By: Brooklyn Higginbotham, Gracie Triplett, and Hannah Pepper Atkinson
As the summer comes to a close, the Tarleton Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society is excited to reflect on a season filled with hands-on learning, volunteer service, and community. With the new semester now underway, our new officer team is looking forward to a year filled with exciting opportunities and meeting speakers from all different aspects of the field.
Our first meeting will be held on September 2nd at 6 pm, with Texas Parks and Wildlife Biologist Patrick Kostecka introducing the TPWD mentored hunt program.
Summer Volunteer Efforts
Over the past few months, Tarleton State Student Chapter members have volunteered for conservation efforts across the state. At the Fort Worth Nature Center, three members participated in alligator and alligator nest surveys in an effort to better understand population sizes and trends in the area. Surveys were conducted both on kayak and on foot, trekking through dense brush along the park’s waterway in search of alligators and their nests.
In Stephenville, three members worked alongside the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) monitoring dove traps for ongoing research efforts. Students had the opportunity to measure, identify, weigh, and band doves captured before releasing them back into the wild. Additionally, six members of the Society volunteered at the Mule Deer Foundation’s 1st Annual Banquet for the Cowboy Capital Chapter, assisting with various aspects of the event and supporting the growth of the new organization.
In Junction, two members participated in the Texas Section Society for Range Management’s Youth Range Workshop as directors, spending the week educating high school youth about land stewardship, conservation, and management practices.
Rio Brazos Master Naturalist River Cleanup
Along the Brazos, at the Rio Brazos Master Naturalist River Cleanup, five members led an advanced training session on animal trapping for wildlife research. Members spoke on the history of trapping and the methods involved, demonstrated how different traps worked, and set off a demonstrative rocket net.
During the river cleanup, one member led a kayaking trip down a section of the Brazos, picking up debris and tires. The effort removed 90 tires and 690 pounds of trash from the river.
Members from the Student Chapter had valuable summer experiences across Texas, the United States, and the World. Several members took part in the Tarleton State Study Abroad program, travelling to Africa and Nepal. These students had the opportunity to observe wildlife across the globe and gain a better understanding of research and practices used by local communities. Additional member summer highlights are posted on our social media pages.
Visit our social media pages:
Instagram: @tsuwildlife
Facebook: Tarleton State University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society
For more information or ways to get involved, visit our website or email Brooklyn Higginbotham.