{"id":3619,"date":"2025-09-01T15:46:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T15:46:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/?p=3619"},"modified":"2025-09-01T15:46:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T15:46:53","slug":"summer-recap-with-the-tarleton-student-chapter-of-the-wildlife-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/2025\/09\/01\/summer-recap-with-the-tarleton-student-chapter-of-the-wildlife-society\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Recap with The Tarleton Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By: Brooklyn Higginbotham, Gracie Triplett, and Hannah Pepper Atkinson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Summer Volunteer Efforts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;s waterway in search of alligators and their nests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s 1st Annual Banquet for the Cowboy Capital Chapter, assisting with various aspects of the event and supporting the growth of the new organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Junction, two members participated in the Texas Section Society for Range Management\u2019s Youth Range Workshop as directors, spending the week educating high school youth about land stewardship, conservation, and management practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009382-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A group of male and female students hold a banner that says &quot;Cowboy Capital Mule Deer Foundation Banquet&quot;.\" class=\"wp-image-3621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009382-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009382-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009382-1-533x400.jpg 533w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009382-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009382-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009382-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009382-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Six members hold a banner after volunteering for the Mule Deer Foundation Banquet. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"949\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009394-1-949x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a backwards cap holds a spotlight to view into brush in the dark.\" class=\"wp-image-3623\" style=\"width:270px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009394-1-949x1024.jpg 949w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009394-1-278x300.jpg 278w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009394-1-371x400.jpg 371w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009394-1-768x828.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009394-1-1424x1536.jpg 1424w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/1000009394-1.jpg 1461w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 949px) 100vw, 949px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Member, Gaven Sanders, holds a spotlight on a  kayak for alligator surveys. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rio Brazos Master Naturalist River Cleanup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"349\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/Naturalist-Camp.jpg\" alt=\"A group of people stand in front of and on the back of a black trailer in front of a house.\" class=\"wp-image-3625\" style=\"width:349px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/Naturalist-Camp.jpg 349w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2025\/08\/Naturalist-Camp-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Participants in the Rio Brazos Master Naturalist River Cleanup stand in a group with Student Chapter member Hannah Pepper Atkinson. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visit our social media pages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instagram: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tsuwildlife?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=MWRraHg3ZzR2bWJtdw==\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tsuwildlife?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=MWRraHg3ZzR2bWJtdw==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@tsuwildlife<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Facebook: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tarletonstatewildlife\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tarletonstatewildlife\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tarleton State University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:11px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information or ways to get involved, visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/wildlife-society\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/wildlife-society\/\">website <\/a>or email <a href=\"mailto:brooklyn.higginbotham@go.tarleton.edu\">Brooklyn Higginbotham<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":845,"featured_media":702,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","wds_primary_category":53,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,15],"tags":[88],"class_list":["post-3619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-department-of-wildlife-natural-resources","category-students","tag-tarleton-state-student-chapter-of-the-wildlife-society"],"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"swdmcelyea","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/author\/swdmcelyea\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/228\/2021\/12\/Campus-Scenes_Fall-2021_9279-300x200.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/category\/department-of-wildlife-natural-resources\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Department of Wildlife &amp; Natural Resources<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/category\/students\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Department of Wildlife &amp; Natural Resources<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/category\/students\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Tarleton State Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Tarleton State Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":0,"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 7 months ago","modified":"Updated 7 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on September 1, 2025","modified":"Updated on September 1, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on September 1, 2025 3:46 pm","modified":"Updated on September 1, 2025 3:46 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"Tarleton State University ring sculpture on campus.","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/845"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3619"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3629,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3619\/revisions\/3629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/coanr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}