June 2021 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES
CKING
Some carnivores
are so uncommon
in Wyoming,
researchers relish
any evidence of
them in the state
By Steven Buskirk
and Elizabeth Wommack
18 | March 2021
THE
RAREST
CARNIVORES
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
VOLUME 85, NUMBER 6 * JUNE 2021
State of Wyoming
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
Governor
President
Vice President
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Wyoming Wildlife | 19
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director
You make
a difference
By Tracie Binkerd, editor
Wyoming Wildlife's readers have proven
to be astute and knowledgeable when it
comes to outdoor happenings. I see this
often through letters to the editor and
when people reach out with questions and
comments. That's why the magazine often
prints information about how readers can
get involved and help through citizen
science - the practice of involving the
public in scientific research. Our pages
have encouraged you to get involved in all
types of species and causes. such as how
to identify and report invasive species like
bullfrogs, prevent the spread of harmful
aquatic invasive species like quagga and
zebra mussels and how to report new
emergences of cheatgrass. We've asked
readers to tell us about rare bird sightings
and to report wildlife violations to the
Stop Poaching Hotline. No matter the
ask, you have been there to support
wildlife conservation.
Never before have I seen as much
response as to the article, " Tracking the
rarest carnivores, " in the March 2021
issue. The article looked at some of the
rarest carnivores in the Cowboy State and
how useful reports of these animals are
for researchers. Authors Steve Buskirk,
professor emeritus of zoology and
physiology at the University of Wyoming,
and Beth Wommack, staff curator and
4 | June 2021
collections manager at the University of
Wyoming Museum of Vertebrates, hoped
the story would garner some interest with
outdoor enthusiasts. They want to learn
more about the habitat these animals use
and their distribution.
I was thrilled in early March to boot
up my computer and find an email
reporting a rare carnivore sighting -
a least weasel. Not only did the email
include a date and location, but it had
a photo of the small critter. I eagerly
sent the report on to researchers. One
additional report of a rare carnivore was
a win. But the reports didn't stop there.
Within days, another reader emailed with
her own sightings of rare carnivores. She
also included chronicles of rare wildlife
from her sister, dated back to 1953. Other
reports have come in over the last couple
of months, too, and I'm sure we haven't
seen the last of them.
To Wyoming Wildlife readers, thank
you for supporting the state's amazing
wildlife. Your commitment to wildlife
conservation is meaningful and truly
makes a difference in several ways. I'm
always happy to hear from you. Whether
as a comment on a recent article or to
report a rare carnivore sighting, you bring
a smile to my face and make me happy
to edit this magazine. I look forward to
more opportunities to share Wyoming's
wildlife and learn from you all.
Deputy Director
Deputy Director
Chief of Fiscal
Chief of Wildlife
Chief of Fisheries
Chief of Services
Brian Nesvik
John Kennedy
Angela Bruce
Greg Phipps
Richard King
Alan Osterland
Eric Wiltanger
Magazine Staff
Editor
Associate Editor
Creative Director
Administrative Assistant
Tracie Binkerd
Robert Gagliardi
Patrick Owen
Meg Frost
Wyoming Wildlife (ISSN 0043-9819) is published monthly (including the November
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2021
