I hope you enjoyed a peaceful holiday season with family and friends and that the new year is off to a wonderful start for you. In this season of resolutions, I’ll share one that I made to myself in the months leading to my presidency.
As I thought about my upcoming time at the helm, a goal for me was to connect with TWS members. That is, I wanted to have an open line of communication with all of TWS. I wanted to converse not only with those folks who were members of the parent society (and thus already had lines of communication with TWS through eWildlifer, The Wildlife Professional, etc.), but also with those who only held membership at the student, state, provincial or section level (called affiliate members). It was this latter group that most moved me, given that TWS has no direct means of communication with them and therefore they rarely hear from TWS. I wanted to change that. And my solution was this newsletter, Coffee with the President, a periodic, easy-to-read, and free missive from the president to all members of TWS regardless of where their membership lay.
What exactly would these missives contain? The possibilities were as vast as the Big Sky of Montana. Maybe a musing from nature or an interesting natural history observation. Perhaps a pondering on a conservation issue or the sharing of a moving literary work. Maybe a reflection on the profession or an inspiring story from a member. Whatever the topic, the missive would be a brief musing on conservation that could be read in three minutes or less and enjoyed with your morning coffee. For this inaugural issue, I hope to get your help brainstorming a plenary theme for our annual conference this November.
As you may know, the TWS annual conference this year will be in Des Moines, Iowa. Iowa was the home to J. N. “Ding” Darling, a famed artist of the 1930s who had a profound impact on conservation. Ding Darling created the first federal duck stamp and helped found the National Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Refuge System. To honor this legacy, I am exploring the idea of a plenary focused on the role that the arts (literature, art, music, film) have in conservation. We rarely contemplate their subtle (but undeniable) impact on our discipline, but we only have to consider the origins of our profession to understand their importance. After all, it was not Aldo Leopold’s research that inspired a conservation movement, but rather his eloquent prose. Leopold himself once commented in a lesser-known of his essays, “The Role of Wildlife in a Liberal Education:”
“All the sciences and arts are taught as if they are separate. They are separate only in the classroom. Step out on the campus and they are immediately infused.”
So how can you help? I’ve created a brief form where you can submit ideas for a plenary theme centered on “the role of the arts in conservation.” Maybe you have an interesting suggestion for a presentation, or perhaps you know a colleague who would be a fascinating speaker. Any and all ideas are welcomed at this stage, and I hope to hear from you.
The “Coffee With the President” newsletter will take three minutes or less to read over your morning cup of coffee. Courtesy Fidel Hernández
If you are an officer at the student, state, provincial or section level, please consider forwarding this missive to your membership. Otherwise affiliate members within your chapter or section may never hear from TWS. For anyone receiving this missive, feel free to pass it along to anyone you think may enjoy these musings. You never know; you just may help recruit a new member or inspire a future conservationist. Thank you for your time and service to TWS. I wish you all the best in the coming year.
Until next time, buen camino.
Fidel Hernández
TWS President
Share a Give Back Membership The Wildlife Society’s Give Back program allows renewing members to gift a free, six-month TWS membership to someone who isn’t currently a member—including a chapter/section member or student. The Student Development Working Group (SDWG) is helping connect members who want to donate their Give Back membership with individuals interested in receiving one. If you’ve recently renewed (or will be renewing soon) and would like to nominate a chapter member, student or other nonmember, please complete this form. Or if you’re interested in being nominated, please complete this form. Feel free to forward this message to anyone who may be interested.
The number of species being newly described to science is accelerating, pushing the predicted number of total species on the planet higher than previous estimates. In a study published recently in Science Advances, researchers found that about 16,000 new species were described from 2015 to 2020. This number included 10,000 animals—mostly arthropods—2,500 plants and 2,000 fungi. “These thousands of newly found species each year are not just microscopic organisms but include insects, plants, fungi and even hundreds of new vertebrates,” said John Wiens, an ecology professor at the University of Arizona. Naming new species is important because it can help bring formal protection to imperiled organisms. “Documentation is the first step in conservation—we can’t safeguard a species from extinction if we don’t know it exists,” Wiens said.
The Wildlife Society’s flagship leadership training program, the Leadership Institute, is now accepting applications for the Class of 2026.
The deadline to submit applications is Friday, March 13, by 11:59 p.m. Through the Leadership Institute, participants will develop essential leadership skills and expand their capacity in their current and future roles in the wildlife profession. Participants will enhance their skills to lead both as individuals and as parts of a team and have opportunities to build community and identify meaningful support systems. They will also learn more about TWS and leadership within the conservation field.
Leadership Institute participants work on a variety of distance learning and hands-on projects, which include analysis of leadership themes and concepts, engaging in mentoring opportunities, and developing a greater understanding of how to apply their personal leadership skills to their visions for the conservation field. The six-month program begins in May and concludes at The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, which will take place Oct. 31 through Nov. 5. Participants will receive complimentary registrations and travel grants to attend the conference (attendance for the entire conference is required). Participants can expect to dedicate approximately two to four hours a week from May to October to the program to complete readings, participate in calls and webinars, and work on individual and group assignments.
The Leadership Institute is for early-career professionals who have spent two to three years working in the profession, not counting time in school. They must be employed in the wildlife profession (whether in seasonal, part-time or full-time positions), or they may be between professional positions. Strong applicants with one to five years of professional experience will be considered but should explain in their application why they are a strong candidate even if outside the two- to three- year range. This program is not appropriate for full-time undergraduate or graduate students. Applicants who are working while in graduate school are eligible for the program. Membership in TWS is not required to participate in the Leadership Institute. All applications are reviewed by the Leadership Institute Committee. The committee strives to create pathways to help enhance the diversity, capacity and efficacy of current and future leaders of TWS and the wildlife profession.
Scientists have detected a virus never seen north of the Arctic Circle in several species of whales. Experts monitored fin (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales across the Northeast Atlantic flying drones carrying sterile petri dishes over spouting whales from 2016 to 2025. They also collected a few skin and organ samples when possible to test for disease. After testing the samples, researchers found cetacean morbillivirus, a deadly pathogen, in humpback whales in Norway and two individual sperm and pilot whales. The virus infects whales, dolphins and porpoises and has led to mass die-offs since its discovery in 1987. The researchers also found herpesvirus in humpback whales across Norway, Iceland and Cape Verde. They did not find two other diseases linked to cetacean strandings, avian influenza or brucellosis. Lead author Helena Costa, a researcher at Norway’s Nord University, said understanding the disease profiles of whales will help conservation in the Arctic. “Going forward, the priority is to continue using these methods for long-term surveillance, so we can understand how multiple emerging stressors will shape whale health in the coming years,” Costa said.
The executive office responsible for coordinating federal environmental efforts’ new rule undermines decades of standardized guidance on assessing the environmental impact of federal projects. The Wildlife Society is concerned about maintaining a consistent, fair and transparent process and what this change means for the separation of powers moving forward.
On Jan. 8, 2026, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued a final rule titled “Removal of National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations,” eliminating long-standing federal regulations that help agencies comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the law that requires environmental impact studies and public input to be taken into account before major federal projects. By changing the legal framework of NEPA compliance without clear permission from Congress to issue rules, the CEQ has sidestepped a power reserved for Congress.
In response, Cameron Kovach, Chief Program Officer and environmental law expert, said:
“The Wildlife Society believes the agency has no authority to rescind NEPA rules. The CEQ should have waited for Congress to provide a legislative solution before finalizing a rule that amounts to NEPA reform. Through this decision, they have encroached upon constitutional powers reserved for the judiciary and Congress, sidestepped public opinion and introduced uncertainty into a process that has helped ensure transparency and informed decision-making by federal agencies.The final rule makes NEPA guidelines susceptible to shifting agency priorities, increasing the likelihood of frequent changes that complicate federal decision-making and public engagement.
In TWS’s comments to the CEQ, we urged them to withdraw this interim final rule and “seek clarity from Congress regarding the long-held interpretation of NEPA and CEQ rulemaking authority.”
The final rule did not fully address concerns that TWS and other commenters raised, and where justification was provided, it was insufficient. TWS is not opposed to changes to NEPA when such changes occur through transparent, deliberative processes that preserve public participation and respect constitutional roles.
Federal law is intended to give the public a meaningful chance to weigh in before decisions are made final, which the CEQ did not do. The public comment period for CEQ’s interim rule closed in March 2025. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado. CEQ then finalized the rule on Jan. 8, 2026, citing that decision as justification. Because the court ruling was issued after the comment period had closed, the public had no opportunity to review or respond to how CEQ relied on the court decision in finalizing the rule.
Furthermore, the court cases CEQ cites did not eliminate the office’s existing NEPA rules. Saying CEQ lacks rulemaking authority does not erase regulations that are already in place; only Congress or a court can do that. By finalizing these changes in the absence of clarity from Congress, the CEQ is creating uncertainty and confusion in a framework that has guided federal environmental review for decades.”
Wildlife vehicle collisions are responsible for more than $10 billion in damage in the United States each year. They also kill or injure a massive number of wild species. Management tools, such as overpasses, underpasses and more help reduce these conflicts around the world.
In this episode of Our Wild Lives, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett of The Wildlife Society are joined by TWS members Patty Cramer, founder of the Wildlife Connectivity Institute, and Renee Callahan, executive director at ARC Solutions, to learn more about the science of wildlife transportation ecology.
Cramer and Callahan discuss how data-driven designs, policy and collaboration are removing the barriers for wildlife around the world.
“Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s weekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices.
New episodes are released weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Please email comms@wildlife.org with feedback or future episode suggestions.
When carnivores consume small mammals, they may unwittingly get more than they bargained for. Within the digestive tract of their prey are spores, the reproductive agents of fungi that hitch a ride to reach new locations. Recent research published in Ecology Letters suggests that this process is widespread and important for promoting forest health, as it spreads mycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plants, increasing forest productivity, supporting regeneration and enhancing resilience.
To assess this process, researchers analyzed small mammal digestive tracts and scat from fishers (Pekania pennanti), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), bobcats (Lynx rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the upper Midwest for spore abundance and species diversity. Spore loads were linked to the carnivore diet and combined with carnivore movement patterns and digestion times to estimate spore travel distance.
The analysis revealed all carnivore species dispersed fungi. Small mammals and small carnivores dispersed more fungal species and had higher spore loads in their scats, while larger carnivores, such as wolves, tended to disperse fewer spores over greater distances. Fishers and bobcats were more effective because they had higher spore amounts and moved longer distances.
January 8, 2026by
TWS, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and U.S. Forest Service
Since 1985, the U.S. Forest Service and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have partnered to advance land protection, habitat stewardship, public access, wildlife management, conservation education and critical wildlife research across the American west.
Over the last several years, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has worked with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to create forest management areas that help slow or stop wildfires. Beyond forest management, RMEF also played a key role in ensuring dedicated funding to conservation within the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act.
Making the backcountry safer for humans and wildlife
In 2014, the San Juan fire burned its way through the White Mountains in Arizona, threatening the small town of Vernon. But then it ran into a series of forest thinning projects sponsored by RMEF and its partners. The flames slowed in speed and intensity, allowing firefighters to make a successful stand against the fire and saving the town.
In 2016, the Cold Fire tore through the Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota. But the flames dropped in length because the fire hit a 2014 RMEF prescribed burn project, giving firefighters time to stop it.
Then in 2024-2025, RMEF partnered with USFS to fund a series of prescribed burns across 3,151 acres of the Bitterroot National Forest in southwest Montana and Idaho. These burns will help reduce the risk of high-intensity fires and increase the quality and quantity of food for wildlife. Prescribed burns in these areas will improve overall forest health, which in recent years has become even more critical as fire seasons have become more intense and unpredictable. This is not only good news for the wildlife that call the landscape home, but also for hunting, wildlife viewing and rural infrastructure protection.
These are just two examples of the power of forest management for wildfire prevention and control taken on by RMEF and its partners.
The Great American Outdoors Act
Beyond on-the-ground management efforts, RMEF played a critical role in the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) five years ago. This landmark bill has supported much-needed maintenance on federal lands including national parks, forests and wildlife refuges. These upgrades have helped protect both natural and cultural resources while bolstering local economies. GAOA also permanently and fully funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program for which the RMEF has advocated for years. RMEF, also a strategic partner of The Wildlife Society, was critical in securing the passage of the bipartisan effort. TWS has also long supported the legislation.
A prescribed fire in Bitterroot National Forest in southwest Montana and Idaho. Courtesy of Bitterroot National Forest
“It cannot be overstated how important this program is for the future of conservation,” RMEF president and CEO Kyle Weaver said at the time. “It is vital for elk, other wildlife, public access and for safeguarding America’s hunting, fishing and other outdoor-related recreational traditions.”
The GAOA authorized $900 million in permanent annual funds to the LWCF. Prior to 2020, LWCF funding was based on annual congressional appropriations. To date, RMEF used millions of dollars in LWCF funding for 114 projects across 14 states to conserve and protect 240,851 acres of America’s most important elk (Cervus canadensis) habitat and open or improve public access to 474,229 acres for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and other outdoor recreation.
“The protection of forested lands is made possible by diverse stakeholders sharing a conservation vision,” said Tami Sabol, the USFS National Liaison to RMEF. “Bringing projects to the finish line is so much more rewarding with partners because it is all about dedication and relationships.”
For more information about U.S. Forest Service’s partnership with RMEF, please reach out to Tami Sabol at tami.sabol@usda.gov.
As the climate continues to change, India’s most dangerous venomous snakes may move into new places. Researchers modeled the range distributions of 30 venomous serpents across India under two different warming scenarios. Using nearly 5,000 sightings from citizen science platforms, social media groups, scientific literature and other open-access datasets, researchers found that about 3% of India’s landmass could have its biodiversity significantly changed in the most extreme warming scenarios by 2070. Researchers took a particularly close look at India’s “big four”—a quartet of snakes behind the most medically significant snakebites, causing 46,000 to 60,000 deaths each year. The list includes Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii), the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), the Indian cobra (Naja naja) and the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus). Based on predicted range changes, researchers predicted a significant increase of snakebites in northern India, including Himalaya and northeast India, as well as the Western Ghats in the south. “Our goal is to bridge biodiversity conservation and public health, providing a framework that can inform conservation prioritization, antivenom allocation and rural healthcare preparedness under future climate conditions,” said TWS member and lead author Akshit Suthar.
The Journal of Wildlife Management is a benefit of membership in The Wildlife Society. Published eight times annually, it is one of the world’s leading scientific journals covering wildlife science, management and conservation, focusing on aspects of wildlife that can assist management and conservation.
Join today for access to The Journal of Wildlife Management and all the other great benefits of TWS membership.
In the featured article for this issue, researchers modeled predators, prey such as snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) and livestock occupancy in the Central Himalayas.
Other articles in this issue address mitigating sarcoptic mange in South American camelids and the impact of black bear (Ursus americanus) predation on neonate mortality in boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus).
