Speakers
Stan Gerht holds a female coyote captured in the Chicago metro area.
Photo courtesy of Stan Gehrt.
Special guest speaker, Dr. Stan Gehrt, assistant professor at Ohio State University, has been conducting research on urban coyotes in the Chicago area since 2000, making it the largest study of its kind. To date, over 350 coyotes have been captured and followed. He will present results of the research and along the way address myths and truths about this amazing carnivore. Things to be discussed will include their movements, social behavior, survival, and food habits, and what these mean for coyote/people conflicts and strategies for managing urban coyotes. More information about Dr. Gehrt’s work: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/urbcoyot.htm
Bonnie Bradshaw is president of 911 Wildlife, vice-president of WildCare and a co-founder of the DFW Wildlife Coalition. Ms. Bradshaw is a Texas Master Naturalist, certified wildlife rehabilitator, certified Project Wild facilitator and licensed structural pest control operator. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Texas.
When you hear School IPM, Janet Hurley is the person most PCO’s think of. Ms. Hurley is the new kid on the block when it comes to pest control and school IPM. Back in 2001, Mike Merchant (Texas AgriLife Extension), Don Renchie (Texas AgriLife Extension), Jim Criswell (OSU) and Lonnie Mathews (NMSU) got together and wrote a grant to the U.S. EPA to establish a regional technical resource center. The U.S. EPA awarded two grants — the first to Purdue for the Midwest Technical Resource Center and the second to Texas A&M University System for the Southwest Technical Resource Center. In August of 2001, Ms. Hurley was hired to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Southwest Technical Resource Center for IPM in Schools and Child Care Facilities. The SWTRC is designed to help school districts in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico with maintaining and implementing their IPM programs.
Richard Heilbrun is currently an Urban Wildlife Biologist for TPWD in San Antonio. He has been in this position for the last four years. Prior to that, Richard was a regulatory wildlife biologist for TPWD out of Victoria. Richard has a BS and MS in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University. While in grad school, Richard conducted research on various aspects of bobcat ecology at the Welder Wildlife Refuge near Sinton, Texas. Much of his research was related to using game cameras as a census technique for bobcats. Richard will be be discussing various aspects of bobcat biology and ecology. He will discuss habitat requirements, diet, behavior, and interspecies interactions. Where possible will discuss what is known about bobcats in urban settings, and the needs of future research regarding urban bobcats.
Having done his undergraduate work at U.T. Austin (Zoology, minor Botany) and his graduate work at Texas A&M (Horticulture), his education has given Roger “Snake Man” Sanderson a unique perspective – not to mention a heck of a sense of humor! Roger has been the Wildlife Biologist at the Heard Natural Science Museum for 6 years and was recently promoted to Director of Botanical Gardens. Usually known as “the Snake Man” by local youths, he has been doing snake programs for Boy Scouts for almost 20 years and teaches the Reptile Study Merit Badge at the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Virginia. His huge live, native Texas snake collection is one of the best in the state and was used to create the Heard’s widely acclaimed Rat Snakes to Rattlers and Venomous Snakes of Texas exhibits. Both Roger and his wife are active birders, traveling widely to view new or unusual species. They were selected to be part of the Cornell University search team for the Ivory Bill Woodpecker in Arkansas, and now an ongoing obsession. Roger is on the board of our local Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society. He and his wife are also active members of the Dallas Paleontology Society. Insects, too, are a favorite subject! He has been collecting butterflies and moths since the third grade and did research on gall insects in college. Despite his vast background in animals, Roger’s greatest expertise is in plants. He was Assistant Director of the Dallas Civic Garden Center (now Texas Discovery Gardens) for 5 ½ years until forming his own landscape company which he still operates part time. Roger had a weekly column for several years in the Dallas Morning News on plants and continues to write articles about nature in several publications.
Shelley Stonecipher, DVM, MPH, works for the Regional Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Program in Health Service Region 3.
LeRoy Thompson Jr. BA University of Texas (Austin)Double Major English & History, Minor in Economics; Texas Game Warden IV; TCLEOSE instructor; Master Peace Officer; Master Naturalist. Over 17 years experience in local fisheries enforcement in the North Texas and Dallas metroplex area to protect Texas’ wildlife, other natural resources, and the environment. Participated in covert operations and saturated patrols regarding commercial fisheries activities. Additionally provide safe boating and recreational water safety on public waters by ensuring compliance with applicable state laws and regulations. Responsible for enforcement of the Parks and Wildlife Code, all TPWD regulations, the Texas Penal Code and selected statutes and regulations applicable to clean air and water, hazardous materials and human health. Responsibilities fulfilled through educating the public about various laws and regulations, preventing violations by conducting high visibility patrols, and apprehending and arresting violators.
