The Alberta Wildlifer
	Spring 2003, Vol. 14, No. 1
	Editors: Sue Cotterill and Matt Besko

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Inside this Issue

• PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
• CHAPTER NEWS
• STUDENT CHAPTER NEWS
• PARENT SOCIETY NEWS
• FISH FUR AND FEATHERS UPDATE
• FEATURE ARTICLE
• UPCOMING COURSES
• UPCOMING EVENTS
• RECENTLY PUBLISHED
• AGM INFO

President’s Message

After 13 years, the Alberta Chapter’s annual general meeting and conference returns to Red Deer, which was the meeting place of the first annual general meeting held back in 1990.

As they say “a lot of water runs under the bridge” in 14 years, and I’d like to reflect back and acknowledge our Chapter’s progress and accomplishments.

The Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s charter was proclaimed at the 1989 Northwest Section meeting in Banff.  Our membership role that first year totaled 61.  Today’s membership role is relatively stable at about 250.  The Chapter’s newsletter “cranked out” it’s first issue in 1989 and “The Wildlifer Newsletter” continues to be our main medium for communication.  The Chapter’s website was launched in the late 1990’s and is now the platform used for delivering the communication and education program.

In 1991 the Rowan Award was established and is presented annually to an Alberta wildlifer for their contribution and excellence as a wildlife professional.  Our dedicated service award was presented for the first time in 1994 to acknowledge worthy members for their long-standing dedication and support of the Chapter.  The student scholarship program was established in 1992 with the goal of presenting one under graduate scholarship every year.  We now maintain and present three annual scholarship awards of  $1,000 each.

The Alberta Chapter has always played and active role in addressing the important conservation issues of the day.  Historically, the executive board’s approach to addressing issues includes drafting position papers and letters of concern, conducting reviews and making recommendations and providing expert advice to conservation and review committees.

The Alberta Chapter has successfully hosted two Northwest Section meetings in Banff in 1996 and 2001 and for over 13 consecutive years, we have continued to hold our own annual general meeting in March.  In my view, our AGM’s get better each year and continue to be “the main event” for many Chapter members.

It’s important to note, the Chapter has achieved these successes while maintaining a fiscally responsible organization whose membership dues have not increased in 14 years!

Now the Alberta Chapter moves forward to take on its next challenge, hosting The Wildlife Society’s 2004 Annual Conference.  Holding the 2004 conference in Calgary is a major undertaking and will require the full support of our members.  Let’s make the Calgary TWS conference a success. You can help by volunteering your time and services.

See you in Red Deer,

Jack Nolan, President

Chapter News

Annual General Meeting Information

The AGM information bulletin and registration form have been updated – please see pages 11-13.  The draft program for the AGM can be found on pages 14-16

Annual Business Meeting

See page 17 for the Annual Business Meeting draft agenda.

Fundraising Auction

Just a reminder: The University of Alberta Student Chapter will be coordinating the fundraising auction. Both large and small-ticket items, custom-made goods, and new purchases or used items will all be gratefully appreciated. If you plan to make a donation, please contact Stephen Taerum (staerum@ualberta.ca home #: (780) 435-9069), Janet Ng (jwn@ualberta.ca) or Tammy Macmillan (tammac@telusplanet.net) as soon as possible!  If you are able to drop off an item in Edmonton, please contact one of us.  You can drop off items in Biological Sciences, Zoology Wing 907.

Conservation Committee Progress Report

by Blair Rippin

During fiscal year 2002-03 ACTWS became aware of several issues with potentially negative consequences to provincial wildlife.  Action taken on these issues by the Conservation Committee on behalf of ACTWS is outlined below.

Apparent fiscal irresponsibility in the province’s wildlife management agency

Early in 2002 major reductions in staff and budgets occurred in the Department of Sustainable Resource Development.  In the opinion of ACTWS, it appeared that cuts to the Wildlife Management Division would seriously impair its ability to conduct required wildlife management programs and significantly impede its ability to meet mandated obligations set out in the Wildlife Act.

Subsequently a letter outlining ACTWS concerns was sent to the Premier and the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development with copies to all other MLAs.

Replies indicated that ACTWS concerns would not result in modification to the recent budget decisions.  Further, the Minister stated he was confident required wildlife management programs would continue and legal obligations pursuant to the Wildlife Act would be unaffected. 

The letter and replies can be viewed on the ACTWS web site.

Big game farming in Alberta

Actions relative to the topic are threefold:

1.      Livestock Industry Diversification Act (LIDA) review

LIDA, enacted in 1993, is the Alberta act governing most of the activities relative to big game farming.  A governmental review of LIDA began in mid-2001 and involved the input of a multi-agency committee.  Although invited, ACTWS decided their input would be provided indirectly through other agencies with a review of a near-final draft. The review committee provided input and was disbanded in mid- 2002.  There was to be a draft of revised legislation provided to each committee member for review but to date no draft has been made available.

The Alberta big game farm industry has recently undergone considerable turmoil associated with markets, disease threats, and public controversy.  It is therefore likely the final draft of LIDA will be delayed until both government regulators and the industry have adequately addressed these issues.

2.      Big game hunt farms (Cervid Hunting Preserves)

When big game farming was sanctioned in Alberta in the late 1980s, the legislation specifically prohibited on-farm hunting of farmed wildlife.  Over the past few years the big game farming community actively lobbied to have hunting legalized for privately owned wildlife within “Cervid Hunting Preserves (CHPs)”.

Opposition from various sources contributed to the issue becoming considerably controversial.  The Premier stated that CHPs would not be permitted unless there was demonstrated public support.  As a result, the lobby group conducted province-wide public meetings and met with various MLA committees.

ACTWS decided not to take direct action on this issue because defense of hunting per se was considered beyond ACTWS purview in that it is inextricably intertwined with individual values.

In mid-summer a government caucus committee decided that CHPs would not be permitted in Alberta.

3.      Disease issues on big game farms (specifically CWD)

In 1992 ACTWS prepared and presented a comprehensive position paper to the government of the day outlining specific concerns about potential negative effects of big game farming on wildlife.  The major ACTWS concern involved the threat of introducing detrimental cervid diseases that could spread to wild populations.

To their benefit, both the industry and government regulators instituted a number of effective legislative and procedural actions directed at minimizing the risk of potential negative aspects of the big game farm industry in Alberta prior to and during the early stages of the industry’s development in the province.  However, since 1992 many of the ACTWS concerns were realized.  For example, a bovine tuberculosis outbreak resulted in an extensive culling and compensation program in the mid-1990s. 

More recently, chronic wasting disease (CWD), potentially devastating to specific ungulate species, has been diagnosed in wild and captive ungulates in neighboring jurisdictions (i.e. Saskatchewan and some states in central USA).  During the past several months CWD was discovered in one elk and one white-tailed deer on two individual Alberta big game farms.  The Alberta government killed and tested about 250 deer near the Saskatchewan border near Lloydminster during the summer of 2001 and continues to test hunter-killed deer at considerable public expense.  Fortunately to date CWD has not been found in the testing of 3000 wild cervids in the province. 

In September 2002, the Conservation Committee prepared a letter outlining renewed concerns about disease and included a summary reiterating 1992 concerns and subsequent events.  The letter was sent to the Premier and the Ministers of Sustainable Resource Development and Agriculture, Food and Rural Development with copies to opposition MLAs.

Replies to the letter indicated big game farming would remain as a sanctioned industry in the province and that the government has confidence in the effectiveness of current mechanisms and efforts to detect and eliminate CWD-positive animals from both the wild and within big game farms.  The big game farm letter and replies can be viewed on the ACTWS web site.

On January 11, 2003 the ACTWS Conservation chairperson attended a comprehensive conference in Nisku that brought together the leading scientists in US and Canada who deal with CWD.  They outlined the scientific knowledge and management actions currently being taken to address the diagnosis and control of CWD both in captive and wild situations.  More can be learned about CWD on the ACTWS web site and on www.cwd-info.org.

Bison

The two aspects relating to Alberta bison that are of concern to ACTWS are as follows:

1.    Bison status

Bison presently have “wildlife” status under the Wildlife Act only in a small area in extreme northwestern Alberta where wood bison have been successfully established via transplant.  In the remainder of the province both wood and plains bison are designated as domestic agricultural stock.  However, free-ranging wild herds occur at a few sites across northern, forested areas.  These free-ranging animals are not considered “wildlife” and are subject to uncontrolled exploitation. 

There has been a recent proposal to revisit Alberta bison status to accommodate re-establishment of wild herds other than in the northwest corner of the province.  However, the whole bison picture is clouded by the incidence of TB and brucellosis in animals within and in the vicinity of Wood Buffalo National Park.  This disease is considered a significant threat to the welfare of neighboring bison and cattle herds.  In addition, this threat has major implications to Canada’s international trade situation relative to cattle and meat products. 

ACTWS could provide useful input to the question of future bison status as it affects wildlife management but such an effort would require considerable input from members with current expertise on bison issues.  Therefore no action has been taken to date but this topic should be revisited in 2003.  

2.    Bison grazing on crown land

Although bison do not have “wildlife” status (with the exceptions noted above) the proposal to extend the opportunity for ranchers to lease crown land for bison grazing has potential negative implications to wildlife.  Leasing crown land for bison grazing has occurred for several years in the province but without official sanction.  As a result of several public complaints and concerns about the practice over the past few years, a public committee, including an ACTWS member, was struck to obtain input that would provide the basis for a decision whether or not to continue the practice. If the decision favored continued leasing for grazing, the committee was also to determine the conditions necessary to govern the practice. 

The committee met periodically during 2001 and early 2002 and provided considerable input.  A number of committee members felt that fencing necessary to contain bison prohibited free movement of wildlife.  In addition, most members agreed that unless the disease threat was resolved (relating largely to TB and brucellosis in the vicinity of Wood Buffalo National Park), bison grazing on crown land should be limited to very few sites in southern Alberta. 

Significant disagreement among members persisted upon committee dissolution in mid-2002 and to date there has not been a decision on the matter.

 Climate change

The debate regarding federal and/or provincial acceptance of conditions in the Kyoto accord was the focus of public media attention for much of the latter part of 2002.  In addition to considerable hype and misleading information, a number of credible environmental spokespersons offered sound advice on the matter directly and through the media. 

Although ACTWS strongly supports immediate action to reduce emission of so-called greenhouse gases, it was felt an attempt to offer a comprehensive, science-based position on the climate change issue would require considerable effort and could not meet the timelines required in the debate.  It was felt that ACTWS efforts in this regard would be more effective in dealing with the specifics of proposed actions to implement greenhouse gas reduction as they arose in the future.  We continue to monitor the climate change issue.

Forest management

The boreal mixed-wood forest has been subjected to very intensive exploitive pressures over the past few decades, generally for fiber (lumber and pulp), petroleum, peat, agriculture, and for infrastructure development.  The forest harvesting industry has developed intensive silvicultural practices that have the potential to dramatically alter the composition and age structure of the forest with potentially negative consequences to some wildlife species.  The most recent tool in the arsenal is the application of herbicides designed to control competition with commercially valuable tree species on regenerating cut blocks and in future may include pesticides to combat unwanted invertebrates.

ACTWS is aware that efforts are being made to investigate effects of silvicultural chemicals on forest successional trajectories and on the wildlife associated with forest seral stages.  It was decided therefore that development of an ACTWS position on the matter would be premature and that input on this issue would be more effective after definitive information became available relative to specific effects and use scenario proposed by the forest industry.

Student Chapter News

University of Alberta Student Chapter

Parent Society News

The Wildlife Society is sponsoring a membership poster contest open to all members of The Wildlife Society.  Attendees of the TWS annual conference in Burlington, VT. (Sept. 6-10, 2003) will select the winner, but you need NOT attend the conference to enter.  Top prize is a $500.00 TWS gift certificate redeemable for TWS national/international membership or registration fees, and merchandise.  For details, see the TWS website, www.wildlife.org.

Announcing a Contest for Design of a TWS Membership Poster

Winner Selected at TWS Conference, Burlington, VT, Sept. 6-10, 2003

Create a Poster that invites Membership in The Wildlife Society.  Your poster should be designed for printing on a large format, high-resolution printer/plotter.  The winning poster(s) will be made available on TWS' website as a pdf file, and downloaded and printed as needed by TWS units for use at international, section and chapter meetings to recruit new members.

Contest Guidelines

Entries should promote the benefits of membership in The Wildlife Society.  TWS membership offers many benefits.  The list below will get you started.  Please use as many as will fit your design, giving special attention to the nine items marked with an asterisk (*).  Creativity is encouraged.

• Join The Wildlife Society - an international organization of wildlife professionals and students dedicated to Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship through Science and Education*

• Take advantage of Continuing Education and Networking opportunities offered by TWS' annual conference, as well as section, chapter, and working group meetings*

• Bring wildlife science to bear on critical Wildlife Policy Issues*

• Receive six issues of The Wildlifer newsletter to keep up with professional news*

• Subscribe to the Wildlife Society Bulletin - a quarterly magazine covering all aspects of wildlife conservation and management*

• Subscribe to The Journal of Wildlife Management & Wildlife Monographs - the definitive source of wildlife science*

• Advance your skills by participating in special topic Working Groups*

• Receive recognition of your professional credentials by becoming an Associate or Certified Wildlife Biologist*

• Expand your Professional Network and Access to Jobs and Graduate Student Positions by subscribing to TWS' electronic discussion group

• Advance Science-Based Wildlife Management

• Present your Work to a large audience of your peers at TWS' Annual Conference

• Publish Your Work in the Bulletin or Journal

• Develop Leadership Skills by serving as a leader of one of our many sections, chapters, and working groups

• Give Service to your Profession by serving on a committee

• Take advantage of Membership Discounts on books and conference registration

• For a Membership Application, please go to www.wildlife.org *

Entries should be attractive, full color, include photos or graphics, and display the TWS logo.  Posters should be 24" x 36" (horizontal or vertical).

Posters should be designed for printing on a large format, high-resolution printer/plotter.  The winning poster(s) will be made available on TWS' website as a pdf file, and downloaded and printed as needed by TWS units for use at international, section and chapter meetings to recruit new members.

Entries should be submitted as both a hard copy and CD-ROM (pdf file format preferred, but also will accept jpeg, ppt, pm, wpd, and doc files) at the Burlington conference.

All contestants must send an e-mail to catherine_hibbard@fws.gov by August 1, 2003 to inform organizers of your intent to participate so adequate display space may be made available.  If you are unable to attend the conference, please contact catherine_hibbard@fws.gov for details on how to make your submission by mail.

All TWS members are eligible to participate.  Limit of one entry per person.

Conference participants will select the winning poster from among qualified entries.

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

• 1st - $500 TWS gift certificate

• 2nd - $100 TWS gift certificate

• 3rd - $50 TWS gift certificate

Gift certificates are redeemable for TWS (national) books, merchandise, membership, registration fees, or other services (expire Dec. 31, 2005).

Winning entries may be modified by TWS to meet graphic and text standards.

TWS reserves the right to unlimited use of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place posters, and use upon approval by the designer of any other poster submitted to the contest.  The designer will be recognized on all posters used by TWS.

The Wildlife Society
5410 Grosvenor Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814 USA
tel. (301) 897-9770
fax. (301) 530-2471
tws@wildlife.org
www.wildlife.org

Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship through Science and Education.

Fish, Fur and Feathers Update

WILDLIFE MANAGERS – KNOW THYSELF!

Fish, Fur and Feathers – Questionnaire

In preparation for a book on the history of the conservation and management of fish and wildlife in the province, the Alberta Fish and Wildlife Historical Society is asking the province’s wildlife biologists and managers to contribute their thoughts on wildlife management.  While we welcome any comments you may have, we have crafted a few questions below to warm you up to the discussion as well as a few example answers received from participants to date.  Many of the comments we receive will be used in the book’s epilogue – a compilation of the thoughts and reflections from the present – as thought-provoking commentary for the next generation of wildlife managers.

Please take a few moments to respond to the questions below.  As well, please feel free to circulate this document to your colleagues.  All responses should be sent to Petra Rowell at prowell@telusplanet.net or #4 Morgan Crescent, St. Albert, Alberta T8N 2E2.  While author identities would be appreciated for acknowledgement purposes, anonymous submissions will also be accepted.

 The Three Eras of Wildlife Management

Historians and academics often refer to the “three eras of wildlife management” witnessed over the past century – preservation (using parks and preserves so that a dwindling species can recover through its ‘natural increase’), conservation (using science-based knowledge of wildlife populations and legislated game laws to manage a renewable resource) and finally, shared stewardship (where stakeholder needs and knowledge are integrated into habitat, landscape or ecosystem management for the benefit of wildlife and other ecological processes involving the air, water and land that are critical to all existence).

 1.) Do you agree that Alberta’s history of wildlife management contains elements of all three eras and if so, what were some of the ‘signal’ events that ushered each era into existence and some of the legacies left behind?

Era of Preservation:

• overexploitation of elk at the turn of the century, subsequent public concern, creation of the Island Park Preserve in 1904 – today’s Elk Island National Park.
• establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park (1885) – today’s National Parks System

Era of Conservation:

• efforts to protect the declining buffalo resulted in the first game ordinance that subsequently evolved into today’s Wildlife Act.
• hiring of the first fisheries and wildlife biologists by the province in the 1950s with subsequent growth into today’s Fish and Wildlife Division

Era of Shared Stewardship:

• creation of Integrated Resource Management Branch in 1999

 High Points and Low Points of the Last Century of Wildlife Management

2.) What in your view were the most significant events in the management and conservation of fish and wildlife in Alberta during the past 100 years?

• the realization by the public and government that the devastating yearlong harvesting of wildlife had to be replaced by controlled fall harvesting of only the surplus
• the realization that management had to be based on reliable knowledge of wildlife populations, their trends and harvests by human and other factors
• creation of the provincial Game Branch in 1906
• creation of the first provincial Stewardship Biologist in 2002
• introduction of bison to Elk Island and Buffalo Park
• introduction of pheasants and partridge
• re- introduction of elk into their former range
• creation of game preserves later absorbed into forest reserves/provincial parks
• rabies control

 3.) What were the most significant event(s) in the management and conservation of fish and wildlife in Alberta during your career as a professional in this field?

• conducting releases that subsequently saw the re-establishment of wild bred peregrine falcons on the Red Deer River in the mid 1990s
• 1988 changes to outfitter-guide policy
• humane trapping developments
• 1980/81 publication of hunter conservation manual
• 4/5 curl requirement in bighorn ram hunting regulations

4.) What do you see as the biggest mistake, failure or controversial topic in wildlife management in the past century?

• the transfer of diseased plains bison from Wainwright Buffalo Park to Wood Buffalo National Park
• the failure to secure adequate resources for endangered species recovery work
• the failure to manage woodland caribou in a manner that allows for a harvestable surplus
• the expansion of game farming
• commercial net fishing in waters already stressed by recreational anglers
• mercury contamination of seed eaten by upland birds (pheasant season closure in 1959)
• continual movement of the Fish and Wildlife Division within and amongst provincial departments

5.) Although many other institutions and organizations have participated in wildlife management over the century, the provincial Fish and Wildlife Division is recognized as the government authority with the mandate and responsibility to hold fish and wildlife in the public trust and to manage this resource in an intelligent manner.  In reference to the many departmental changes and reorganizations this division has undergone throughout the century, the terms “lost child” or the “child that nobody wanted” have surfaced from time to time.  Why do you think the provincial responsibility for fish and wildlife management is shuffled around as much as it is?

• the division has no direct role in assigning land management activities.  Hence, the fate of wildlife is in the hands of Forestry, Agriculture, Transportation and Energy
• the management of fish and wildlife involves a diversity of issues including public attitudes, agriculture, forestry and mineral extraction, First Nations, hunters and anglers, conservationists and public health care.  Thus, it does not fit easily into any one department of the government but should be integrated into a broader spectrum of government policy.

6.) What do you see as the biggest impediment to the management of the fish and wildlife resource today?  Do you think this problem will be resolved in the next century? If so, how will it be solved?

• lack of public profile of fish and wildlife policy
• public complacency
• short-sightedness of political process
• lack of resources to conduct meaningful fieldwork

7.) Your Comments?

 Thank you for participating in this process! Your contribution will be gratefully acknowledged in the book Fish, Fur and Feathers due for publication in 2005.

Feature Article

Research on Woodland Caribou in Northern Alberta

By Philip D. McLoughlin

Woodland caribou are thought to be declining throughout most of their range in North America, and a number of populations are currently listed as Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.  In Alberta, the government supports exploration and resource extraction in woodland caribou range provided the integrity of the habitat is maintained to support its use by caribou.  Since 1993, the Boreal Caribou Research Program (BCRP), which includes a consortium of researchers from government, industry, and academia, has been working to address concerns about the potential effects of human developments on caribou in northern Alberta.

The BCRP seeks to understand population dynamics, predator-prey interactions, habitat use, and the effect(s) of industrial activity on woodland caribou.  Current research projects focus on understanding the effects of linear corridors and other development activities on movements, habitat use and population dynamics.  The research program drives an adaptive management program that periodically reviews land use programs in relation to newly acquired information. 

Our most recent research confirms that most caribou populations in Alberta are indeed declining.  Mean annual survival of radio-collared adult female caribou averaged 0.881 (range 0.861–0.929) among 5 ranges in northeast Alberta, 1993–2002.  Pregnancy rates (90–100%) and calf production (75–95%) in northeast Alberta was relatively high in all ranges; however, mean annual recruitment was near or below 20 calves per 100 cows in most ranges since inception of study ( = 0.171, range 0.114–0.227).  Caribou populations in 3 ranges have declined at average rates exceeding that which would lead to a 50% decline from initial population size over 3 generations.  Populations of caribou in 2 ranges appear to be stable, declining marginally since inception of study.

Predation by wolves and potentially black bears appears to be the main cause of mortality; however, caribou have co-existed with predators in the boreal forest for thousands of years, and only now appear to be in need of protection.  It is likely that the recent (<60 years) addition of large-scale anthropogenic disturbances to the system has played a role in generating observed population declines.  Some progress has already been made on identifying potential relationships between human activity and observed declines in woodland caribou populations.  For example, human disturbance in the boreal forest has been linked to enhancing the functional response (i.e., search time) of predators such as wolves to woodland caribou.  Although wolves are often reported to be less abundant in areas with high road density, roads and other linear corridors that receive little human use may be attractive to wolves as easy travel routes.  Seismic lines cut as part of geophysical research programs and roads that cut through caribou habitat may provide wolves with increased access to caribou herds and allow them to travel more rapidly through the environment, increasing hunting efficiency.  In north-central Alberta, the BCRP reported that locations of wolves equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) radio-collars were closer to linear corridors than expected from random, and that caribou mortalities attributed to wolf predation were closer to linear corridors than were locations from live caribou.  This implied that caribou living closer to linear corridors were at higher risk of being killed by wolves.  In addition, travel rates of GPS radio-tracked wolves on linear corridors were almost three times faster than the average speed of travel in the surrounding forest.  High wolf use and thus high predation risk may explain why caribou in Alberta tend to avoid seismic lines and roads, as observed by the BCRP.  Predation, therefore, should probably be viewed as only a proximate limiting factor for caribou in northern Alberta; disturbances resulting in large-scale changes in habitat structure that affect habitat use and movements of predators and alternate prey may be ultimately responsible for declines of caribou populations in the province.  Further research into causes of observed population declines will help focus treatments to conserve caribou in Alberta.

New research projects initiated by the BCRP during 2002 include studies examining caribou-wildfire relationships in northern Alberta, the response of wolves and caribou to mitigative strategies such as low-impact seismic (LIS) cutting practices, and changes in caribou home range and habitat selection in relation to an expanding industrial footprint in boreal Alberta. An additional project focuses on implementing and evaluating techniques to recover caribou habitat in the province.

For more information contact:

Philip D. McLoughlin
Alberta Research Council Inc.
P.O. Bag 4000, Highway 16A & 75 St.
Vegreville, Alberta
Canada T9C 1T4

Wildlife Management Field Courses

EcoLife Expeditions, South Africa

International Universities Program

 16 May - 14 June 2003, or 20 June - 19 July 2003

These 30 day Wildlife Management Courses are for students and professionals interested in African conservation. The course includes lectures, classes and hands-on projects taught by instructors from the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Wildlife Management. Course topics include: Wildlife Management Techniques, Sustainable Resource Utilization, Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation, Reserve and Resort Management, African Local Community Cultures and Conservation Perspectives, and Africa Tourism Principles and Historical Sites. 

8 credits from the University of Pretoria. Cost:$2600 (US dollars)

Contact:
 Education@ecolife.co.za
Ecolife Expeditions, 976 Duncan Street, Brooklyn,
Pretoria 0181, South Africa. Phone: +27 12 460 5430,
Fax: +27 12 460 9707, www.ecolife.co.za

Upcoming Events

Bird Biology and Conservation: A Northwest Perspective

February 10 – 11, 2003 / Eugene, Oregon

For more information, see attachment.

ASPB Access Management Conference

The Alberta Society of Professional Biologists invites you to attend a two-day conference that explores the ongoing debate surrounding Access Management.   The roles of stakeholders and approaches to ecological and natural resources sustainability are discussed.  The conference will be held in Calgary, Alberta, 18 & 19 March 2003.

Implementation of effective Access Management continues to be a mitigation factor for cumulative effects in sensitive ecosystems in Canada.  The debate surrounding this complex management issue ranges from policy level issues, to balancing the needs of the public (users), industry and sustainability of resources.

For more information contact the ASPB office at pbiol@aspb.ab.ca or 1-800-711-5765 or (780) 434-5765.  Information is also posted at the ASPB website:  http://www.aspb.ab.ca

52nd Annual Wildlife Disease Association Conference

The annual international scientific meeting of the Wildlife Disease Association will take place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on August 11 - 14, 2003.  This conference will consist of presentations and posters on all aspects of wildlife disease, with special sessions on the population effects of disease, immune function and other bioindicators of disease, and cervid diseases.  For complete information, please visit the conference web site at http://wildlife.usask.ca/WDA2003.

As an added bonus to the conference, on August 15, 2003 there will be an International Workshop on CWD at the same site in Saskatoon.

Modeling Antarctic Ecosystems, April 14-17, 2003

May 2-6, 2004 / Vancouver, BC

For more information:  www.fisheries.ubc.ca

Recently Published

Please send any references of recently published articles to sue.cotterill@gov.ab.ca. Articles of interest include those authored by ACTWS members on Alberta wildlife.

Newsletter Link

The Alberta Society of Professional Biologists’ newsletter is available at:  http://www.aspb.ab.ca.

The University of Alberta Student Chapter will be coordinating the fundraising auction. Both large and small-ticket items, custom-made goods, and new purchases or used items will all be gratefully appreciated. For more information contact Stephen Taerum (staerum@ualberta.ca home #: (780) 435-9069), Janet Ng (jwn@ualberta.ca) or Tammy Macmillan (tammac@telusplanet.net).

A poster session will run during February 28-March 1. Posters on wildlife management, research, monitoring, new techniques, and work just getting underway are always of interest. Persons who are beginning their projects are encouraged to submit posters, rather than papers for oral presentation. If you are interested in participating, please contact Mark S. Boyce, Department of Biological Sciences, Room Z 907, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada T6G 2E9 (Phone (780) 489-0081; fax 780-492-9234; e-mail boyce@ualberta.ca).

The banquet is included in the registration fee and is on Friday evening, February 28 (at the Red Deer Lodge Ballroom).

Corporate donations have contributed significantly to the quality and viability of TWS meetings organized in Alberta in the past. Thank you for your support and generosity! If you or your employer can make a financial donation to support the conference, please consider doing so. Donations both large and small will be gratefully appreciated. Please make cheques payable (preferably in Canadian funds) to Alberta Chapter, The Wildlife Society and mail to ACTWS, Box 4990, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6E 5G8. Donations received before February 15, 2003 would be most appreciated! Donors will be recognized in the printed conference materials, and at the banquet on Friday, February 28.