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As part of our annual conference, the ACTWS offers a free public talk sharing the latest Alberta wildlife science and management challenges and solutions. This year, we are overjoyed to feature the enigmatic wolverine.
Wolverines ignite imaginations. Fierce and resilient, they suffer no wildlife fools, face challenges undaunted. That is the legend: reality is more…realistic. Wolverines are indeed fierce, but definitely not resilient to the onslaught of changes humans continue to bring into their wilderness homes. The challenges they face are many, and certainly daunting: overtrapping, predator control, habitat loss, climate change, and newcomers to their mountain homes.
What do we really know about wolverines, though? Quite a bit. Recent leaps in wildlife technology have yielded many new insights. A team of wolverine biologists synthesized research from the last two decades and asked: What are the known drivers of wolverine populations? How can this knowledge inform wolverine conservation? We scoured the globe for wolverine research, from North America to Scandinavia, Russia to China. From over 150 works we peered into the lives of wolverines. We found these mysterious creatures are not so mysterious. From this lofty, global view – standing on the shoulders of wolverine giants – we can see clearly what challenges wolverines face, and how wildlife management and conservation can help them overcome these troubles. Wolverine conservation is no myth, if we use the best science to guide intelligent and difficult decisions.
To kick start this engaging talk, we’ll be auctioning some of the best and most amazing donations to our annual online auction. Matt Besko will be our live auctioneer and you don’t want to miss the prizes that will up for grabs! This will be an evening to remember!
Dr. Jason T Fisher is a wildlife ecologist specializing in the effects of landscape and climate change on mammal populations. He heads the Applied Conservation Macro Ecology (ACME) lab at UVIC; he was formerly Senior Research Scientist with Alberta Research Council and Big Game Wildlife Biologist with Newfoundland & Labrador’s Wildlife Division. Jason has been researching wolverines since 2003, admittedly with mixed success at first, made better since he started working with other wolverine researchers across North America. Jason and his teammates have published 54 papers in scientific journals on topics ranging from marine fishes to grizzly bears, and have been featured on TV, radio, news media, and textbooks, but no movies as of yet.
“Rooted in Wisdom: Deer Aging Techniques”
Embark on a journey of precision and insight with the Lethbridge College Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) at the ACTWS Conference in Jasper! Join our workshop, ‘Rooted in Wisdom: Deer Aging Techniques‘, to explore the secrets hidden within wildlife teeth. Explore both the field technique of ‘tooth eruption and wear’ and the laboratory marvel of ‘cementum analysis’ – both dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of ungulate ages. Delve into the heart of these techniques, comparing their accuracy and precision, with a revelation of the superior accuracy of cementum analysis. Learn the art of tooth extraction and witness the seamless process of submitting your own wildlife teeth to the WAL for aging through cementum analysis. Elevate your understanding of deer populations and contribute to the advancement of wildlife knowledge and bolster your resume with applied experience. Participants will gain hands-on familiarity with the field technique of jaw aging, and the lab process of tooth extraction, inspection, preparation, and cementum analysis. Join us in Jasper for a transformative experience at the intersection of field expertise and cutting-edge laboratory analysis!
Facilitated by the Wildlife Analytics Lab, Lethbridge College
Cost: $15
Professional refers to someone who works with wildlife and/or their habitats in a professional setting.
In this context, it is not in reference to a legal professional designation.
