Introduction to Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Monitoring Workshop

This 3-day monitoring workshop introduces forestry and environmental management students to real-world wildlife conservation and management challenges they are likely to face in their careers. The workshop will combine introductory lectures with case studies from California and across North America. These cases will provide an insider’s perspective on working within a state wildlife agency. The course will also include time in the field demonstrating camera traps and evaluating what makes for good wildlife habitat. There will be computer lab sessions for getting familiar working with wildlife data to support conservation planning. There will also be several group, role-playing activities focused on environmental review and designing wildlife monitoring projects. 1-1 consulting meetings are available with the instructor on individual projects. WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR: - Brett Furnas, Ph.D., Director - Science Support Unit, California Department of Fish and Wildlife WORKSHOP HOST: The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment With support from - Mark Ashton, Senior Associate Dean, TFS– YSE - Gary Dunning, Executive Director, TFS - Sara Santiago, Assistant Director, TFS Thursday, October 22 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, October 23 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, October 24 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. *There is a cap to participants and a waitlist. If you are no longer able to attend the workshop, please cancel your registration on YaleConnect and email Sara Santiago (sara.santiago@yale.edu) by end of day October 19.* *This workshop will have a second session in February 2026 that will focus on data analysis. This workshop is a prerequisite for the second workshop.*