Colorado student chapters reflect on eventful fall

These updates originally appear in the Colorado Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s Winter 2019 newsletter. Photos highlighting the student chapter’s activities are also included in the chapter’s newsletter.

Colorado State University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

The Colorado State Student Chapter enjoyed presentations from a variety of professionals including TWS member Becky Ruzicka. Students attended a variety of events including hawk banding in Wyoming, where they gained hands-on raptor handling experience. They also participated in an annual STEM night at Shepardson Elementary this fall. Students taught children and their families about wildlife in their own backyards and manned a tracking station where children made plaster casts of their own handprints. Several students also had the opportunity to attend The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference in Reno this year, and they all presented posters while they were there. The student chapter had a great semester overall and are looking forward to the spring semester and more opportunities to learn about wildlife and future careers.

Colorado State University – Pueblo Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Members of the Colorado State – Pueblo Student Chapter learned how to attach radio telemetry to large birds with training from TWS member Nate Bickford over the fall semester. This training helped members familiarize themselves and get experience with aspects of wildlife biology and research that many jobs in the field entail. Student chapter members also volunteered for the annual haunted house fundraiser, which raises money for the university’s biology department. Lastly, students took a fishing trip to the Pueblo Reservoir Anticline Ponds.

Western Colorado University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

The Western Colorado Student Chapter kicked off the fall semester with a pizza and tie-dye party welcoming new and old members. Meetings throughout the semester included various presenters such as Carrie Calvin, a registered clinical herbalist, who taught about medicinal plants in the local valley and Brandon Diamond who talked about the life of a District Wildlife Manager. Some other presentations included what it’s like to work for a nonprofit, being an interpretive park ranger, and a falconry/birds of prey talk where attendees saw a live peregrine falcon. The student chapter also participated in Western’s homecoming parade and were able to send a large group of both undergraduate and graduate students to The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada. In Reno their members participated in events such as the Student Leaders Luncheon and the first ever “Out in the Field” LGBTQ+ Luncheon. Additionally, one member presented her research during the poster sessions. Some other events throughout the semester included a night hike, a pumpkin carving contest, a USA Jobs workshop, and a Community Crawfish Boil. Students also partnered with the U.S. Forest Service and the High Country Conservation Advocates to host a trail restoration project where they worked together to help shut down illegal user created trails in the area. They ended the semester by hosting a “Biology Bonanza” for Gunnison Valley Mentor students ages 6-12 as well as a “Learn to Prep n Cook Your Own Game” night for chapter members. They can’t wait to see what next semester will bring!

Header Image: A great blue heron (Ardea herodias). ©Michael Levin-Clark