Join us May 7, 2025, for a 1-day hands-on field training focused on the fundamentals and field identification of Hyrdic Soils - a key component in wetland delineation and habitat evaluation. Click HERE to learn more and register now. Space is limited.
Our fundraising team is collecting short stories to help with the creation of a book as a fundraiser for our Chapter. Stories can be humorous, cover unusual events, life and death situations, overcoming impossible odds, etc. Click this link to read more.
Join us for the 50th Spring Symposium! Sponsored by the University of Florida / IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences and the Florida Division Society of American Foresters, the 2025 Spring Symposium will explore the many landscape and working lands conservation initiatives and partnerships happening across Florida. Click this announcement to learn more!
The University of Florida Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society is hosting their annual “Beast Feast” (aka Wild Game Dinner) on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025. This year’s event will take place at Cypress and Grove Brewery in Gainesville, FL, and will include a live band, guest speakers, local organizations, pie-a-professor, and more!
Please join us for the next Wildlife Connections where Catherine Ricketts, Preserve Manager, Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve will share with us the tale of 40+ years to bring back a self-sustaining population of Threatened Eastern Indigo snakes to N. Florida.
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Archbold Biological Station is excited to announce "Jay Day” on September 18th, 2024; a day-long Florida Scrub-Jay research symposium to share findings, meet other jay researchers, and strengthen the Florida Scrub-Jay conservation and research community. Please pass this along to any and all you think may be interested in attending.
The symposium will involve talks in the morning followed by a poster session in the afternoon and is open to all folks linked to FLSJ conservation (researchers, community scientists, NGO professionals, land managers, volunteers, donors, county, state and federal agency personnel). The more the merrier.
Please follow this link to register for Jay Day and Jay Day activities and request accommodation at Archbold. You will also be able to sign up to present a talk or poster through the link. Applications not selected for talks will be automatically given an opportunity to present a poster. Registration will close July 31st. Registration fees will be $15 per person, and will include coffee/snacks and lunch. Dinner and accommodation at Archbold is not included in the registration costs. Accommodation costs will be provided upon request (based on type of accommodation selected in survey). All costs and fees will be collected at the venue (Archbold Biological Station, 123 Main Drive, Venus FL 33960) on the day of the symposium.
The following is the tentative schedule for the day:
7:30-8:30: (Optional) Field tour of Archbold
8:30-9:00: Check-in, coffee and light refreshments.
9:05-9:15: Greetings and House Keeping (Hilary Swain and Sahas Barve)
9:20- 11:40: Talks (~ 6- 15 min talks with one 20 min break)
11:40-1:00: Lunch
13:00-15:00: Talks (~6- 15min talks with a 15 min break)
3:30-5:00: Poster Session and Networking
6:30pm: (Optional) Group Dinner
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Many thanks and we hope to see you at the 2024 Jay Day!
-Jay Day Organization Team
Please join us for the Heartland Resiliency Summit on Tuesday, August 6th in Lake Placid.
We welcome your participation! See attached and below for registration info!
Register Today for the Heartland Resiliency Summit
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lake Placid Government Center | 1069 U.S. Hwy 27 N. - Lake Placid, FL 33852
Join the Heartland Regional Resiliency Coalition as we address economic, community, and natural system disruptions, provide support, and find collaborative solutions in DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Polk Counties.
Topics Include:
Florida's Resilience Initiatives
Challenges to Agriculture
Natural System Restoration
Transportation
Stormwater Infrastructure
Economic & Community Resiliency
Hosted by the Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Please join us for the next WILDLIFE CONNECTIONS: From Steppes to Saddles: Mongolia’s Wildlife, Culture, and the Challenge of the Mongol Derby.
Lisa Smith is an Assistant Research Scientist at FWRI studying bats and mustelids. She recently travelled to Mongolia and would like to share her journey with you.
This will be a fascinating presentation, so please make plans to join us on Zoom on July 30 from 11:30am to 12:30pm
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Meeting ID: 407 832 4242
Passcode: Welcome
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Join us Wed. May 29th, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, for a discussion on the future makeup and focus of the wildlife profession as people engage with nature in ever-evolving ways.
Jay Exum will lead a conversation that will include discussions of topics such as the following:
As the state urbanizes, fewer people hunt and fish, and much of the population’s attitudes about wildlife are shifting. Will the future see diversified support for hunting and fishing as a key piece – but not necessarily the centerpiece – of wildlife conservation?
Do polarizing wildlife issues (e.g., bear hunts, trapping) further separate wildlife enthusiasts into hunter vs anti-hunting groups, or can we discuss these issues in civil, dispassionate ways that can unite people who care about the environment from different perspectives? How should FL TWS be involved with issues like these?
Is there an inappropriate preference given to the priorities of hunters and anglers?
With state policies?
With state funding?
In academia?
In wildlife/natural resource research?
If you’d like to read the articles that inspired this topic, check out the Wildlife Professional linked HERE – specifically the articles by von Furstenberg and Larson (page 31) and by Thorburn (page 36).
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Meeting ID: 836 0676 3476
Passcode: FLTWS
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Join us on National Trails Day for a special film screening of O2O: The Path to Connection on Saturday, June 1st at 3pm at Cypress & Grove Brewery in Gainesville. The event is free and open to the public.
The O2O Expedition features three veterans who explored a 57-mile section of the Florida Wildlife Corridor from the Ocala to the Osceola National Forests. The core of the Expedition involves a 4-day journey which includes paddling of the Ocklawaha River as well as biking/hiking segments through the Florida National Scenic Trail. The 25-minute film captures their adventure and features the connection between nature and wellness, conservation compatibility of military installations, and accessibility of outdoor spaces for all.
After the film, listen to a panel discussion featuring the trekkers and land managers who made the expedition possible as they share stories of wild Florida. Learn about FTA’s new adaptive hiking program, take a look at our accessibility device, and mingle with partners in conservation.
The O2O expedition represents the embodiment of the important connections that can mean the difference between preservation or loss of the treasure that is the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
O2O Wildlife Corridor is a 100-mile-long, 1.6-million-acre landscape of public and private lands that connect the Ocala and Osceola National Forests.
For questions about the event, contact Jane Pollack at janep@floridatrail.org.
See you there!
Invasive species represent one of the greatest contemporary threats to biodiversity, interacting with and often exacerbating other drivers of environmental change to impact agricultural productivity, ecosystem resilience and human health. Invasive species problems are complex and multidimensional, yet our approach to their management is often piecemeal and reliant on single disciplinary perspectives.
Organized by the Invasion Science Research Institute (ISRI) , this symposium aims to explore and promote the development of interdisciplinary research and the use of novel tools and approaches, to advance our understanding of invasive species and inform the design, organization and delivery of policies and practices that can improve prevention and management.
FLTWS Members – Don’t Miss This Zoom, it should be a fun one!
The next FLTWS Wildlife Connections Zoom social will be on March 28th at 11:30am EST
Topic: “Story telling session; and invitation to tell yours!” with Larry Perrin
What began as a “story-telling session” at the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society Spring Conference in 2019 is now proposed as a possible book opportunity (and fundraiser for the FLTWS). Larry Perrin has received several, entertaining wildlifer stories that he will share with us at the next FLTWS Wildlife Connections Zoom social. He also welcomes any of you wildlife managers, researchers, or educators that have a potentially good story – please join us and “do tell!” We want to hear about your incredible adventures (or misadventures).
You are also welcome to submit your stories to yelpper7@gmail.com (word preferred). Can’t wait to see – and hear from you – then!
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Passcode: FLTWS
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FLTWS Is pleased to offer this hydric soils training for members and non-members.
Dates: Tuesday January 30, 2024, 9am – 1pm – Online portion
Thursday, February 1, 2024 8am – 4:45pm – Field Portion
Thursday Location: Little Big Econ State Forest Equestrian Trailhead
Approx: 937-1235 Snow Hill Rd, Geneva, FL 32732 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/t96rtsV16NHnFQNV7)
Full Agenda & Register at: https://fltws.org/hydricsoils-training
Fee: FLTWS Member - $249, Non-Members - $309
Space is limited to 20 people. Reserve your space today!
Course will cover:
Fundamentals of Hydric Soils
Review and Discussion of Most Common A and S Indicators for Delineation
Review and Discussion of Most Common A and F Indicators for Delineation
Hydric Soils ID and Documentation Practice
Field Exercises: Texture, Soil Processes, Hydric Soils ID
Field Exercises: Hydric Soils ID and Documentation
About the Instructor: Travis Richardson, Certified Professional Soil Scientist
Travis is an expert soil scientist. He started his career with the St. Johns River Water Management District completing soil and vegetation evaluations for the Minimum flows and Levels Program, the Regulatory Program, and the Formal Wetland Determination Program. He provided wetland delineation training to SJRWMD, DEP, and county staff while at the WMD. In the private sector, Travis provides technical support to clients and other consulting firms on difficult delineations, wetland delineation training, hydric soils training, as well as other consulting services.
NATA is pleased to announce Conservation Site Assessment and Planning coming January 2024!
DESCRIPTION: This training builds a foundation of skills useful in conducting site assessments and developing resource management plans. The online portion is approximately 8-hours across two weeks. The in-person portion will be held at the University of Florida’s Austin Cary Forest Campus in Gainesville, FL.
DATES: Online will begin January 2-15, 2024 (approximately 8 hours); Two day in person workshop January 17-18, 2024
One-hour LIVE virtual ZOOM TBD second week of January.
REGISTRATION: Regular registration opens October 31, 2023; Early registration opens October 23, 2023
*EARLY registration is for those who have graduated from one or more of NATA’s core certificate classes: Managing for Diversity, Managing for Visitors and Volunteers or Collaborating to Manage Ecosystems.
For additional information about CSAP click HERE. To learn more about NATA programs, please visit the NATA website.
Please email Nata@ifas.ufl.edu for your early access code or if you have any questions.
