OSU Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences

05/27/2026

A new study led by Jeremy Rockweit who recently defended his PhD in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, shows that restoring fire-resilient forests in the Pacific Northwest does not have to come at the expense of northern spotted owl conservation. 🦉

Published in Forest Ecology & Management, the study identified “fire refugia” sheltered areas where spotted owl nesting and roosting habitat is more likely to persist through wildfire. By combining decades of spotted owl monitoring data with fire records across the eastern Cascades and Klamath regions, researchers created maps that could help land managers balance forest restoration with wildlife conservation.

The findings suggest that topographically diverse landscapes can support both healthier, more fire-resilient forests and critical habitat for this federally threatened species, even as wildfire activity increases across the West!🔥

👉 Read more: beav.es/fnA

05/21/2026

Commercial fishing remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, but along the Oregon Coast, researchers, fishermen and coastal communities are working together to improve safety at sea. ⚓️

Amanda Gladics, an Oregon Sea Grant Extension fisheries specialist and associate professor of practice in Oregon State University’s Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, has helped lead a collaborative initiative focused on commercial fishing safety, emergency preparedness and community support.

Between 2024 and 2026, the initiative reached eight ports and supported hundreds of fishermen through:

🦺 727 life jackets distributed
🚤 141 fishermen trained in first aid and emergency drills
🛟 206 immersion suits tested and 127 replaced
🎣 146 commercial fishing licenses provided to fishermen facing financial barriers

This work highlights the power of long-term partnerships between researchers, fishing families and coastal communities working together to save lives at sea.

🔗 Read more here: beav.es/fPb

📷️ Credit: Amanda Gladics

05/20/2026

There’s still time to apply for Oregon State’s Winter Term study abroad program in Chilean Patagonia, the application deadline has been extended through Friday the 22nd!

Study alongside Chilean students through immersive field courses, research, and internships while exploring forests, rivers, and local communities in one of the world’s most striking regions. Over 10 weeks, students earn 16 credits while examining conservation, natural resource use, and environmental challenges firsthand.

Whether you’re studying on campus or through Oregon State Ecampus, students can take part in hands-on international learning experiences while continuing progress toward their degree.

Learn more and apply here: beav.es/fwcs-chile

05/19/2026

Science Supporting Salmon Recovery!

With the removal of Klamath River dams, Upper Klamath Lake—Oregon’s largest lake by surface area—is poised to play a key role in the future of salmon and steelhead.

Dr. Jonny Armstrong’s lab in OSU Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences is launching a new project, funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), to identify the water-quality thresholds that determine how long salmonids remain in the lake and when declining conditions trigger movement to refuge habitats. This project focuses on Redband trout, a native salmonid that currently occupies the lake and experiences the same challenging water-quality conditions that reintroduced salmon and steelhead are expected to face, making them an ideal proxy for understanding how these species may use the lake.

The work leverages a lake-wide array of ~90 acoustic receivers maintained by USGS to monitor endangered sucker species, providing a unique opportunity to track redband trout behavior as water-quality conditions deteriorate into summer. In April, the research team tagged 50 trout over an 8-day period, working closely with project partners at ODFW, the Klamath Tribes Ambodat Department, and USGS. Volunteer anglers, ranging in age from 4 to 90 years old, helped with hook-and-line sampling.

By identifying key thresholds, this work will help managers better understand how water-quality improvements could affect salmon and trout and anticipate how future runs of reintroduced salmon and steelhead may use the lake.

05/19/2026

05/14/2026

Huge congratulations to our F&W Club for sweeping all three 2026 CAS Student Club Awards! 🎉🐟🦌

🏆 Fisheries & Wildlife Club — Club of the Year
🏆 Chloe Bostick — Club Leader of the Year
🏆 Shalynn Pack — Club Advisor of the Year

This is an incredible achievement for the club. The last time they won Club of the Year was 10 years ago, and this is the first time they’ve earned all three awards! Their 12-person leadership team hosts 30+ events each year and continues to build strong student engagement within Oregon TWS & AFS chapters.

We’ll celebrate the team at the CAS Celebrating Excellence event on May 18 from 4–6 PM in the MU Horizon Room. All CAS faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend! 🎊

05/10/2026

This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating FWCS moms making an impact in research and community. 💚

FWCS Ecampus student Lynette Mason recently presented her research at the 2026 Confluence Symposium after completing an internship with FWCS graduate student Meagan White and the Arismendi Lab, studying factors that affect stream quality and health.

Through their work together, Lynette and Meagan connected over the shared challenges and joys of balancing motherhood, school and scientific research. Lynette’s success in the program led her to launch an independent research project, continue working with the lab long-term, and begin exploring graduate school opportunities.

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate moms in the field, in the lab, and in the classroom who are shaping the future of conservation science while supporting the next generation every step of the way. 🌿

05/05/2026

We’re excited to celebrate Dr. Samantha Chisholm Hatfield (enrolled Siletz) on her appointment to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) State Advisory Committee!

In this role, Dr. Chisholm Hatfield will help advise ODE on educational matters impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities, offering guidance, advocacy, and oversight on policies, rules, and legislation related to Indian Education. She will also contribute to shaping and advancing goals for the American Indian/Alaska Native Student Success Plan.

Dr. Chisholm Hatfield is deeply committed to supporting Native youth and looks forward to serving in this important role.

She is an Assistant Professor and Senior Researcher in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Director of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Lab, and co-developer of the Explore and More program, which connects Native OSU students with Native high school students through mentorship, research opportunities, and pathways to higher education.

Congratulations, Dr. Chisholm Hatfield! 🎉

05/04/2026

Alumni who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, now Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences (FWCS), are invited to participate in our FWCS Survey of Graduates. This survey seeks to gather valuable insights from our graduates, regardless of graduation year or your current career path.

The survey requires approximately 20 minutes to complete and may be paused and resumed at your convenience. As a token of appreciation, individuals who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for one of ten $50 gift certificates, redeemable at Cabela's REI, Patagonia or the OSU Beaver Store. We will hold the first drawing at the end of May.

Your participation is greatly valued and will help inform ongoing program assessment and future planning within FWCS. Thank you for contributing your time and perspective.

Complete the survey by visiting beav.es/fwcs-grads-survey or clicking the link in our bio.

04/30/2026

We’re pleased to share that Dr. Bruce Dugger, professor in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences has been elected Faculty Senate President-Elect at Oregon State University and will serve as President in 2027!

As Senate President, he will represent the faculty in university governance, help guide Faculty Senate priorities, and serve as a key voice in discussions with university leadership and external partners.

Dr. Dugger’s work focuses on waterfowl ecology, wetland conservation, and the management of waterbird habitats, which reflects his longstanding commitment to both research excellence and service.

Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved recognition and leadership role! 🎉

04/27/2026

Dam Proud Day is on April 29!

Experiential learning is the cornerstone of our program. We recognize how essential hands‑on learning is for students, and we’re committed to creating opportunities through field courses, required internships, conference participation and more.

This year for Dam Proud Day, we’re highlighting the Landforce Conservation Education Program, named in honor of Andy Landforce, a 1942 Oregon State graduate and our first Fisheries Extension faculty member from 1946 to 1971. The mission of this endowment is to support student involvement in public engagement activities, fieldwork, experiential learning and leadership development.

You can make an early donation by visiting beav.es/fwcs-dam-proud-day