The Wildlife Society is proud to honor two hard-working associate editors with the 2026 McAtee/Burger Awards.
Jonathan Gilbert won the award posthumously for The Journal of Wildlife Management and Joseph Sands has won the award for Wildlife Society Bulletin.
The W.L. McAtee and G.V. Burger Award for Outstanding Service as an Associate Editor recognizes the outstanding work of an associate editor for each of the two premier peer-reviewed journals of The Wildlife Society: The Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM) and Wildlife Society Bulletin (WSB). W.L. McAtee was the founding editor of JWM, while G.V. Burger was WSB’s first editor.
Gilbert worked for more than 40 years as a wildlife biologist and then wildlife section leader for the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. His work helped integrate Indigenous knowledge and Western science. “Jonathan was integral to bringing forth JWM’s Special Issue on Indigenous Wildlife Management in North America,” said Jacqueline Frair, editor-in-chief of JWM. Gilbert then became JWM’s go-to associated editor for Tribal consultation and engagement. “He always made time to engage creatively and respectfully and helped JWM become a more welcoming outlet for Indigenous researchers,” Frair said.
Gilbert, known in Ojibwe country by his traditional name, Gichigamiwinini, passed away in November of 2025 at the age of 72.
Brett Collier, the editor-in-chief of Wildlife Society Bulletin, said Sands is an “outstanding” associated editor of WSB. “He is dedicated to supporting the development of quality scientific results that are engaging, provocative and understandable by wildlife managers for publication in the Bulletin,” Collier said.
Sands, who works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Migratory Birds and Habitat programs in the Pacific Region, said that receiving the award was an honor he wasn’t expecting. “Being recognized by your peers is always rewarding, and I am grateful,” he said. Sands has worked as an associate editor of WSB since 2012.
Sands said his tenure as an associate editor has been an excellent experience. “I would also note that people who agree to review papers deserve to be mentioned,” Sands said. “Reviewing papers is not an easy task, and they provide the critical input and expertise that makes this process work.”
Sands also thinks that WSB will play a crucial role now and in the future to help meet today’s emerging challenges in natural resources. “Wildlife Society Bulletin is an excellent outlet for this type of applied wildlife science, and I would encourage submissions,” he said.
