The Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society will hold its annual Spring Meeting at the Embassy Suites Baymeadows in Jacksonville, FL, 22-24 March 2023. The Meeting will include a symposium, business meeting, networking socials, student interaction activities, keynote speakers, technical sessions, poster session, banquet dinner, awards ceremony, and several field trips on Friday.
Prescribed Fire for Wildlife Class
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED for the “PRESCRIBED FIRE FOR WILDLIFE” class, April 25-28, 2023, at the FFA Leadership Training Center located on Lake Pierce near Haines City, Florida. Due to high demand, we are currently at capacity for the course. We are accepting names to be placed on a wait list, should we have openings due to cancellations. Please contact Jim Schortemeyer or Monica Folk to be placed on the waitlist.
Click this news tab for contact information and to view the full details.
Seeking Awards Nominations!
The Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society is seeking nominations! Please help us recognize the outstanding talent we have in Florida in wildlife conservation, research, management, and education by nominating deserving colleagues for following awards:
1) Herbert W. Kale Award
2) Paul Moler Herpetological Conservation Award
3) Citizen Conservation Award
4) Influential Woman in Wildlife Award
5) NGO Special Recognition Award
6) Outstanding Educator Award
7) Early Career Wildlife Professional Award
The deadline for submissions is 1 December 2022
Students - Apply for FLTWS Scholarships now!
The Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society is seeking applicants for the following scholarships:
2023 'Courtney Tye Graduate Student Memorial Scholarship' ($2,000)
2023 ‘Greater Everglades Undergraduate Student Memorial Scholarship’ ($1,500)
2023 ‘FLTWS Diversity Undergraduate Wildlife Student Scholarship’ ($1,500)
The deadline for applications is 1 December 2022.
Please visit our Scholarships page for application instructions
Save the Date! FLTWS 2023 Spring Meeting
Join our Facebook Group!
FLTWS Members - Please don’t forget to join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fltws
Our Facebook page is where you’ll find the latest updates on happenings within the Chapter, photos from our events and much more.
FLTWS 2022 Fall Workshop
JOIN US for the annual fall meeting of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society. This year we will have a workshop focused on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (aka DRONES) and how they can potentially save us time and money in the field. You may be surprised to learn about all the applications now available to biologists and land managers. Topics will include:
Save the Date! FLTWS 2022 Fall Workshop
JOIN US for the annual fall meeting of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society. This year we will have a workshop focused on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (aka DRONES) and how they can potentially save us time and money in the field. You may be surprised to learn about all the applications now available to biologists and land managers. Topics will include:
FLTWS 2022 SPRING MEETING!
The annual Spring Meeting of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society will be held virtually on Thursday, March 24, followed by optional in-person field trips around the state (limited to small groups).
The meeting theme is Wildlife Movement: Natural and Unnatural.
Keynote will focus on Wildlife Corridors and the Symposium on Translocations.
Registration is only $45 for non-members, $35 for members, and $10 for students.
FLTWS 2022 SPRING MEETING!
The annual Spring Meeting of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society will be held virtually on Thursday, March 24, followed by optional in-person field trips around the state (limited to small groups).
The meeting theme is Wildlife Movement: Natural and Unnatural.
Keynote will focus on Wildlife Corridors and the Symposium on Translocations. Registration is a bargain at only $35. Additional details will be forthcoming shortly. Mark your calendar today and start making plans to join us at the FLTWS 2022 Spring Meeting!
The Wildlife Society Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Network
January 2022 Newsletter
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
DEADLINE EXTENDED: U.S. Forest Service Native American Research Assistantship
The U.S. Forest Service, through a partnership with The Wildlife Society, is offering research assistantships for Native American undergraduate or graduate students as part of the Native American Research Assistantship Program for Summer 2022. Applications are being accepted now through January 31, 2022.
View the announcement to learn more this opportunity: https://wildlife.org/deadline-extended-native-american-research-assistantship-2/
Apply to the Diversity Joint Venture for Conservation Careers Management Board
The Diversity Joint Venture for Conservation Careers is accepting applications through January 31. The DJV is governed by a Management Board responsible for making decisions regarding partnership actions on behalf of the DJV Partners.
To apply for the DJV Management Board, complete the online application form: https://diversityinconservationjobs.org/board-member-application/
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society is Hiring
The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society has two position openings: Senior Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison – Alaska Region (accepting applications through January 31) and Director of Programs (accepting applications through January 21).
Visit the NAFWS website to learn more about the organization and associated opportunities: https://www.nafws.org/
Latino Heritage Internship Program for Environment for the Americas
The Latino Heritage Internship Program for Environment for the Americas seeks to engage young Latine professionals in natural and cultural resource research and management, interpretation, and public affairs. Applications are open through February 6 for several summer 2022 internship opportunities.
Visit Latino Heritage Internship Program website to learn more and apply for these internships: https://latinoheritageintern.org/
Apply now for TWS Leadership Institute Class of 2022
The Wildlife Society’s flagship leadership training program, the Leadership Institute, is now accepting applications for the Class of 2022. The Leadership Institute is geared toward early-career professionals who are actively pursuing employment in the wildlife profession - whether that is seasonal, part-time, or full-time experience. The program committee strives to create pathways to help enhance the efficacy of current and future leaders of TWS and the wildlife profession. The deadline to submit applications is March 20 by 11:59 p.m. EST.
Read the program announcement for more information on how to apply:
https://wildlife.org/apply-now-for-tws-leadership-institute-class-of-2022/
Resource Highlights
Integrating Yurok Knowledge and Wildlife Management
In a study published recently in the Journal of Wildlife Management, Seafha Ramos conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 Yurok community members from 2011 and 2013, asking respondents about their relationships with wildlife and how they viewed traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). She has worked with her Yurok community to build a roadmap for how to understand Yurok TEK.
Read the full article in the Journal of Wildlife Management: https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22140
NAFWS Professional Development Webinar Series
Students and professionals at all levels are invited to join NAFWS education coordinator every 3rd Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time to learn professional development skills, tricks, and tips.
View the program webpage to learn more about the webinar schedule and topics: https://www.nafws.org/youth-pre-professional/professional-development/
TWS Wellness & Wildlife Webinar
The Wildlife Society Fall 2021 interns developed a Wellness & Wildlife series to promote and support discussions on the value of mental health in the wildlife field. Interns, Brielle Manzolillo and Alexia Yau, hosted a webinar in December 2021 and created a set off resources to support future engagement.
Visit TWS’ website to view the webinar recording: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/jmKF8p9iC0Xk0b76ilmZ8IOltYZgZQd3GD-WfSWd2htyBC2gMH3Xh6XPFzKZXmM.w_YWObseogFYp6YF (passcode: P2Rv*9Cw)
TWS Headquarters Updates
TWS Welcomes Two New Interns
In January 2022, The Wildlife Society was joined by two new interns who will be working with members and staff through June 2022. Valerie Ramirez is working with Mariah Beyers and Jamila Blake as the Spring 2022 Operations and Outreach Intern. Valerie received her B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science with a concentration in Fish and Wildlife Conservation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Some of her previous experience includes working with the Chicago Park District, the Student Conservation Association, and the UIUC Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment. Cassie Ferri is working with the Government Affairs team as the Spring 2022 Joe Burns Memorial Wildlife Policy Intern. Cassie is a part-time undergraduate student in her final semester at the University of Maine, where she is pursuing a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology. Cassie currently serves as the President of the UMaine Student Chapter of TWS after holding several chapter positions throughout her undergraduate career. Cassie is also very active in the Maine Chapter of TWS, and serves on the chapter's conservation affairs committee.
TWS DEI Network Resources & Contact Information
Contact Jamila Blake at jblake@wildlife.org with any questions, activity updates, success stories, or other items you would like to share. Please let us know if there is a different contact you would like to receive communications from the DEI Network.
To learn more about The Wildlife Society’s DEI efforts and current resources, visit the diversity, equity, and inclusion page: https://wildlife.org/dei/
Recent newsletters are also available on The Wildlife Society's website.
TWS Awards Nominations Now Open
The 2022 TWS awards season is now underway, and we encourage members to recognize the contributions of their peers by participating in the nomination process. Our Awards Program annually honors professional excellence, recognizes outstanding achievement, and highlights contributions to wildlife science and management.
FOS/FLTWS Birding Challenge Fall 2021 Results
The final day of the joint Fall meeting of FLTWS with Florida Ornithological Society was a challenge to spend the day birding. Participants documented the bird species they saw in a 12-hour timeframe on Sunday, 10 October 2021, using eBird to log encounters. Winners who saw the most species, either as individuals or part of a team were awarded prizes. Jay Exum will receive an honorary award, for having seen 54 species, the second highest total for an individual. Here are the rest of the winners…
2021 FLTWS Scholarship Winners
The Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society is pleased to announce that Laura Nicholson of the University of Florida is the 2021 recipient of the Courtney A. Tye Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship, Mackenzie Su of the University of Florida is the recipient of the 23rd annual Greater Everglades Student Memorial Scholarship, and Fana Scott of Eckerd College is the recipient of the 3rd annual Undergraduate Diversity Student Scholarship.
2021 Spring Conference
#SeaTurtleWeek
Why should sharks have all the fun!? Visit Sea Turtle Week where they will be highlighting one of the seven sea turtle species each day along with one of the threats they face. The week kicks off with World Oceans Day and concludes with World Sea Turtle Day. Join partners from around the globe in raising awareness for sea turtles and our ocean planet!
Visit https://www.seaturtleweek.com/ for more info!
2020 Scholarship Recipients
The Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society is pleased to announce that Catherine Frock of the University of Florida is the 2020 recipient of the Courtney A. Tye Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship, Sarah Teman of the University of Florida is the recipient of the 22nd annual Greater Everglades Student Memorial Scholarship, and Keara Clancy of the University of Florida is the recipient of the 2nd annual Undergraduate Diversity Student Scholarship.
37th Annual Beast Feast
he UF Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society is at it again! We are hosting our annual wild game dinner, Beast Feast, at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. on Saturday, February 15th from 5-8 PM.
We will be serving up wild game and invasive species including hog, venison, quail, pheasant, and more, all cooked by Rollin’ Smokes BBQ!
Beast Feast is our organization's main fundraiser providing Wildlife Ecology and Conservation students at UF with professional development opportunities, such as funding for conferences.
We will have great food, live educational animals, informational booths about conservation, a raffle, and a silent auction to win a bow from Bear Archery!
Come join us for a night of live, local music and great company.
Student discount codes are available by email to ufwildlifesociety@gmail.com.
Here's what you missed at the FLTWS Fall Workshop...
On Tuesday September 10, 2019 the Florida Chapter held an excellent workshop on upland communities of Florida, hosted and instructed by staff of the University of Central Florida Arboretum. We learned about the ecology of five major plant communities, including identification of many plant, tree and shrub species, critical land management activities, and a few feature wildlife species dependent on these uplands. The afternoon spent exploring beautiful examples of the communities was the course highlight. Thanks to the two dozen participants that attended (despite the timing just after Dorian) and to the superb UCF instructors. Stay tuned for forthcoming information about the Chapter’s 2020 Spring Meeting in Jacksonville!
Scholarships!
The Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society is seeking applicants for the 2020 'Courtney Tye Graduate Student Memorial Scholarship' ($2,000), the 2020 ‘Greater Everglades Undergraduate Student Memorial Scholarship’ ($1,500), and 2020 ‘FLTWS Diversity Undergraduate Wildlife Student Scholarship’ ($1,500).