Newsletter Fall 2020

2021 International Conference Rescheduled

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.

Fertility Control Symposium at The Wildlife Society's Annual Conference

The BIWFC sponsored a symposium titled "Fertility Control to Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflicts" at The Wildlife Society's Annual Conference. The presentations included:

Deer Population Demographic Impacts of Intensive Surgical Sterilization Treatments, presented by Anthony DeNicola, White Buffalo, Inc. Use of Fertility Control to Manage Urban Prairie Dog Populations, presented by Dan Salkeld, Colorado State University The Current Status and Future of Fertility Control Technologies to Manage Peri-Urban Kangaroo Populations in Eastern Australia, presented Lyn A. Hinds, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation BLM Wild Horse and Burro Fertility Management: Application and Research, presented by Paul Griffin, Bureau of Land Management Current and Future Research Towards New Methods of Fertility Control for Wildlife, presented by Douglas Eckery, USDA National Wildlife Research Center

The symposium presentations will be posted here once available.

November 17 Webinar Featuring Dr. Anthony DeNicola

BIWFC will host a webinar, "Deer Population Demographic Impacts of Intensive Surgical Sterilization Treatments", featuring Dr. Anthony DeNicola, President of White Buffalo, Inc. on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 1-2PM (EDT). Dr. DeNicola will present data on his six surgical sterilization sites with open populations in California, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and New York. From 2012 to 2020, Dr. DeNicola and his team sterilized 493 deer via tubal ligation and ovariectomy. They noted an average reduction in deer abundance of 25% from Year 1 to Year 2. At research sites with 4 years of sterilization treatment (4 sites), they noted an average total reduction of 45%. His results demonstrate that significant reductions in local deer densities using high percentage surgical sterilization programs can be achieved. In this webinar, Dr. DeNicola will also provide details on long-term program maintenance strategies using local volunteers. Register here.

PZP-22 Webinar Now Available

The BIWFC hosted a webinar titled "PZP-22: Multi-Year Reversible Contraception for Wild Horses and Deer" featuring Dr. John Turner, Jr., Professor at the University of Toledo College of Medicine, and Dr. Allen Rutberg, BIWFC Advisory Board Member and Director of the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University. The presentation addressed the development, assessment and application of the PZP-22 controlled-release vaccine as a management tool. View this webinar here.

New BIWFC Grantee

The BIWFC recently approved a grant to Utah Film Center for a project titled “Project Coexistence”. This documentary short film will showcase the role of contraception in wild species around the world to foster human-wildlife coexistence and further educate the public about wildlife fertility control. Read more about our previous grantees here.

Wildlife Fertility Control Repository

The BIWFC Repository aims to be the resource for all research related to wildlife fertility control. Recent additions to the repository include research on:

An oral GnRH-based vaccine Modelling immunocontraception for wild pigs Vectored gene delivery Public perceptions Intrauterine devices for mares

Click here to view these papers.

If you authored or co-authored a peer-reviewed article related to the field of 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' guidelines.

Podcast Features

The BIWFC Science and Policy Director Stephanie Boyles Griffin recently was a guest on "Our Hen House" Podcast discussing effective ways to mitigate conflicts between humans and wildlife including the use of fertility control. Click here to listen. Previous podcasts include "Projects for Wildlife" and "The Other Animal". All podcasts can be found here.

Support for Public Policy & Educational Projects

The BIWFC seeks to support public policy research projects that will help the public and policymakers understand and evaluate existing policies on wildlife fertility control.

Potential projects include: Seminars Workshops Human dimension studies Public Perception Analysis Stakeholder Analysis Economic Analysis Community Outreach Documentaries

More information can be found here.

Fertility Control Fact Sheets

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.

IMPORTANT DATES

Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference (virtual), December 8-10, 2020

The BIWFC will be a sponsor at the Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference. This conference series aims to promote the use of science to identify appropriate wildlife management principles and practices, to develop plans of management, and to implement and review these plans with a social, environmental, economic and political context.

International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, Spring 2021

The BIWFC will attend and present at the International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, hosted by 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."

IN THE NEWS

Thai City Overrun by Monkeys Implementing Sterilization

CNN reported on the complex issue of the growing monkey population in Lopburi, Thailand. Along with educating tourist about feeding the monkeys, the province completed its largest sterilization campaign. "This year we sterilized 1,200 monkeys in Lopburi (916 of those were in the city), a new record. Normally we would do around 400 monkeys a year."

Oocyte Growth Factor Vaccine

The Bureau of Land Management has begun testing a oocyte growth factor vaccine as new fertility control method for wild horses. AG Information Network explains that, if viable, a single dose of the oocyte growth factor vaccine would prevent pregnancy up to 3 years.

Multi-faceted Approach to Deer Management in Ohio

South Euclid, Ohio is working with the USDA to manage the local deer population. While initially implementing sharpshooting, the City Council plans to include sterilization and public education. Read the full story here.

Wild Horse Podcast Series

Wildish is a six-part podcast series that discusses the wild horse management dilemma in the Western United States. Interviewees include both activists and government officials. Click here to listen to the series.

Click here to view more articles

STAFF

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 - Digital Media Specialist Carolyn Rauch - Senior Meeting Specialist

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