Welcome/Introduction (SRC) Minutes of 1998 Annual Meeting/ Buffalo (SRC) Reports: Membership (Gary Witmer) Treasurer (Gary Witmer) Elections (SRC) Communications/Newsletter (Art Smith) Wildlife Society Issues (Jim Miller)
Old Business:
- Urban goose manual (Art Smith, SRC)
- Urban deer committee/manual (Art Smith)
- TWS Trapping policy (Bill Andelt)
- Translocation project (SRC)
- Wildlife Contraception subcommittee/Fertility control moratorium. (Kathy Fagerstone)
- Human Dimensions management guide ( Dan Decker, Paul Curtis)
- Private industry issues/certification (Tom Barnes, others)
- Web site/home page update (Scott Hygnstrom)
- Future of wildlife damage management conferences (SRC)
- Working group symposia in Austin (Art Smith, Dennis Slate)
- TWS Position Statement on free-ranging and feral cats (SRC)
New Business:
- 2000 TWS Annual Meeting symposia/workshops (John Hadidian, others)
- Incoming Chair: issues and agenda (Robert Timm)
- Working group relationships with the
Berryman Institute, Urban Wildlife W. G., NADCA, etc. (Robert Schmidt, Mike Conover, Robert Timm)
- Assignments/responsibilities for 1999-2000 (SRC)
- Other New Business from the floor
Adjourn
TWS 6th Annual Conference Working Group Sponsored Sessions
At the upcoming annual TWS conference in Austin, TX, the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group will be sponsoring 2 paper sessions. Both cover timely and important topics and your attendance will be welcomed.
"Improving Public Perception and Understanding of Wildlife Damage Management"
11 Sept.; 8:00am -- 12:10pm Organizer: Art Smith, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Urban sprawl combined with the surprising ability of many animal species to thrive in human dominated landscapes, have increased the number and severity of human/wildlife conflicts throughout North America. Although most people enjoy and treasure experiences with wildlife, few understand what lead to an unpleasant or unexpected encounter with a wild animal in their own back yard. To alleviate or understand the conflict, wildlife managers are called in to consult or fix the problem. One of the manager's first tasks is to attempt to educate the public about the animal and how the problem developed. Education reduces the citizen's immediate concern, creates an opportunity to discuss policy and legal details, and helps prevent future problems. Few wildlife managers receive formal training enabling them to develop educational programs, yet they are responsible for designing and implementing a multitude of educational needs of a very diverse public. The need for successful wildlife damage educational products for a diverse public combined with increasing numbers of conflicts and the need for cost effectiveness are now commonplace throughout the wildlife damage management field. This symposium will provide wildlife biologists with a well rounded review of the status of wildlife damage education. The symposium will include background on wildlife damage management, utility of successful techniques, analysis and advice on past wildlife damage educational efforts, and a final assessment of the feasibility of educating citizens on wildlife damage issues. The speakers represent multi-disciplinary backgrounds including: USDA Wildlife Services, Extension Service, animal welfare, university researchers, state natural resources, and product marketing.
Thanks to the following individuals for contributing to this issue: Scott Craven, Dwayne Etter, Lorraine LeSchack, Dennis Slate, and Yanin Walker.
11 Sept.; 1:20 - 5:30 pm Organizers: Dennis Slate, USDA-APHIS-WS, Concord, NH Gary San Julian, Penn State U., University Park, PA
Bats represent a unique and diverse group of mammals that are a treasured natural resource. However, they are often misunderstood by a large segment of the public. Some species, most notably the big brown and little brown bats, are commonly found in houses and other dwellings that provide easy access to roost sites. Conflicts that arise when bats occupy dwellings can often be traced to poor carpentry or aging buildings. Various means of exclosure can usually be applied to resolve such problems. Rabies in bats continues to have a major influence in shaping public health policy. The challenge to the wildlife professional is to promote bat conservation while helping resolve conflicts and providing input for sound public health policy. The purpose of this symposium is to stimulate discussion and debate on bat conservation programs and initiatives, conflicts and public health policy. The first half of the symposium will provide overviews of bat conservation and the types of conflicts that occur between bats and people. Methods to address conflicts will be discussed. The second half of this symposium will focus specifically on the merits of contemporary rabies control strategies.
If there are any items you wish to have included in the next newsletter, the Fall 1999 issue, please get them to me no later than 31 October. Thanks. Art Smith (608) 263-5687 - voice, (608) 262-6099 - fax, aesmith1@facstaff.wisc.edu - email.
In this issue:
- 1999 Working Group Draft Agenda
- TWS 6th Annual Conf. Working Group Symposiums
- TWS 6th Annual Conference Preliminary Program
- Suburban Deer Prediction Model Availability
- TWS 7th Annual Conference Symposia Guidelines and Deadlines
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
6TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE * SEPTEMBER 7-11, 1999
Accomplishing Wildlife Management in Latin America: An Opportunity for North-South Cooperation --1 day Hugo Fernando Lopez, Arevalo, Colombia William P. Kuvlesky, Jr., U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service E. Lee Fitzhugh, University of California
Thinking Globally and Acting Locally for Wildlife - _ day Brian Czech, University of Arizona TWS Local Governance Working Group
Motivating the Masses: Foundations and Changing Practices in Extension Conservation Education -1day Terry A. Messmer, Utah State University Shari L. Dann, Michigan State University TWS Public Conservation Education and Extension Working Group
Conserving Biodiversity on Non-Industrial, Private Lands _ dy David L. Ledford, Stone Container Corporation TWS Biological Diversity Working Group
A Half-Century of A Sand County Almanac - _ day Richard L. Knight, Colorado State University
Perspectives on the Future of Wildlife Management from the New Professionals - _ day Coleen F. Brown, University of Arizona Cathy Crawford, University of Arizona Patrick Devers, University of Arizona
Emerging Issues in Wildlife Management on Private Lands and the Economic Outlook for User Funding - _ day Webb M. Smathers, Jr., Clemson University TWS Wildlife Economics Working Group
Improving Public Perception and Understanding of Wildlife Damage Management - _ day Art Smith, University of Wisconsin TWS Wildlife Damage Management Working Group
The Use of Genetic Analysis in the Conservation and Management of Wildlife Species - _ day Mary Maltbie, Los Alamos National Laboratory Sara Oyler-McCance, Colorado State University
Large Mammal Restoration: Ecological and Sociological Considerations - 1 day David S. Maehr, University of Kentucky Jeffery L. Larkin, University of Kentucky Reed F. Noss, Conservation Biology Institute
Role of Private Lands in Waterbird Conservation Along the Gulf Coast - _ day Clinton Jeske, U.S. Geological Survey Wayne Norling, U.S. Geological Survey
Balancing Social and Ecological Factors in Management of Urban/Suburban Wildlife - _ day Rebecca Field, U.S. Geological Survey Michael Conover, Utah State University Larry W. VanDruff, State University of New York
Merging Ecology and Diversity in the Next Millennium: Scientific and Cultural Values of Human Resource Diversity in the Natural Resources Profession - _ day Annette Dominguez, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Keith Miles, U.S. Geological Survey
Bats and Humans: Education, Conservation, Controversy and Conflict - _ day Dennis Slate, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services Gary San Julian, Pennsylvania State University Jim Kennedy, Bat Conservation International
Wildlife Dispersal: Population Implications - _ day R. Scott Lutz, University of Wisconsin William M. Giuliano, California Univ. of Pennsylvania
Analysis of Radiotelemetry Data: Past, Present, and Future - 1 day Joshua J. Millspaugh, University of Washington John M. Marzluff, University of Washington Mark R. Fuller, U.S. Geological Survey David Morton, U.S. Geological Survey TWS Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Working Grou
Data Stewardship: Biological Metadata to Ensure Data Longevity - 1 day Sharon S. Shin, U.S. Geological Survey Jennifer Gaines, U.S. Geological Survey
Using GIS and Remote Sensing for Better Decision Making - _ day Kass Green, Pacific Meridian Resources
Excellence in Wildlife Education: An Exchange of Ideas _ dy Dean F. Stauffer, Virginia Tech TWS College and University Wildlife Education Working Group
Managing Endangered Species in an Urban Environment _ dy Lisa K Harris, University of Arizona Scott Richardson, Arizona Game and Fish Department
Wildlife Toxicology: Contaminant Issues in the Southwestern U.S. and Gulf of Mexico Steven Sheffield, Clemson University TWS Wildlife Toxicology Working Group TWS NASHVILLE 2000 7th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society Nashville, Tennessee Ž September 12-16, 2000
Deadline: October 16, 1999
Proposals for symposia, workshops, and special poster sessions are invited for the 7th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society. Symposia, workshops, and special poster sessions should be technical in nature and focus on topics of wildlife science, management, education, or policy within the broad theme of Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship Through Science and Education.
All proposals must include a title, organizer(s) (name, affiliation, city, state), sponsor (institution/group other than organizer's employer sponsoring the session, if appropriate; for example, a TWS working group), statement of purpose, description of the session including a list of proposed topics and speakers, and preferred session length (a half or full day). Proposals should include the organizeršs name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address. Workshop proposals also must specify whether a special registration fee is proposed (and its approximate amount), and set attendance limits.
Organizers are responsible for planning and moderating their sessions, selecting instructors or presenters, soliciting abstracts (symposia and special poster sessions only), and meeting all planning deadlines. The Wildlife Society does not pay registration fees, travel expenses, or honoraria for symposium, workshop, or special poster session organizers or presenters. Organizers may seek outside sponsors for these expenses, if necessary.
Workshops may charge a special registration fee upon approval of The Wildlife Society. Fees typically are assessed to cover the expense of workbooks, handouts, special equipment, or instructors from outside of the wildlife profession. Workshop organizers who request a special registration fee must submit a detailed estimate of expenses, projected income from outside sponsors, and a proposed registration fee. Final approval of the workshop is contingent upon approval of this budget by The Wildlife Society.
Proposals should not exceed five type-written pages and must be submitted by October 16, 1999. Proposals will be judged 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. Applicants will be notified whether their proposals have been accepted or not in late November. Final session content, schedule, and abstracts will be due by February 28, 2000.
Symposia are comprised of a series of presentations that address aspects of a single topic. Symposium speakers generally are invited by the organizer, but the organizer may issue a limited call for speakers (for example, within a working group) and select from among the submissions. Organizers of the latter type of session are reminded of the short time between notice of acceptance and submission of the final session program. Symposia usually are a half day; however, requests for a full day may be considered, depending upon the available space.
Workshops provide training on a specific skill, technique, or process and may involve one or more instructors. They 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 if a special registration fee is charged. Workshops may request a half or full day. Workshops generally are scheduled on Tuesday, the first day of the conference.
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. All special poster sessions are a half day or less.
Symposia, workshops, and special poster sessions are scheduled to run concurrently with contributed paper and poster sessions. Pre-conference sessions generally are not allowed, except that workshops may begin on Tuesday morning, if space is available.
The Call for Contributed Papers and Posters (not associated with symposia, workshops, and special poster sessions), plus guidelines for preparing abstracts, will appear in the September-October 1999 issue of The Wildlifer.
Send an Ascii text copy or WordPerfect document of the proposal via email to: tbarnes@ca.uky.edu. In addition, please forward one hard copy to: Tom Barnes, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0073. Proposals received after the October 16 deadline will be considered only if space is available.
An Empirical Model for Predicting Suburban Deer Populations
Dwayne R. Etter and Timothy R. Van Deelen
Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 East Peabody, Champaign, IL 61820
Management of burgeoning suburban white-tailed deer populations continues to be one of the most immediate and frustrating problems facing wildlife biologists nationwide. In the suburban environment wildlife managers are highly scrutinized and held accountable every day for their management decisions. In such an environment the question is not whether to model, but rather how to model effectively given the available information (Starfield 1997). Modeling insures that managers work through a documentable, problem-oriented solution to managing overabundant deer.
Many suburban deer populations exist at high-densities, yet most management programs to reduce deer numbers mimic catastrophic population crashes. Such drastic shifts in deer density can greatly alter deer population parameters, because both physical and biosocial factors influence reproductive rates, fetal sex ratios, recruitment, dispersal, and survival in deer. Therefore, managers must include these factors when modeling suburban deer populations. During 1992-1998, 2,599 deer were culled from Forest Preserves in DuPage County Illinois in an attempt to reduce and then maintain deer populations at goal
density of 6 deer/km2 (post-fawning). Additionally, 181 deer were live-captured and marked (147 were radio-marked) from these Forest Preserves and preserves in adjacent Cook County during 1994-1998 to determine population dynamics for suburban deer. These data provided the foundation for the development of an empirical suburban deer population model using Stella 5.0 software. The model treats male and female populations as discrete, because of their different survival, emigration, and reproductive potential. Density-dependent recruitment rates were incorporated to account for changes associated with fluctuating deer-densities. Managers use sensitivity analysis to test the ability of different male and female removal strategies to achieve desired deer densities on an annual culling schedule.
Our hope is that this model will form a conceptual framework based on empirical data for managers attempting to predict deer population trends in the Chicago region and nationwide. For copies of the model and supportive documentation see the Illinois Natural History Survey archive at: http://nhsbig.inhs.uiuc.edu/www/deer_model.html
Art Smith
Department of Wildlife Ecology
1630 Linden Dr., Rm. #226
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI 53706
NON-PROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE
PAID
MADISON, WI
PERMIT 2783
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Annual basic membership dues are $53.00 of which 15% pays for the bimonthly newsletter, The Wildlifer, which is received by all members. Dues for full-time students are $27.00. TWS accepts U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank only or by credit card.
WITH YOUR PAID MEMBERSHIP you may subscribe to the Wildlife Society Bulletin for an additional $22.00. The Journal of Wildlife Management with Wildlife Monographs for an additional $25.00, or ALL publications for an additional $47.00. Members may also join a section, chapter, and/or working groups.
WORKING GROUP DUES ($5.00 each)
01 - Wildlife Planning & Administration 11 - Sustainable Use of Ecosystem Resources
02 - Wildlife Economics 12 - Wildlife Damage Management
03 - Biological Diversity 13 - Wildlife Toxicology ($7.00)
04 - Biometrics 14 - Urban Wildlife
05 - College and University Wildlife Education 16 - International Wildlife
07 - Geographic Information Systems & Remote Sensing 17 - Public Conservation, Education & Extension
08 - Restoration 18 - Local Governance
09 - Native People's Wildlife Management