THE WILD TIMES
IDAHO CHAPTER
THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

  Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula)
Issue 00:3           October 15, 2000

It was one of those summers. Hot. Dry. Storm fronts with lots of lightning, wind, and little rain. The perfect environmental conditions for big wildland fires, and they happened. Probably not a surprise to any of us, but you certainly would not know it from all the political rhetoric and posturing in this state.

I’ve been watching the summer Olympic Games from Sydney, Australia, the past few evenings. Prime advertising time for beer, fast cars, macho trucks/SUVs, and dot.com companies. When the NBC network switches to local programming breaks I have been bombarded with 30-second sound bites in either scenic forested environments or a burning forest touting the benefits of forest roads. The simple messages being delivered over and over again are that to take care of the forest you have to be able to get to the forest (i.e. roads), more roads in our forests could have prevented the fires (or at least have allowed fire fighters to put them out quicker), and that forest roads get you to where you want to be (beautiful scenic vistas flash across the screen).

Just as with this season’s rash of political ads, these ads appeal to our emotional right brain and never give the left brain all the facts and figures it needs to reach a logical solution to a very complex problem. Advertisers and marketing specialists know their jobs and their audience. The negative aspects of roads (habitat fragmentation, siltation, elk vulnerability, water quality, endangered species protection, noxious weed invasion, etc.) could be just as graphically portrayed, but we lack the financial wherewithal to get out "the rest of the story" on primetime television spots. Instead we will continue to work within the framework of our jobs for the "big picture, long-term view" of Idaho’s forested and shrub-steppe ecosystems.

I have a great deal of empathy for the citizens and businesses of Salmon and other Idaho communities who have suffered financially and personally from this summer’s fires. I also have a great deal of empathy for my fellow wildlife biologists and natural resource managers in these communities who have to deal with the public and political pressures to "fix" something they have very little control over.

It is difficult to convince most people that wildfires are to western forest ecosystems what rain is to tropical rainforests. They are both necessary for the continued health and existence of these ecosystems. In looking over the burned mountainsides from Salmon to McCall, it is difficult for most to envision that wildfire has not destroyed these landscapes but is in fact the major ecological force that rejuvenates these western ecosystems.

Without fire, there would be no old growth forests of ponderosa pine and western larch. Wildfires cleanse the forest of disease and insects. They thin forest stands. They recycle nutrients. They create snags that are homes for many species. This may at times be a difficult message to deliver, but we need to continue to put it out there. After all, it has been barely a decade since Yellowstone National Park was "destroyed" by wildfire, but then people’s memories are sometimes short.

Try adding to this already complex fire message the truly negative effects fires/fire frequencies are having on Idaho’s shrub-steppe ecosystems and its obligate species, and its no wonder the general public succumbs so easily to glitzy 30-second sound bites. Our job is not an easy one.  -  Chuck Harris, ICTWS President
 

And that it isn’t! The fire season was tense this year. Although I didn’t hit the line like the old days I had the opportunity to work in Fire Information. It was both exciting and enlightening as I answered phone calls from concerned and often fearful citizens as fires threatened the city and city watershed.  Separating emotion from fact was difficult because even those schooled in the sciences were left with doubts on fire behavior during this historic 1910-type of season.

The biggest fire in the nation attracted the media in van loads as they homed in on their sensational prey.  We had them all, National Geographic, Nova, CNN, NBC, CBS, and hordes of regionally local writers and photographers. They all came to see the smoke and the flames, the dirty faces and the burned over landscape. As soon as the smoke cleared they were gone, wafting into the air before the last ember was out. If it’s not sensational it loses its’ heat as a story.  All is far from over however; the politicians as Chuck mentioned are picking up where most of the media left off. Using the sensational stories as fodder for their reelection or to chastise environmental policy.

The time is ripe to sift through the sensational fire fallout and blow the residue away. On a recent public tour of the Clear Creek fire here in Salmon much of the public was surprised to see the sprouting grasses and shrubs glistening green against the blackened earth. They witnessed the birth of deep-water pools as fire-damaged Ponderosa pine toppled into a stream riffle. And they learned that the road system our bus was parked on impacted the adjacent stream with more sediment than the nearby forest fire. .

Unearthing the facts about fire and it’s effects on wildlife habitat is the easy part, getting the word out over and over again about natural disturbances role in the landscape is much harder. Short-term sensationalism must not be allowed to run rampant through political circles or within our own ranks. Good science coupled with good communication about that science to our publics is what is needed. We cannot rely on others to get this word out, it is up to each and every one of us, each and every day. So if we are going to influence the "Next Generation: let’s do as Jean-Luc Picard would say " Make it so". And for those folks who keep their feet closer to the ground, Just do it!  -  Joe Butsick, ICTWS Editor
 

Please send newsletter correspondence to:

Joseph Butsick
19 Havens Lane
Salmon, Idaho 83467

Fax – 208-768-2502
Phone – 768-2515
 

TWS is starting a national initiative to collect oral histories of the wildlife profession from some of the retired members in each state/province.  I am trying to identify a  person in each chapter who could record a verbal/video history of 5-6 people in the state/province.  If you are interested in working on this project, please contact Chuck Harris and provide him with your name, address, phone and email.  Also, if you can begin thinking about who some of the founders of wildlife management in Idaho are we would like to develop a prioritized list.  We would want people from Idaho Fish and Game Department, academia, and federal agencies.

I appreciate your time and interest in this matter.

              Regards,
              W. Daniel Edge
              Northwest Section Representative
              Dept Fisheries and Wildlife
              Oregon State University, 104 Nash
              Corvallis, OR  97331-3803  USA
              Voice:  (541) 737-1953
           edgew@ucs.orst.edu
 

At the 1999 joint meeting of the Idaho Chapters of the Wildlife Society (ICTWS) and American Fisheries Society (ICAFS), the ICAFS held a day- long presentation/discussion session on salmon recovery and the issue of removing, breaching, or bypassing the 4 lower Snake River dams as the best option for recovery of Idaho's Snake River salmon and steelhead stocks.  The final result was a 24 June 1999 Resolution of the Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society On the Role of Dams and Snake River Salmon and Steelhead Recovery (printed below).

So what does this have to do with the ICTWS? Two things.  One is the message that we support the ICAFS resolution because of their professional expertise on this controversial issue.  Second is that ICTWS supports salmon recovery because of its implications and impacts on Idaho's wildlife and the ecosystems upon which they depend.

Below is a Draft Resolution of the Idaho Chapter of the Wildlife Society on Sustaining the Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Species and Ecosystems Dependent on Declining Snake River Salmon and Steelhead. It was written by Conservation Review Committee chairman Gregg Servheen with discussions from Ted Koch (past president of ICAFS and member ICTWS).   We are seeking your comments and ideas on this draft resolution.

According to the ICTWS bylaws, this resolution is to be handled by a Resolutions and Public Statements Committee.  Since we have no such committee at the present time, the Executive Board is seeking at least 2 chapter members to steer this resolution through the appropriate process (ICTWS bylaws, Article VII, Section 5 and Article VIII, Section 2F).   Until such time as we have a committee appointed, please send your comments to Gregg by early December so any revisions can be made and included in the next issue of the newsletter. - Gregg Servheen

Gregg Servheen
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
1540 Warner Avenue, Lewiston, ID 83501-5699

208/799-5010
gservhee@idfg.state.id.us
 
 

In Idaho, anadramous fish are found in more than 30% of the state.  These watersheds are all affected by the anadramous cycle of chinook and sockeye salmon, steelhead, and pacific lamprey.  These species are hatched and reared in Idaho streams, migrate to the ocean where they grow to adult size and mature, and return to their natal streams to spawn and die.  All but lampreys are now federally listed, and all are in decline.

Idaho once produced 39%, 45%, 5%, and 55% of the total number of spring, summer, and fall chinook and summer steelhead, in the Columbia River basin, respectively (Mallet 1974).  Wild fish abundance is now approximately 1% of estimated historical predevelopment abundance (National Research Council 1996).  Greater than 80% of all returning fish are now of hatchery origin (Independent Scientific Group 1999).   In contrast to wild stocks, hatchery fish are incubated and raised in hatcheries and for the most part also return to hatcheries.  In the Pacific Northwest there are 20-40% fewer wild fish spawning in watersheds (Gresh et al. 2000).

These significant and continuing declines have long-term ecological implications for Idaho's wildlife and wildlife habitats.  The fact that salmon have played a key role in these systems for thousands of years and that they are now functionally missing can affect other terrestrial and avian species and ecosystems in Idaho.

There are an estimated 22 different species of wildlife that feed on salmon carcasses,  salmon eggs, and juvenile salmon (Cederholm et al. 1989, 1999; Wilson and Halupka 1995). Studies have also shown terrestrial and avian species to behaviorally respond to salmon carcass availability (Ben-David 1997) and for reproductive success to be positively correlated with the availability of spawning salmon (McClelland et al. 1982).

Riparian and aquatic associated species may also either directly or indirectly benefit from salmon as a direct food source, as nutrients, or increases in salmon-derived productivity within the watershed.  The presence of salmon carcasses increases aquatic macroinvertebrate biomass and taxonomic richness (Piorkowski 1995, Minakawa 1997, and Wipfli et al. 1998).  These increases can provide more food and indirect benefits to riparian dependent and insect feeding wildlife.  The increased growth rates of juvenile resident and salmonid fish in watersheds with anadramous fish may also benefit avian and mammalian predators of these fish (Wood 1987).

The availability and abundance of historical adult salmon and steelhead-derived nutrients has been estimated as high as 103 million kg of biomass for the Columbia basin. Currently, an estimated 1.8 million kg of anadramous fish biomass being returned to Columbia basin headwaters (Gresh et al. 2000), which is only 1.7% of historical levels.  As an ecological process, marine-derived nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus delivered to headwater Idaho streams by adult salmon provide a nutrient cycle to upstream watersheds.

Analysis of grizzly bears killed across the Columbia basin show 35-91% of the carbon and nitrogen in their skeletons was derived from marine derived nutrients (MDN) (Hilderbrand et al. 1996).  MDN also provides for fertilization of terrestrial vegetation (Bilby et al. 1996, Ben-David et al. 1998).  The decline of salmon and steelhead has implications for many species in Idaho that directly or indirectly benefit from the ecological processes provided by anadramous fish runs.  As the decline of these keystone species continues, productivity of associated freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems will diminish (Wilson and Halupka 1995).

The Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society endorses and supports the Idaho Chapter and the Northwest Section of the American Fisheries Society’s resolution: (1) "Based on the best scientific information available, the four lower Snake River dams represent a significant threat to the continued existence of remaining Snake River salmon and steelhead stocks;" (2) "A required action is to eliminate or greatly reduce impacts to salmon and steelhead from the four lower Snake River dams by removing, breaching, or bypassing the dams, or otherwise allowing the lower Snake River to flow freely, without impoundment;" and  (3) "In conjunction with actions to allow the lower Snake River to flow freely, without impoundment, actions to
address detrimental impacts to habitat, from harvest, or from hatcheries likely will be required to sustain the terrestrial, avian, and aquatic wildlife species and ecosystems dependent on Snake River salmon and steelhead and increase their likelihood of recovery."

LITERATURE CITED

Ben-David, M. 1997.  Timing of reproduction in wild mink: the influence of spawning pacific salmon.  Canadian Journal of Zoology 75:376-382.

Bilby, R. E., B. R. Fransen, and P. A. Bisson.  1996.  Incorporation of nitrogen and carbon from spawning coho salmon into the trophic system of small streams: evidence from stable isotopes.  Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 53:164-173.

Cederholm, C. J., D. B. Houston, D. L. Cole, and W. J. Scarlett.  1989.  Fate of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) carcasses in spawning streams.  Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 46:1,347-1,355.

Cederholm, C. J., M. D. Kunze, T. Murota, and A. Sibatani.  1999.  Pacific salmon carcasses.   Fisheries 24(10):6-13.

Gresh, T., J. Lichatowich, and P. Schoonmaker.  2000.  An estimation of historic and current levels of salmon production in the northeast Pacific ecosystem.  Fisheries 25(1):15-21.

Hildrebrand, G. V., S. D. Farley, C. T. Robbins, T. A. Hanley, K. Titus, and C. Servheen. 1996.  Use of stable isotopes to determine diets of living and extinct bears. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74:2,080-2,088.

Independent Scientific Group (R. N. Williams, P. A. Bisson, D. L. Bottom, L. D. Calvin, C. C. Coutant, M. W. Erho, Jr., C. A. Frissel, J. A. Lichatowich, W. J. Liss, W. E. McConnaha, P. R. Mundy, J. A Stanford, and R. R Whitney). 1999.  Scientific issues in the restoration of salmonid fishes in the Columbia River.  Fisheries 24(3):10-21.

Mallet, J. 1974.  Inventory of salmon and steelhead resources, habitat, use of demands.  Idaho Department of Fish
and Game, Project F-58-R-1, Boise, Idaho, USA.

McClelland, B. R., L. S. Young, D. S. Shea, P. T. McClelland, H. L. Allen, and E. B. Spettigue.  1982.  The bald eagle concentration in Glacier National Park, Montana: origin, growth, and variation in numbers.  The Living Bird 19:133-155.

Minakawa, N. 1997.  The dynamics of aquatic insect communities associated with salmon spawning.  Dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

National Research Council.  1999.  Upstream: salmon and society in the Pacific Northwest.  Report of the Committee on Protection and Management of Pacific Northwest anadramous Salmonids for the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.  National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., USA.

Piorkorwski, R. J.  1995.  Ecological effects of spawning salmon on several south central Alaskan streams.  Dissertation, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.

Wilson M.F., K.C.  Halupka 1995.  Anadromous Fish as Keystone Species in Vertebrate Communities.
Conservation Biology.  9(3)489-495.

Wipfli, M. S., J. P. Hudson, and J. Caouette. 1998.  Influence of salmon carcasses on stream productivity: response of biofilm and benthic macroinvertebrates in southeastern Alaska, U.S.A.  Canadian  Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 55:1,503-1,511.

Wood, C.C. 1987.  Predation of juvenile Pacific salmon by the common merganser (Mergus merganser) on eastern Vancouver Island II: Predation during the seaward migration. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 44:941-949.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED BY THE CONSERVATION AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON THE COMMITTEE,  PLEASE CONTACT GREGG SERVHEEN -  Chairperson
 

The Idaho Chapter TWS has 2 awards to recognize worthy individuals or groups for their contributions to wildlife in Idaho.

The Professional Wildlifer Award is intended to honor any member of the Idaho Chapter TWS who has made long-term, outstanding contributions within the state of Idaho to: the general areas of wildlife conservation, management, science, or conservation education; the wildlife profession; or to a specific area of endeavor, species, community, ecosystem, or region. Any person who has made such noteworthy contributions is eligible for nomination for a Professional Wildlifer Award.

The Special Recognition Award is intended to honor any person or group who has made an outstanding contribution within the state of Idaho to: the general areas of wildlife conservation, management, science, or conservation education; the wildlife profession; or to a specific area of endeavor, species, community, ecosystem, or region.  Any person or group who has made such a noteworthy contribution within the last 3 years is eligible for nomination for a Special Recognition Award.

Nominations: Any Chapter member may submit a nomination for a Professional Wildlifer Award or Special Recognition Award to the Awards Committee.  Because the Committee confers 2 awards, nominators must specify for which award the nomination is intended.  A single nominee cannot be submitted for both awards.  Each nomination should include the following information: (1) full name, present position, current address and telephone number of the nominee; (2) name, address, and telephone number of the nominator; (3) a clear and concise statement justifying the nomination, including the specific details of the outstanding accomplishments (Professional Wildlifer Award) or the specific nature, time, and place or the outstanding accomplishments (Special Recognition Award); and (4) the signature of the nominator.  Two or 3 letters in support of
the nominee from other professionals will aid in committee decisions.

The Awards Committee must receive all nominations by 1 February.  The committee may also solicit information for its files.  Nominees not selected to receive the award must be re-nominated for consideration in future years.  Please take a moment to consider the accomplishments of your friends, colleagues, and wildlife conservation groups and submit a nomination - Kerry Reese, Chairperson

Dr. Kerry Reese
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID 83844

208/885-6435
kreese@uidaho.edu).

Kerry could also use some assistance on this year’s Awards Committee, so if you have an interest, please contact him.
 
 

Beginning Balance – 1/1/2000   Checking -   $5,183.73
      Short-term Bond                                        $3,332.60
      Total                                                           $8,516.33

Income 1/1/00 – 9/1/00   Checking                $16,513.29
      Short-term Bond                                             $26.30
      Total                                                         $16,539.59

Expenses     Checking                                   $16,949.54

Subtotal     Checking                                       $4,747.48
      Short-term Bond                                        $3,358.90
      Total                                                           $8,106.38

Checking Balance to Date:

Balance 1 January 2000                                 $5,183.73
Expenses through 1 September 2000 -         $16,949.54
Income through 1 September 2000               $16,513.29
Balance 9/1/00                                                  $4,747.48

2000 Detailed Income and Expenses

Income Sources:

Annual Meeting/Chapter Dues                       $16,476.33
Bond Dividend                                                        $26.30
Checking Interest                                                   $36.96
 

Expenses:

Annual Meeting                                               $14,324.95
Speaker Travel Expenses                                 $2,009.59
4-H Donation                                                         $500.00
NW Section Dues                                                  $115.00
Newsletter                                                                  $0.00
 
 

EDITOR’S NOTE:   I know you’re out there, come on folks get me some material for the next newsletter. If you are not a researcher but know someone who is, poke him or her in the ribs and get them to send me some material.  Thanks! Let’s try posting some digital photos too.  Or if you only have photos send them to me and I will scan them.

ICTWS 2001 Annual Meeting
Double Tree Hotel Riverside/Downtown
Boise, Idaho

7-10 March 2001

The biennial Rare Animal Workshop will be held on Wednesday 7 March. The focus of this year's workshop will be a review/revision of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Species of Special Concern list, a review of the revised U.S. Forest Service Regions 1 and 4 Sensitive Species lists, possibly a revised BLM Sensitive Species list, and the new criteria used to develop these lists. If there are any other topics of interest that members would like to see on this year's agenda, please contact Chuck Harris (334-2920; charris@idfg.state.id.us). Idaho Partners in Flight and the Idaho Bat Working Group may also be holding meetings in conjunction with the Chapter meeting.

Rod Sando, the new Director of the Department of Fish and Game, has graciously accepted our invitation to give the plenary address on Thursday morning. Being optimistic about the passage of The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) we will fill the remainder of Thursday morning with a session on CARA implementation in Idaho. In light of the interest, editorials, and commentary on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission's new Policy for Avian and Mammalian Predation Management, we are planning a session along the general theme of "Predator Control and Management: Past and Present" on Thursday afternoon. We envision this session will include invited papers to present an overview of predation effects and predator control on big game populations, an overview of predation effects and predator control on upland game bird populations, a historical review of predator control activities in Idaho, and a presentation on the Commission's current predator policy. These general presentations will then be followed by reports on current predator/predation research projects in the state. Friday and Saturday morning (if needed) will be filled with contributed paper sessions. Given our past fire season and all the media and political attention to wildland fires, we are considering a session that would address the effects of fire on wildlife populations and habitats. The banquet auction is planned for Friday evening. We have extended an invitation to nature photographer Art Wolfe to give a talk/slide presentation and afford him an opportunity to promote his new book "The Living World" (and maybe donate some signed posters for the auction). We will keep you posted and make alternate plans if needed.

Any ideas about special workshops or sessions should be submitted to Toni Holthuijzen by the end of October to be incorporated into the program.  Updates on the meeting, deadlines, and reminders (pleadings) to submit abstracts will be forthcoming.  Please address any inquiries and suggestions about workshops, symposia, or anything else that may be of interest to the annual meeting to Toni Holthuijzen, tel. 208-388-2352, e-mail  tholthuijzen@idahopower.com

See the most recent update to the annual meeting by going to the upcoming events at the What's New  portion of our webpage!

 
 

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS
2001 ICTWS ANNUAL MEETING

If you have attended the Idaho Chapter meetings the past couple of years, you know first hand how good the papers and posters have been, and they keep getting better every year.  Whether you are a researcher, manager, administrator, teacher, or student, please consider sharing your research results, opinions, experiences, and ideas with other members of the Chapter by giving a paper or poster presentation at our 2001 annual meeting in Boise.

Abstracts are due by 5 January 2001.  Late submissions affect program planning and may be cause for rejection, so please get them in on time.  For further information contact Toni Holthuijzen, tel. 208-388-2352, e-mail tholthuijzen@idahopower.com.  Specific abstract instructions and format will be available later from Toni and on the web site.

See the most recent update to the call for papers by going to the upcoming events at the What's New  portion of our webpage!

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2001 ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND MEETING
NORTHWEST SECTION AND ALBERTA CHAPTER OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

CO-HOSTED BY: THE ALBERTA CHAPTER OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY,
ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES SERVICE

MARCH 2-4, 2001
BANFF PARK LODGE & CONFERENCE CENTRE
BANFF, ALBERTA

COORDINATING SCALES OF MANAGEMENT, DECISION MAKING AND PLANNING is the focus of the plenary session, which will open the conference (starting early afternoon on March 2).  David Schindler, an internationally renowned scientist from the University of Alberta, is a confirmed plenary speaker; other high-profile speakers are invited, but not yet confirmed, including Jack Ward Thomas and John Donihee.  The two following days will be filled with contributed papers on a wide range of topics in wildlife and fisheries research and management.  Guiding principles for planning the conference are to provide attendees with the highest quality and most current information possible, at a very reasonable price.  So, please join us in Banff for a very fine event, and three days of camaraderie!

Location and Transportation

The Banff Park Lodge is situated in the world-renowned town of Banff, in the heart of historical Banff National Park.  Surrounded by the majestic Canadian Rockies, the hotel is one block from the town center, and just a short walking distance to excellent shopping, restaurants, museums, and other points of interest.

Banff is located in southwestern Alberta, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Calgary, on the TransCanada Highway (Highway 1).  Calgary International Airport is only a ninety-minute drive from the town of Banff.  All major car rental companies are available at the Calgary International Airport, and regular bus service operates directly from the airport to the Banff Park Lodge, as well.  Two companies provide regular bus service, as frequently as every two hours, each way, as follows:  Banff Airport- call 1-888-449-2901; Brewster—call 403-221-8242.  Advance reservations are either required or highly recommended, for the bus trip.

Lodging

The conference and meetings will be held at the Banff Park Lodge and Conference Centre.  The lodge has reserved a block of 100 rooms at special conference rates.  To receive the special rate, be sure to make reservations by January 2, 2001 at 1-800-661-9266 (mention that you are attending the Wildlife Society meeting, Alberta Chapter).  The rate is $115 Canadian/room/night, for single or double occupancy, plus 12% tax.  For third and fourth occupants in a room, add $15 (Canadian)/person/night (plus tax).  Children under the age of 16 stay at no additional charge.  The rates mentioned above are extended to delegates of the conference both three days before and three days after the conference.  When making reservations, you will require a valid credit card number or check or money order deposit.  Deposits will be returned, when requested, if the Banff Park Lodge receives notice of cancellation at least 48 hours prior to the expected time of arrival.

A variety of other hotels and motels are located near the Banff Park Lodge.  However, we have not arranged discounted rates at any of the others, so please book a room early at the Banff Park Lodge.

Registration

Please take advantage of early registration discounts by completing and returning the registration form (see following page) with full payment (in Canadian funds only) by February 7, 2001.  On-site
registration will be available at the conference.  Partial registrations will not be accepted.

Pre-conference Field Tour (tour runs 8:45-11:45 A.M., March 2)

A bus tour of the Bow Valley portion of Banff National Park (lead by National Park staff) will cover issues including elk relocation and management, predator restoration, highway restoration, and fire-wildlife interactions.  Fabulous scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities will be featured, as well!  Please pre-register (see registration form on following page).

Reception and Wildlife Auction Fundraiser

The welcoming reception and social (including no-host cash bar) is on Friday evening, March 2.  The fundraiser auction of wildlife-related items will occur then, as well.  Proceeds go entirely to the Alberta Chapter’s student scholarship fund.

Paul Jones is our auction coordinator.  Please contact Paul with commitments to provide auction items (phone 403-382-4357 or e-mail: paul.jones@gov.ab.ca).  Small and big-ticket items, custom-made ones, new purchases or used items will all be gratefully appreciated.

Banquet

The banquet is included in the registration fee and is on Saturday evening, March 3.  A well-known wildlife scientist and natural resources administrator, Dr. Morley  Barrett, will share wisdom and witticisms, as the after dinner speaker.

Call for Poster Papers

A poster session will run during March 2-3rd.  Posters on management, research, monitoring, new techniques and work just getting underway are always of interest.  Persons that are at very preliminary points in their projects are encouraged to submit posters, rather than papers for oral presentation.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Kirby Smith, Department of Biological Sciences, Room Z 907, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB  Canada  T6G 2E9 (Phone 780-489-8109; fax 780-492-9457; e-mail kgsmith@ualberta.ca).
 

Wildlife Photo Contest

Conference registrants are invited to submit their favorite original photos for a contest at the conference.  Contact Troy Sorensen, if you are interested (phone 780-778-7116;
e-mail troy.sorensen@gov.ab.ca).  Further details will be posted on the Alberta Chapter’s website, as the conference approaches (www.albertadirectory.com/actws).

Contributed Papers Sessions

Concurrent sessions for contributed papers (see Call for Papers on following page) will run all day Saturday (March 3) and the early part of Sunday morning (March 4).  The conference will end with a final, plenary session of contributed papers on Sunday afternoon (March 4).

Lunch and Alberta Chapter Awards

A lunch is included in the registration fee and is on Sunday, March 4.  The annual awards of the Alberta Chapter, The Wildlife Society, will be presented during the lunch.

Corporate Donations to Support the Conference

Corporate donations have contributed significantly to the quality and viability of TWS meetings organized in Alberta in the past.  Thank you, again, for your generosity!  If you or your employer are/is in a position to make a financial donation in support of the upcoming conference, please consider doing so.  Donations both large and small will be gratefully appreciated!  Please make checks 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 March 1, 2001 would be most appreciated!  Donors will be recognized in the printed conference materials, and at the banquet on Saturday, March 3.

Other Attractions

Five world-class areas for downhill skiing are situated within easy travelling distance of the Banff Park Lodge (most of them have regular bus service to and from the lodge).  Cross-country skiing should be exceptional in early March, too.  For further information on other attractions, visit the website of the Banff-Lake Louise Tourism Bureau
(www.banfflakelouise.com).

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REGISTRATION FORM FOR THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING, NORTHWEST SECTION
March 2-4, Banff Park Lodge & Conference Centre, Banff, Alberta

Complete one form per person, please, to simplify our paperwork

Name________________________________________________________________________

Affiliation_____________________________________________________________________

Address______________________________________________________________________

City__________________________ Province/State__________________ PC/Zip___________

Phone (Office)_______________ Home______________ E-mail________________________
 

Conference registration (no partial registrations)                    Cost               Total
Friday-Sunday, March 2-4, 2001
           Early registration, post-marked on/before Feb. 7th
                     Regular member                                                   $55.00            ______
                     Student member                                                   $35.00            ______
           Late registration, after Feb. 7th (on-site, please)
                     Regular member                                                   $70.00            ______
                     Student member                                                   $45.00            ______

Banquet and lunch
? Do you plan to attend the Saturday evening banquet (please circle)?  Yes   No

? Are you bringing a guest (if so, add additional cost)?         $35.00 each   ______

? Do you plan to attend the lunch on Sunday (please circle)?                 Yes   No

? Are you bringing a guest (if so, add additional cost)?         $22.00 each   ______
 

Pre-conference Field tour (morning, March 2, 2001)             $20.00           ______

Total Amount Paid                                                                                        ______
 

Do you have any special needs (i.e., vegetarian)?  If so, please specify_____________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Please make checks payable (only in Canadian funds) to:  Alberta Chapter, TWS.  Purchase orders and credit cards will not be accepted.  Please mail your registration form, with full payment, to:  Arlen Todd, President-elect, Alberta Chapter TWS, Natural Resources Service, EP Building, Suite 100, 3115 - 12 Street NE, Alberta  T2E 7J2. Form can be downloaded from website: www.albertadirectory.com/actws

Cancellation policy:  A full refund will be provided when requested before January 15, 2001.  For cancellations on or after January 15, 2001, there will be a handling fee of 25% of the total bill.

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Photo Contest - The 2001 Annual Meeting, Northwest Section

March 2-4, Banff Park Lodge & Conference Centre, Banff, Alberta

We're asking members of all chapters of the Northwest Section to electronically submit their favourite photos for a contest that will be judged at the Section's annual conference in March 2001.

Last year was the first year the ACTWS held a photo contest and it received rave reviews.

Full details on Photo Categories, Contest Rules, Submission Guidelines, and Photo Judging are available on the ACTWS website (www.albertadirectory.com/actws).

Contest Prize Donation

The contest would greatly benefit from any contributions towards prizes from members, chapters, organizations, or businesses. The conference organizers are open to any type of prize donation (camera supplies, frames, arts and crafts, field equipment, etc.). Financial donations to the contest will be used to buy prizes.

To donate prizes for the contest contact Steve Hanus (hanus@arc.ab.ca or 780-632-8608).

All contributions from chapters, organizations, or businesses will be acknowledged at the conference and within chapter newsletters.

Lets Make this a great Photo Contest!
 
 

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2001 NORTHWEST SECTION MEETING

CALL FOR PAPERS

CO-HOSTED BY ALBERTA CHAPTER OF TWS & ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT

You are invited to submit abstracts for presentation at any of the contributed papers sessions to be held at the 2001 meeting to be held at Banff, Alberta during March 2-4, 2001.  Presentations will be twenty minutes in length, including introduction of the presenter and time for questions.  You are also invited to submit abstracts for poster presentations.  Abstracts will be printed in the program booklet as they are received; otherwise, written papers will not be associated with presentations.

Please submit the Abstract Submittal Form with each abstract, and include the following information:

1. Lead author name, affiliation, mailing address, phone numbers, and e-mail address
2. Names and affiliations of additional authors
3. Title of abstract
4. ABSTRACT (You must use the following guidelines and example; please note that the abstract you submit will be the final that is printed for the paper sessions).  Submit abstract and associated information by January 10, 2001 to:

           Kirby Smith
           Department of Biological Sciences
           Room Z 907
           University of Alberta
           Edmonton, Alberta Canada  T6G 2E9
           Phone: 780-489-8109; Fax: 780-492-9457
           e-mail: kgsmith@ualberta.ca

Abstracts will be acknowledged within three days, and authors will be advised of the final decision on their abstract (and the session in which it will be given) by February 14, 2001.

Abstract Guidelines and Format Example

Guidelines:

• Use Microsoft Word 97 or WordPerfect (former strongly preferred).
• Hard copies of abstracts must be typed single-spaced within a 10 X 16 cm space.  Use a one-line space between the title and the text block.
• No hard returns within a paragraph.
• E-mail Access (preferred): Submit the abstract, other required information, and abstract submittal form by e-mail.  Abstract submittal forms can be e-mailed to you on request.  Or, check the Alberta Chapter website (www.albertadirectory.com/actws).  You will be notified of the receipt of your abstract within three days.
• No E-mail Access: Submit a disk with the required information, a hard copy, and the abstract submittal form.  Clearly label all submitted information with the pertinent information (i.e., name of lead author, abstract title, and lead author contact phone number and e-mail address).
• Abstract should be a distillation of the purpose, methods, results and conclusions, and should not exceed 250 words.
• Geographical location of the work should appear in the abstract or title.

Format example (measures 10 X 16 cm)

Foruew, E. Z. and U.R. Krasey. A NEW WAY TO CONDUCT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN THE BOREAL FORESTS OF ALBERTA.  Wildlife Science Group, Alberta Natural Resources Service, #625 Ivory Towers, Edmonton, AB  T6J 1E9 and Department of Regional Perspectives, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB T4T 7K3.

Begin text here.  This is where you tell us what you are going to tell us………..
 
 

Send abstracts to:  Kirby Smith, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Room Z 907, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB  T6G 2E9 (e-mail: kgsmith@ualberta.ca)

Please Note: The abstract that you submit will be the FINAL that is printed for the paper session—changes will not be possible.

 
 

2001 NORTHWEST SECTION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ABSTRACT SUBMITTAL FORM

CO-HOSTED BY ALBERTA CHAPTER OF TWS & ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT

Type of presentation:  Paper____     Poster____

Equipment required:  Slide projector             _____    Overhead projector  ____
                                  PowerPoint projector   _____    Other (specify) ________

Title of abstract submitted:_________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of person submitting_________________________ Phone__________________

Mailing Address_________________________________________________________

City_________________ State/Province________________PC/Zip________________

Fax ______________________ E-mail_______________________________________

Name of presenter (if different from submitter)_________________________________

Please indicate whether presenter is presently a student (Yes/No)______________

The time limit for contributed papers is fifteen minutes, plus five minutes for questions and discussion (total of twenty minutes).

Send original abstract (preferably by e-mail, snail mail less preferred) and biosketch of presenter with this form -OR – Send original abstract (floppy disk), hard copy and biosketch with this form to:

Kirby Smith, Department of Biological Sciences, Room Z 907, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada  T6G 2E9 (e-mail: kgsmith@ualberta.ca)
 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING ABSTRACTS IS JANUARY 10, 2001
 

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Northwest Section Awards

The Arthur S. Einarsen Award was established in 1966 to recognize outstanding service to the wildlife profession by individuals residing in the area encompassed by the Northwest Section of The Wildlife Society.  The Wildlife Administrator Award was designed to recognize and reward excellence in the areas of wildlife program development and administration.  The Awards Committee encourages nominations from the membership of the Section by 5 January 2001 for both awards.  Nominations benefit from supporting documentation so please contact Lowell Suring, Committee Chair, for more details if you have deserving candidates in mind.  Lowell Suring, Chugach National Forest, 3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, Alaska  99503; telephone:  907-271-2836; FAX:  907-271-2460; e-mail: lsuring@fs.fed.us.

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New Web Sites

Dear fellow birders and bird conservationists:

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is pleased to announce the new Conservation Counterparts web pages

http://www.abcbirds.org/conservationcounterparts.html

Conservation Counterparts links North American birders and bird clubs with Latin American and Caribbean bird conservationists and groups, and raises funds for bird conservation projects. The Conservation Counterparts pages are arranged around a clickable map of the region. Each country has its own page with numerous links to conservation, birding, and travel resources.

The site also includes information on 23 high priority bird conservation projects and what you and your bird club can do to help, including an option to make a donation online. There is a also message board, and a parallel site in Spanish "Alianza Por Las Aves" http://www.alianzaves.net/

We invite you to look around the site and let us know what you think. Please make the most of the birding information, and consider choosing a project to support. Your contribution will make a big difference to our Latin American and Caribbean colleagues and to bird conservation in the region. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Michael J. Parr
Vice President for Program Development
American Bird Conservancy
1250 24th Street NW, #400
Washington, DC 20037

www.abcbirds.org
 
 
 

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 IDAHO WILDLIFE SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

I want to join the Idaho Chapter of the Wildlife Society, and enclose:
_________$10.00 (1 year),
_________$20.00 (2 years), or
_________$30.00 (3 years) in payment of dues.  This is      new or          renewal membership.  It is not necessary to be a member of the parent The Wildlife Society to be a member of the Idaho Chapter of TWS.  Membership is by calendar year.

Make checks payable to: “Idaho Wildlife Society”

and mail to:    Idaho Wildlife Society
                       c/o  Michelle Commons, Treasurer
                       868 East Main Street, Jerome, ID  83338

                      (208-324-4359)

Name       _______________________________________

Address   _______________________________________

                 _______________________________________

E-Mail     _______________________________________

Telephone ______________________________________

 - - - - Highlight - Print Selection - And-Send - - - -
 

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