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A video showing a close encounter between a hiker in Utah and a mountain lion defending her cubs went viral in 2020. The video, during which the hiker remained calm as the mountain lion followed him for several minutes, served as a visceral reminder that sharing the land with carnivores can be a complicated affair.
For conservation scientists like me, it also underscored that Americans have a fraught relationship with large carnivores like wolves, bears and mountain lions. My colleagues and I have proposed a federal policy that, when combined with other initiatives, could allow for sustainable coexistence between people and carnivores.
Major state and federal government efforts are underway to reintroduce grizzly bears to the Northern Cascades and gray wolves to Colorado. These are places where stable populations of these animals have not roamed for many decades.
More human development and, in some cases, expanding carnivore populations have led to more encounters between humans and carnivores. Coyote attacks on pets are more common, alligator bites are on the rise in some regions, and the killing of livestock by wolves has spread.
Increasing conflict with these species may unravel decades of conservation success.
From conflict to coexistence
To manage these risks, people too often default to the widespread killing of carnivores. In 2021 alone, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services euthanized nearly 70,000 bears, wolves, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes and foxes.
In the same year, controversial laws passed in Idaho and Montana that substantially reduced wolf numbers because people perceive these animals as risks to livestock production and game species hunting.
Thousands of animals die every year in wildlife killing contests that often target carnivores such as coyotes and bobcats. These contests are legal in more than 40 U.S. states – under the guise that they help with wildlife management and protect livestock.
But research has found that extensive carnivore killing to reduce levels of conflict is largely ineffective, ethically tenuous and undermines their conservation.
Instead, coexisting with carnivores can benefit both carnivores and people. For example, the presence of wolves and mountain lions lowers the frequency of vehicle collisions with deer, saving money and human lives. Foxes, likewise, reduce an abundance of small mammals that carry ticks, likely reducing cases of Lyme disease in humans. Sea otters maintain healthy kelp forests that support tourism and fisheries and capture carbon.
However, the U.S. has no unified approach for making interactions with carnivores more peaceful in the spaces that people share with them. Shared spaces – like multiuse forests and grasslands, coastlines, croplands and even cities – constitute over 70% of the continental U.S. by one estimate.
These spaces will grow more crowded as human development and population growth pushes people into greater contact with carnivores. Currently, however, the management of conflicts with carnivores is piecemeal across states and municipalities. It lacks sufficient resources and polarizes the public over how to manage these animals in the future.
And mitigating conflict as a policy objective is a short-term and partial solution that doesn’t enable long-term coexistence.
Policy for enabling coexistence
A federal policy like the one my colleagues and I propose that sets goals for sharing spaces with carnivores could allow for coexistence between people and carnivores while also recognizing local priorities.
While much of wildlife management takes place at the state level, having a federal policy framework could provide resources and incentives for states and communities to adopt specific coexistence strategies relevant to the carnivores in their area.
Large-scale policy goals may include lowering conflicts, increasing human tolerance to risks and fostering self-sustaining carnivore populations.
Coexistence strategies should prioritize using proven, nonlethal deterrence methods such as properly disposing of trash or other attractants, bringing pets inside, erecting barriers to separate livestock from carnivores in risky places and times, and working with guard animals such as dogs that are trained to protect herds from carnivores. These strategies not only reduce carnivores’ impact on human property and well-being but also facilitate carnivore recovery.
Several local projects demonstrate that nonlethal deterrence programs work. In Montana’s Blackfoot watershed, natural resource managers and local residents coordinate the disposal of livestock carcasses away from ranches. This prevents grizzlies and wolves from approaching the ranches.
The city of Durango, Colorado, has supplied its residents with automatically locking bear-resistant trash containers. These containers keep bears from damaging property or scaring residents while looking for food in them. A study found that these new trash containers reduced trash-related conflicts with bears by 60%.
Negative encounters with carnivores still occur in these cases, but now that the communities are collectively adapting to them, they are less severe. And these carnivores are less likely to be euthanized.
Some states are also taking incremental steps toward coexistence. For example, to reduce animal suffering, New Mexico passed the Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act in 2021 that bans the use of a trap, snare or poison to kill an animal on public land.
In 2023, Maryland and Colorado authorized provisions that help fund provisions to prevent lethal encounters with black bears and gray wolves, respectively.
A broader coexistence framework
These local and state-level successes are encouraging, but not enough to address the issue at a broader, national scale. A federal coexistence policy could harness the insights from these individual communities’ coexistence efforts and encourage other communities to adopt these techniques.
For example, members of universities, businesses, tribes, government and nongovernmental organizations and the public could come together at regional coexistence workshops to showcase their coexistence actions, receive support for new ideas and share tools and best practices.
A federal policy could allow states and communities to try out high-risk, high-reward initiatives, like Pay for Presence programs. One such program, established in northern Mexico near the U.S. border in 2007, compensates landowners for the documented presence of jaguars on their properties.
A federal policy might also facilitate the adoption of market-based solutions like predator-friendly meats. The predator-friendly certification enables ranchers who do not use lethal predator control to sell their meat products at a premium price.
A federal coexistence policy could also support community outreach and education programs. Teaching communities about carnivore behavior can help them to avoid potentially risky situations, like jogging with a dog or leaving children unattended in mountain lion territory.
By reducing negative encounters, these programs can enhance the adoption of nonlethal coexistence strategies, foster more positive attitudes toward carnivores and share the benefits carnivores offer humans.
There are promising signs that the federal government and some states are starting to pay more attention to coexistence with carnivores. As the segment of the American public that views wildlife as deserving of rights and compassion grows, translating an ethic of coexistence into good policy could better align policy with public values.
Neil Carter, Associate Professor of Wildlife Conservation, University of Michigan
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The space industry has changed dramatically since the Apollo program put men on the moon in the late 1960s.
Today, over 50 years later, private companies are sending tourists to the edge of space and building lunar landers. NASA is bringing together 27 countries to peacefully explore the Moon and beyond, and it is using the James Webb Space Telescope to peer back in time. Private companies are playing a much larger role in space than they ever have before, though NASA and other government interests continue to drive scientific advances.
I’m a macroeconomist who’s interested in understanding how these space-related innovations and the growing role of private industry have affected the economy. Recently, the U.S. government started tracking the space economy’s size. These data can tell us the size of the space-related industry, whether its outputs come mainly from government or private enterprise, and how they have been growing relative to the economy at large.
Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic made up over 80% of the U.S. space economy in 2021. The government held a 19% share of space spending, up from 16% in 2012 – mostly thanks to an increase in military spending.
Ways to measure the space economy
There are many ways to measure economic success in space.
One way is the economic impact. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which tracks the nation’s gross domestic product and other indicators, recently began to monitor the space economy and published figures from 2012 to 2021. The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated the impact of space using both broad and narrow definitions.
The broad definition comprises four parts: things used in space, like rocket ships; items supporting space travel, like launch pads; things getting direct input from space, like cell phone GPS chips; and space education, like planetariums and college astrophysics departments.
In 2021, the broad definition showed that total space-related sales, or what the government calls gross output, was over US$210 billion, before adjusting for inflation. That number represents about 0.5% of the whole U.S. economy’s total gross output.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis also has a narrow definition that excludes satellite television, satellite radio and space education. The difference in definitions is important because back in 2012 these three categories represented one-quarter of all space spending. However, by 2021, they only represented one-eighth of spending because many people had switched from watching satellite TV to streaming movies and shows over the internet.
Space’s share of the economy
A closer look at the data shows that space’s share of the U.S. economy is shrinking.
Using the broad definition and adjusting for inflation, the relative size of the space economy fell by about one-fifth from 2012 to 2021. This is because sales of space-related items – everything from rockets to satellite TV – have barely changed since 2015.
Using the narrow definition also shows the space economy is getting relatively smaller. From 2012 to 2021, the space sector’s inflation-adjusted gross output grew on average 3% a year, compared with 5% for the overall economy. This suggests space is not growing as fast as other economic sectors.
Space jobs
The number of jobs created by the space economy has also declined. In 2021, 360,000 people worked full- or part-time space-related jobs in the private sector, down from 372,000 about a decade earlier, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis could not track all space-related government jobs since spy agencies and parts of the military don’t provide much information. Nevertheless, it has tracked some since 2018. The military’s Space Force, which is the smallest branch, adds about 9,000 workers. NASA has about 18,000 employees, which is half of its 1960s peak.
Combining these government workers plus all private workers results in just under 400,000 people. To give some perspective, Amazon’s U.S. workforce is over twice as big and Walmart’s is four times bigger than reported U.S. space-related employment.
Growing competition in space
The U.S. has long dominated the space economy, especially in terms of government spending.
The U.S. government spent a little more than $40 billion in 2017, compared with about $3.5 billion spent by Japan and less than $2 billion by Russia.
Moreover, most of the top private space companies are based in the U.S., led by Boeing, SpaceX and Raytheon, which gives the U.S. a leg up in continuing to play a leading role with the rockets, satellites and other stuff needed to operate in space.
The U.S. also published more than twice the amount of space research in 2017 as its next nearest rival – China.
But China is catching up and has narrowed the gap in recent years as top Chinese officials decided success in space is a national priority. Their goal is reportedly to surpass the U.S. as the dominant space power by 2045. China recently put a large space station called the Tiangong into orbit and aims to put people on the Moon.
China’s not the only one joining the 21st century space race. India is expanding its space economy rapidly, with 140 space-tech startups. India launched a rocket on July 14, 2023, designed to put a lander and rover on the Moon. And the European Space Agency’s Euclid spacecraft plans to map parts of the universe to study dark matter. The ESA released the craft’s first test images at the end of July 2023.
The U.S. has a strong foothold in space. But whether it can maintain its lead – as the space race moves into a new frontier of space mining and missions to Mars – remains to be seen.
Jay L. Zagorsky, Clinical Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, Boston University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The allocation includes nearly $1.8 billion in funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and almost $200 million in funding from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Among the projects approved is $1.6 million in support allocations toward roadway realignments and other safety improvements along Route 20 near Clearlake Oaks to east of Walker Ridge Road in Lake County.
“These state and federal investments will continue to allow Caltrans to rebuild our transportation system so that it is more climate-change resilient, reduces pollution and travel times, and improves goods movement,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “These projects will have a direct, positive impact on every Californian. Commuters, truckers, and visitors will all benefit from more reliable roadways and a safer transportation network.”
Projects the California Transportation Commission approved include:
• $11.7 million toward the construction of a retaining wall, guardrail, drainage and other roadway improvements along Route 299 near Blue Lake to east of North Fork Mad River Bridge in Humboldt County.
• $300,000 toward mitigation work, revegetation and monitoring for a safety project on Route 299 from east of Cedar Creek Road to west of Route 96 near Willow Creek in Humboldt County.
• $8.1 million in federal IIJA funding toward the construction of a cable median barrier along U.S. 101 from Route 20 to Uva Drive/North State Street near Ukiah in Mendocino County.
• $17.4 million including more than $15.4 million in federal IIJA funding and $356,000 in SB1 funding toward improvements at Jack Peters Creek Bridge No. 10-0150 on Route 1 near the community of Mendocino in Mendocino County.
• $1.9 million in support allocations toward ADA curb ramps and sidewalks, bike lanes, transit stops and other safety improvements on U.S. 101 in Eureka from Truesdale Street to south of Humboldt Hill in Humboldt County.
• $2.1 million in support allocations toward storm repairs with roadway realignments on Route 299 near Blue Lake to east of Blue Lake Boulevard in Humboldt County.
• $100,000 in support allocations toward the construction of a left-turn lane on Route 1 at Ocean Drive near Gualala in Mendocino County.
• $5.6 million in SB1 funding in support allocations for seismic retrofit at Eel River Bridge No. 04-0016 on U.S. 101 in Rio Dell, Humboldt County.
• $1.8 million in SB1 funding in support allocations toward drainage upgrades, lighting and other roadway improvements at various locations on U.S. 101 in Humboldt County from Fortuna to the Del Norte County line.
• $2.6 million of emergency allocations toward roadway repairs as well as the removal of hazardous trees along Route 96 near Willow Creek to Tish Tang Campground in Humboldt County.
• $22.4 million of emergency allocations toward drainage and roadway repairs and the construction of retaining walls on U.S. 101 near Cooks Valley in Humboldt County.
• $28 million of emergency allocations toward bridge repairs at Fernbridge No. 04-0134 on Route 211 in Humboldt County following the Dec. 20, 2022 Earthquake.
• $6.5 million of emergency allocations toward roadway and drainage repairs and construction of a retaining wall along Route 299 near Willow Creek from Bair Road to Chezem Road in Humboldt County.
• $2.6 million of emergency allocations toward roadway and drainage repairs on U.S. 101 near Hopland to north of Comminsky Station Road in Mendocino County.
• $6.5 million of emergency allocations toward roadway, embankment and drainage repairs on U.S. 101 near Willits to Haehl Creek in Mendocino County.
• $2.6 million of emergency allocations toward bridge repairs at South Willits Overhead No. 10-0001 on U.S. 101 in Mendocino County.
• $1.9 million of emergency allocations toward roadway and drainage repairs on U.S. 101 near Leggett to north of Cummings Road in Mendocino County.
• $125,000 of emergency allocations toward the removal of hazardous trees at various locations on U.S. 101 in Mendocino County.
The IIJA, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure to improve the sustainability and resiliency of our energy, water, broadband and transportation systems. California has received more than $22 billion since the IIJA’s passage in November 2021.
SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared equally between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.
For more information about California transportation projects funded by the IIJA and SB 1, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake’s Soap Box Derby is scheduled to race through the streets once more in October.
The fourth annual event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Dam Road Extension in Clearlake.
Homemade cars in several divisions will race for the honor of being the fastest to traverse the track on Dam Road Extension.
In addition to the racing fun, there will be food and vendors.
For information on building your vehicle, registration or to be a vendor please contact Tina Viramontes at 707-994-8201, Extension 131, or
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has dogs that are continuing to wait for their new home.
The Clearlake Animal Control website continues to list 32 dogs for adoption.
This week’s dogs include “Freddy,” a 4 and a half year old male German shepherd-Labrador retriever mix. He has been neutered.
Also available is “Paige,” a female pit bull terrier mix with a short gray and white coat. She has been spayed.
The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email
This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
A news briefing with tribal officials and legislators will be followed by a joint committee oversight hearing highlighting findings from a state auditor’s report released in June.
The review cites the CSU system’s lapses and failures to ensure the timely return of Native American remains and cultural objects.
Lawmakers will closely probe CSU officials for their responses to the audit and for an explanation of the state system’s failure to comply with the 1990 federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGRPRA, and its 2001 state counterpart, CalNAGPRA.
Only 6% of CSU’s almost 700,000 remains and items have been repatriated, according to the audit.
Key findings of the audit — which reviewed all 23 CSU campuses and conducted on-site reviews at four sites, Chico State University, Sacramento State University, San Diego State University, and San Jose State University — included:
• Twelve of the 21 CSU campuses with collections have not finished reviews required by NAGPRA, and 16 campuses have little or no repatriation activities.
• Two campuses returned remains to tribes without following NAGPRA’s requirements for notifying other tribes and six campuses violated CalNAGPRA by handling collections without first consulting with tribes.
• Campuses lack the policies, funding, and staff to support repatriation efforts.
CSU Interim President Sylvia Alva will testify at the hearing along with the following CSU campus representatives:
• Min-Tung “Mike” Lee, president of Sonoma State University, which had the largest number of collections at 185,300 during the audit period, even as the campus review of remains and items has not been completed. Only 0.2% of the collection has been repatriated.
• CSU Chico President Steve Perez, whose campus has the second highest number of collections — 150,200 — and has returned some remains or items but has not followed the process outlined in NAGPRA.
• Luke Wood, president, CSU Sacramento, with the third largest collection numbered at 115,900, with 5% percent of the remains and artifacts repatriated. Its review has not been completed.
• Amir Dabirian, provost, CSU Fullerton, a campus with 8,300 collections of which 0.2%have been repatriated.
Four CSU campuses — Monterey Bay, Stanislaus, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — have not yet provided data needed to estimate the size of their NAGPRA collections.
The state auditor reported these four campuses showed human remains in their collections and disclosed holding more than 100 boxes still needing review.