The Wildlife Society Travels to National Conference

The FSU student chapter of The Wildlife Society (TWS) recently traveled to Reno, Nevada for the first-ever joint meeting of the national chapter of TWS and The American Fisheries Association. Seven undergraduate and one graduate student were able to attend this important networking event which exposed them to professionals from federal, state, and local governments, as well as professors from other institutions and non-governmental organizations. In addition to networking, students gleaned important information about jobs and gradate schools during the conference. A job and resume board served to alert FSU students of potential opportunities around the country.

TWS, founded in 1937, serves as the premiere non-profit, scientific, and educational professional wildlife organization. They are nationally accredited to bestow Wildlife Biologist Certifications. The organization’s mission is, “to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitats through science-based management and conversation.” The FSU student chapter of TWS was founded in October 1976 and supports Wildlife and Fisheries majors by providing career development events. The trip to Reno was financially supported by a GoFundMe campaign, SGA funding, and by personal expenditure of each student attendee.

Club Secretary, Morgan Stum, reports that students attended lectures on topics such as Brook Trout Responses to Climate Change and Using eBird Data to Manage Rare Bird Species. Moreover, students attended interactive workshops, including one on Mammal Trapping Techniques. Stum joined club President Ingrid Braun and Rebecca Phillip on a field trip with the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Service to electrofish a section of the Truckee River. Additionally, FSU representatives attended a screening of the film Hidden Rivers, a documentary about rare, yet staple species of Appalachian river systems.

The students, who made the most of the trip, visited Lake Tahoe where they encountered wildlife that club members had never had the opportunity to observe before. Thus, as emerging professionals in their field, they gained vital new information which will make them competitive after leaving Frostburg.

TWS meets at 6:00 PM every Wednesday in Compton 224. For more information, contact President Ingrid Braun at iebraun0@frostburg.edu.