Evaluating the Success of Oak Management in Southern Michigan
Oak woodlands are diverse and important habitats that are shrinking as fire suppression leads to mesophication of forests. We are working closely with Michigan DNR to evaluate the success of oak woodland management to better guide future forest management for the benefit of vegetation, mammal, and bird communities. |
Impacts of Wild Hogs on Songbirds
Wild hogs have numerous impacts on the environment from directly consuming small vertebrates, to competing with mast-dependent species, and altering the environment by rutting up young vegetation. We are using game cameras to quantify hog activity and density in bottomland hardwood forests on Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge and relating that to the behavior and occupancy of songbirds in these areas. |
Beaver response to pond leveling devices
No other mammal in North America shapes the landscape as much as the American Beaver. Unfortunately, their damming behavior often leads to conflict with humans as they can inadvertently damage infrastructure and property. We are evaluating how beavers respond to the installation of pond leveling devices. If we can ensure that the installation of these devices will not cause beavers to abandon, we have at our disposal a powerful and cost-effective means to coexist with this important ecosystem engineer. |
Armadillos: Ecology, Behavior, and Distribution
We are studying a number of aspects of armadillo behavior and ecology including how they respond to human development, their habitat associations, the numerous wildlife species that use their burrows, and their current and predicted distribution within the United States. This underappreciated species is spreading rapidly and because of their burrow exacavating behavior, play in important and overlooked role in shaping wildlife communities and habitat structure. We are studying this fascinating species to raise its profile, but understand its still evolving ecological role, and to help prepare Michigan for their arrival. |
Improving Massasauga Surveys
We are working with Fish and Wildlife Service and the Dept of Defense to better understand how drift fences and camera traps can be used to survey for this secretive and imperiled rattlesnake. |
Snapshot USA
We are very excited to be contributors to the nation-wide camera trapping project called Snapshot USA coordinated by the Smithsonian Institute and North Carolina State University. Our lab has been contributing since its start in 2019 and have collected and contributed data from 5 sites in Arkansas and 4 sites in Michigan. Furthermore, we have used these data to answer ecological questions about predator-prey interactions, animal behavior, and the distribution and activity patterns of focal species. |