Purdue Student Chapter The Wildlife Society

Purdue Student Chapter The Wildlife Society The Wildlife Society (TWS) is an international organization committed to the advancement of wildlife science and management.

Activities of the Purdue chapter vary year to year but have a common goal of increasing our members' understanding of wildlife biology, management, and science through hands on experiences and invited speakers. Previous speakers have included professionals from, USDA Wildlife Services, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Indiana DNR, and Purdue University. Previous activities include building nesting structures for wildlife, a wildlife quiz bowl, and trips to look for birds and amphibians. The field of wildlife biology is an important and diverse field. The Purdue Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society helps educate future professionals of the field on up to date research findings and techniques, provides its members with many opportunities to interact with current professionals, and educates those members through fun hands on work in the outdoors. All students interested in wildlife management and research are encouraged to get involved with this great organization!

Here are some snapshots from our first general meeting of the year! Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you to...
09/18/2026

Here are some snapshots from our first general meeting of the year! Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you to Marina Dhillon, Rachel Gallup, and Amy Ahrbecker for their amazing presentations! We hope to see you all at our next general meeting on September 30th, at 6 PM in FORS 216.

Our first Birds Working Group event at Horticulture Park was very successful! American Redstarts, Ruby-throated Hummingb...
09/17/2026

Our first Birds Working Group event at Horticulture Park was very successful! American Redstarts, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and Summer Tanagers were seen. The group even saw a lead-backed salamander at the end of the night. Thank you to everyone who came out!

Happy   everyone! This week, we are covering the North American porcupine (πΈπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘§π‘œπ‘› π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘š). This large quill-covered...
09/16/2026

Happy everyone! This week, we are covering the North American porcupine (πΈπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘§π‘œπ‘› π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘š). This large quill-covered rodent is the second largest rodent in North America after the North American beaver (πΆπ‘Žπ‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘–π‘ ). The word "porcupine" comes from the French word π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘π‘’π‘ π‘π‘–π‘› meaning 'thorn pig'. Quills are modified hairs formed into sharp hollow spines, primarily used for defense. An adult porcupine has around 30,000 quills that cover its body. The quills are coated in fatty acids that give them antibiotic properties, protecting porcupines from injury. They eat mainly conifer needles and tree bark in the summer, switching to conifer needles and tree bark in the winter. The porcupine's strong defense gives it the ability to live a solitary life, unlike many herbivores.

Information from inatrualist.org
Photo by George Emerson

This Monday, September 21st, our Mammals Working Group is hosting a Mammals Trivia Night, starting at 7 PM in FORS 216! ...
09/15/2026

This Monday, September 21st, our Mammals Working Group is hosting a Mammals Trivia Night, starting at 7 PM in FORS 216! Join us to compete in mammal-related Kahoot or relax after a long day and color! This event is open to all dues-paying members. Please indicate your interest in the GroupMe Mammals Trivia event form if you intend to go. Contact our Mammals Working Group Leader, Abigail Guilliams, at [email protected] if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!

Join us this Wednesday, September 16th at 6 PM in Forestry 216 for our first general meeting! Enjoy a Student Summer Sho...
09/11/2026

Join us this Wednesday, September 16th at 6 PM in Forestry 216 for our first general meeting! Enjoy a Student Summer Show & Tell and learn about your fellow FNR undergraduate students summer jobs and internships in the wildlife profession. Jimmy John's subs will be available to members who have paid dues. We hope to see you there!

Photos by: Karl Wing, Roman Nester, and Marina Dhillon

Interested in birds but overwhelmed with all the fall migrants? Join us at Horticulture Park at the east parking lot on ...
09/10/2026

Interested in birds but overwhelmed with all the fall migrants? Join us at Horticulture Park at the east parking lot on Tuesday, September 15th for an introduction to birding. All experience levels are welcome! Extra binoculars are available, but please bring your own if you have them! This event is open to dues-paying members. Please fill out the interest form on GroupMe if you plan to join. Contact George Emerson at [email protected] with questions!

Photo by Roman Nester

This   we are talking about the tawny emperor (π΄π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘π‘Ž π‘π‘™π‘¦π‘‘π‘œπ‘›). This brush-footed butterfly is common in the eastern...
09/09/2026

This we are talking about the tawny emperor (π΄π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘π‘Ž π‘π‘™π‘¦π‘‘π‘œπ‘›). This brush-footed butterfly is common in the eastern half of Canada to northern Mexico. This species is common around gardens, bodies of water, houses, and gravel driveways. In its larval form, it feeds exclusively on hackberry. As an adult, it rarely lands on flowers. Opting instead to feed on carrion, dung, and plant sap. A similar species is the hackberry emperor, being distinguished by the white spots near the tip of its forewing and black eyespot along the forewing.


Information from inaturalist.org
Photo by Lydia Pultorak

Coming by the LGTBQ+ Fair today? Visit The Purdue Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society to learn more about our club a...
09/08/2026

Coming by the LGTBQ+ Fair today? Visit The Purdue Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society to learn more about our club and how you can get invloved!

Join our Conservation working group, Indiana DNR, and Purdue Wildlife Extension specialist Jarred Brooke Sunday, Septemb...
09/07/2026

Join our Conservation working group, Indiana DNR, and Purdue Wildlife Extension specialist Jarred Brooke Sunday, September 13th from 3 - 8 PM at Goose Creek Gamebird Habitat Area to participate in a mentored dove hunt for new hunters. No gear? No problem! Gear will be provided if needed. Appropriate hunting licenses need to be purchased beforehand. Please wear drab or camouflage clothing. Check out the attached flyer for more information!

Thank you to everyone who joined the callout meeting; we had an amazing time meeting everyone! Six teams competed to fin...
09/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined the callout meeting; we had an amazing time meeting everyone! Six teams competed to find landmarks around the FNR department, and the pronghorns were the clear winners. Our next meeting will be September 16th from 6- 7 PM. We hope to see you there!

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West Lafayette, IN
47907

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