2025 Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference

W-04: An Overview of Structured Decision Making for Natural Resources
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation. Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.

HALF DAY AM- 9AM-12PM
Fee: Student - $10; Professional $20
Contact: Brielle Thompson, Postdoc fellow, University of Missouri, brielle.thompson@missouri.edu
Co-Organizer: Mike Colvin, US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Overview:
Fish and wildlife management involves making difficult decisions concerning natural resource problems. Familiar natural resource problems may include decisions on how many acres of land must be protected, how an endangered species should be reintroduced, whether an agency should conduct more monitoring of an invasive species, etc. The field of decision analysis offers tools such as Structured Decision Making (SDM) to help frame, structure, and identify solutions for such problems. Various Federal and State fish and wildlife agencies are increasingly using SDM to ensure a streamlined, fair, unbiased, and organized decision-making process. This workshop will provide an introduction to SDM and its key components: framing the natural resource management problem; articulating objectives; developing management actions and alternatives; using forecasting tools to evaluate the consequences, or outcomes, of alternatives; and using tradeoff methods to identify management alternatives when decisions involve multiple competing objectives. Throughout the workshop the instructors will provide real world case study examples and offer opportunities for participatory discussion. The workshop will end with a hands-on protype experience of a SDM process.

Intended Audience: Students and Professionals; beginner to advanced material covered

W-05: Guerilla-style, know-nothing software development using ChatGPT
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation. Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.

HALF DAY AM- 9AM-12PM
Fee: $20 (Additional cost of $20 for attendees to obtain their own ChatGPT account prior to the conference)
Contact: Keith Hurley, Fish and Wildlife Specialist, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, keith.hurley@nebraska.gov

Overview:
Does IT restrictions make small-scale, one-off app development impossible for you? Is the lack of financial resources for software solutions that you have at your disposal blocking your workflow and productivity? We’re all just trying to Get Stuff Done but often it seems like we spend precious time fighting the technology-based hurdles in our way. Gorilla-programming is a philosophy with a few concepts: use readily available and free/low-cost tools, keep things in-house and in your control, and avoid the flashy while aiming for the functional.

The rise of ChatGPT and it’s family of large-language model AI siblings has given us the ability to create computer code without being trained computer developers. During this workshop, we will use ChatGPT along with tools and software you already have on your laptop to create three utility and data-entry applications. We will show you the general process and workflow to create functional software applications that work across devices and operating systems - no coding experience or previous computer development skills are needed! When you return to work after the conference, you’ll be ready to use gorilla-warfare to clear those technology hurdles and GSD.

Intended Audience: Audience: biologists, researchers, anyone working with computers and data on the job. Level of difficulty: beginner (must be able to do basic computer tasks like create a folder and file, open web browser, etc). All levels (students through professionals) would benefit from the workshop - the intent being to provide a new skillset immediately applicable to most any position.

Co-Organizers:
Caleb O'Brien, Missouri Department of Conservation
Kiandra Rajala, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ben Beardmore, Wisconsin DNR
Lorisa Smith, Missouri Department of Conservation
Sarah Walker, Colorado State University
Tara Teel, Colorado State University
Mike Manfredo, Colorado State University

Overview:
The purpose of a Benefits Declaration is to identify the diversity of benefits that flow from people's engagement with wildlife and provide a tool to guide more inclusive and effective management for people, wildlife, and habitat. The Benefits Declaration approach stems from the America's Wildlife Values study which highlighted the need for agency adaptation to engage and develop programs and services that resonate with broader constituencies. The workshop was piloted in 2023 at the international Pathways in Human Dimensions conference.

This Benefits Declaration Workshop will be hosted by MAFWA Directors, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Conservation Social Science/Human Dimensions technical working committee and the Midwest Landscape Initiative. Attendees will be selected by agency directors and leadership within regional NGOs and academic partners. The workshop will provide a regional template that can be implemented within state and community contexts and will help orient future relevancy-focused inquiry across the Midwest region.

For Questions contact: Elizabeth “Ellie” Prentice, Terrestrial Habitat and Social Science Unit Supervisor
Office: (573) 815-7900 ext. 2929; Ellie.Prentice@mdc.mo.gov

W-01: Introduction to Map Making in R
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation.  Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form. 

FULL DAY - SUNDAY; 9AM - 5PM (lunch on own)

Fee: Student -$30; Professional - $60 

Contact: Shaley Valentine, Post Doctoral Researcher, Ohio State University, shaleyvalentine@gmail.com

Overview:
This workshop will introduce participants to fundamentals of creating static and interactive maps using R statistical software. We will focus on the process of wrangling spatial data, integrating spatial data into maps, and mapping aesthetics. We will use the dplyr package to learn the process of wrangling spatial data as well as Tmap and Leaflet to create both static and dynamic maps. These packages use formatting that is consistent across the Tidyverse and the functions are relatively user friendly because they read as explanatory text. The benefit of using R or other coding languages for creating maps is that the workflow is reproduceable and easily altered for future project iterations. We will use fisheries and wildlife spatial datasets to maximize applicability of material to participants.
Writing code in any language takes practice, so this workshop is meant to learn the coding process while thinking about the data wrangling needs to produce maps. Using this process, the goal of this workshop is for participants to increase their proficiency in coding and be able to apply the material to their own projects in the future. To achieve this goal, the workshop is set-up as modules that include walkthrough explanations and guided examples followed by independent or team exercises applying the walk-through code to new data. Each module and exercise will build off previous modules to reinforce material. Participants must bring a laptop with R and RStudio (free software) already downloaded. Participants should have some experience with R or another coding language such as Python and understand basic applications of spatial data.

Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for students and professionals who have some experience using R or other coding language such as Python and some familiarity with spatial data applications.

W-02: Promoting Resilient Fish and Wildlife Populations through Disease Investigations
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation. Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.

FULL DAY - SUNDAY; 9AM - 5PM (lunch on own)
Fee: Student - $10; Professional $40
Contact: Tricia Fry, Fish and Wildlife Health Coordinator, Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, tfry.mafwa@gmail.com
Co-Organizers: Deb Hudman, MDC; Ellen Hayes, SEAFWA/SCWDS; Tricia Fry, MAFWA

Overview:
Understanding and monitoring wildlife diseases helps wildlife managers make informed decisions about conservation strategies, population control, and habitat management. Training and adherence to established protocols can significantly enhance the outcomes of wildlife disease management efforts. This workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of the following key aspects of a wildlife disease event: disease discovery, incident evaluation, biosafety, sample collection and submission for diagnostic testing, and incident management. The workshop will incorporate case studies of fish and wildlife disease outbreaks to provide real-world context and enhance learning by illustrating key concepts and practices. The workshop will conclude by examining how adopting a One Health integrative strategy enhances the effectiveness of monitoring, surveillance, and management of wildlife diseases, benefiting public health and biodiversity.

Intended Audience: Students and Professionals interested in wildlife heath

W-03: Traditional Age Structured Fish Population Modeling and Simulation
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation. Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.

FULL DAY - SUNDAY; 9AM - 5PM (lunch on own)
Fee: $60
Contact: Hae Kim, Research Associate, Applied Fisheries Management Lab, haekim@missouristate.edu
Co-Organizers: Quinton E. Phelps, Applied Fisheries Management Lab, Missouri State University; Jeffery W. Slipke, US Army Corp. of Engineers; Michael S. Allen, Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida

Overview:
This course is intended to provide management biologists with a tool for analyzing and simulating fish populations. We will be using an age-structured approach that incorporates the dynamic rate functions. These approaches will allow managers to simulate population level responses to exploitation and potentially diagnose growth and recruitment overfishing.

We will cover basic population dynamics and methods of quantifying these rates. These rates will be incorporated into an age-structured model. Participants will construct this model in Excel using similar approaches in developing Fishery Analysis and Modeling Software (FAMS). Various fish populations, regulations, and management objectives will be covered through examples.

Students are encouraged to participate. While specific examples will be provided, participants are encouraged to bring their own data.

Intended Audience: Students and Professionals; intermediate level

W-06: Playing with Privilege: Unpacking Privilege & Power in the Outdoors
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation. Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.

HALF DAY PM - 1PM-5PM
Fee: $10
Contact: Amy Bousman, Education Specialist, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, amy.bousman@ks.gov
Co-organizer: Andrea Jones Klein - MN Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife - R3 Partnership Coordinator

Overview:
When it comes to identifying barriers to participation in the outdoors, the realization of inequity amongst underserved & non-traditional communities is often cumbersome & uncomfortable. In a new twist to diffuse the heavier aspects of equity engagement efforts, the co-organizers of this workshop will support attendees in unpacking some of the lesser-known barriers to accessing the outdoors through playful interaction & brave conversations.
Aspects of this workshop will include movement-based methods to address concepts of equity and inclusion in R3. The final hour of this workshop will offer a whole group debriefing space to discuss revelations or difficulties that arose during the workshop. From there, smaller breakout spaces for people who prefer smaller group conversations, or conversations geared toward specific populations will be available.

Intended Audience: Students and Professionals; beginner & intermediate, but all could benefit & are welcome. Notetaking supplies encouraged.

W-07: Public Land and Natural Resource Policy in North America
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation.  Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form. 

HALF DAY PM - 1PM-5PM
Fee: $25 
Contact: Gary Potts, Past President, IL DNR  (Retired) & The Wildlife Society, gary.potts@sbcglobal.net
Workshop sponsored by the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society.

Overview:
This workshop provides information for developing an understanding of the derivation, principles, and processes for a wide variety of recreational and natural resource management policies concerning public land management.  This is accomplished by providing a broad overview of policy issues related to historical and current recreational and natural resource management.
Course/Learning objectives

• Understand history of North American conservation and how it has shaped the development of natural resource and recreation policies.
• Understand roles of science, policy, and politics in developing and implementing outdoor recreation and natural resource policies.
• Understand how economics and markets affect outdoor recreation and natural resource policy processes.
• Understanding of the processes of policy development and implementation for recreation and natural resource management.
• Understand roles and responsibilities of various agencies in developing and implementing recreation and natural resource management policies.
• Develop an understanding of the complexities of recreation and natural resource policy by examining real-life examples of past and current policy issues. 

Intended Audience: Students and Professionals; intermediate level

W-08: Wildlife Capture Techniques
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation. Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.

HALF DAY PM - 1PM-5PM
Fee: $10
Contact: David Hoffman, Natural Resource Tech, IA DNR, David.Hoffman@dnr.iowa.gov

Overview:
The workshop would cover varies wildlife techniques from capturing waterfowl, pheasants, trumpeter swans, otters, bobcats, gray fox, sandhill cranes and whitetail deer. It would cover past and proven techniques as well as some new out of the box ideas to spark new innovative ideas. Techniques from bait traps, to leg snares, to camera traps and everything in between.

Intended Audience: Students and Professionals; Beginner to advanced levels covered. The workshop would allow flexibility to meet the needs of the audience level attending