A flock of seagulls soars across a coastal environment, illuminated by a bright yellow sunrise

Collaborate and Lead Through TWS Working Groups

The Wildlife Society offers Working Groups as dynamic forums where members with common professional interests can connect, share knowledge and drive innovation. These groups foster collaboration, professional development and the advancement of science-based wildlife management.

Engage

Why Join a Working Group?
The Wildlife Society’s 30+ Working Groups cover a wide range of specific focuses. Find the right one for you and engage with a community of professionals who share your passion for wildlife conservation.

Network

with professionals who share your interests and challenges.

Stay Informed

on the latest research, policies and practices in your field.

Develop Skills

through workshops, webinars and collaborative projects.

Influence Policy

by contributing to position statements and conservation affairs.

Advance Your Career

by gaining leadership experience and expanding your professional network.
A diverse team of wildlife biologists organizes gear in a field

Explore our Working Groups to find the ones that align with your interests and expertise.

How to Join a
Working Group

  1. Become a TWS Member
    Membership is required to join any Working Group.
  2. Log In
    Access your TWS member portal through the TWS website.
  3. Select Your Groups
    Navigate to Membership → Add Organization Unit Membership. Select the Working Groups you’d like to join.
  4. Pay Dues
    Some groups may require a nominal fee, while others are free to join.

Member Groups

Start a New Working Group

Don’t see a group dedicated to your area of focus? Reach out to Mariah at MB*****@******fe.org to propose a new working group.

RESOURCES

Biological Diversity Working Group

The Biological Diversity Working Group provides an opportunity for TWS members to exchange research and management information relative to the conservation of biological diversity and to contribute to the development of policies and programs that promote the conservation of biological diversity.

Biological Diversity Working Group
Biometrics Working Group

The Biometrics Working Group promotes the development and application of biometrical methods in the study and management of wildlife resources.

Biometrics Working Group
Climate Change and Wildlife Working Group

The mission of the Climate Change and Wildlife Working Group is to foster research, professional development, and information exchange on contemporary climate change, impacts on ecological systems, and responsive natural resource management for members of The Wildlife Society.

Climate Change and Wildlife Working Group
Coastal and Marine Wildlife Working Group

The Coastal & Marine Wildlife Working Group encompasses both coastal and marine biology, including a diverse array of topics and species including marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks, sea/shorebirds, and more. We welcome students & professionals to join our mission of increasing collaboration and knowledge of the marine/ coastal wildlife field.

 

Coastal and Marine Wildlife Working Group
College and University Education Working Group

The College and University Education Working Group of The Wildlife Society fosters the professional development of TWS members working as college/university educators, and improves the quality of higher education in wildlife ecology and conservation.

College and University Education Working Group
Conservation Detection Dogs Working Group

The Conservation Detection Dog Working Group provides a forum for communication and networking between professionals interested in the conservation detection dog methodology.

Conservation Dogs Teams Working Group
Conservation Education and Outreach Working Group

The Conservation Education and Outreach Working Group (CEOWG) of The Wildlife Society works to instill and foster a land ethic and an understanding of ecological principles among today’s citizens.

Conservation Education and Outreach Working Group
Disabilities, Neurodivergence, and Allyship Working Group

The Disabilities, Neurodivergence, and Allyship Working Group is committed to making the wildlife profession and the outdoors more accessible and welcoming for folks with disabilities and neurodivergent identities.

Drone Working Group

The primary mission of the Drone Working Group is to provide support and information to those in The Wildlife Society that use small unoccupied aerial systems (sUAS), or more commonly called drones, in natural resources/wildlife research and management and to see the use of this technology in our profession move forward professionally, ethically, and legally.

 

Drone Working Group
Early Career Professional Working Group

The Early Career Professional Working Group is dedicated to addressing the challenges and opportunities that early career wildlife professionals encounter.

 

Early Career Professionals Working Group
Forestry and Wildlife Working Group

Forest management decisions affect a large array of wildlife species and habitats. The impacts that forestry has on wildlife occur at multiple spatial scales and range across ownership types including National and State Forests, industrial timberlands, and small private woodlots.

Forestry and Wildlife Working Group
Habitat Restoration Working Group

The Habitat Restoration Working Group provides a forum for TWS members to share experiences, techniques, and information relative to restoring wildlife populations and degraded habitats.

Habitat Restoration Working Group
Human Dimensions Working Group

The Human Dimensions Working Group promotes the study and transfer of information relative to human dimensions, social aspects, and policy related to wildlife management.

Human Dimensions Working Group
Hunting, Trapping, and Conservation Working Group

The Hunting, Trapping, and Conservation Working Group promotes exploring issues associated with hunting and trapping relative to conservation and management of wildlife resources.

Hunting, Trapping, and Conservation Working Group
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness Working Group

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness Working Group promotes the involvement of minorities and women in the wildlife and natural resource professions, especially in areas such as student recruitment, conservation education, and professional development.

 

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness Working Group
International Wildlife Management Working Group

The International Wildlife Management Working Group provides a forum for TWS members to network with wildlife professionals from around the world on a wide range of issues pertaining to wildlife management and habitat conservation.

International Wildlife Management Working Group
Invasive Species Working Group

The Invasive Species Working Group promotes the control, mitigation, and prevention of invasive species’ introduction to improve natural resources for wildlife.

 

Invasive Species Working Group
Latin American and Caribbean Working Group

The Latin American & Caribbean Working Group is committed to advancing and representing international and domestic Latin Americans and Caribbeans in The Wildlife Society and the wildlife profession at large.

 

Latin American and Caribbean Working Group
Military Lands Working Group

The Military Lands Working Group is intended to provide opportunities for members to exchange information, meet professionals dealing with similar situations, and promote awareness of natural resource conservation requirements on Department of Defense lands.

Military Lands Working Group
Molecular Ecology Working Group

The Molecular Ecology Working Group aims to promote scientific advancement applying molecular techniques to wildlife ecology, management, and conservation.

Molecular Ecology Working Group
Native Peoples’ Wildlife Management Working Group

The Native Peoples’ Wildlife Management Working Group serves as a forum and resource for members of The Wildlife Society to share ideas and information on relevant issues and topics impacting Native American wildlife management.

Native Peoples' Wildlife Management Working Group
Nutritional Ecology Working Group

The Nutritional Ecology Working Group serves as a forum to facilitate communication and exchange of information related to advancing the science of nutritional ecology as it pertains to conservation and management of wildlife populations.

 

Nutritional Ecology Working Group
Private Lands Working Group

The Private Lands Working Group aims to increase awareness of the conservation and management of wildlife on private lands by improving communications and education for wildlife professionals and students around research, management, restoration, policy, and outreach and education impacting the diverse habitats on private lands (working and non-working).

Rangeland Wildlife Working Group

The Rangeland Wildlife Working Group promotes unified efforts in managing rangelands for both wildlife and sustainable use by people.

 

Rangeland Wildlife Working Group
Renewable Energy Working Group

The Renewable Energy Working Group will focus on wildlife and ecological issues associated with the siting, construction, and operation of renewable energy generating facilities.

Renewable Energy Working Group
Spatial Ecology and Telemetry Working Group

The Spatial Ecology and Telemetry Working Group provides an opportunity for TWS members to address issues of concern to the GIS community and to advance their own skills and understanding of GIS, remote sensing, and telemetry technologies.

Spatial Ecology and Telemetry Working Group
Student Development Working Group

The Student Development Working Group of The Wildlife Society promotes increased student awareness of TWS membership benefits, works to expand knowledge and technical capabilities of student members, and helps prepare student members for professional wildlife careers.

Student Development Working Group
Transportation Ecology Working Group

The Transportation Ecology Working Group promotes professional collaboration and information sharing to identify solutions that enable wildlife to thrive alongside our ever-changing and growing transportation infrastructure.

Transportation Ecology Working Group
Urban Wildlife Working Group

The Urban Wildlife Working Group provides a forum for TWS members to exchange information relative to urban wildlife and the management of urban wildlife habitat.

Urban Wildlife Working Group
Wetlands Working Group

The purpose of the Wetlands Working Group is to provide a forum for TWS members with common professional interest to communicate, exchange information, facilitate continuing education and increase public awareness

 

Wetlands Working Group
Wildlife Damage Management Working Group

The Wildlife Damage Management Working Group promotes better understanding of the challenges of managing human-wildlife conflicts and provides a forum for TWS members to advance their skills and knowledge of wildlife damage management practices.

 

Wildlife Damage Management Working Group
Wildlife Diseases Working Group

The Wildlife Diseases Working Group provides a forum for networking and communication among wildlife professionals interested in management, research, education, and administration of wildlife disease issues.

Wildlife Diseases Working Group
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