Wildlife Management Techniques (Honors)

Catalog description

This course is an overview of laboratory and field techniques for wildlife and natural resource research and management. The first third of the course prepares students to become proficient in land navigation by emphasizing topographical map, compass and Global Positioning System (GPS) use and basic surveying techniques and measurements. The second third of the course covers urban and suburban wildlife management, including techniques for encouraging native wildlife and discouraging human-wildlife conflict. The final third of the course addresses mark and recapture techniques, censusing methods and population estimation, and wildlife telemetry methods. In-field data collection, data entry, and management are emphasized throughout the course. This course satisfies the DuBois campus first year engagement (FYE) by introducing the student to campus, University, and professional resources. The honors section of the course includes an in-depth exploration of a survey technique or method or additional field experience(s). The activities for the honors section vary by semester and are related to the interests of the students enrolled in the course. Previous activities have included participating in a night-time owl playback survey and generating transects for a deer pellet count.