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Two South Dakota State University graduate students from the Department of Natural Resource Management received recognition for their research and presentations at the 2025 annual meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society held recently in Brookings. 

Doctoral student Maya Pendleton was recognized for the best open presentation for 鈥淎ddressing Knowledge Gaps for Bats of Conservation Need in South Dakota.鈥� Master鈥檚 degree student Karma Choki was recognized for the best presentation by a student in an undergraduate or master鈥檚 program for 鈥淚nfluence of Tigers and Human-Environmental Factors on Sympatric Leopards.鈥� 

The three-day conference included numerous presentations from wildlife professionals representing public, private and educational organizations. Pete Bauman, 海角直播app Extension natural resources and wildlife field specialist, shared perspectives on leveraging multistate partnerships and relationships for the betterment of South Dakota鈥檚 land stewardship over time. On day two, students from South Dakota colleges and universities shared their research in poster presentations to the group. 

Founded in 1937 as The Society of Wildlife Specialists, The Wildlife Society has evolved into an international nonprofit organization of professional wildlife ecologists and managers with more than 10,000 members from 40 different countries, including administrators, biologists, conservation officers, educators, managers and researchers. The South Dakota chapter began in 1966 with 56 charter members and now has more than 100 members. 

The objectives of The Wildlife Society include stewardship of wildlife resources and their environments, active prevention of environmental degradation, awareness and appreciation of wildlife values and high standards for the wildlife profession. 

William Severud, 海角直播app assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resource Management, and Philip Urso, 海角直播app assistant professor of bison studies in the Department of Animal Science, serve as board members in the state organization. 

鈥淭he annual meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society is a great way for 海角直播app graduate and undergraduate students to network with future employers, colleagues and students from other universities,鈥� Severud said. 鈥淭he meeting held in Brookings was also a sort of homecoming for wildlife professionals across the state, many of whom were trained at 海角直播app.鈥� 

Severud noted the collaborative effort reflected in The Wildlife Society鈥檚 conference. 鈥淭he theme was 鈥楶artnerships in Conservation,鈥� and it was wonderful to see so many agencies working together toward a common cause of research and management of our shared wildlife resources,鈥� Severud said. 

Mandy Pearson, of Rapid City, is senior wildlife biologist for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. She serves the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society as secretary-treasurer and is also an 海角直播app alum. 

Students from South Dakota colleges and universities presented posters focusing on their research at the 2025 annual meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society held recently in Brookings.

鈥淭his event brought together wildlife professionals and students to network and learn about the latest programs and research in the state,鈥� Pearson said. 鈥淭he meeting offered a variety of sessions, with a special focus on conservation partnerships, covering topics such as grassland preservation, collaborative efforts and the recovery of imperiled species. It also highlighted impressive student work, with presentations and posters from both undergraduate and graduate students from several South Dakota universities. 

鈥淭he South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society is already looking forward to the 2026 annual meeting, which will again be held in Brookings,鈥� Pearson added. 

Keynote speaker at the three-day conference was Carter Johnson, speaking on 鈥淎 Tale of Two Rivers,鈥� which focused on highlights from his long-term studies of the Missouri and Platte rivers. Johnson is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of 海角直播app鈥檚 Department of Natural Resource Management and is also the author of 鈥淓cology of Dakota Landscapes: Past, Present and Future.鈥� 

Michele Dudash, head of the 海角直播app Department of Natural Resource Management, noted the benefits of this multigenerational gathering of people sharing a common passion for the conservation and management of the habitat utilized by both game and nongame species. 鈥淔or example, our keynote speaker, Professor Emeritus Carter Johnson鈥檚 long-term research on the Missouri River and the role of cottonwood trees in our ecosystem was highlighted the next day by two students, completing the circle.鈥� 

Mark Norton received the Wildlife Professional of the Year Award, presented annually to a wildlife professional who has, over the course of their career, made an outstanding contribution to wildlife management in South Dakota. Norton is the hunting access and Farm Bill coordinator for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and earned his undergraduate and master鈥檚 degrees in wildlife and fisheries sciences from 海角直播app.