The Conservation Agency is a scientific, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the conservation of natural biodiversity: the world’s fauna and flora. We are distinctly different from the many other fine conservation organizations because we concentrate on scientific research and publication of results, usually in peer-reviewed journals. Our efforts can be divided into two broad, overlapping areas:
Exploration and Discovery We head out into the field, often to remote corners of the world, searching for new species, lost species, critical habitats, and insights into ecological relationships. We do population assessments, animal behavior research, and recovery plans. We get muddy, or sandy, or sweaty, or sometimes thoroughly chilled – or all of those things. We catch animals, collect plant specimens, and document habitats. We write up our results and publish them.
Conservation and Management Based on our fieldwork, we produce management plans for individual species, particular habitats, and even whole ecosystems. We get this information into the hands of governmental agencies, land acquisition organizations, and stewardship groups. We even directly manage some sites ourselves, such as Snake Acres in the Lower Florida Keys and the Guana Island Wildlife Sanctuary in the British Virgin Islands.
Our efforts begin at home in southeastern New England, extend across North America, and include the West Indies, East Indies, China, Australia, and sometimes Africa: from Nantucket to New Caledonia, Newfoundland to Tasmania. Our list of over 450 publications provides an overview of our accomplishments and activities
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NBCS update: Sherlock turns out to be quite the rambler! On the map attached you can see that much of her activity is focused on Taylor Point as shown by the pile of GPS points and the lines of travel leading to and from. She led us to one of her food sources there this week at the Taylor Point Lookout. Check out this photo shot by Mike Cappuccilli who caught her taking advantage of open trash barrels on a snowy Feb 19.
Anyone got a caption for that?
youtu.be/WRuxGdasBzg
A NEW VIDEO from NBCS, Andes Visual, and our study partners! This film explains what our GPS tracking research has been showing about successful management of coyote populations.
Note: This film does not address habituated individual coyotes or the role of hunting and trapping.
Hope this will show what works, what doesn't work, and why.
Coyote Troubles...Why Not Just Shoot Them?
youtu.be
Hunting, and trapping helps to keep coyotes wary of people, but lethal control (hunting, trapping, poisoning) is not effective in controlling coyote populati...For more about Jamestown’s newest poster coyote, Sherlock,
click photo-link to NBCS below. We should have a caption contest...
theconservationagency.org
Did you know that putting out food attractants for coyotes is illegal in Jamestown? Fortunately, they can’t read... A 30-pound female coyote caught and GPS-collared in the wilds of Watson Farm has turned out to be remarkably relaxed around people and residential areas. Her travel paths lead from t...Well.... Sherlock is not what we expected.
One NBCS goal this season was to capture, GPS collar, and track two coyotes from Watson and adjacent farms to see how they interact with or impact the farming operations. Max Sherman, farm manager, has read the coyotes the rules: no eating sheep.
So far, Watson (our first coyote collared) seems to be behaving herself, and has the expected territory encompassing the Windmill Hill farms. Sherlock, however, clearly did not read the experimental plan (the coyotes are not on the payroll) and has decided she is NOT going to be a Watson Farm Coyote. Instead she is all over the island. Yesterday she was on the Beavertail. And last night Meghann Kimball saw her cruise by Cumby's!
She seems to be less shy than expected around people and the Village; if you are lucky enough to see her please do not ever feed her. She is cheeky enough already and is great at catching mice. See attached Maps.
The NBCS team rang in the new year collaring two healthy coyotes on Watson Farm in Jamestown! On January 1st, we captured a female we call "Watson," and on January 7th, we captured a second female we call "Sherlock." Watson is about 1 year old and Sherlock is at least 2. Special thanks to Max Sherman, farm manager, and Katie Martin, resident farmer, from Watson Farm!