Conversations in Science
for K-12 Educators

A program conceived and organized by the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with the collaboration of the Madison Metropolitan School District and the Edgewood Sonderegger Science Center.

The Wildlife Resources of Wisconsin and Management Challenges

Scott R. Craven
Department of Wildlife Ecology, UW-Madison

About the conversation:

Wisconsin’s position at the edges of several ecological regions results in a wonderful diversity of wildlife including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. These animals are very important to Wisconsin’s ecology, economy, and our quality of life. However, species vary greatly in their abundance and distribution and in their relationship to people. This creates significant challenges to the resource managers charged with the management of these animal populations. These challenges are further complicated by often keen and emotional public interest in wildlife, even though factual knowledge about species biology and conservation is very limited.

About the speaker:

Professor Scott R. Craven is the Chair of the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Extension Wildlife Specialist at UW-Madison. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire in 1970. Scott earned his Master’s of Science in 1975 and his PhD in 1978 in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Wildlife Ecology. Since 1979 Scott has been a member of the UW faculty. His teaching and outreach work includes Vertebrate Ecology, Department and Career Orientation, Summer Field Camp Statewide Extension programs on wildlife management, wildlife recreation, damage control and youth education via public radio, workshops, field trips, and lectures.