modeled prairie grouse occurrence and abundance as functions of land cover, topography, and climate using Bayesian logistic and zero-inflated negative binomial models with regularized horseshoe priors. We then conducted a maximum potential return-on-investment analysis of woody cover treatments, assuming sustained treatment success, relative to projected impacts of woody encroachment on prairie grouse populations by 2050. Among modeled associations were a positive association with grasslands having low woody cover and a negative association with grasslands having high woody cover. Across the 3-year period, median estimated annual populations were 142,380 for greater prairie-chicken (range of 95% CIs across years = 68,821–277,615) and 64,154 for sharp-tailed grouse (range of 95% CIs across years = 27,550–146,559). Under projected woody encroachment, mean predicted population declines were 10% for greater prairie-chicken (range of 95% CIs = 7–14%) and 6% for sharp-tailed grouse (range of 95% CIs = 5–7%). Areas with high prairie grouse density and low treatment costs in 2021, and high projected woody encroachment and population loss by 2050, offered the greatest return on investment for woody management. Return on investment was greatest in the northwestern Shortgrass Prairie ecoregion (northwestern Nebraska) for sharp-tailed grouse and the eastern Sandhills ecoregion (central Nebraska) for both species. These models underscore the value of evidence-based, quantitative approaches for prioritizing conservation actions on working lands. Scenario-based modeling could be extended to guide other treatments, such as optimizing restoration (e.g., Conservation Reserve Program) or incentivizing grassland persistence in areas with predicted climate resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70260","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using drones to estimate moose densities at a landscape scale","authors":"Lily M. Hall,&nbsp;Franklin B. Sullivan,&nbsp;Taylor S. Readyhough,&nbsp;Sophia A. Burke,&nbsp;Michael W. Palace,&nbsp;Henry Jones,&nbsp;Allison M. Brehm,&nbsp;Remington J. Moll","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70251","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Accurate estimates of wildlife densities are important for understanding population dynamics and informing management decisions, but obtaining such estimates can be logistically challenging and costly. Drones and associated sensors provide a novel and potentially efficient pathway to estimate wildlife densities but require critical evaluation of efficacy across large spatial scales. We evaluated the capability of drones to estimate moose (<i>Alces alces</i>) density across a large landscape (~12,000 km²) in northern New Hampshire, USA, using infrared imagery collected via local drone surveys. Our objective was to model moose population densities using drones while accounting for imperfect detection (sightability) in forested landscapes. We also compared drone-based density estimates to existing estimates derived from hunter surveys. Using a stratified random study design, we conducted 62 drone surveys that covered 64.6 km² (0.5% of the study area) during January and February 2024. We fit 2 Bayesian binomial mixture models that accounted for sightability to 33 adult moose detections. A simple survey model resulted in a density estimate of 0.64 moose/km² across the study area (90% credible interval [CrI] = 0.56–0.77 moose/km²). A second spatial model incorporated covariates to make extrapolated predictions of moose densities at the wildlife management unit (WMU) scale across the study area. Overall, both drone-based densities were approximately twice the moose density estimated from deer hunter surveys. The precision of drone estimates from the survey model was within the benchmark range for moose management (90% CrI within ±25% of mean), but extrapolated predictions from the spatial model based on environmental covariates were less precise and exhibited somewhat weak correlation (Spearman's correlation = 0.42) with hunter survey estimates at the WMU scale. Our study is among the first to employ a thermal sensor via drone to estimate the density of an unmarked ungulate across a large spatial scale (thousands of square kilometers) using local sampling within a stratified random study design. Our work suggests that drones offer a promising method for estimating density over broad spatial scales without the need for tagged or global positioning system (GPS)-collared individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling localized deer removal strategies for managing chronic wasting disease","authors":"Noelle E. Thompson,&nbsp;Daniel J. O'Brien,&nbsp;Daniel P. Walsh,&nbsp;Chad M. Stewart,&nbsp;Earl G. Krom,&nbsp;Gary J. Roloff","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70257","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We used a published individual-based model to evaluate localized deer removal strategies for managing chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a free-ranging white-tailed deer population in central Michigan, USA. We simulated fine-scale (23.3 km²) deer culling using ring, land parcel-based, and habitat quality-based removal methods. Ring culling consisted of highly concentrated culling in a focal area (e.g., CWD detection area), with effort diminishing as distance away from that location increased. Land parcel-based culling represented a scenario where land access permissions varied across space. Habitat quality-based culling represented intense culling in areas thought to be high-quality deer habitat (thereby likely containing more targets). We also assessed male-targeted strategies for ring and parcel-based methods. We used cost estimates from 2016–2021 in Michigan to calculate total annual localized deer culling expenditures for each removal method. Lastly, we investigated how local conditions, including initial deer density and study area context, affected management outcomes. Chronic wasting disease was less likely to persist in our projections, and prevalence rate was lower, for deer inhabiting a suburban study area compared to an exurban area. All culling methods reduced the probability that CWD would persist and lowered 15-year prevalence in the population compared to no culling. Ring culling near the site of detection (1.6-km instead of 2.4-km radii ring) was most effective at minimizing CWD persistence at medium and high deer densities. However, the ring size most effective at reducing 15-year CWD prevalence depended on study area context and deer densities, with the 2.4-km cull resulting in the lowest prevalence at medium and high deer densities in the suburban study area. At low deer density, parcel-based culling performed best in both study area contexts. Targeting male deer only was consistently less effective at reducing CWD persistence and prevalence and more costly than non-selective deer culling. All culling methods that did not target males had similar total costs for one year of culling in the 23.3-km² area, but costs varied considerably based on study area ($5,500–22,100 USD) and deer density ($14,300–25,700). Our model simulations indicated that male-focused culling strategies are less effective and more expensive than non-selective strategies, that ring-based culling is most effective at medium and high deer densities, and that CWD persistence and prevalence in exurban locales are greater compared to suburban locales, regardless of culling strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70257","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The art of avoidance: bedsite use, antipredator strategies, and predation risk in white-tailed deer fawns","authors":"Tyler R. Obermoller,&nbsp;Eric S. Michel,&nbsp;Joseph K. Bump","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70240","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Neonates are most susceptible to predation early in life, and a better understanding of behavioral and habitat-related factors that influence mortality risk may be central to juvenile recruitment. Adaptive bedsite use to avoid predator detection may be an important component of survival. We identified the mortality bedsites of neonatal white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) depredated by coyotes (<i>Canis latrans</i>) and compared them to bedsites of surviving fawns, including initial capture bedsites from the same individuals and paired bedsites from a surviving marked fawn, to assess variation in habitat characteristics that may influence a fawn's ability to evade predation. We also compared bedsite characteristics by neonatal antipredator strategy (e.g., hider, follower) to further examine variation in bedsite use. Overall, we found greater horizontal visibility (i.e., field of view) of surviving fawns at paired and capture bedsites compared to mortality bedsites, such that for every 1% increase in horizontal visibility, the odds of the bedsite being a mortality bedsite decreased by 5% compared to a capture bedsite. We found no difference in vegetation height or fawn concealment among bedsites, indicating concealment cover alone did not impact predation risk throughout the study area. We found no difference in bedsite use by antipredator strategy, although there were patterns of fawns using bedsites with increased horizontal visibility during both the hider and follower strategies. We also found hiders tended to use bedsites with greater overstory cover likely to enhance concealment, whereas followers showed a trend toward reduced overstory cover to potentially improve escape routes (via increased sightlines and escape cover) and allow for early detection and flight from predators. Our findings highlight the importance of using diverse habitat structures and reveal notable shifts in overstory cover use by antipredator strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70240","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Military lands provide an opportunity to recover red wolves","authors":"Meghan P. Keating,&nbsp;Stephen N. Harris,&nbsp;Chloe E. Horton,&nbsp;Jenna D. Krugler,&nbsp;Lauren D. Lusk,&nbsp;John M. Nettles,&nbsp;Katelyn N. Steen,&nbsp;Joseph W. Hinton,&nbsp;David S. Jachowski","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70232","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70232","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Red wolf (<i>Canis rufus</i>) recovery has been tumultuous and challenging, with only a single population persisting in a 5-county reintroduction site. Recovery of the species requires at least 3 populations, but no new reintroductions have been attempted since 1998. Despite a relatively large land base in the southeastern United States, high levels of biodiversity, and a mandate to conserve and restore endangered species, military lands are conspicuously absent from past evaluations of potential red wolf release sites. Military lands support high densities of red wolf prey species, have low densities of humans, and offer resources to mitigate hybridization with coyotes (<i>Canis latrans</i>) via intensive management. Thus, we propose that a focus on military lands across the southeastern United States for reintroduction sites could offer an important path forward in recovering the world's most endangered canid.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70232","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148533094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling and predicting Mexican spotted owl occurrence in southcentral Colorado using passive acoustic monitoring","authors":"Brandon A. Skerbetz,&nbsp;Patrick A. Magee,&nbsp;Madelon van de Kerk,&nbsp;Jordan D. McMahon,&nbsp;Matthew C. Rustand","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70231","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Survey efforts for wildlife are often limited by time-intensive and expensive methods. Biologists in Colorado, USA, have monitored the threatened Mexican spotted owl (<i>Strix occidentalis lucida</i>) using call-playback and visual observations for decades. These methods are time consuming and expensive, so our objective was to find a more efficient method using passive acoustic data to quantitatively monitor the Mexican spotted owl population and distribution, and to identify drivers influencing their occurrence. We employed passive acoustic monitoring across the most actively used critical habitat unit by Mexican spotted owls in Colorado to model and predict their occurrence. We collected acoustic samples from 43 survey cells during the 2022 Mexican spotted owl breeding season. We sampled each survey cell for 7 consecutive nights using 3 autonomous recording units. We successfully detected ≥1 Mexican spotted owl at 9 survey cells. Using occupancy analysis, we estimated an occupancy probability of 0.0005 and a detection probability of 0.40 for Mexican spotted owls across our study area. Our models predicted increasing owl occupancy probability in areas with steep slopes and greater cover of evergreen forest but decreasing occupancy probability in areas with greater cover of deciduous open tree canopy. The occupancy prediction model and sampling method presented in this study have applications for future long-term monitoring to aid in the conservation of Mexican spotted owls and other aurally distinguishable species.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148533981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}