Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

A dental dilemma: bear teeth reveal a spatial gradient in age of primiparity, but temporal trends muddled when bears grew fast

Abstract Age of primiparity (AOP) in American black bears (Ursus americanus) is driven by nutrition. We estimated AOP from patterns of cementum annuli in female bear teeth (more than 16 000), which were collected from hunters in Minnesota, USA, over five decades. AOP was delayed...

Estimating temporal (2019–2025) and regional effects on Minnesotans' attitudes toward wolf hunting

Public attitudes toward wolf hunting are important for developing socially responsive wolf management policy. Drawing on two representative surveys of state residents, this study examined change in Minnesotans' (USA) support for wolf hunting in 2019 and 2025. We found that slight...

Wolves increase germination speed and success of blueberries

Abstract Seed dispersal plays a key role in facilitating important ecological processes that reduce plant competition, parasitism and predation while promoting gene flow and biodiversity. In many ecosystems across North America and Eurasia, wolves consume fruits when available. H...

Molecular methods for differentiating Phragmites australis subspecies and identification of hybrid stands in the Upper Midwestern United States

Abstract Premise In North America, Phragmites australis (common reed) has drawn a great deal of research attention. Non‐native P. australis subsp. australis is a noxious weed that has locally displaced native P. australis subsp. americanus in some areas. Although morphological fe...