TIFTON – The Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society (TWS) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College received the Student Chapter of the Year award during The Wildlife Society’s 21st annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. The award was presented to ABAC’s TWS Student Chapter for its accomplishments during the 2013-14 academic year.

The award honors exceptional achievement by a TWS Student Chapter in advancing The Wildlife Society’s mission and goals. ABAC’s student chapter has promoted many of the Society’s goals, including wildlife education, wildlife stewardship and professionalism.

In addition to participating in many volunteer opportunities with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, as well as with other organizations throughout the community, the chapter is constantly organizing fun activities and networking opportunities. One of the activities this semester included a “Gecko Round Up,” which involved finding and catching exotic Mediterranean geckos with the aid of a flashlight.

The chapter also held a work day at the Elmodel Wildlife Management Area in Newton to remove invasive species and restore habitats. Student members also regularly monitor wood duck nest boxes located around campus and organize group canoe trips.

The student chapter at ABAC is very involved on the local level and with other wildlife-related organizations. This year, 28 students volunteered at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual Jake’s Day at Paradise Public Fishing Area in Tifton; cleaned and maintained the ABAC Nature Study Area at Lake Baldwin; and held the club’s second annual Beast Feast, a community event where guests sample a variety of cooked wildlife, including deer, raccoon, bobcat, fox and beaver.

Thirty-two student members attended the 2013 annual meeting of the Georgia Chapter of TWS. Members were also present at the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) annual conference and the 2014 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave, where ABAC’s chapter finished in fourth place.

The advisers for the 2013-14 Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society at ABAC were Dr. William Moore, head of the Department of Forest Resources; Dr. Jason Scott, assistant professor of forest resources; Dr. Doug Waid, professor of wildlife; and Daniel Sollenberger, lecturer in forest resources.