WB 250: Principles of Wildlife Management Fall 2001

University of Tennessee at Martin, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Details: Academic Credit: 3 Semester Hours

Location: 258 Brehm Hall

Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.

Instructor: Dr. Eric Pelren

Office: 268 Brehm Hall

Telephone: 587-7263

Electronic mail: epelren@utm.edu

Internet address: http://www.utm.edu/~epelren/epelren.shtml

Office Hours: Tuesday 9:30 - 11:00 a.m., 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.; Thursday 9:30 - 11:00 a.m., 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Appointments and walk-in visits welcome.

Required Text:

Bolen, E. G., and W. L. Robinson. 1999. Wildlife Ecology and Management, 4^th ed. Prentice-Hall. 605pp.

Catalog Description:

Current principles and practices used in management of wild animals. Includes historical, biological, behavioral, sociological, and economic components. Attention will be given to management tools including control of hunting, predator control, refugia, propagation, and environmental controls. -2001-2002 UTM general catalog.

Course Objectives:

Course graduates will have an understanding of the following concepts:

1) Global, national, and regional wildlife communities.

2) History of wildlife management

3) Political history of wildlife management in the U.S. and Tennessee.

4) Responsibilities and structures of wildlife-related agencies (state, federal, ngo's).

5) Basic ecological principles governing wildlife management.

6) Five tools of wildlife management, including:

a. Control of hunting

b. Control of predators and exotics

c. Establishment and management of refugia

d. Propagation

e. Control of parasites and diseases, and control of habitat

7) Endangered species management

8) Overpopulation management

9) Basic technical writing skills commonly applied in wildlife management.

10) Roles of various agencies in wildlife management and emerging technologies and trends in management.

Grading Standards and Policies:

Grades will be based on 6 homework assignments (5% each; total=30%) 3 examinations including a non-cumulative final (20% each), and attendance and participation (10%). Homework assignments may be turned in early; those turned in late for any reason will receive a grade of 0. Final grades will be assigned using the following scale: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F < 60.

Attendance is expected. Students are responsible for all material covered during missed classes, including assignments and exams. The style and format of make-up exams are at the discretion of the instructor. Exams can be made-up only if the absence is for a school-related event and the student obtains prior permission from the instructor, or if the absence is a personal medical emergency and the student has medical documentation.

Classroom conduct will be professional. No tobacco products will be permitted in the classroom. Presenting anyone else's work as your own is plagiarism, and will result in a failing grade for a portion or all of the course. As the course instructor, I pledge to exhibit respect for course participants and enthusiasm for course content to the greatest degree possible; I request the same attitude from course participants.

Tentative Schedule:

Date Topic Reading¹

Mon 08/20 Syllabus; Introduction, Homework #1

Wed 08/22 Review Homework #1: Wildlife Trivia Quiz

Fri 08/24 Introduction & Definitions. Homework #2 Chapter 1

Mon 08/27 Individual Backgrounds; Wildlife Survey

Wed 08/29 History Chapters 2, 3

Fri 08/31 History; Homework #3

Mon 09/03 No Class: Labor Day

Wed 09/05 Current Political Structure

Fri 09/07 Film: TWRA, Working for Wildlife

Mon 09/10 Guest Speaker: TWRA Wildlife Officer. Homework #4

Wed 09/12 Wildlife Habitat Management Chapter 4

Fri 09/14 Film: Agriculture & Wildlife

Mon 09/17 Fish Pond Management

Wed 09/19 Fish Pond Management, continued

Fri 09/21 Study Day. (hw2 due)

Mon 09/24 Exam 1

Wed 09/26 (Instructor Absent-TWS; no class)

Fri 09/28 (Instructor Absent-TWS; no class)

Mon 10/01 Wildlife Populations Chapter 5

Wed 10/03 Behavior in Wildlife Management Chapter 6

Fri 10/05 Wildlife Nutrition Chapter 7

Mon 10/08 Wildlife Diseases Chapter 8

Wed 10/10 Predators and Predation Chapter 9

Fri 10/12 North American Wildlife Travel Presentation. Homework #5. (hw4 due)

Mon 10/15 (Instructor Absent-SEAFWA; no class)

Wed 10/17 (Instructor Absent-SEAFWA; no class)

Fri 10/19 No Class: Fall Break

Mon 10/22 Hunting 101

Wed 10/24 Film: Hunting; Hunting Debate.

Fri 10/26 Harvest Management (hw5 due) Chapter 10

Mon 10/29 Harvest Management, continued.

Wed 10/31 Harvest Management, conclusion.

Fri 11/02 (Instructor Absent-Advisory Council; no class)

Mon 11/05 Exam 2 Review

Wed 11/07 Exam 2

Fri 11/09 Film: Deer Herd Management

Mon 11/12 Film: ADC

Wed 11/14 Management for Overabundance: Parks, Urban Wildlife, and Exotics Chapters 16, 17, 18

Fri 11/16 Management for Overabundance, continued. Homework #6

Mon 11/19 TWRA Propagation History

Wed 11/21 Instructor Absent; no class

Fri 11/23 No Class: Thanksgiving Break

Mon 11/26 Film: National Geographic; Endangered Species (hw6 due). Chapter 19

Wed 11/28 Management for Biological Diversity Chapter 21

Fri 11/30 The Value of Wildlife Chapters 20, 22

Mon 12/03 Discussion: A Sand County Almanac. (hw3 due)

Wed 12/05 Study Day

Mon 12/10 Final Exam, 7:45 - 9:45 am.

¹ Readings should be completed by class-time on the dates that they are listed.