NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1008599
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 • NEBRASKAland 51 seven career-oriented options. They are wildlife ecology and management, fisheries ecology and management, conservation biology, zoo animal care, habitat management, law enforcement, and nature-based entrepreneurship. In addition, many students seeking graduate level degrees perform research projects with the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit administered by the university. A much younger program than that of UNL's, but also "wildly" popular, is that of Chadron State College in the northern Panhandle. While most college wildlife and fisheries programs are offered as part of the school's science offerings, the wildlife management curriculum at Chadron State is part of the rangeland management studies – at about 60 students the program consists of about half the school's rangeland majors. It began in 2003. Teresa Frink, the professor who leads Chadron State's program, said the knowledge of plants and soils offered in the rangeland curriculum comes in handy for graduates when they take on a land management role. "Contrary to what many people believe, most wildlife biologists do not spend their days riding horses to count elk and capturing grizzly bear cubs," Frink said. "Wildlife biologists spend the majority of their time and their resources on habitat management for wildlife." Colleges and universities see value in hands-on projects to get their students outdoors. The experiences for students are as varied as the state's landscape and wildlife diversity. "Most of the upper level courses are very much hands-on," said Mark Pegg of the UNL faculty. "We use aquatic and terrestrial resources both close to campus and across the state to show our students how to best perform the task at hand. Often this also includes close interaction with NGPC and other agencies thus providing unique opportunities for our students that also includes networking with biologists." At Chadron State, students have helped the Commission handle bighorn sheep and wild turkeys during captures, staff deer check stations, and build water-catchment systems at Pine Ridge wildlife management areas. In the lab, they have observed necropsies of a variety of western species, including mountain lions, swift fox and bighorn sheep. Opportunities at the University of Nebraska at Kearney involve the study of the sandhill crane migration each spring semester. Conservation areas such as the Crane Trust, the Nature Conservancy and Rowe Sanctuary provide prime venues to learn and work. Wayne State College students have worked on projects on Biologically Unique Landscapes identified in Nebraska's wildlife action plan, but also traveled outside Nebraska to study stream ecology in Mongolia and beach mice in Florida. Most of the programs also have club opportunities, such as student chapters of The Wildlife Society, to become further involved and develop leadership. Many institutions are recognizing these programs' importance and investing toward them. For example, UNL has multiple off-campus sites used by students throughout the year, such as the Nine-Mile Prairie near Lincoln and Cedar Point Biological Station near Ogallala. In fall 2015, CSC completed the construction of the Rangeland Complex with new plant and animal labs to complement more than 200 acres of outdoor lab space right outside the door. UNK has several vehicles used specifically for field trips for wildlife courses and undergraduate research projects, and Peru State College has two boats for aquatic work. Professors agree the job market is competitive for graduates, but students who put forth solid effort and are flexible with geographic placement almost always find jobs – especially those who take the extra step and get a master's degree. Many of the graduates are hired by land management and conservation agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited and the Bureau of Land Management. Dustin Ranglack, professor at UNK, said the work is important regardless of the employer. "Wildlife and fisheries are a public trust resource, meaning that they belong to all of us and are managed and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations," he said. "The status of wildlife and fisheries populations – how many there are, how fast they're growing, etc. – indicates the health of the environment in which we live." Whether graduates become wildlife biologists, range conservationists, agriculture producers, or pretty much anything else, you can bet their education will serve them, and our planet, well. "One of my favorite students became a Catholic priest, which shows the breadth of influence that our students have after leaving our program," Powell said. "Can you imagine a person better prepared to talk about the stewardship of our earth?" ■ Megan Rust, Chadron State College student, carries a wild turkey captured on private property in northern Sheridan County that was later transported to Montana for release.