UWSP Wildlife Society

UWSP Wildlife Society UW-Stevens Point Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society!
2024 National TWS Student Chapter of the Year!

We are the student chapter at the University of Stevens Point Wisconsin for The Wildlife Society. We are about all things nature which include but are not limited to: research, meetings, guest speakers, education, conferences and more. We like to explore nature and question the behaviors we observe. This is a public student organization and welcome all UWSP students to join or check us out! You ma

y find more information within our Facebook photos, posts, and updates, website, as well as the UWSP SPIN page to learn more about what we do!

Happy FaunaFriday!For this we will be highlighting the Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus).“A bird born to ru...
05/09/2025

Happy FaunaFriday!

For this we will be highlighting the Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus).

“A bird born to run, the Greater Roadrunner can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake, and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the Desert Southwest.”

“Greater Roadrunners eat poisonous prey, including venomous lizards and scorpions, with no ill effect, although they’re careful to swallow horned lizards head-first with the horns pointed away from vital organs”

“The roadrunner’s distinctive X-shaped footprint—with two toes pointing forward and two backward—are used as sacred symbols by Pueblo tribes to ward off evil. The X shape disguises the direction the bird is heading, and is thought to prevent evil spirits from following.”

This photo was taken by Dana Lotz in Zion National Park!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Greater_Roadrunner/overview

Last night, we celebrated the end of a great year with Gamefeed, which featured food, awards, and games! Thank you to ev...
05/09/2025

Last night, we celebrated the end of a great year with Gamefeed, which featured food, awards, and games!

Thank you to everyone who showed up and contributed to a fun year filled with lots of hard work and accomplishment! Also, thank you seniors for everything you’ve done for TWS and good luck 🥳

Happy FaunaFriday! For this , we will be highlighting the North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum).“Porcupines are...
05/09/2025

Happy FaunaFriday!

For this , we will be highlighting the North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum).

“Porcupines are covered in about 30,000 quills. Quills are not thrown or shot, as popularly conceived. Because quills are so lightly attached, they come off easily when a predator encounters them.”

“When the quills enter the skin of a predator, they work their way further into the skin at a rate of 1 mm an hour. Porcupines are more likely to flee predators, but if cornered, it will erect its quills, turn its back to the attacker and lash its barbed tail.”

“While porcupines spend most of the time on the ground, they are good climbers and regularly climb trees in search of food (and occasionally are found to build nests in trees.) They are also good swimmers.”

This photo was taken by Maggie Newell at Fox Island, AK!

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/north-american-porcupine

Happy FaunaFriday!      For this , we will be highlighting the Tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus).  “Its common nam...
04/26/2025

Happy FaunaFriday!    
  
For this , we will be highlighting the Tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). 
 
“Its common name “tricolored bat” derives from the coloration of the hairs on its back, which have three distinct color bands. Individual hairs are tricolored: dark gray at the base, buffy (yellowish brown) in the middle, and brown or reddish brown at the tip.”  
 
“In Nova Scotia, researchers discovered nearly one hundred roosts of this species, finding that all sampled individuals were roosting not in tree foliage, but rather in a species of beard lichen. This was thought to be the first documentation of a bat using beard lichen as a roosting substrate.”  
 
“The Tricolored bat has experienced severe population decline as a result of the fungal disease, white-nose syndrome. The disease kills bats by colonizing their skin during the winter, causing them to arouse from torpor and burn through their limited fat reserves. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List.” 
 
These photos were sent in by Sam Coleman and taken in Ozarks National Forest, AR! 
https://animalia.bio/tricolored-bat

Bat Project! 🦇 Our project is devoted to expanding bat conservation in Central Wisconsin. The bat project was recently k...
04/26/2025

Bat Project! 🦇

Our project is devoted to expanding bat conservation in Central Wisconsin. The bat project was recently kickstarted in the fall of 2023 after being on hold for a couple of years. We work on a variety of initiatives, such as emergent roost surveys at George W. Mead Wildlife Area, interactive bat walks through Schmeeckle Reserve (coming soon!), our annual celebration of , bat house building, and research projects that address knowledge gaps surrounding Midwest bats. We have also been given the amazing opportunity to present our collected emergent roost survey data to bat experts with the Wisconsin DNR.

Some of our studies have focused on the efficacy of using bat data collected from private landowners across Wisconsin, Myotis habitat suitability modeling at Colburn Wildlife Area, and analyzing the effects of one-year burn regimes on bat activity at Treehaven.

Co-leaders have the opportunity to develop skills in bioacoustics, sonogram analysis, research design, presenting research projects, woodworking, and public engagement.

Introducing your 2025-26 TWS Officer Board! Thank you to everyone who ran and thank you to the 2024-25 officer board! It...
04/26/2025

Introducing your 2025-26 TWS Officer Board!

Thank you to everyone who ran and thank you to the 2024-25 officer board! It’s been a great year and we can’t wait to see what TWS has in store!

Happy FaunaFriday! For this , we will be highlighting the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), but more specific...
04/26/2025

Happy FaunaFriday!

For this , we will be highlighting the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), but more specifically, the “white” or “piebald” deer.

“Those with varying amounts of white fur are properly known as “piebald deer” or “white deer” and not true albinos. True albinos have pink eyes and totally white hair. Piebald’s characteristically have varying amounts of white hair in their coat, ranging from slight amounts on the legs or sides to an almost totally white coat.”

“The piebald condition results from an inherited genetic trait. Piebald deer are uncommon, typically occurring at less than one percent of the population, but can be more common on a local basis.”

“Piebald’s will frequently have other distinct physical conditions, including skeletal deformities (e.g. bowing of the nose, short/deformed legs, curved spine, short lower jaw, etc.) as well as internal organ deformities.”

This photo was taken by Sam Stellmacher in Taylor County, WI!

https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/piebald-and-albino-deer/

Indoor bird banding workshop! 🦜💍Recently, TWS hosted an indoor bird banding workshop! Members learned all about the dos ...
04/17/2025

Indoor bird banding workshop! 🦜💍

Recently, TWS hosted an indoor bird banding workshop! Members learned all about the dos and don’ts of bird banding! Members also got to practice removing fake birds from nets, banding, and ID!

Thank you to all of the participants and organizers of the workshop!

Deer Project! 🦌We study white-tailed deer throughout the state, specifically in Schmeeckle Reserve, Treehaven, and Sandh...
04/14/2025

Deer Project! 🦌

We study white-tailed deer throughout the state, specifically in Schmeeckle Reserve, Treehaven, and Sandhill Wildlife Area! In these areas we have done a variety of different studies!

At Treehaven and Schmeeckle, co-leaders have participated in trapping deer. We use box and clover traps to trap them. Then, we will ear tag each individual and deploy a VHF or GPS collar on adult does.

In Schmeeckle, co-leaders, volunteers, and members of behavioral ecology have been working together to collect deer behaviors. We have been using this data to conduct a study on urban deer behaviors relative to trail proximity.

Throughout Wisconsin, we have also done a variety of population abundance surveys. These surveys utilize pellet counts and deer tracks to estimate the number of deer in an area.

Flying Squirrel Project! Each fall we trap and tag southern flying squirrels in Schmeeckle Reserve! Co-leaders, along wi...
03/31/2025

Flying Squirrel Project!

Each fall we trap and tag southern flying squirrels in Schmeeckle Reserve! 

Co-leaders, along with volunteers go out each night to bait traps with peanut butter, oats, and bacon grease and return around 10pm to check traps. If the traps are closed, we lower the suspended Sherman traps and process the squirrel. Each flying squirrel is weighed, sexed, and fitted with a unique ear tag.  

The data that we collected has been used in a variety of studies. They include abundance estimates, trap success, effect of canopy coverage, effects of mast years, and more!

Happy FaunaFriday! For this , we will be highlighting the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). “The Hooded Mergans...
03/29/2025

Happy FaunaFriday!

For this , we will be highlighting the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus).

“The Hooded Merganser is the only member of its genus, Lophodytes. This genus name derives from the Greek words lophos meaning crest and dutes meaning diver — an apt description of this small diving duck with the conspicuous fan-shaped crest.”

“Hooded Merganser is a “sight feeder,” detecting and pursuing aquatic prey with eyes specially adapted for keen underwater vision. Their eyes change shape to correct for light refraction beneath the water’s surface. Powerful eye muscles allow these diving birds to control the curvature of their eyes’ corneas and lenses. This allows equally accurate vision both below and above the water. Clear nictitating membranes also protect the birds’ eyes like a pair of swim goggles would.”

“When nesting, the female chooses a tree cavity for her nest location, preferably one above or close to water, about four to 15 feet above ground. (Although some cavities have been recorded over 80 feet up!)”

This photo was sent in by Hunter McAlpine and taken in Green Lake, WI!

https://abcbirds.org/bird/hooded-merganser/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhYS_BhD2ARIsAJTMMQYqpKtzfQd4g2gGqLzOmMUp_AIT8eXILpoaoJ8SwXiEZr2CqWzGPc0aArjAEALw_wcB

Ruffed Grouse Project!Each spring since 2014, the Ruffed Grouse project has monitored the ruffed grouse population at Tr...
03/24/2025

Ruffed Grouse Project!

Each spring since 2014, the Ruffed Grouse project has monitored the ruffed grouse population at Treehaven. Specifically, we utilize point count surveys to monitor spring drumming activity, trap and collar male ruffed grouse, and utilize radio telemetry to monitor home range size, habitat selection, etc. This spring, the project plans on bringing volunteers every weekend of our field season. Our season starts on the weekend after spring break and goes to the weekend before finals week. Please keep an eye out for volunteer sign-up sheets in the weekly TWS meeting minutes!

Address

800 Reserve Street; Trainer Natural Resource Building
Stevens Point, WI
54481

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