The Wildlife Society (TWS) is currently accepting applications for its Leadership Institute. The Institute’s goal is to facilitate development of new leaders within TWS and the wildlife profession. The Institute will recruit 10-15 promising early-career professionals for a series of intensive activities and mentoring relationships. The focus will be on exposing the participants to the inner workings of TWS and increasing the number of active leaders in TWS and the wildlife profession.

From May until October, participants will engage in a series of activities to develop and expand their leadership skills. Institute members will also attend the TWS Annual Conference in Portland (October 12-17, 2012) and participate in various activities, including mentoring and leadership workshop sessions. The Institute is free, and participants also receive free registration and a travel grant for the conference.

Participation in the Institute is geared toward early-career professionals, individuals 2 to 3 years out of school (either undergraduate or graduate school), currently working full-time in a wildlife professional position, and with demonstrated evidence of their leadership potential. A small number of slots may also be available for (1) more recent graduates who have shown strong evidence of their leadership potential or (2) those who are working while concurrently pursuing a graduate degree. All applicants must be members of TWS and a Chapter or Section of TWS. The selection committee will be seeking to create a diverse group, with participants of varying gender, ethnic, and regional diversity. Selection will be based upon:

• An excellent academic record
• Demonstrated leadership capability or potential
• Demonstrated level of excellence in current position
• Commitment to and involvement in TWS

Preference will be given to individuals who are certified as Associate Wildlife Biologists® or Certified Wildlife Biologists®, or who have submitted such an application to TWS.

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Application form (available at http://joomla.wildlife.org/leadershipinstitute/)
• Cover letter with evidence of leadership capacity or potential, such as previous leadership positions held in TWS Chapters or Student Chapters or in other organizations
• Résumé including a list of publications, awards, etc.

• Academic transcript/s (scanned copy)
• 2 letters of recommendation from supervisors, academic advisors, professors, or others in leadership positions with whom you have worked and who are familiar with your leadership potential, commitment to TWS, and commitment to wildlife management and conservation
• Letters should be e-mailed directly to: Christine Carmichael (ccarmichael@wildlife.org), subject line “Leadership Institute Recommendation for [applicant last name]”
• An essay (1000 word limit), which succinctly summarizes (1) your concept of leadership, (2) your aspiration for your role within TWS in 5 to 10 years, and (3) why you are an ideal candidate for the Institute

Application deadline is March 16, 2012. E-mail all materials (except the application form, which is submitted online) to: Christine Carmichael (ccarmichael@wildlife.org). Visit www.wildlife.org for more information (click on ‘Leadership Institute’ on the left).

As of Wednesday, January 18, 2012, Florida is officially home to the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area. In accordance with President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar accepted 10-acres of land in south-central Florida from The Nature Conservancy to officially establish the refuge. The plan aims for a total refuge and conservation area of 150,000 acres.

This refuge and conservation area is the product of years of planning and sets a new standard for landscape level planning and on-the-ground collaboration. About two-thirds of the total land, or 100,000 acres, will be preserved through conservation easements purchased from private citizens in the target area. These easements allow the landowners to retain ownership of their land while also giving them the ability to maintain any farming or animal husbandry operations in practice. However, no commercial or residential development of the land is allowed.

Spanning four Florida counties, the refuge and conservation area will provide a sanctuary for wildlife and a portal for terrestrial and avian migrations from the Everglades to north of Lake Okeechobee. A few of the main beneficiaries of the refuge are bald eagles, swallow-tailed kites, and gopher tortoises. This area will also increase water quality and quantity for wildlife located in south Florida.

In October 2011, TWS accompanied other coalition members of the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) on a tour of the proposed refuge and conservation area. Representatives from CARE had an opportunity to meet with landowners and other participating entities engaged in the development of the refuge and conservation area.

The Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area is the 556th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The establishment of this refuge and conservation area lays the groundwork for incorporating private citizens, conservation organizations, state agencies, Native American tribes, and federal agencies to collaborate on and maximize any large-scale preservation plans.

Environmentalists and green energy advocates frequently praise the development of renewable energy sources, most notably wind and solar farms. These operations are often perceived as benign installations on a seemingly unused rural locale, such as deserts or isolated grasslands. The realities of these behemoth energy farms, however, is realized in the form of mega-projects that encompass vast expanses of pristine natural landscapes serving as habitat to a wide range of rare and sensitive species.

Currently, there is a gap in knowledge and research addressing how large tracts of utility-scale solar energy development (USSED) lands affect wildlife on a local and regional scale. Most of the scientific peer-reviewed research to date relates to aerial threats to birds from collision with wind turbines.

The US Geological Survey recently led a study that was published in BioScience discussing 15 known and possible threats caused by USSED in the southwestern United States. The study analyzed the construction and eventual disassembly of the facility as well as the operation and maintenance lifecycles of a typical solar field. The dangers to wildlife range from habitat destruction and fragmentation to electromagnetic field effects and noise pollution. The article does not however seem aimed at discouraging the creation of alternative energy facilities like USSEDs. Rather, the authors urge solar developers to utilize the precautionary principle and they encourage more scientific analysis so as to implement a USSED design that minimizes any negative effects on wildlife.

The federally threatened Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is a species that may be impacted by the installation of a USSED. These tortoises are considered to be one of the most important species in the region due to their capabilities to engineer the landscape by creating burrows that are used as shelter by other animals. The effects of development to this important species are largely unknown to the science community.  Another federally threatened species in danger is the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (Uma inornata). These lizards, along with other subterranean species, are greatly threatened by development because any compaction of soil could entrap the animals during hibernation periods.

The rapid approval of solar land development permits by the Bureau of Land Management warrants increased scientific inquiry into this subject. This issue has the potential to create a fracture among environmentalists as debate may develop between the importance of protected species and biodiversity over clean energy and global climate.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

If you think you’ve seen Hedwig, Harry Potter’s faithful companion and pet Snowy Owl, soaring across the sky in the last few weeks, you may be right. Reports of Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) sightings are popping up across the continental United States and have come from as far south as Oklahoma. The normal winter range of Snowy Owls extends across Canada with a traditional summer range including a nesting season in the Arctic Tundra. So what are these charismatic flyers doing down here?

This rare southern migration of Snowy Owls, called an irruption, is likely due to regional changes in prey densities rather than a direct result of climate change. Because Lemmings are this opportunistic hunter’s diet of choice, Snowy Owls are following their food to more southern extremes.  During the owls’ last breeding season Lemmings were abundant, leading to a baby boom of Snowy Owls. Now that these young birds are out on their own trying to find food, the Lemming population has decreased and the Snowy Owls have been forced south to feed.

While the influx of Snowy Owl visitors may be exciting for bird enthusiasts, the birds themselves are not doing as well. They are seen exhibiting signs of stress, including underweight individuals and confusion while flying. Obstacles such as motorized vehicles, power lines, and photographers are not daily fare in the Arctic, so if you see one of these majestic birds it is suggested you give them plenty of space and do not disturb their behavior.

For those of us not lucky enough to spot a Snowy Owl, rest assured that Hedwig’s spirit is still very much alive in the wizarding world.

The Human-Wildlife Conflict Collaboration (HWCC) and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are offering three training scholarships to East Africans (Ugandan, Kenyan, and Tanzanian professionals) working in wildlife conservation in African institutions. These scholarships cover registration, lodging, meals, and modest transportation costs to participate in the East Africa conflict training, which will be held at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.

Scholarship awardees must fulfill the following obligations:

• Participation in an intensive five day training in March, 2012 (arrival March 11th; departure March 17th)
• A commitment to share lessons learned through mini-trainings led by scholarship winner and conducted for a minimum of 35 colleagues, stakeholders and others relevant to participants’ work.
• Provide a brief report by November 2012 to HWCC on each of the following: (1) the participants’ progress in implementing and integrating the plan developed during the training (2) summaries of the mini-trainings conducted to share lessons learned and (3) any evidence of change in their institution or project as a result of the conflict intervention plans they initiated.
• Availability and interest of participant to continue to communicate with and develop a community of practice with the other participants in the training, and especially with their colleagues across East Africa, is necessary so that a community of practice around transforming conflict begins to develop across the East African region.

Applications are due January 23, 2012, the winners will be notified by January 31, 2012. Get more details and download your scholarship application here. Requests for information should be directed to Francine Madden.

The NEAFWA Student Colloquium is being held April 14-15, 2012 in Charleston, WV. It will take place immediately before the 2012 NEAFWA meeting (April 15-17, 2012) and is being hosted by the WVU Student Chapters of TWS and AFS. This year’s colloquium will include the Northeast and Southeastern Sections of TWS and NEAFS, centering on the theme North to South: Fish and Wildlife Biology and Management from Maine to Florida.

Students interested in presenting at the colloquium should follow the guidelines listed on the WUV AFS Chapter page and send all abstracts in to the program chair, Ryan Braham, no later than February 15, 2012.

Requests for more information should be addressed to Dr. Pat Mazik, via email or phone: (304) 293-4943.

Global Wildlife Resources is offering two 3-day wildlife handling courses (January 31-February 2, 2012 in Belgrade, MT and May 8-10, 2012 in Ishpeming, MI). The courses are open to both wildlife professionals and students and will focus on the needs of both to understand the skills and equipment associated with wildlife capture, physical restraint, and chemical immobilization including for captive and urban settings. The course also covers in detail each aspect of animal processing such as radio-collaring, ear-tagging, weighing, sample collection and patient monitoring.

Course content includes: hands on labs with animals; five-step preparation for field operations; legal responsibilities; professionalism; drug delivery systems; immobilizing drugs; patient monitoring; marking; sampling; veterinary emergencies; euthanasia; human safety; and the Y-Pole.

The course is limited to 24 participants so register early! It includes labs each day (including a drugging lab with goats to simulate deer), course notebook, and Certificate of Training. Each day is 9am-5pm. The 3-day course fee is $550 / $450 for university students. Places are reserved once payment is received.

To Register:

Visit our website Course Schedule to register on-line or print the registration form and mail the form and registration fee to:

Global Wildlife Resources, Inc.

P.O. Box 10248, Bozeman MT 59719-0248

Office phone: (406) 586-4624

This is a guest post by contributor Breanna Carter.

When we focus on wildlife species that need protection, very few consider the Grizzly Bear. As a whole, we acknowledge on a regular basis that predators such as Gray Wolves, the Canada Lynx, and the Florida Panther are Endangered, however, we hardly recognize that the Grizzly Bear is actually one of the most vulnerable predators in the upper Rocky Mountain region.

To date, there are approximately fewer than 1,500 grizzlies left roaming the lower 48 states. In the 1800s, that number was as high as 100,000. However, grizzlies are incredibly susceptible to industrial development, and suffer greatly due to habitat loss.

Although briefly removed from the Endangered Species list in 2007 by former President George W. Bush, the grizzly is currently protected once again. However, the placement on the Endangered Species list is by no means insuring the species’ success. Oil and gas companies are still fighting to gain access to areas of wilderness for drilling and pipeline purposes which poses a threat to not just territory, but to several flora and fauna species the grizzly relies on for survival.

The most recent and controversial of these developments being the TransCanada pipeline which is slated to bring oil from Alberta, Canada through states such as Wyoming, prime grizzly territory, to Illinois and Oklahoma. Although the State Department currently approves the pipeline, the EPA has strongly and openly criticized the department’s actions. The construction of the pipeline alone has brought about several debates as it poses the potential to endanger several prime wildlife habitats, including the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides thousands of acres of marshland habitat as well as water to residents residing in eight Midwestern states.

Most conservationists and wildlife biologists say that in order for the grizzly bear to have a successful recovery the species must increase its number from 1,500 to 3,000 at minimum, with 4,500 being preferred. However, should oil and gas companies continue to gain ground in their drilling and piping, the recovery of the grizzly may be greatly hindered, if not deemed impossible as the emissions from such pipelines alone are capable of destroying surrounding habitat.

Further hindering grizzly bear recovery are industrial actions that are currently being considered in Alaska, a strong hold for grizzly bear populations – some of which may have to be used to help build the dwindling population in the lower 48. A foreign mining operation has taken interest in developing the world’s largest copper and gold mines on the Bristol Bay headwaters. If built, the nine billion tons of waste produced by the facilities could ruin one of the largest salmon spawning areas which grizzlies depend on.

The most effective means of protecting the grizzly is by preventing pipelines running through prime habitat; however, ensuring that oil and gas companies don’t do so is becoming increasingly difficult. As the demand for oil increases and as the average American consumer demands lower gas prices, companies will be forced to find more inexpensive ways to meet consumer needs – which means that consumers may just choose lower gas prices over wildlife.

19^th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society

Portland, Oregon

October 13-17, 2012

Call for Proposals:

Workshops, Symposia, Panel Discussions,

Breakfast Roundtables, and Special Poster Sessions

Deadline:  January 13, 2012

Proposals for workshops, symposia, panel discussions, breakfast roundtables, and special poster sessions are invited for the 18^th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society.  Proposals should focus on topics of wildlife science, management, conservation, education, or policy.

Session Descriptions

Symposia are comprised of a series of presentations that address aspects of a single topic.  Symposia usually are a half day; however, requests for a full day may be considered depending upon available space.  Speakers are scheduled for 20- or 40-minute time slots, and organizers may include only one 20-minute discussion period in the agenda.  Symposia are scheduled to run concurrently with other conference sessions.  Attendance is open to all conference registrants on a walk-in basis.

Panel Discussions are a forum for interactive discussion of a topic among a panel of experts and an interested audience.  Typically, a panel of four to eight speakers makes introductory remarks.  The audience is then invited to make comments and question the panel of speakers.  Panel discussions are a quarter day in length (100 minutes) and are scheduled to run concurrently with other conference sessions.  Attendance is open to all conference registrants on a walk-in basis.

Breakfast Roundtables are a forum for interactive discussion of a topic among a small group of 5-10 people including a moderator who generally is an expert on the topic.  Attendance at roundtables is by advance registration only, and is limited to a maximum of 10 people including the moderator.  If enough people are interested a second table may be added on the same topic.  Roundtables are one hour in length, are scheduled at 7:00 a.m., and include breakfast (fee charged).

Workshops provide training on a specific skill, technique, or process and may involve one or more instructors.  Workshops are intended to emphasize learning through participation, discussion, and “hands-on” activities.  For this reason, workshop organizers must specify an upper limit on attendance.  A lower limit also is required reflecting the need to make the session worthwhile for the instructors.  Attendance at workshops is by advance registration only.  Workshops may be a half or full day in length, and are scheduled the day before the other sessions begin.

Workshops are not intended to promote a commercial product, product line, or company.  That type of activity belongs in the trade show.  If the nature of the workshop requires demonstration of specific products, it is preferred that the instructor be a practitioner rather than a company representative.  Alternatively, company representatives may serve as instructors if at least two competing companies are invited to participate.  These companies also would be expected to participate in the trade show at regular booth fees.

Workshops have a baseline registration fee of $25 ($10 for students) to cover basic setup and operational costs incurred by TWS.  Workshop organizers may request that this baseline registration fee be increased to cover additional expenses that they will incur.  Additional expenses may include workbooks, supplies, special audio/visual or computer equipment, and expenses of instructors from outside of the wildlife profession.  Fees may not be increased to cover the expenses of instructors from within the wildlife profession.  Workshops sponsored by TWS working groups may include as an additional expense an administrative fee to help support the working group.  Workshop organizers who are requesting a registration fee ‘add-on’ must submit a budget with a detailed estimate of the additional expenses (on a per registrant basis).  Final approval of the workshop is contingent upon approval of these proposed additional expenses by The Wildlife Society.

Special poster sessions are similar to symposia, but presentations are by poster rather than oral.  Special poster sessions provide an opportunity for one-on-one dialogue between presenters and attendees.  Space for special poster sessions is very limited.  Special poster sessions are scheduled for a half or full day, depending upon available space, and run concurrently with other conference sessions.  Organizers should plan on approximately 20 posters.  Attendance is open to all conference registrants on a walk-in basis.

Responsibilities of Session Organizers

Organizers are responsible for coordinating with the Program Committee, planning their sessions, selecting instructors/presenters, moderating their sessions, and meeting all deadlines.  A final session agenda and a complete presenter list will be due by April 20, 2012.  Presenters in symposia and special poster sessions must submit abstracts by June 1, 2012.  Presenters in symposia must submit PowerPoint files by October 3, 2012.  Please mark these dates on your calendar!

The Wildlife Society does not pay registration fees, travel expenses, or honoraria for workshop, symposium, panel discussion, breakfast roundtable or special poster session organizers or presenters.  Organizers may seek outside sponsors for these expenses.

Proposal Requirements

All proposals must include a cover page with the following information. Proposals that do not follow this format will be returned to the organizer and may not be reviewed.

1. Session Type – workshop, symposium, panel discussion, breakfast roundtable or special poster session
2. Preferred Session Length – one hour (breakfast roundtables only), quarter day (panel discussions only), half day (workshops, or symposia only), full day (workshops or symposia only), or open (special poster sessions only – duration will be determined by Program Committee)
3. Session Title – nine words maximum (proposal titles exceeding 9 words will be returned to organizers for editing).
4. Organizer(s) – names and complete contact information.
5. Sponsor(s) – institution/group sponsoring the session, if appropriate; for example, a TWS working group
6. Contact – Only a single primary contact may be listed please provide name, address, telephone, fax, and e-mail for the person responsible for all correspondence with TWS.

The body of the proposal should begin on a new page, may not exceed four pages, and should include.

7. Statement of Purpose
8. A short description of the session (250 word limit). If accepted this will be used to describe the session.
9. Detailed Description of the Session including a list of proposed topics and speakers/presenters.

Workshop proposals must include the following additional information on the cover page.

10. Minimum Attendance
11. Maximum Attendance
12. Budget – Only needed for workshops that propose a registration fee ‘add-on’
    

Proposals will be returned to Contact person if requirements are not met.

Proposal Submission

Send a MS Word (doc) or Adobe (pdf) file of the proposal via e-mail to the Program Committee at tricia@wildlife.org by January 13, 2013.  A notice of receipt will be sent by e-mail.  If you do not receive notification of receipt within 10 days or have any questions about proposal submission, please contact Program Committee Coordinator, Tricia Fry at tricia@wildlife.org.

Proposal Evaluation and Notice of Decision

Proposals will be evaluated on timeliness of the subject, importance to the profession and/or contribution to science, and the overall quality of the written proposal.  Submissions from TWS working groups are especially encouraged and receive an extra point in the ranking process.  Applicants will be notified whether their proposals have been accepted or not by mid-February 2012.

GUIDELINES

• Online abstract submission is now open.  You can access it here.
• Abstract submission deadline is midnight South African Standard Time on 29 February 2012. Abstracts will not be accepted after this date.
• Notification of acceptance will commence on 23 March 2012.
• All abstracts can be submitted online through the congress website at www.iwmc2012.org
• Only through prior arrangements and in special circumstance will abstracts by fax or post be considered. Please contact the congress organisers on 031 303 9852 to discuss.
• Abstracts should not have been presented at other meetings or congresses. However, new aspects of the previously published or presented materials may be considered.
• Authors who wish to submit more than one abstract should fill out a separate submission form for each abstract.
• All abstracts will be reviewed and the final selection made by the Scientific Programme Committee (“SPC”).
• No accepted abstract will be included in the program unless registration and payment has been received. All accepted presenters must be registered and fully paid by 23 April 2012.
• All abstracts must be written in English.
• It is the author’s responsibility to submit a correct abstract. Any errors in spelling, grammar or scientific fact will be reproduced as submitted by the author.
• The text cannot exceed 300 Words. No graphics will be permitted.

Format

The one paragraph abstract should briefly state:

• Objectives: Indicate the purpose of the study or the hypothesis that was tested.
• Methodology: Include the setting for the study, the subjects, the diagnosis or intervention, and the type of statistical analysis if appropriate
• Results: Present the results of the study.
• Conclusions: Briefly discuss the data and emphasize the significance of the results.

Extended abstracts

Authors of accepted papers are expected to submit extended abstracts of no more than 3500 words. The deadline, format and further details with regards to this will be circulated once the review process is complete.

Evaluation process

Criteria for evaluating the quality of abstracts include originality of ideas and methods, concise presentation of methods and results, clarity of application and implementation and quality of writing. Each abstract will be marked by three reviewers.

Abstract subthemes

The theme of the Congress is Cooperative Wildlife Management across Borders: Learning in the Face of Change

The subthemes are the general heading under which abstracts will be submitted and reviewed. Please select the most appropriate category:

1. Human dimensions of wildlife management and conservation (ie:  conflict, urban, land use)
2. Professional development and training
3. Climate change
4. Wildlife health and disease
5. Wildlife population management
6. Invasive species
7. Endangered species recovery
8. Trans-border cooperation and conservation
9. Natural resource use and sustainability
10. Habitat restoration, modification and stewardship

Choose your presentation type preference below.

Paper

Individual paper presentations allow for a brief overview of the major points / highlights of a particular project or program. Papers are limited to 20 minutes (15 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for discussion). Abstracts must be informational and must report on work completed. Paper abstracts are not to exceed 300 words.

Poster

Material for a display presentation is mounted on a poster board (approx. 100cm high x 200cm wide), which is staffed by the author (this is mandatory) for a designated period of time. This format provides a unique opportunity for personal ‘one-on-one’ interaction and idea exchange. Abstracts are to be informational and report on work completed. Abstracts based on preliminary results may be considered depending on space availability. Poster abstracts are not to exceed 300 words.

Symposium

The symposium is a presentation during which between 3 and 5 individuals present papers that have a common focus. The value of the symposium is that the symposium chair, acts as a facilitator assisting the audience to appreciate the commonalities and differences between the papers presented. Unlike ‘stand alone’ presentations the questions and discussion normally take place at the end with the individuals acting as a panel.

A group member who acts as the leader must submit a single abstract for the entire symposium. The submission must include an outline of the proposed symposium, details of the individual authors and their papers and a clear demonstration of the added value of linking these together. Symposium submissions are not to exceed 750 words. This must include details of the individual papers and also the name of the person who will lead the symposium.

Workshop

A workshop is an interactive session with one or more presenters who are experts in the subject they are presenting. A workshop will allow significant time – at least half of the allocated workshop period,for audience participation, exchange of ideas or skills. The purpose of the workshop is to extend both the skills and knowledge of the individuals attending. The workshop may be pitched at introductory, intermediate or advanced levels of activity. The individual wishing to lead a workshop should submit an abstract (maximum 750 words), which makes clear the aims, objectives, need for and focus on how the audience will participate in the workshop session. This should include any specific requirements for interaction that will have an effect on the room layout and the numbers of participants who can be accommodated (i.e. equipment and room/ desk set up).

Panel Discussion

Panel Discussionsare a forum for interactive discussion of a topic among a panel of experts and an interested audience.  Typically, a panel of four to eight speakers makes introductory remarks.  The audience is then invited to make comments and question the panel of speakers.  Panel discussions are a quarter day in length (100 minutes) and are scheduled to run concurrently with other conference sessions.  Attendance is open to all conference registrants on a walk-in basis.The individual wishing to lead a panel should submit an abstract of no more than 750 words

Contact Joanne Bezuidenhout on +27 31 3039852 fax: +27 31 303 9529 or e-mail joanne@confco.co.za