North Central Section happenings – Part 1

This article originally appears in the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society’s Fall 2018 newsletter. The newsletter includes updates from the Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, University of Minnesota Crookston, and University of Central Missouri student chapters of The Wildlife Society. Photos of student chapter activities are included in the newsletter.

Bemidji State University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Submitted by Mitchell Anderson, Student Chapter President

This fall the Bemidji State Student Chapter was involved with many different activities around the Bemidji area and beyond. They had two different groups of students travel north to Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service band ducks. Members participated again in white-tailed deer spotlight surveys in Bemidji to help the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources monitor the population and set regulations for next year’s inner-city deer hunts. Six student chapter members traveled to The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference in Cleveland and participated in Quiz Bowl. Members have done some local work on a few wildlife management areas around Bemidji in partnership with the Minnesota DNR and had 13 total students participate in chronic wasting disease deer check stations this hunting season in partnership with the DNR. The student chapter will send two students to the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in Cleveland in January and will again have many students participate in the Minnesota Chapter of TWS’s annual meeting and Quiz Bowl competition.

Minnesota State University – Moorhead Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Submitted by Nicole Stepan, Student Chapter Vice President

The Minnesota State University–Moorhead Student Chapter teamed up with the Student Sustainability Association to enjoy nature at the MSUM Regional Science Center. The chapter also hosted a pumpkin carving contest with donated pumpkins from faculty and local farms. The winning pumpkin received a prize and all proceeds went to the student chapter to fund future events and outings.

University of Minnesota Crookston Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Submitted by Tessa Coster, Student Chapter President

The University of Minnesota Crookston Student Chapter has 27 members who are involved in several community service and fundraising activities.

The semester kicked off with an annual welcome cookout for natural resources students at the Red River Valley History Area hosted by the student chapter and the UMC Natural Resources Club. In September, members helped band several hundred waterfowl on the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. They also participated in National Public Lands Day at Itasca State Park, along with the UMC Natural Resources Club, where they bud-capped nearly 60 acres of pine trees. The student chapter took a camping trip to South Dakota early in the semester as well, where members camped in Custer State Park, visited Jewel Cave National Monument, hiked Black Elks Peak (the highest point in South Dakota) and visited Badlands National Park. Members saw incredible wildlife and had great learning opportunities. The Student Chapter also conducted a few fundraisers.

University of Central Missouri Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Submitted by Marissa Ginger, Student Chapter President

The UCM Student Chapter had its first meeting Aug. 20 and has more than 65 members so far. This year’s executive board is comprised of President Marissa Ginger, Vice President Sarah Dilallo, Secretary M. Fletcher, Treasurer Ivonne Kessler and Reporter DeAuna Wolf.

Members have worked with several organizations around the community to gain experience in numerous wildlife areas. Students were able to take advantage of a free experience and skill workshop hosted by the Missouri Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Nine UCM members were able to listen to various guest speakers, try their hand at new skills and interact with other student chapters. Although conditions were on the colder side, members were able to learn about different aquatic and mammal traps as well as how and where to set each desired trap.

In addition, student chapter members assisted the Missouri Department of Conservation MDC in collecting dove wings for research data collection on age at James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area and assisted Knob Noster State Park with various activities such as pulling invasive plants and trail maintenance.