Pre- & Post- Conference Symposia

Owl Versus Owl:  

The Conundrum of Managing Barred and Spotted Owls in the Pacific Northwest

In September 2013 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized the lethal removal of Barred Owls from 4 experimental areas in the Pacific Northwest to better understand how the range expansion of barred owls has affected threatened spotted owl populations. This issue has raised the management conundrum of killing one owl species to save another with the inherent ethical, legal and feasibility concerns. In this symposium, we will provide the background that led to the current management decisions concerning barred and spotted owls, the current population status of the two species, and current research on the feasibility, effectiveness, and response of northern spotted owl populations to lethal removal of barred owls. Finally, the symposium will end with a panel discussion with the audience to explore long-term barred owl management across the Pacific Northwest to benefit northern spotted owl populations.

Marijuana Cultivation and Its Impacts on Wildlife, Habitats, and the Wildlife Profession

Marijuana cultivation, whether trespass grows on public lands or private land cultivation, occurs throughout California. Due to the widespread nature of this activity and its currently conflicting state and federal regulations, California’s water, wildlife, fish and diverse habitats and the safety of natural resource professionals are at risk. The fisher (Martes pennanti) was proposed by USFWS to be listed as “Threatened” with one of the significant threats as “Illegal Marijuana Cultivation and its associated Toxicants.” This symposium will bring together an interdisciplinary group of individuals working towards understanding and addressing the impacts that marijuana cultivation has on California’s natural resources, and developing potential solutions to these problems. Talks from law enforcement, scientists, state and federal biologists, and remediation experts highlighting what we know and don’t know, information needs, and future directions surrounding the issue will provide the foundation of this symposium. Symposium Chair: Mourad Gabriel, UC Davis.

Scientific and Technical Writing Workshop – From Field Work to Final Draft

  • Monday 1-5:30pm and Tuesday 8:30am-5:30pm, January 26-27, 2015
  • Requires Extra Fee

TWS-West was repeatedly asked to offer a writing workshop. One of our members has prepared one; it was a great success in 2012 and 2013, so we’re offering it again in 2015! Learn career-assisting techniques for technical writing in an interactive workshop format immediately before the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society. Well-organized, clearly written reports will more effectively communicate your findings and enhance your organization’s credibility — and your own. You’ll leave with practical techniques for organizing your field work to facilitate writing reports that are clear, concise and easy to understand. Don’t miss your chance to learn how to make every technical document more effective from now on!

Early registration is encouraged because the workshop may be cancelled if there are fewer than 12 registrants by the January 19th cut-off date . We will maintain a waiting list if there are more than 24 registrants. A maximum of five students (or retirees and early professionals within six months after completion of a degree) can register at the discounted rate. Pre-Registration preferred because “walk-up” registration may be limited.

Cancelled due to low enrollment:

  • The Amargosa Vole:  Emergency Conservation in an Era of Shifting Environmental & Biopolitical Climates  – Cancelled due to low enrollment

We are sorry to report the need to change/postpone the Symposium “The Amargosa Vole: Emergency Conservation in an Era of Shifting Environmental and Biopolitical Climates.”  Instead, the organizers have decided to change the Tuesday, January 27th Symposium into a “Working Group Meeting,” with a primary objective to organize the symposium for the 2016 annual meeting of TWS West in Pomona, CA.  The working group will meet Tuesday from 9am to 5:30pm in Alexander 2.
  • Wilderness First Aid – 16 hours   

Cancelled due to low enrollment.