Western Section of The Wildlife Society

06/16/2026

Heads up: We will not be offering this course again for quite some time. There are still a few spots left. Don't miss your chance!

The Xerces Society, in partnership with the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, provides this field-based deep-dive to the ecology, survey methods, and conservation of bumble bees. Taught by Rich Hatfield and Leif Richardson of the Xerces Society, we will learn field and laboratory techni...

06/15/2026

Today is the last day to Vote for your incoming Western Section president elect for 2027!

https://user.tws-west.org/twsws_election.php

06/04/2026

The Xerces Society, in partnership with the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, provides this field-based deep-dive into the ecology, survey methods, and identification of bumble bees. Taught by Rich Hatfield and Leif Richardson of the Xerces Society, we will learn field and laboratory techniques to identify the bumble bees of California, with a focus on the rare species proposed for listing under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The Workshop will be held at Sagehen Creek Field Station near Truckee, California, but we will end near Spenceville Wildlife Area, CA, in the foothills on the final day.

For more information: https://tinyurl.com/WSbumblebees

The Xerces Society, in partnership with the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, provides this field-based deep-dive to the ecology, survey methods, and conservation of bumble bees. Taught by Rich Hatfield and Leif Richardson of the Xerces Society, we will learn field and laboratory techni...

05/22/2026

Let's play Jeopardy! Join us on Thursday, May 28th from 6-7:30pm PT for our May Career Builder Workshop.

During this workshop, we will have a panel of Early Career Professionals who have recently graduated and secured a job play Jeopardy! The topics will give us insight into how they successfully transitioned from school to the professional scape. Play along with them at home or just come listen for their experiences.

Don't forget to register! https://sites.google.com/tws-west.org/may2026cbw/home

This workshop is free and will be held via Zoom.

Questions? Email [email protected]

05/18/2026

We still have a few spots available in this workshop. Additional student rate registrations have been added. Check it out!

Check out our upcoming Ridgway's Rail Workshop!

This workshop will focus on understanding the ecology of the Ridgway’s rail for surveys, conservation, and management. We’ll spend one day on an online workshop followed by two days in the field with experts conducting playback calls. Note that this takes place on Memorial Day.

What to Expect: This workshop is geared towards the professional biologist. Participants will need to drive/carpool on their own. The likelihood of seeing a Ridgway’s rail in the field portion is 80%.

Registration: https://user.tws-west.org/store.php?e=RR2026

05/15/2026

Check out our website for information on the Western Section's grants program that offers grants to members to help those with financial need participate in professional meetings, workshops, conferences, symposia, continuing education activities, and wildlife-related scientific research.

We recently obtained additional funding for the year and are once again accepting applications online.

Link to more information: https://tws-west.org/grants/

05/11/2026

In memoriam: Hart Welsh passed on March 16, 2026. His legacy will continue to unfold in the decades to come as
he has influenced so many others through his passion for science-excellence to inform sound
management of the little-known species of his expertise: the amphibians and reptiles of Northwest
California.

Read the full obituary here: https://tinyurl.com/yhvmbkjm

05/09/2026

New! Registration is now open for the 2026 WOW+ Retreat to be held September 25-27, 2026 in Borrego Springs, CA.

Join us at the beautiful Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center for a weekend of bonding, sharing, learning, and developing for Women+ of Wildlife. The goal of this event is to bring together women, femme-identifying, and non-binary people to share experiences and gather resources. We’ve planned a mix of exciting activities, knowledgeable speakers, and hands-on experiences, along with some unstructured time to relax, connect, and grow our amazing community.

Link to more info and schedule: https://tws-west.org/women-of-wildlife-wow/

Register here: https://user.tws-west.org/

Register by July 1st for the lowest early-bird rate!

05/05/2026

It’s Western Section Election Time!

All current Western Section members are eligible and encouraged to vote.

Listen to the Candidate Interviews here: https://tws-west.org/podcasts-2/
Read the Candidate Statements and vote online here: https://user.tws-west.org/twsws_election.php

Voting closes on June 15, 2026

04/21/2026

Don't miss out on April's Career Builder Workshop: Graduate School Panel! This free, virtual workshop will be happening on Wednesday, April 22nd from 5-6:30pm PT via Zoom. Check out the Career Builder Workshop website for more information on how to register, the graduate student panel, and more career builder workshops to look forward to!

Questions? Email [email protected]

https://sites.google.com/tws-west.org/aprilcbw26/home