Wildlife Biology and Conservation

COURSE OVERVIEW:  Wildlife Biology and Conservation (WBC) is a field-based, college preparatory course devoted to student participation in actual wildlife research and conservation projects.  Through those activities and supported by supplemental readings students gain a broad understanding of the fields of wildlife and conservation biology as well as an understanding of each studied species’ natural history, its landscape and ecological context, as well as its relationship with humans.  Students select one of the WBC research projects to take primary responsibility for managing and analyzing its data and preparing its annual technical report.  Furthermore, during each semester, students participate in a substantial outreach activity related to a WBC research or conservation project with groups beyond the Bosque School community.  Each quarter WBC students provide leadership and environmental education programs to younger students on several wildlife and conservation projects.  Key areas of study in WBC projects include: the ethical and moral implications of live animal research; safety; wildlife management techniques and procedures; field research design and execution; data management; and the preparation of technical reports. WBC is an elective science class open to juniors and seniors (sophomores with instructor permission) and can be used once to meet a Bosque School science course graduation requirement.  Furthermore, students enrolled in WBC can also enroll concurrently with NM State University’s online wildlife biology class “WLSC 110 Introduction to Natural Resource Management.”

This class is taught by Dan Shaw, Bosque School teacher and BEMP Co-Director.

Citizen Science