Environment

Pinyon jays on the decline, but river otters return

SDPB Radio | By Jackie Hendry,

Published June 13, 2023 at 7:09 AM CDT

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River otters are a semi-aquatic mammal that at one time could be found in rivers across the entirety of the Great Plains. Due to overharvesting and habitat degradation, the river otter became nearly extinct. In the late 1990s, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe reintroduced approximately 35 river otters into the Big Sioux River. Since then, the population has slowly stabilized and now, two South Dakota State University researchers are attempting to learn more about the population and the otters' habitat needs. — An image of river otters captured by a trail camera.

This interview originally aired on In the Moment on SDPB Radio.

Amanda Cheeseman, Ph.D., has spent years working with graduate students on various research projects at South Dakota State University. She's currently overseeing studies on pinyon jays and river otters.

Pinyon jays may gain endangered species status soon. That's thanks in part of wildfire management strategies. How can agencies balance preventing fires with protecting pinyon jay habitats? Cheeseman is exploring that exact question.

While those birds are leaving the state entirely, South Dakota has taken river otters off the state's endangered list. Cheeseman is tracking otter numbers using trail cameras. However, the otters' thick fur coats often trick the cameras' infrared triggers.

Cheeseman discusses how artificial intelligence can solve that problem.