🧪Now that the flaws in Ripple et al. (2025) are on record, it’ll be an interesting test of scientific integrity to see if and how that paper is used. This Science letter, for instance, cites Ripple et al. (2025) in calling for strict wolf protection across Europe. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Even 17.5× is inflated—it reflects average sapling density driven by a minority of plots. Most aspen plots (green = median) stayed flat—half had no saplings, and only a small fraction (purple, pink) increased.
doi.org/10.32942/X2W...

🧪About that “152×” Yellowstone aspen claim (see WaPo headline). In a new preprint we show it’s a math error that inflated the effect by 768%. Corrected: 17.5×. Preprint: doi.org/10.32942/X2W...

Claims about “wolves reshaping ecosystems” are powerful—but only if they’re accurate. This Aspen Times article on Colorado’s wolf reintroduction shows why getting the Yellowstone trophic cascade story right matters for public understanding and policy:
www.aspentimes.com/news/colorad...

🧪 phys.org/news/2025-10...

🧪You may have heard that large-carnivore recovery in Yellowstone National Park triggered one of the world’s strongest trophic cascades. Our new open-access article explains why that story doesn’t hold up: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

🧪 New preprint

We critically evaluate claims of a strong trophic cascade in Yellowstone following wolf recovery, identifying major methodological flaws that undermine this conclusion.

Read the full analysis here (open access): doi.org/10.32942/X2Q...

#Ecology #Yellowstone #TrophicCascades

A bill that threatened to decimate Wyoming's mountain lion populations fell spectacularly flat on Tuesday.

Environmental groups, hunting orgs, houndsmen and citizens testified by the dozen encouraging lawmakers to kill a La Barge representative’s proposal to do away with science-based management.

Two bills seeking to roughly halve Montana’s wolf population pass out of committee. HB 222 and HB 176 seek to reduce Montana’s wolf population by expanding the hunting season and lifting hunting and trapping limits. montanafreepress.org/2025/01/24/t...

House Bill 176 would allow the killing of entire Yellowstone wolf packs that roam outside Yellowstone National Park's boundaries in Montana. Northern Yellowstone wolf packs are particularly at risk, as demonstrated by events earlier this winter. wyofile.com/fifth-wolf-k...

Montana seeks to cap its wolf population at 450. House Bill 176 proposes several measures to reduce wolf numbers when the population is at or above 450, including allowing a single hunter to kill an unlimited number of wolves. Hearing: today, 3 PM MST. bills.legmt.gov#/laws/bill/2...

New open access paper by John Benson & colleagues explores the drivers of group cohesion in social canids. Cohesion varies widely, shaped by life history, prey, group size, and humans. In wolves, it declines as pack size grows or human disturbance increases. 🧪 doi.org/10.1002/ecy....

Our new paper offers rare insights into the ecology of wolves in the High Arctic. GPS tracking revealed relatively high wolf densities, year-round territories, and likely sustainable muskox predation—but also potential risks to endangered Peary caribou. doi.org/10.1002/jwmg...

Please add me to the science feed. I'm a professor of ecology at Utah State University, @danmacnulty.bsky.social, orcid.org/0000-0002-91..., scholar.google.com/citations?us.... Thank you!

One pack in our study grew to over 20 wolves, including 11 pups—an impressive size for such an extreme environment. In this photo, it numbered at least 27, underscoring the remarkable productivity of this polar desert ecosystem.

Our new paper offers rare insights into the ecology of wolves in the High Arctic. GPS tracking revealed relatively high wolf densities, year-round territories, and likely sustainable muskox predation—but also potential risks to endangered Peary caribou. doi.org/10.1002/jwmg...

Much appreciate @soseaemerald.bsky.social for helping the public understand our recent paper debunking the myth that fear of wolves drives aspen recovery in Yellowstone. The lead image features another wily canid—the coyote. doi.org/10.1002/ecm.... southseattleemerald.org/news/2024/12...