BROOKINGS — Two South Dakota State University graduate students from the Department of Natural Resource Management received recognition for their research and presentations at the 2025 annual meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society held recently in Brookings.

Doctoral student Maya Pendleton was recognized for the best open presentation for “Addressing Knowledge Gaps for Bats of Conservation Need in South Dakota.” Master’s degree student Karma Choki was recognized for the best presentation by a student in an undergraduate or master’s program for “Influence of Tigers and Human-Environmental Factors on Sympatric Leopards.”

The three-day conference included numerous presentations from wildlife professionals representing public, private and educational organizations. Pete Bauman, SDSU Extension natural resources and wildlife field specialist, shared perspectives on leveraging multi-state partnerships and relationships for the betterment of South Dakota’s land stewardship over time. On day two, students from South Dakota colleges and universities shared their research in poster presentations to the group.

Founded in 1937 as The Society of Wildlife Specialists, The Wildlife Society has evolved into an international nonprofit organization of professional wildlife ecologists and managers with more than 10,000 members from 40 different countries, including administrators, biologists, conservation officers, educators, managers and researchers. The South Dakota chapter began in 1966 with 56 charter members and now has more than 100 members.

The objectives of The Wildlife Society include stewardship of wildlife resources and their environments, active prevention of environmental degradation, awareness and appreciation of wildlife values and high standards for the wildlife profession.

William Severud, SDSU assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resource Management, and Philip Urso, SDSU assistant professor of bison studies in the Department of Animal Science, serve as board members in the state organization.

“The annual meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society is a great way for SDSU graduate and undergraduate students to network with future employers, colleagues, and students from other universities,” Severud said. “The meeting held in Brookings was also a sort of homecoming for wildlife professionals across the state, many of whom were trained at SDSU.”

Severud noted the collaborative effort reflected in The Wildlife Society’s conference. “The theme was ‘Partnerships in Conservation’ and it was wonderful to see so many agencies working together toward a common cause of research and management of our shared wildlife resources,” Severud said.

Mandy Pearson, of Rapid City, is senior wildlife biologist for South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks. She serves the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society as secretary-treasurer and is also an SDSU alum.

“This event brought together wildlife professionals and students to network and learn about the latest programs and research in the state,” Pearson said. “The meeting offered a variety of sessions, with a special focus on conservation partnerships, covering topics such as grassland preservation, collaborative efforts and the recovery of imperiled species. It also highlighted impressive student work, with presentations and posters from both undergraduate and graduate students from several South Dakota universities.

“The South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society is already looking forward to the 2026 annual meeting, which will again be held in Brookings,” Pearson added.

Keynote speaker at the three-day conference was Carter Johnson, speaking on “A Tale of Two Rivers,” which focused on highlights from his long-term studies of the Missouri and Platte rivers. Johnson is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of SDSU’s Department of Natural Resource Management and is also the author of “Ecology of Dakota Landscapes: Past, Present, and Future.”

Michele Dudash, head of the SDSU Department of Natural Resource Management, noted the benefits of this multi-generational gathering of people sharing a common passion for the conservation and management of the habitat utilized by both game and non-game species. “For example, our keynote speaker, Professor Emeritus Carter Johnson’s long-term research on the Missouri River and the role of cottonwood trees in our ecosystem was highlighted the next day by two students, completing the circle.”

Mark Norton received the Wildlife Professional of the Year Award, presented annually to a wildlife professional who has, over the course of their career, made an outstanding contribution to wildlife management in South Dakota. Norton is the hunting access and Farm Bill coordinator for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in wildlife and fisheries sciences from SDSU.