SPRING 2022 VOLUME 71 NUMBER 1 - Animal Welfare Institute
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SPRING 2022 · VOLUME 71 · NUMBER 1
Paw Organisation. These organizations are meeting critical
needs on the ground—purchasing and delivering food to
restock shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centers’ dwindling
supplies, providing vaccines and other medical services to
animals in Ukrainian shelters and to animals crossing with their
families into neighboring countries, and coordinating sheltering
and fostering services for animals remaining in Ukraine.
S P OT L I G H T
We welcome additional donations to aid animals impacted
AWI Aids Animals Impacted by the war. These funds will address critical short-term needs
and assist longer-term efforts to rebuild. You can donate in
by War in Ukraine three ways:
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a monumental • Through our Facebook fundraiser
humanitarian crisis. It has had devastating impacts on animals, (visit @animalwelfareinstitute)
as well, which is why AWI is committed to supporting animal • Through our website (visit awionline.org, click on
welfare groups that are working tirelessly to house, feed, the “donate” button, and in the Comments section,
and care for animals affected by the ongoing crisis. AWI has designate your gift for “Ukraine”)
distributed over $65,000 to 12 organizations in Ukraine and • Mailing a check to AWI with “Ukraine” noted in the memo
neighboring countries that run or support shelters, veterinary (900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003)
clinics, zoos, and rescue and rehabilitation centers providing
desperately needed care. We will send 100 percent of these designated contributions
to verified organizations. Thank you to all who support this
The organizations we have funded are Animal Society, Asociatia effort. Your gifts help ease the suffering of these animals and
Save Our Paws, Casa lui Patrocle Animal Rescue, Four Paws strengthen hope that they can experience a stable, peaceful
International, Gyvūnų Gerovės Iniciatyvos, Happy Paw, ROLDA, future beyond the current crisis—a fervent hope we extend to
Sirius, Speranta Shelter, UAnimals, Viva! Poland, and White all Ukrainians.
D I R E CTO R S STA F F A N D CO N S U LTA N TS Dena Jones D.J. Schubert
Animal Welfare Institute
Director, Farm Animal Program Wildlife Biologist
Cynthia Wilson, Chair Alexandra Alberg
Senior Graphic Designer Eric Kleiman Zack Strong, Esq.
Jill Carey
Researcher Senior Staff Attorney,
Caroline A. Griffin, Esq. Nancy Blaney
Terrestrial Wildlife
Director, Government Affairs Allison Ludtke
Mary Lee Jensvold, PhD Policy Advisor, Government Affairs Erin Sutherland, Esq.
Adrienne Craig, Esq.
Alan E. Kessock, CPA Staff Attorney, Farm Animal
Policy Associate, Joanna Makowska, PhD Program
Cathy Liss Farm Animal Program Laboratory Animal Advisor
Regina Terlau-Benford
Chris Miller, DVM Kate Dylewsky Kim Meneo, Humane Education Manager
Senior Policy Advisor, Digital Engagement Manager
William S. Stokes, DVM
Government Affairs Dave Tilford
Susan Millward Writer/Editor
Sue Fisher Acting Executive Director
OFFICERS
Marine Animal Consultant,
Cathy Liss, President Acting Marine Program co-Director Carly O’Beirne
Membership Coordinator
Cynthia Wilson, Vice President Marjorie Fishman
Public Relations Manager Kate O’Connell For subscription inquiries or other
Alan E. Kessock, CPA, Treasurer Marine Animal Consultant information, contact:
Allie Granger
Caroline A. Griffin, Esq., Secretary Lauren Ponder
Farm Animal Policy Associate Animal Welfare Institute
Bookkeeper 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Joanna Grossman, PhD
S C I E N T I F I C COM M I T T E E Equine Program Manager Mary Lou Randour, PhD Washington, DC 20003
Cristina Eisenberg, PhD and Senior Advisor Senior Advisor, Animals and (202) 337-2332
Family Violence awi@awionline.org
Roger Fouts, PhD Johanna Hamburger, Esq.
awionline.org
Director and Senior Staff Attorney, Gwendy Reyes-Illg, DVM,
David Fraser, PhD
Terrestrial Wildlife Program Veterinary Consultant, Farm ISSN 1071-1384 (print)
Rich Reading, PhD Animal Program ISSN 1930-5109 (online)
Georgia Hancock, Esq.,
Viktor Reinhardt, DVM, PhD Of Counsel, Acting Marine Naomi Rose, PhD Tax ID# 13-5655952
Robert Schmidt, PhD Program co-Director Marine Mammal Scientist CFC# 10474
ROBERT J. DOLE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS ARCHIVE AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
20
AW I Q UA RT E R LY S P R I N G 2022
IN REMEMBRANCE MA R I N E L I F E
20 Bob Dole 4 Overhunting Threatens Greenland Narwhals
21 E.O. Wilson 4 Hawaii First US State to Ban Shark Fishing
21 Thomas Lovejoy 5 Iceland’s Lone Fin Whaler Prepares
to Strike Again
5 Kazakhstan Will Phase Out Captive
A N I M A LS I N L A B O R ATO R I E S
Dolphin Displays
9 Congratulations to This Year’s AWI Refinement
5 From Bad to Worse at Miami Seaquarium
Grant Recipients
9 Conventional Rodent Housing Is Harmful
to Animals and Science WILDLIFE
10 Breaking Up the Fight Before It Begins: Detecting 14 Namibia’s Elephants: Victims of
Early Signs of Inter-male Aggression in Mice Mismanagement and Broken Promises
11 Behavioral Patterns of Goldfish (Carassius 16 Court Restores Federal Protections
auratus) Exploring a “Fish Tower” for Gray Wolves
A B O UT T H E COV E R
16 AWI Aids Wildlife Impacted by
Australian Fires
A playful young elephant in northern
CO M PA N I O N A N I MA LS
16 Study Highlights Importance of Restoring
Namibia. In March, 22 wild-caught
2 AWI Aids Animals Impacted by War in Ukraine
Large Mammals to Landscapes elephants, including young calves, were
6 To Best Protect Humans from Domestic Violence,
We Must Protect Nonhuman Animals Too
17 Assessing the Usefulness of Blood Samples sold and shipped from Namibia to the
to Monitor for Exposure to Anticoagulant
Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates,
Rodenticide in Red-Tailed Hawks
FA R M A N I M A LS sparking international outrage. In total,
18 Big Trouble for the Great Bear
22 Hundreds of Thousands of Animals Namibia plans to sell 170 elephants,
28 Eagles Poisoned at High Rates by
Perished in Barn Fires Last Year Lead Ammunition claiming their removal from the wild is
23 Hawaii Animal Transport Standards Developed, necessary to lessen elephant-human
but Severely Lacking
G OV E R N M E N T A F FA I R S conflicts. An independent investigation,
24 AWI Requests Enforcement of Neglected
Animal Transport Law
12 Animal Welfare Wins and Whiffs in however, revealed that Namibia is
Omnibus Spending Bill
24 AWI Challenges AVMA to Improve
exaggerating the frequency and severity
13 Progress for Animals Achieved in
Farm Animals Policies of such conflicts and that its wildlife
State Legislatures
25 Congress Requests Briefing on Bird management program is plagued by
13 Birds Finally in Line for Animal Welfare
Mistreatment at Slaughter
Act Protections corruption and largely ineffective in its
25 Infectious Bird Flu Returns
aims. For the full story, see page 14.
R EV I EWS Photograph by Johan Swanepoel.
H UM A N E E D U C AT I O N
26 Living Planet
8 Using AWI Children’s Books to Teach Animal
27 We Are All Whalers
Care and Compassion
27 Finding the Mother Tree
8 AWI Scholarship Recipients Pursue Education
with Animals in Mind
facebook.com/animalwelfareinstitute
@AWIonline @AWIonline
MARINE LIFE
A tiger shark swims in the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands’
Papahānaumokuākea Marine
National Monument. This year,
Hawaii became the first US state
to ban shark fishing.
but this is a significant step forward for
shark conservation.
Sharks have special significance
in native Hawaiian culture and are
vital components of healthy marine
KOA MATSUOKA
ecosystems. Many shark species
mature slowly, have slow reproductive
rates, and produce few offspring, which
makes them extremely vulnerable
to extinction once their numbers
become depleted due to overfishing.
OVERHUNTING Losing these apex predators throws
THREATENS GREENLAND supply and cultural continuity for the marine ecosystems out of balance and
NARWHALS communities in East Greenland.” This threatens ocean productivity.
AWI and more than 30 other argument is undermined, though,
animal protection and conservation by recent studies suggesting that Sharks caught accidentally in Hawaii
organizations have called on overhunting in the East is driven not must be released, and fishers are being
marine life
the government of Greenland by local need but by high demand and advised to avoid areas frequented by
to immediately cancel hunting increasing prices paid for narwhal sharks, especially pupping areas. They
quotas for 50 narwhals from three mattak (skin and blubber) in the larger are also being advised to use barbless
populations in Southeast Greenland communities of West Greenland. circle hooks when fishing and not
that face imminent extinction due to bring a shark on board a vessel if
to hunting pressure. Our concerns Efforts to convince Greenland to end caught, but to cut the line as close to
echo repeated warnings by scientists the three hunts will continue at the the shark’s mouth as possible in order
from Greenland’s own Institute of May meeting of the International to release the animal.
Natural Resources and from the Whaling Commission’s Scientific
North Atlantic Marine Mammal Committee, to be held virtually. Violation of the new law is a
Commission (NAMMCO, a regional misdemeanor, but there are significant
intergovernmental organization for financial penalties for offenders:
the management of marine mammals $500 for a first offense, $2,000 for
in the North Atlantic). In October, HAWAII FIRST US STATE TO a second offense, and $10,000 for a
a NAMMCO working group stated BAN SHARK FISHING third or subsequent offense, as well as
unequivocally that the quota should On January 1, Hawaii became the first additional fines of up to $10,000 for
be reduced “to avoid the extinction of US state to make shark fishing illegal. each shark captured or entangled—
these stocks in the near future.” The law bans anyone from knowingly whether alive or dead—and potential
capturing, entangling, or killing any seizure and forfeiture of captured
The warnings, however, were rejected shark species in the state’s marine sharks, commercial marine license,
by the Ministry for Fishing and waters. There are certain exemptions, vessel, and fishing equipment.
Hunting, which insists that canceling such as for specially permitted
the quota would “threaten food activities and to protect public safety,
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 4 S P R I N G 2022
MARINE LIFE
ICELAND’S LONE FIN and the high political costs of a globally law, in particular helping fund the
WHALER PREPARES TO abhorred industry will convince Iceland work of Free Dolphins Kazakhstan.
STRIKE AGAIN not to renew its whaling regulations This grassroots group undertook
beyond the current expiration date, and amazing public outreach (especially
Hvalur, Iceland’s sole remaining fin
finally end this cruel and unsustainable involving children, the main audience
whaling company, announced in March
practice for good. for dolphin shows), which helped lead
that it intends to resume hunting
to this historic result. We will continue
this summer for the first time since
to support the grassroots efforts of
2018. Its two aging whaling vessels
local organizations to end the brutal
are currently being prepared, and the
KAZAKHSTAN WILL exploitation of cetaceans globally.
company is planning to hire up to 150
PHASE OUT CAPTIVE
people to work on the ships, at the
DOLPHIN DISPLAYS
whaling station, and at a processing
plant where the meat is frozen in Yet another country has concluded
that keeping cetaceans in captivity for FROM BAD TO WORSE AT
preparation for export to Japan.
human entertainment is an archaic MIAMI SEAQUARIUM
This comes just weeks after Iceland’s practice that should end. After a two- In September 2021, a damning
minister of food, agriculture and year effort by activists in Kazakhstan, inspection report prepared by the US
fisheries stated that there is little reason as well as international efforts by AWI Department of Agriculture’s Animal
for the country to continue whaling. and other organizations, the country’s and Plant Health Inspection Service
Two years ago, IP-Utgerd, Iceland’s last president signed a bill into law at (APHIS) was released for Miami
remaining minke whaler, called it quits the end of 2021 that will close the Seaquarium. (See AWI Quarterly,
after its managing director indicated country’s two remaining dolphinariums winter 2021.) The report chronicled a
that hunting minke whales in Iceland over the next seven years. This phase- number of extremely troubling incidents
was no longer financially viable. out period is to allow the facilities to at this outdated marine theme park,
find adequate homes for their animals including a performance-related injury
The current whaling regulations, and transition their business model to 56-year-old orca Tokitae (a.k.a.
which expire in 2024, allow up to to one that does not rely on exploiting Lolita); an unusual number of marine
251 fin whales to be taken a year. The these wide-ranging, socially complex mammals dying in less than two years;
government is preparing to conduct an marine mammals. poor water quality issues; inadequate
assessment of the potential economic record-keeping, which resulted in
and social impact of whaling. AWI hopes AWI worked closely with Kazakhstani incompatible individuals being housed
that falling demand for whale meat activists to effect this change in the together, leading to fights (some
deadly); and, worst of all, records and
interviews with staff that showed that
Tokitae and other animals were fed
rotting fish. Then, within a three-week
period at the end of 2021, a dolphin, a
harbor seal, and a manatee died.
Despite all of these disturbing
developments, APHIS chose to issue the
facility’s new owner a license in early
March, specifically omitting Tokitae’s
enclosure from the license’s jurisdiction.
AWI is considering its options for
responding to this unprecedented and
potentially illegal decision.
LEONARDO DASILVA
A USDA inspection of Miami
Seaquarium revealed, among other
things, that elderly orca Tokitae
suffered a serious jaw injury after
being forced to perform tricks.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 5 S P R I N G 2022
CHENDONGSHAN
To Best Protect Humans from
Domestic Violence, We Must
Protect Nonhuman Animals Too
by Andrew M. Campbell the relationship, and/or seeking shelter. While much of the
research on harm to animals in domestically violent homes
D
omestic violence continues to impact households focuses on companion animals, in more rural environments,
and communities around the globe. With an horses, cattle, sheep—any animal with whom human victims
estimated 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men suffering find support or comfort—are also likely at risk. Humans
physical abuse at the hands of an intimate partner, this far- impacted by abuse may rely on animals for emotional support
reaching public health issue claims the lives and well-being when contact with their family and friends becomes limited
of many each year. In addition to risk of harm to humans in (domestic violence abusers often work to isolate victims).
homes where this abuse occurs, nonhuman animals (referred Animals can become an emotional lifeline for these victims—
to as “animals” for remainder of article) often share in these and this may be particularly true for children in such homes.
risks and can become the target of a domestic violence
perpetrator. An analysis I conducted of children’s involvement in cases
of animal cruelty1 indicated that children and animals often
Animals may be targeted by domestic violence abusers to share similar circumstances (i.e., abuse victimization or poor
discourage humans in the home from reporting abuse, ending health) in homes where abuse occurs. The study reinforced
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 6 S P R I N G 2022
the urgency of removing children from homes in which animal than sheltering people and pets together, pet fostering
abuse occurs. Among other negative outcomes, children who programs still remove an important barrier to victims fleeing
reside in homes where abuse of animals occurs may be more an abusive home. Reuniting these pairs as soon as possible is
likely to commit acts of animal cruelty now and in the future. key to ensuring that the healing process will not be disrupted.
Continued contact during the foster period can also be of
Failure to protect animals from domestic violence can result great comfort to victims of abuse—assuring them that their
in failure to protect the humans connected to them. Victims of trusted animal companion remains safe as they eagerly await
domestic violence are unlikely to leave trusted animals behind reunification.
in a dangerous home environment, and they shouldn’t be
forced to choose between their own safety and the well-being While more shelters are opening their doors to companion
of their animals. Domestic violence victims may choose to animals (for a searchable list, see AWI’s Safe Havens Mapping
become homeless or remain in an abusive home environment Project), many more are still missing an opportunity to
if no safe place exists to bring their animals. best serve families impacted by abuse. Creating space for
animals in domestic violence shelters is critical in getting
It is estimated that fewer than 20 percent of domestic violence people-pet pairs to shelter that would otherwise never come.
shelters in the United States currently allow protection for pets Communities cannot best protect humans from abuse unless
on site. While barriers exist to sheltering pets, these barriers they include the animals connected to them in the process.
do not appear insurmountable. Several organizations are
equipped to support domestic violence shelters that are in Andrew Campbell is an expert on family violence and the
the process of becoming “pet-friendly.” In the United States, associated risks of harm for adults, children, and animals
Red Rover and Sheltering Animals and Families Together residing in homes where this violence occurs. His book Not
(SAF-T) are two such organizations that can assist in ensuring Without My Pet, covering the pet aspect of family violence,
domestic violence shelters no longer have to turn animals was released September 2021. In addition to being an author,
away. Federal grants under the Protecting Animals With researcher, and educator, Andrew also speaks as a survivor of
Shelter (PAWS) program are helping service providers expand family violence in childhood.
their assistance to survivors with companion animals.
1. Campbell, A. M. (2022). The intertwined well-being of children and Non-Human Animals:
Among shelters where restrictions do not allow for pets on An analysis of animal control reports involving children. Social Sciences, 11(2), 46.
site, fostering options must be considered. While less optimal https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11020046
Not Without My Pet
Pets provide unconditional love—often supporting us during our most
vulnerable moments. Too often, however, pets are left out of family violence
prevention, detection, and intervention initiatives—including the provision
of shelter. Individuals experiencing domestic violence often choose to remain
within an abusive home, fearing to stay but afraid to leave a beloved pet
alone to face continued abuse and violent acts of retribution.
As a child, author Andrew Campbell survived his own familial abuse in large
part due to the support and unconditional love of his pet. His compelling
personal story inspired his groundbreaking research about the role that pets
play in protecting victims of family violence. Campbell explains how inclusion
of pets in family violence prevention plans provides critical support at the
very time victims need it most.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 7 S P R I N G 2022
H UM A N E E D U C AT I O N
USING AWI CHILDREN’S explained. Each student then received involving animal care, conservation,
BOOKS TO TEACH ANIMAL their own copy of the book to keep. and/or advocacy, where love of animals
CARE AND COMPASSION and dedication to the cause are greater
AWI also continues to support literacy draws than earning potential. In an
Stories can be a powerful way to
programs across the United States effort to alleviate some of the financial
share lessons with children about
by providing shipments of books to burden young people face as they
kindness and proper companion animal
national organizations such as Lisa enter college and pursue careers that
care. They provide children with an
Libraries and Kids Need to Read. Since will help animals, AWI launched its
opportunity to consider new concepts
2020, AWI has donated over 60,000 scholarship program.
and practice perspective-taking in a
books to literacy groups and humane
humane education
way that is fun and engaging. The SPCA
education programs, reaching children This year, we chose 15 scholarship
Serving Erie County (a Buffalo metro
throughout the country. recipients who exemplify the future
area nonprofit that is the second-
of animal welfare through their
oldest humane society in the country)
If your school, shelter, or literacy engagement and perseverance, both
has been using AWI’s books, Pablo
organization would like to receive in and out of the classroom. The
Puppy’s Search for the Perfect Person
AWI’s children’s books, please email recipients’ goals range from hands-
and Kamie Cat’s Terrible Night, for
us at publications@awionline.org on work through veterinary clinics
their in-school programs since spring
and describe your need and intended or wildlife rescue organizations, to
2021. Humane educator Katherine
use. English and Spanish versions are protecting animals through sound
Gillette-Cockerill notes that the books
available, and PDFs of the books (as well policy-making and legal efforts. Please
help teach the role of shelters in the
as accompanying lesson plans) can be join us in congratulating the following
community while also representing
downloaded from our website at no cost. students: Arianna Camacho, Meleah
diverse voices. “Teachers and families
Eckels, Iris Gillespie, Jesus Hadad, Sage
really love the resources,” she says.
Hall, Emily Keller, Weslyn McLaws,
AnaVictoria Garcia Medina, Alexis
AWI recently elected to increase the
AWI SCHOLARSHIP Meiklejohn, Weslyn McLaws, Skyler
number of free copies of our children’s
RECIPIENTS PURSUE Nahouray, Cassandra Price, Christopher
books available to humane societies
EDUCATION WITH Reigel, Lily Thomas, Haley Walker,
and teachers. By providing larger
ANIMALS IN MIND and Tylar Zingerella. The next AWI
quantities at no cost, AWI is helping to
Scholarship application period opens in
support humane education programs The ever-rising cost of a college
December 2022. For information on the
such as the Johnnycake Corners Kind education can be daunting—
program, see awionline.org/scholarship.
Kids program, developed jointly by particularly if you plan to enter fields
Ohio Animal Advocates (OAA) and
elementary teacher Krista Hyme. The
program combines service-learning
projects, reading, and age-appropriate
discussion of animal welfare issues. In
January, OAA’s executive director, Vicki
Deisner, read Kamie Cat’s Terrible Night
aloud to students in the program. “The
book truly expressed the feelings Kamie
had being lost, and showed compassion
through the kind people that helped
Kamie find her way home,” she
Vicki Deisner, executive director
of Ohio Animal Advocates, reads
Kamie Cat’s Terrible Night to
students at Johnnycake Corners
Elementary in Galena, Ohio.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 8 S P R I N G 2022
A N I M A LS I N L A B O R ATO R I E S
Four researchers received AWI
Refinement Grants this year
for studies aimed at improving
the lives of animals in research.
One study seeks to reduce social
stress in captive marmosets.
psychological stress. To test their
hypothesis, the team analyzed the
results of numerous animal studies
that compared mortality and disease
KHEMIKA KUHATHONGCHAROEN
outcomes in rodents housed in
conventional versus “enriched” cages
that better meet rodents’ behavioral
needs. (From an initial 10,096
articles, 214 met the inclusion criteria,
such as use of rats or mice and
publication in English.)
The researchers focused on seven
CONGRATULATIONS professor at the University of British maladies that can affect both humans
TO THIS YEAR’S AWI Columbia, and co-investigator and rodents. In humans, it is known
REFINEMENT GRANT Dr. Amelia MacRae, a certified that these afflictions are exacerbated
RECIPIENTS animal trainer (KPA CTP), for by chronic psychological stress. The
developing positive reinforcement
Every year, AWI awards grants of up to researchers also looked at lifespan,
and counterconditioning training
US$10,000 to support research projects which chronic stress is known to
animals in laboratories
protocols for laboratory-housed mice
aimed at developing or testing new and shorten in humans.
and pigs to improve human-animal
creative ways to improve the welfare of
interactions in a research setting.
animals in research. We are pleased to The results were clear: Conventionally
announce this year’s grant recipients: housed rodents have a 50 percent
higher probability of dying and a 9
→ Dr. Becca Franks, assistant percent lower median lifespan; they
CONVENTIONAL RODENT also have increased risk of developing
professor at New York University, for
HOUSING IS HARMFUL TO cardiovascular disease, increased
a study using videographic evidence
ANIMALS AND SCIENCE severity of cancer and stroke, and
to assess the degree to which play
behaviors are observable across A meta-analysis recently published increased signs of anxiety and
fish species, to document which in the journal BMC Biology (Cait et depression. (For two of the afflictions
factors encourage fish play, and to al., 2022) found that rats and mice initially targeted—asthma and viral
investigate how play can be used to housed in conventional laboratory infections—the researchers did not find
assess fish welfare. cages have higher mortality rates and enough studies involving rodents to
→ Alexander Greig, research assistant greater disease severity compared allow comparisons.)
at Texas Biomedical Research to rodents housed in “enriched”
Institute, for studying the environments. This finding suggests The widespread and sanctioned use
behavioral and physiological effects that conventional laboratory housing of laboratory housing that produces
of implementing visual barriers in causes chronic stress. chronically stressed animals is
the housing of captive marmosets alarming. Research industry assertions
to reduce social stress. Previous research has already that they consider animal welfare
→ Dr. Julie Menard, assistant professor shown that conventional housing for a primary concern fall flat when
at the University of Calgary, for rodents—which consists of barren or the animals’ welfare is deliberately
testing a noninvasive alternative to nearly barren shoebox-sized cages— compromised at the outset. Moreover,
endoscopy when sampling the small restricts many natural behaviors and the use of chronically stressed animals
intestine microbiome in dogs. is associated with reduced welfare. raises serious concerns about the
→ Dr. Cathy Schuppli, clinical Here, researchers tested whether generalizability and the validity of the
veterinarian and clinical assistant conventional housing causes chronic data they generate.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 9 S P R I N G 2022
AMANDA BARABAS
Breaking Up the Fight Before It Begins:
Detecting Early Signs of Inter-male Aggression in Mice
by Amanda Barabas, PhD candidate, Purdue University and Aggression data were used to calculate (1) the social rank
Brianna Gaskill, Assistant Professor, Purdue University of each mouse within a cage, (2) aggression density (the
proportion of possible interactions between individuals
Inter-male aggression in mice continues to challenge in a cage), and (3) directional consistency (DC, a measure
laboratory animal husbandry personnel, as intervention of how often attacks occur without retaliation). Welfare
strategies are typically applied at the cage level without a checks for severe wounding were conducted daily, and if
good understanding of how individual behavior is affected. any mice exceeded our humane endpoint criteria, they were
Aggression mitigation may be improved if individual euthanized. Unfortunately, mice in four cages met this criteria,
interactions were better understood. leaving 19 cages. Additionally, the proportion of time spent
active, sleeping in a group, and sleeping alone were collected
Male laboratory mice often form despotic hierarchies, for each individual mouse.
where one dominant individual attacks all the other cage
mates. If fighting is observed, mitigation strategies targeting Overall, aggression density was low, and individuals within
the dominant mouse would likely be the most effective a cage differed in the amount of aggressive behavior they
in reducing conflict. Unfortunately, it is unknown if this exhibited. Typically, 1–2 mice per cage were responsible
dominance structure is the same across different types of for the majority of aggression, and DC was generally high,
mice or group sizes. The ability to identify signs of aggression with victimized mice failing to retaliate against an attack.
early would improve our understanding of social dynamics Based on these data, despotic power structures appear to be
and greatly improve the welfare of victimized mice. But it maintained across multiple strains and group sizes.
presents a challenge. Groups plagued by aggression are
typically identified by the presence of a wounded mouse. By In terms of early indicators of aggression, the amount of
the time tissue damage is visible through the fur, aggression allo-grooming performed and received was not related to
has already escalated. To improve our ability to detect early aggression. This suggests that a lack of positive interactions
signs of inter-male aggression, interactions between male does not necessarily correlate with high levels of aggression.
mice in stable social groups were examined. However, dominant mice who displayed more aggression were
more active in the cage and slept by themselves more than
In this study, which was funded by an AWI Refinement subordinate mice. So, while allo-grooming was not predictive
Grant, social behavior was continuously recorded over two of social dynamics, sleep location could potentially be used
24-hour periods in two mouse strains of known tendencies as an early indicator of conflict in group-housed male mice,
housed in groups of 3 or 5: SJL (high aggression) and B6N- and male mice observed resting away from the group could be
Tyrc-Brd (moderate aggression). All instances of aggression, monitored more frequently. Careful monitoring of this nature
submission, and allo-grooming (a positive social interaction) could contribute to strategies to prevent or reduce inter-male
were recorded, while the actor and recipient mouse of each aggression; effective solutions are urgently needed.
interaction was noted.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 10 S P R I N G 2022in future curiosity research and could promote cognitive
Behavioral Patterns of stimulation and agency for fish in captivity.
Goldfish (Carassius auratus) We filmed the fish tower for five weeks, beginning
immediately after installation, and coded total occupancy
Exploring a “Fish Tower” every hour for 5-10 hours per day, 3-4 days per week. For
18 easily identifiable individuals, we also recorded the time
it took them to first enter the tower (latency) and the total
by Sasha Prasad-Shreckengast, MA student, number of entries. Despite its physical characteristics—
CUNY Hunter College transparent, well lit, above the surface—that go against their
known preferences, goldfish voluntarily explored the novel
Curiosity—the drive to gather information—is considered a fish tower. Fish were seen in the tower in 70 percent of all
fundamental motivation throughout the animal kingdom. As scans; of those scans, two was the most common number
such, providing opportunities to satisfy that curiosity may be observed in the tower, and seven the maximum. Furthermore,
essential for animals to have good welfare in captivity. Fish there was variation in latency to enter the fish tower and total
are held in captivity at some of the highest numbers of any number of entries for the 18 identifiable individuals who
taxa, but their curiosity is rarely studied or accommodated. explored the fish tower, which suggests individual differences
It is estimated that upwards of 1 million individuals of the in interest and information gathering.
Cyprinidae family, which includes carp and true minnows,
are used annually in research on human development and Overall, these results indicate that the fish tower may be
physiology. Yet, housing plans for laboratory fishes have been a suitable method for providing free-choice exploration
modeled from the aquaculture industry, prioritizing production opportunities and visual stimulation for fish in captivity.
and functionality over welfare, resulting in barren tanks and Additionally, it could be a useful tool for further studies of
minimal cognitive stimulation for the animals residing in them. curiosity and its effects on fish welfare. By showing that fish
will readily explore an unusual and risky novel environment,
With this study, which was funded by an AWI Refinement the present work contributes to the ongoing research
Grant, we investigated the presence and nature of curiosity examining the interests and abilities of fish. While additional
in goldfish (Carassius auratus) via novel free-choice research is needed to determine the welfare benefits that
exploration opportunities. To achieve this, we created a “fish exploration opportunities offer for goldfish, the fish tower
tower”—a filled and inverted glass aquarium that extended presents an option for enrichment that is often lacking in
above the surface of the water at a community aquaponics captive environments and can be implemented in a variety
pond that housed approximately 100 goldfish. The fish of settings, including those research laboratories with more
tower thus represents an unusual and potentially risky stringent restrictions on what can be added to the aquatic
novel environment, but if utilized by the fish, could be useful environments.
SASHA PRASED-SHRECKENGAST
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 11 S P R I N G 2022G OV E R N M E N T A F FA I R S
Congress has directed the US Fish
and Wildlife Service to evaluate
trapping practices on USFWS lands,
as well as the nonlethal options
that could serve as alternatives
to lethal wildlife management on
such lands.
2019.) Frustrated with the lack of
transparency and accountability in
this program since the report came
out, Congress told the department
to submit a report detailing how it
has met, or plans to meet, the OIG’s
recommendations. It must also
provide “an update on the status of
FIGTOGRAPHY
dogs currently in, and retired from, the
program since June 2019.”
Funding
Research and conservation efforts
protecting critically endangered
ANIMAL WELFARE WINS licensing under the AWA of Class B North Atlantic right whales received
AND WHIFFS IN OMNIBUS dealers who seek to sell dogs and cats $21 million—$16 million more than
SPENDING BILL acquired from random sources for use the previous year. This includes at
Program oversight in experimentation. least $4 million for measures such as
With nearly half the fiscal year over, enforcement and monitoring, and at
Congress finally finished work on The US Fish and Wildlife Service was least $2 million to support an existing
the fiscal year 2022 spending bills. told to report to Congress on its current pilot program to develop, refine, and
government affairs
The good news is that they contain policy for allowing trophy hunting test innovative fishing gear aimed at
several important provisions aimed at imports. (Congress has been asking reducing entanglements—a major
improving animal welfare. for this report for several years, but cause of death for the whales. Much
the USFWS has failed to comply.) The of the funding ($14 million) will be
For one thing, Congress expressed agency was also directed to evaluate allocated to states to cover costs for
concerns about “the ongoing trapping practices on USFWS lands, as the fishing industry to comply with a
mismanagement” of the US well as the nonlethal options that could 2021 federal rule that aims to reduce
Department of Agriculture’s Animal serve as alternatives to lethal wildlife right whale mortalities and serious
Care Program, which is supposed management. injuries from fishing gear. (The rule
to ensure the humane treatment of itself, unfortunately, insufficiently
animals covered by the Animal Welfare Congress also used the bill to alert reduces the risks to the whales and
Act (AWA). Citing media reports about the State Department that one of its should be strengthened.)
the department’s “inexplicable delays programs remains under scrutiny. In
… in acting against blatant violations 2019, the State Department’s Office The federal Marine Mammal
of the Animal Welfare Act,” lawmakers of Inspector General released a report Commission received more money
said they intend to monitor the documenting the unconscionable to continue its essential oversight
program’s “fulfillment of its statutory mistreatment of dogs sent overseas functions. Both the USFWS and
and regulatory responsibilities with under the Explosive Detection Canine the National Marine Fisheries
respect to animals.” The USDA was Program. This situation came to Service received funding to continue
further instructed to make certain light only after a whistleblower—a coordinating a nationwide emergency
inspection and enforcement reports veterinarian who had worked for the response initiative—the Prescott Grant
publicly available through a searchable private contractor that trained the Program—for stranded, sick, injured,
database. Congress also continued dogs—raised alarms about their health distressed, or dead marine mammals.
its long-standing prohibition on the and welfare. (See AWI Quarterly, fall Additionally, the USFWS was directed
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 12 S P R I N G 2022G OV E R N M E N T A F FA I R S
to use conservation and restoration PROGRESS FOR ANIMALS the sale of parts and products from
funds to help manatees. This species ACHIEVED IN STATE elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes, sea
has faced unprecedented challenges, LEGISLATURES turtles, and other imperiled species.
with more than 1,100 dying last The bill passed both chambers of the
Two AWI-supported state bills recently
year due to habitat degradation and Maryland General Assembly and, as
became law and another is on the
declining seagrass—a critical food this issue went to press, awaited the
cusp. In March, Governor Eric Holcomb
source for manatees. governor’s signature.
of Indiana signed HB 1248 into law,
prohibiting public contact with lions,
Funding for grants to enable domestic
tigers, leopards, snow leopards, jaguars,
violence service providers to create or
cougars, big cat hybrids, and bears.
expand programs to assist survivors BIRDS FINALLY IN LINE
This means that exploitative activities
with companion animals was increased FOR ANIMAL WELFARE
such as cub petting operations—which
from $2.5 million to $3 million. ACT PROTECTIONS
stress the animals and fuel an endless
cycle of breeding—will no longer be It only took 20 years, two lawsuits,
Conversely, Congress provided only
allowed in Indiana. and prodding from Congress for the US
minimal funding increases for the
Department of Agriculture to finally
implementation of the Endangered
Also in March, Utah joined the propose regulations to extend Animal
Species Act (ESA), a significant
nationwide effort to provide greater Welfare Act (AWA) protections to birds
disappointment given the global
protection to domestic violence not bred for use in research. Such
extinction crisis. A United Nations
survivors who have companion animals regulations would impose minimum
report warns that 1 million species
when Governor Spencer Cox signed HB care standards and oversight with
are now threatened with extinction,
175, a bill to allow the inclusion of pets respect to bird exhibitors and breeders
yet Congress continues to deprioritize
on protection orders. This makes Utah of birds for the pet trade, where many
funding for this essential conservation
the 37th state (along with the District have been denied basic needs and
law. A backlog exists, with approximately
of Columbia and Puerto Rico) to have subjected to mistreatment. We were
400 species awaiting protection under
recognized that pets can also become glad to see that the proposed rule
the ESA. For at least 47 US species,
victims of domestic violence. requires enrichment that is essential
time has run out—awaiting protection, to their welfare, prohibits the sale of
they went extinct. Turning a blind eye
Finally, AWI testified twice in recent unweaned birds, does not exempt birds
to catastrophic biodiversity declines by
months in support of a Maryland bill used in falconry, and requires anyone
depriving the ESA of sufficient funding is
(HB 52/SB 381) that would restrict with four or more breeding females
dangerous and irresponsible. to be licensed—the same threshold
applied to dog and cat breeders. AWI
submitted comments endorsing these
provisions but also noted the need
to make accommodations for flight,
restrict public contact, and prohibit the
use of tethering as a primary means of
containment. Further, because birds
are not domesticated like dogs and
cats, we argued that they are “wild and
exotic” animals, thus necessitating
regulation under the AWA of pet stores
that sell them.
An AWI-supported bill in
Maryland to restrict the sale of
EUGEN HAAG
parts and products from giraffes,
elephants, tigers, and other
imperiled species passed the
state legislature in April.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 13 S P R I N G 2022JOHAN SWANEPOEL
NAMIBIA’S ELEPHANTS:
Victims of Mismanagement and Broken Promises
O n March 5, the lives of 22 African elephants—mothers,
juveniles, and young calves—changed forever. No longer
free to roam the vast open spaces of northwestern Namibia’s
investigation of the zoo’s potential violation of WAZA’s Code
of Ethics and Animal Welfare.
Kunene region, they were loaded onto a cargo jet, bound for In December 2020, Namibia published a tender in the
captivity in the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain Zoo. This sale, government-controlled New Era newspaper advertising
which Namibia claimed was needed to reduce elephant- the sale of 170 wild elephants, claiming it was required
human conflicts, triggered international condemnation by to reduce elephant populations due to drought and
animal advocates, scientists, and governments, as well as a human-elephant conflicts. Conservation and animal
harsh response from the European Association of Zoos and welfare organizations from around the world pleaded
Aquaria (EAZA), of which the Al Ain Zoo is a member. EAZA with authorities not to permit further captures, to release
found no justification for this sale and revealed that the elephants already captured, and to prohibit exports in light
zoo may be subject to disciplinary actions, while the World of international law and the increasingly known physical
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) promised an and psychological toll of captivity on elephant welfare.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 14 S P R I N G 2022This call was supported by the International Union for CBNRMs are supposed to increase the income of
Conservation of Nature’s African Elephant Specialist Group, impoverished rural Namibians while permitting the recovery
which stated in 2003 that it did not endorse the removal of of Namibia’s wildlife populations that were decimated
African elephants from the wild for any captive use, as such prior to the country’s independence, thereby incentivizing
use provides no direct benefit to in situ conservation (i.e., the sustainable use of natural resources by giving them an
conservation of the species within its native range). economic value. CBNRM-generated funds (over US$10
million per year) are meant to provide income and in-kind
Namibia’s elephants (like those of Botswana, South Africa, benefits to local communities—funding anti-poaching
and Zimbabwe) are listed on Appendix II of the Convention operations, wildlife management, education and health
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna initiatives, and other programs.
and Flora (CITES), while other African elephants are listed
on Appendix I. An annotation to the listing text indicates While CBNRMs have been promoted as a model for wildlife
that these Appendix II elephants can only be exported to conservation, the report states that the purported benefits to
“appropriate and acceptable” destinations. A subsequent wildlife and rural communities is “predominantly a fabrication
amendment to the annotation states that elephants from rather than a fact.” Although a number of CBNRMs do contain
Namibia and South Africa can only be traded to in situ a large diversity of wildlife species, including elephants, data
conservation programs. Further, at the 2019 meeting of the indicate that in many, elephant numbers are decreasing—in
CITES Conference of the Parties, a majority of CITES parties some cases to dangerously low numbers—raising concerns
agreed that, barring exceptional circumstances, the only about the veracity of elephant-human conflict reports and the
“appropriate and acceptable destinations” for all Appendix II– sustainability of trophy and other hunting activities.
listed African elephants are in situ conservation programs.
For humans living in or near the conservancies, many of the
Despite this language and two separate legal analyses promised benefits of the CBNRM program have not been
concluding that Namibia can only trade live elephants realized. While there have been some donations of meat, direct
under Appendix II rules, the country exported them under cash payments, and other benefits, a majority of the locals
Appendix I rules to avoid the restrictions attached to the interviewed indicated that the conservancy program is riddled
Appendix II listing. Disconcertingly, the CITES secretariat with corruption, nepotism, insufficient or no compensation
defended this action. for livestock lost to wildlife, delay or nonpayment of promised
funds for living with wildlife, restrictions on traditional uses
An AWI-supported November 2021 report by Dr. Adam of wildlife, ethnic discrimination, inaction against illegal land
Cruise and Izzy Sasada—Investigation into the Efficacy use, and outright takeover of conservancy lands for livestock
of Namibia’s Wildlife Conservation Model as It Relates to grazing, mining, oil drilling, and logging.
African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana)—reveals that this
disingenuous interpretation of CITES standards is only part of Such evidence led Cruise and Sasada to conclude, “Far
the story. Among the eye-opening revelations from the report: from being a success-story, Namibia’s much touted wildlife
Namibian authorities have overstated the frequency and conservation model and its adherence to sustainable
severity of wildlife-human conflicts, and removal of elephants utilisation of wildlife through community-based management
via trophy hunting or live capture from much of Namibia, has, in fact, achieved the opposite of what is commonly
including the Kunene region, is likely not sustainable. presented. Overall wildlife numbers are declining, and
Through literature reviews, wildlife population data analysis, elephant populations in the Kunene Region are collapsing,
extensive field work, and interviews with dozens of local while rural communities within the CBNRMs are as
citizens, their findings indicate that the 22 elephants impoverished as ever, in many cases, more so.”
exported to the UAE, like others before them, fell victim to a
management system that has largely avoided any substantive The saga of Namibia’s elephants is ongoing. The elephants
analysis of its efficacy. exported to the UAE are likely lost forever from Namibia’s wild
lands, but another 148, including some already captured, will
Since 1998, Namibia’s wild lands have been carved into be subject to the same fate if Namibia continues to prefer profit
86 Community-Based Natural Resource Management to protection. Similarly, unless the conservancy program is
conservancies (CBNRMs), which ostensibly promote fully reevaluated and either replaced or restructured to address
sustainable management of game animals and allow lucrative its glaring shortcomings, Namibia’s vast wildlife bounty will
consumptive and nonconsumptive uses, including eco- continue to decline, and the program’s promise to support the
tourism and trophy hunting by wealthy foreign visitors. well-being of the local people will remain illusory.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 15 S P R I N G 2022WILDLIFE
Many young wombats, orphaned
during Australia’s catastrophic
wildfires of 2019-2020, have been
taken in by Southern Cross Wildlife
Care in New South Wales. AWI
funded construction of an outdoor
recreation area for the animals.
AWI is happy to support these efforts
to provide long-term care to animals
impacted by the wildfires.
STUDY HIGHLIGHTS
TREVOR SCOUTEN
IMPORTANCE OF
RESTORING LARGE
MAMMALS TO
LANDSCAPES
A new study published in the
COURT RESTORES and trapping seasons. However, the
journal Ecography (Vynne et al.,
FEDERAL PROTECTIONS USFWS announced in September
2022) identifies key opportunities
FOR GRAY WOLVES that it was reviewing the status of
for improving ecosystem health
Northern Rockies wolves to determine
In a much-needed win for gray wolves, through restoration of large mammal
whether relisting may be warranted.
a federal court recently scrapped assemblages across terrestrial
a rule issued by the US Fish and ecoregions. Large mammals, which
Wildlife Service in 2020 that removed include top predators and large
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
wildlife
herbivores, play an outsized role in
protections from wolves across most of
AWI AIDS WILDLIFE their habitats, influencing everything
the contiguous 48 states. The court held
IMPACTED BY from vegetation to soil invertebrates.
that, among other missteps, the USFWS
AUSTRALIAN FIRES Yet less than 16 percent of Earth’s
had failed to adequately assess threats The wildfires that raged across Australia terrestrial surface still contains intact
such as habitat loss and inadequate in late 2019 and early 2020 were large mammal assemblages, resulting
legal protections for wolves on federal unprecedented in scope and severity. in widespread ecosystem instability.
public lands. The decision was the Nearly 3 billion animals, it is estimated,
latest in a long string of legal defeats were killed or displaced, including The study found that reintroducing just
the agency has suffered over the past numerous young wombats. Many 20 species across various ecoregions
two decades in its attempts to hand were orphaned when their mothers, would restore complete assemblages
wolf management back to the states. attempting to cross roads to escape the across 54 percent of the world’s lands.
fires, were killed by motor vehicles. The proposed reintroductions include
The effect of the court’s ruling was to bison, beavers, reindeer, wolves, and
return wolves in most states to the Some of these young wombats have lynx in Europe; wild horses and wolves
ESA’s list of threatened and endangered found a home at Southern Cross in Asia; hippos, cheetahs, wild dogs,
species. Consequently, wolves may Wildlife Care, a wildlife hospital and and lions in Africa; and brown bears,
no longer be hunted in places such rehabilitation center. To provide bison, wolverines, and black bears in
as Wisconsin, which allowed 218 of the animals with fresh air and the North America. The study highlighted
the animals to be shot and trapped opportunity to engage in natural 30 ecoregions in particular where,
during a three-day sport hunt last behaviors, AWI funded the construction within a relatively short time, feasible
year. The ruling did not affect wolves of a new, secure outdoor enclosure for reintroductions would lead to the most
in the Northern Rocky Mountains. daytime play. In it, they can explore, significant ecosystem benefits. These
This population was delisted in run through tunnels, and dig. Recovery recommendations come at a vital
2011 and has since been subjected from a disaster of this magnitude can time as nations work to address the
to increasingly aggressive hunting take years and even decades, and unfolding biodiversity crisis.
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 16 S P R I N G 2022Assessing the Usefulness of Blood Samples
to Monitor for Exposure to Anticoagulant
Rodenticide in Red-Tailed Hawks
by Maureen Murray, DVM, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
A nticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are rodent poisons
that have been widely used globally for decades for the
control of commensal rodents (those who live off what they
Blood and liver samples collected from each bird were
analyzed to determine if birds positive for ARs in the liver
would have detectable residues in their blood. Forty-three
obtain from human communities). Deaths due to exposure red-tailed hawks were included in the study. Fourteen of the
to these rodenticides have been documented in several bird birds died due to AR toxicosis; in these 14, ARs were present
of prey species, and an increasing number of studies from in both blood and liver. In the remaining 29 birds—who died
countries around the world have found residues of ARs from causes other than toxicosis—ARs were found in the
in predatory wildlife. Due to the persistence of ARs in the liver but not in the blood.
tissues of animals who ingest them, ARs bioaccumulate, and
their detection in numerous wildlife species indicates that The findings indicate that analysis of blood is not a reliable
they are likely pervasive in the food chain. way to monitor for exposure to ARs in red-tailed hawks who
do not have signs of AR toxicosis. Therefore, blood sampling
ARs concentrate and persist to the highest extent in the liver, within a select population would underestimate exposure.
making it the tissue of choice for AR analysis. Therefore, These data can inform future studies and risk assessments
most monitoring studies use liver tissue from deceased on AR exposure in birds. In addition, given that 100 percent
animals. It would be advantageous, however, to use blood of the hawks sampled for this study were positive for ARs
samples to test for exposure to ARs, as blood can be collected in liver tissue, this further demonstrates that exposure to
in the field from live animals. However, the sensitivity of ARs in this species remains pervasive despite regulations
blood for detection of ARs has not been well examined. enacted by the Environmental Protection Agency within the
last decade intended to reduce the risk of ARs to wildlife.
This study, supported by a Christine Stevens Wildlife Award
and published in the journal Environmental Toxicology
1. Editor’s note: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry included this study (doi.
and Chemistry,1 addressed whether blood samples can be org/10.1002/etc.4853) in its annual list of exceptional papers for 2020.
used to detect exposure to ARs in red-tailed hawks. Birds in
the study were admitted to Tufts Wildlife Clinic and either
died or were humanely euthanized due to AR poisoning or
injuries. No birds were euthanized to serve the study.
ONDREJ PROSICKY
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 17 S P R I N G 2022Big Trouble
for the slowly in the decades since, as of last year, there were only
about 2,000 individuals occupying around 6 percent of
Great Bear
their historical range.
Today, most grizzlies in the contiguous 48 states live in one
of two regions: the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem
(NCDE) in northwestern Montana, and the Greater
Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) surrounding Yellowstone
National Park. Twice in the last 15 years, the US Fish
The grizzly bear—sometimes referred to as the “great and Wildlife Service has removed ESA protections from
bear”—is a study in contrasts: powerful yet vulnerable, Yellowstone-area grizzlies—despite the threats posed by
long-studied but mysterious, admired and feared. Grizzlies climate change, high mortality levels due to conflicts with
have inhabited North America for tens of thousands of humans, and the prospect of diminished long-term genetic
years, persisting through the end of the last ice age even as health due to more than a century of isolation from other
many of their competitors—such as the giant short-faced grizzly populations. Twice, federal courts have intervened
bear and saber-toothed cat—went extinct. and restored those protections.
In the early 1800s, some 50,000 grizzlies roamed most That hasn’t stopped grizzly bear detractors from trying
of the western United States. However, the combination again. Last year, Montana legislators adopted a resolution
of westward expansion by European settlers and state and calling on the USFWS and Montana’s congressional
federal predator extermination campaigns slashed the delegation to delist all grizzlies in Montana. Federal
grizzly bear population in the contiguous 48 states to less lawmakers from both Montana and Wyoming introduced
than 2 percent of its pre-settlement population size and legislation that would remove protections from NCDE bears,
range. By 1975—the year they were listed as “threatened” GYE bears, or both, and exempt those actions from judicial
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)—as few as 700 review. Separately, in December, Montana’s governor
animals remained. Although the population has grown petitioned the USFWS to delist bears in northwestern
DENNIS STOGSDILL
AW I Q UA RT E R LY 18 S P R I N G 2022You can also read
