The Wildlife Society

Urban Wildlife Working Group Meeting

Tucson, Arizona

3 May 1999

Chair’s Report

A meeting of the Urban Wildlife Working Group was held in September 1998 at the Annual Meeting of The Wildlife Society in Buffalo, N.Y. At that time, we learned that two outstanding issues needed to be completed by 1 March 1999 for the group to become official. One, the charter for the group had to be approved, and two, elections of officers and board members had to be held. By unanimous agreement, those present at the Buffalo meeting drew up a slate of candidates. Individuals were contacted regarding their willingness to run for office and a ballot was distributed to members in early 1999. Election results were distributed to members by my memorandum of 1 March 1999 and are presented below.

Chair: Lowell Adams
Chair-elect: John Hadidian
Secretary-Treasurer: Bob Bruleigh
Board members: Vagn Flyger, Dan Leedy, Seth Riley, Bill Shaw, Kate Stenberg, Larry VanDruff

Election results and the group’s proposed charter were forwarded to TWS Executive Director Hodgdon for submission to the Council meeting in March 1999. I’m pleased to report that Council approved the Urban Wildlife Working Group as an official working group of TWS.

I’d like to briefly outline TWS predecessor committees to this working group, particularly for benefit to new working group members. Urban wildlife interests of TWS members date back to at least the mid-1970s and the "Regional Planning and Urban Development Committee." One goal of that committee was to enhance the interaction among wildlife biologists, planners, and landscape architects. In 1975, four wildlife biologists spoke at the American Institute of Planning meeting. In 1976, a reciprocal meeting took place whereby planners and landscape architects were speakers in a session at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.

In the late 1970s-early 1980s, the committee was renamed the "Urban Affairs and Regional Planning Committee." One outcome during this time period was publication of a report in The Wildlifer on the need for better water management in urban areas. In 1983, the committee prepared a policy statement on urban wildlife that was accepted and published by TWS. In 1984, a paper was presented at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference that discussed results of a survey of state conservation agency urban wildlife programs. The paper was published in the transactions of that conference.

In the mid to late 1980s, the committee was renamed the "Urban Wildlife Committee" and two substantial accomplishments were achieved. A report was presented at the 1986 national symposium on urban wildlife called "Guidelines for Implementing Urban Wildlife Programs Under State Conservation Agency Administration" and published in the proceedings of that symposium. In 1987, a paper was published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin titled "Urban Wildlife Research and Education in North American Colleges and Universities."

During 1993-1994, work began on reconstituting the urban wildlife committee as the urban wildlife working group of TWS. So, as you can see, the predecessor committees to the working group have been active and noteworthy accomplishments have been made. Future accomplishments depend on whether on not working group members want to get involved and contribute time and expertise. I challenge each of you to think of ways you would like to contribute to the work of the group.

I am honored to serve as chair of the group over the next 2 years and look forward to working with all of you to further our group interests.

Respectfully Submitted,

 Lowell W. Adams, Chair

Urban Wildlife Working Group