Carnivore Habitat Connectivity in the Green Mountains and Adirondacks

To hire Robert Long to coordinate a one-year research project on the habitat needs and potential connectivity of habitat blocks for large carnivores between the Green Mountains in Vermont and the Adirondacks in New York, to inform conservation planning efforts in the region.  Robert’s work with TNC will address two key questions: (1) what are the barriers to movement in the Lake George area for large carnivores (i.e., if they are moving between Lake Champlain valley and the Adirondacks as suspected, can they navigate the Lake George area given the development and agricultural lands in that region); and (2) using Robert’s innovative non-invasive field survey techniques and by applying computer models that he developed during his PhD work at the University of Vermont, can TNC’s existing connectivity mapping be improved to better reflect large carnivore needs?