To return to the Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference website, go to http://www.midwestfw.org/ The following schedule and room names are subject to change (as of February 1, 2017). Please check back for updates.
Presenters: Presenters for technical presentations are either the primary author (the first name listed in the abstract), or are indicated with an asterisk next to their name. Please note: the conference schedule is hosted by Sched.org which allows you to search within the schedule, and filter the schedule to show sessions only occurring on a certain date or within a track. You can also build your own schedule by creating a free account with Sched.org by selecting "SIGN UP" in the top right corner.
AUTHORS: Claire Helmke, Nebraska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, University of Nebraska–Lincoln; Lucia Corral, Nebraska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, University of Nebraska–Lincoln; Michelle Lute, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln; Jenny M. Dauer, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln; Teresa J. Frink, Department of Applied Sciences, Chadron State College; Joseph J. Fontaine, U.S. Geological Survey, Nebraska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
ABSTRACT: In Nebraska, where 97% of the land is privately owned, to address wildlife management and conservation challenges, we need the involvement of landowners and the general public. Citizen science presents the unique opportunity to engage the public while getting access to private lands, all while filling gaps of knowledge regarding natural systems. Citizen science also provides an opportunity to better understand the role of wildlife and science in the daily life of the community. The Nebraska Canid Project has been monitoring wild canids in Nebraska since 2013, with a focus on swift fox (Vulpes velox), a Tier-1 at risk species in the state. In 2015, we started an innovative sampling approach which incorporates landowners in the conservation process by sending undergraduate students back to their family ranches to conduct wildlife surveys. We designed a course to provide students with an opportunity to engage in citizen science, collect and analyze data, learn about canid species in Nebraska from ecological and social science perspectives, and apply key concepts to illustrative case studies. We offer the course to students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Chadron State College. In addition to engaging student in the scientific process we are using the citizen science platform to explore questions about student learning and general conservation ethic.
