Fish and Wildlife Sciences
Experiential Learning Opportunities Flourishing
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uring their time at the University of Idaho, every Fish and Wildlife Sciences undergraduate gains specialized hands-on experience through summer internships and independent research. Faculty and our partners are excited to make experiential learning accessible to ensure graduates are equipped with the skills, knowledge and passion for meaningful careers. In the summer 2021, 36 students conducted internships with 20 different organizations including the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Nez Perce Tribe, Sitka Tribe, Santa Anna Zoo, Coastal Marine Education & Research Academy, and North Dakota Game and Fish Department. The FWS department also co-sponsored paid internships with the USFWS Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, the WDFW and USFWS Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit Recovery Program, IDFG deer calf survival project, WDFW Blue Mountains Wildlife Area Complex and the U of I Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station. Through the Berklund and Gratson Fellowships, senior Lydia Druin evaluated genetic diversity and relatedness among jaguar populations in Costa Rica, while junior Sean Elison studied parentage and relatedness of Mexican wolf packs. The Hungerford Fellowship enabled senior Delaney Snaadt to monitor fecal DNA of the endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, while the Summer Authentic Research Experiences of the state-wide Genes by Environment program (NSF-EPSCOR GEM3) supported seven additional students as they conducted critical research on trout and sagebrush.
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WINTER 2021 - 22
Researchers Explore Climate, Human and Wildlife Interactions on Rangelands U of I researchers will monitor six sites throughout a five-year project to learn how drought affects vegetation, and how resulting changes impact elk, deer and livestock, as well as their interactions with predators. “We’ll look at the interactions between wolves and drought and how those affect wild ungulate populations, as well as livestock and the people who live there,” said Sophie Gilbert, assistant professor of wildlife ecology and management. The research also seeks to determine how decision-makers respond to these multiple sources of stress, and how wildlife and plant forecasting tools — resulting from the project — are received and used by ranchers and wildlife managers. The study will examine the interconnectedness of the inhabitants of western rangelands, including humans, plants and animals, in the face of a changing climate and other stressors, Gilbert said. “Stereotypical stories about the West are told with heroes and villains, where some animals may be considered good or bad, and some may be saviors or foes,” Gilbert said. “We want to go beyond that, to learn how interconnected those things are and how all wildlife comes with costs and benefits to humans that share these landscapes.” The researchers will use camera traps to collect images of animals in the study area, and work with a film crew to document the research and produce a documentary film to share with the public. Chloe Wardropper, assistant professor of human dimensions of ecosystem management, said researchers will share findings, footage and images from the camera traps in an effort to engage residents in throughout the study area. Volunteer citizen scientists will be able to participate online. “Outcomes of this project include a better understanding of how climate and carnivore risks affect human decision-making, and how humans impact rangeland food webs by raising livestock and altering wildlife behavior and abundance,” Gilbert said. “It could lead to coexistence between humans and wildlife in changing environments.” By Ralph Bartholdt, UCM, Fall 2021.
