The eastern band of cherokee indian s office of fisheries and wildlife management actively implements over 40 projects to adaptively manage and protect fisheries and wildlife resources across the…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $200,000 Tribal Wildlife Grant (CFDA 15.639) to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) for a 2-year project period from October 18, 2024 to October 18, 2026. The grant supports EBCI's Office of Fisheries and Wildlife Management in implementing over 40 projects to adaptively manage and protect fisheries and wildlife resources across the Qualla Boundary. Key activities include using environmental DNA, camera trapping, acoustics, and other non-invasive methods to evaluate and manage bear populations, sicklefin redhorse, native brook trout, bats, otters, fish, aquatic communities, birds, and amphibians. The data collected will inform EBCI's conservation and management efforts for these species, including those of cultural or traditional importance. This grant aligns with the Tribal Wildlife Grants program's objectives of supporting tribal wildlife conservation initiatives on tribal lands.

The eastern band of cherokee indian s office of fisheries and wildlife management actively implements over 40 projects to adaptively manage and protect fisheries and wildlife resources across the boundary. This year, we wish to continue our cutting-edge non-invasive resource management techniques and expand them to include an evaluation of otter impacts on our trout fishing industry. We aim to use environmental DNA (edna) and a variety of non-invasive methods (camera trapping, acoustics, etc.) to evaluate and manage bear populations, sicklefin redhorse, native brook trout, bats, otters, fish, aquatic communities, birds, and amphibians. We aim to use these datasets to inform our conservation and management efforts.