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Wildlife and Exotics

 

Severe Mammal Declines Coincide with Proliferation of Invasive Burmese Pythons in Everglades National Park

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This study examines the effect of the Burmese python in the Everglades National Park. Burmese pythons are native to Asia but have proliferated in Florida's Everglades due to the release of pythons kept as pets. Researchers find that they have depleted and almost eradicated species of rabbits, foxes, bobcats and opossums in sections of the park.

New Survey of Shelter Leaders Shows Strength and Unity of Animal Movement

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This article summarizes findings from a survey of animal shelter and rescue workers. The survey, designed and administered by HRC, was commissioned by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Respondents were asked about various animal protection issues and their use of HSUS resources.

Virginia Voters Oppose Cruel Practice of “Fox Penning” by More Than 8-to-1 Margin

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A brief survey of Virginia voters examined attitudes toward fox penning and whether there is support in the state to pass legislation banning the practice. The survey found most are opposed the practice and a majority support legislation to ban fox penning in the state of Virginia.

Kentucky Residents’ Awareness of and Opinions on Elk Restoration and Management Efforts

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Residents of the U.S. state of Kentucky were surveyed about their experiences with and attitudes toward elk and other wildlife management issues. The survey was conducted to examine the effects of an elk restoration project that began in 1997.

Coming Soon: Year Five of HRC's Animal Tracker

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We’re getting ready to launch year five of HRC’s Animal Tracker annual survey of the public opinions and behavior of adults in the U.S. This year’s survey, which will field in March, addresses opinions toward various social movements, who people trust to provide information about animal welfare, opinions about the adequacy of animal protection laws, attitudes toward the importance of animal welfare in various situations, and the frequency with which people discuss animal protection issues. We asked the exact same questions in 2008 and 2009 and will be able to analyze changes over time. When the results are available in April, we’ll also refresh the Animal Tracker graphing tool so that the results will be easy to access and interpret.

Christmas Bird Count--Historical Data

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The Christmas Bird Count is thought to be the longest running citizen survey, currently in its 112th year. Each year, between December 14th and January 5th, bird watchers in the US and Canada count birds in their area, recording numbers and species. The Audubon Society takes this data and manages it. This website allows for users to access that data, organizing it by region or species.

Humane State Rankings 2011

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This report is the Humane Society of the United States' ranking of each US state based on laws addressing animal protection. The report is user friendly--presented as an interactive map, a listing of each state by ranking, as well as short individual reports for each state that provides detail on which laws exists in that state.

Mystery Surrounding Abandoned Horses Finally Solved

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The Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) investigated the reasons for high numbers of abandoned horses in the Southwestern United States. Their investigation was conducted in response to concerns that closing, what was in 2007, the last US horse slaughter plant led to unwanted horses being dumped and abandoned.

Agricultural Intensification and Biodiversity Partitioning in European Landscapes Comparing Plants, Carabids, and Birds

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This study examined the effects of intensive farming methods on the biodiversity in eight European countries: Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Researchers focused on the biodiversity of plants, beetles, and birds and measured the influence of agricultural intensification (AI). AI was estimated using fertilizer and pesticide use as well as the presence of various weeding and tilling operations. Researchers found that biodiversity was most impacted on individual fields, but not at a regional level.

Keeping Horses in Groups: A Review

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This literature review describes the body of research addressing the need for horses to be housed with other horses rather than alone. The authors find that most literature about group housing focuses on wild horses, but they also urge the same housing for horses kept as companion animals.


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