~ Winter 2021 Newsletter ~ |
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Happy New Year! This year the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control commemorates its 5th anniversary year. We are very proud of our accomplishments thus far.
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Due to the pandemic, during 2020 the Institute increased its on-line presence to include additional webinars, an on-line video library, and continuing participation in various wildlife podcasts. To commemorate our 5th anniversary, we are excited to announce a newly expanded grants program to include a wider range of topics within our guidelines. While our in-person opportunities are limited due to the pandemic, our webinar series and video series will continue in full force. After two years of development and production, we will also be releasing our educational film, “An Overview of Wildlife Fertility Control.” We continue to grow our one-of-a-kind repository of publications on wildlife fertility control. Additionally, we plan to host a virtual workshop in spring or summer 2021. As always, check our website regularly for updates.
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Thank you for following our work. We are looking forward to a productive, albeit virtual year ahead. |
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Prairie Dog Webinar featuring Dr. Dan Salkeld
January 28 at 1pm EST
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The BIWFC is hosting a free webinar titled The Use of Fertility Control to Manage Urban Prairie Dog Populations, featuring BIWFC grantee Dr. Dan Salkeld. In this webinar, Dr. Salkeld, Research Scientist at Colorado State University, will discuss results of an investigation into the potential of an immunocontraceptive – GonaCon – to manage prairie dog populations humanely and sustainably by reducing breeding success. Three matched pairs of sites were used in this study – one site where adult female prairie dogs were vaccinated with GonaCon, and one site where a sham vaccine was administered – in Fort Collins and Denver, Colorado. Visual measures of reproductive output (number of offspring emerging from adult females’ burrows) were significantly lower in Gonacon-treated sites.
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Click here to register to attend this webinar.
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BIWFC Grant Pre-Applicant Informational Webinar
February 4, 2021 at 10am EST
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As part of BIWFC’s 5th anniversary celebration in 2021, we are pleased to announce our next grant cycle with new and expanded grant categories! We invite applications seeking up to $25,000 USD from all who wish to contribute to the field of wildlife fertility control in one of the following ways:
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- Public Policy
- Public Education/Stakeholder Analysis (i.e. hunters, veterinarians, ecologists, community leaders, and animal advocates) – includes community outreach and engagement
- Feasibility Studies and Cost
- Proof of Concept studies including, but not limited to, new agents, recombinant agents, controlled release technology, identification and delivery systems
- Coordinated environmental controls
- Modelling Systems
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Please join Monique Principi, BIWFC’s Managing Director, and Stephanie Boyles Griffin, BIWFC’s Science and Policy Director, for a pre-applicant webinar in which they will review the new grant guidelines and instructions, the LOI and grant application timelines, and answer questions.
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Register here to attend the informational pre-applicant webinar.
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Details on the new grant cycle timeline can be found here.
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BIWFC Joins Animal Grantmakers |
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The Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control is pleased to announce that it is now a member of Animal Grantmakers, a voluntary association of nearly 40 foundations and organizations that provide grants to benefit animals. BIWFC will help to elevate awareness around the importance of wildlife fertility control among a dedicated group of animal funders. While Animal Grantmakers itself does not make grants, BIWFC’s participation in this group will enable us to collaborate with fellow animal funders as we seek to elevate our support of wildlife fertility control projects. Please click here to learn more about Animal Grantmakers.
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2021 International Conference Rescheduled |
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Due to the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, the BIWFC has made the decision to reschedule the 9th International Conference on Wildlife Fertility Control to May 23-25, 2022. More information will be posted here when available.
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Wildlife Fertility Control Repository |
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The BIWFC Repository aims to be the resource for all research related to wildlife fertility control. Recent additions to the repository include the following papers:
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"Wildlife Contraception and Political Cuisinarts" (2020)
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"DNA Vaccine Targeting Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor and Its Application in Animal Contraception" (2018)
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"Efficacy of dart-delivered PZP-22 immunocontraceptive vaccine in wild horses (Equus caballus) in baited traps in New Mexico, USA" (2019)
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"Immunogenicity and contraceptive efficacy of Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant porcine zona pellucida proteins" (2013)
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Click here to view more papers.
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If you authored or co-authored a peer-reviewed article related to wildlife fertility control and would like your work to be included, please forward the PDF articles to biwfc@botstiber.org. We will archive your work after reviewing the publishers' policy and guidelines.
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Fertility Control Fact Sheets |
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Downloadable fact sheets containing information on various fertility control agents are accessible on the BIWFC website. Recently added are fact sheets explaining OvoControl and PZP-22.
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Virtual International Urban Wildlife Conference, May 25-27 |
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The BIWFC will attend the Virtual International Urban Wildlife Conference. Hosted by the Urban Wildlife Working Group of The Wildlife Society, this conference plans to bring together scientists, urban planners, city officials, and educators to discuss wildlife and natural resources in urban environments.
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Pathways: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conference, Sept. 19-21 |
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The BIWFC will attend Pathways: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conference in Bremerton, WA September 19-22, 2021. Hosted by Colorado State University Department of Human Dimensions of Wildlife, this conference series aims to address the myriad of issues that arise as people and wildlife struggle to coexist in a sustainable and healthy manner. Its mission is to increase professionalism and effectiveness in the Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management field.
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International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence |
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The BIWFC will attend and present at the International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, hosted by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Human-Wildlife Conflict Task Force in Oxford, UK. Dr. Giovanna Massei, BIWFC Advisory Board Member, will present on "The Other Side of Human-Wildlife Conflicts: A Global Perspective on Fertility Control to Manage Overabundant Wildlife."
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PZP Program in Nevada Affects Wild Horses Worldwide |
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According to Deseret News, an intense vaccination program in Nevada involving wild horses could help refine the science of fertility control in additional wild horse populations as well other species like elephants in Africa.
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Deer Management in Fire Island, NY |
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The topic of deer management is particularly contentious in Fire Island, NY, where there is a history of fertility control use and, recently, a professional sharpshooting program. The Wall Street Journal explains the complicating factor of humans.
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Click here to view more articles
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Stephanie Boyles Griffin - Science and Policy Director
Monique Principi - Managing Director
Rachel Soroka - Program Assistant
Rosalie Lombardo - Communications Officer
Lawrence Green - Outreach Coordinator
Elizabeth Leitzell - Multimedia Production Specialist
Carolyn Rauch - Manager, Meetings and Events
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For more information, please visit our website
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