News - June 2023


UGA receives $18.5M from sale of Lake Blackshear property

Land donation has potential to become ‘transformative’ gift for school   A wooded parcel of land on South Georgia’s Lake Blackshear has netted a sizable gift for a school at the University of Georgia.   The 2,500-acre property—one of the last undeveloped parcels on the lake—recently sold for $18.5 million to an undisclosed buyer. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, which…


Study examines possibility of coronavirus infection in raccoons and skunks

While the origins of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are still unclear, researchers have long suspected that the virus that causes COVID-19 originated in bats and might have found a host in another animal on its way to infecting humans. This raises the question of which animal species can become infected with SARS-CoV-2, and, once infected, is it possible for them to transmit the disease back to humans while in close contact? A study conducted at the…


9 rules for the Black female birdwatcher

This story was originally published in The Xylom (thexylom.com) and is inspired by J. Drew Lanham’s “9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher” published in Orion Magazine. Alex Troutman assisted in the creation of the story. 1. Birds flock together for safety and community; Black female birders MUST do the same and for similar reasons. Not only does it greatly enhance the birding experience—being able to share notes and stories—but increased…


Invasive fish, typically found in home aquariums, discovered in Georgia creek

Wes Gerrin is no stranger to fish. As a master’s student and technician in aquatics labs at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Gerrin has seen his fair share of shiners and darters. But recently, as he looked into a bucket of fish he and colleagues collected from an Athens-area stream for a research project, he was stumped. “We were trying to do a community assessment, and the overall goal was to see if…


Sustainable tourism—or a selfie? Ecotourism’s fans may be in it for the ’gram

Ecotourism offers a specific travel experience: It focuses on nature, education and sustainability. Often, these destinations highlight endangered or threatened species and engage visitors in making socially responsible choices. But a new study by researchers at the University of Georgia suggests ecotourism’s altruistic attractions may be overshadowed by another benefit: photos for social media. Recently published in the Journal of…


Workshop brings 'One Health' concepts to international audience

A virtual workshop this week hosted by the University of Georgia will help connect students from around the world to the concept of “One Health”—an idea that takes on even more significance in the time of a global pandemic. The Conservation Medicine, One Health and Wildlife Diseases virtual workshop, organized by faculty member Sonia Hernandez and students from across various departments, but led by those at the UGA Warnell School of…


Filling the gaps: Online fundraiser benefits animals at wildlife clinic

When a wild animal is injured, its options are limited. Some of the luckier ones are scooped up by a human and brought to the University of Georgia Wildlife Clinic. Here, in a small arrangement of rooms adjacent to the main UGA Veterinary Clinic, faculty, residents and students tend to turtles, birds, snakes and more. While care for these animals typically is less expensive than house pets, it’s not free—and the budget for the clinic is razor…


Developing home-grown solutions to reverse climate change

One of Georgia’s most plentiful assets might be a key to help the state combat global climate change. The state is covered with trees—Georgia is almost 60% forested—and each tree has the ability to offset carbon that’s emitted into the atmosphere. But the amount of carbon, the cost of that sequestration, and potential for new jobs in rural parts of the state are all questions to be answered. Which is where the research by Puneet Dwivedi and…

James Chapin
Graduate student’s novel explores wildness of land (and people)

If all you know of Florida is beaches and theme parks, there’s a whole lot you don’t know about the state. Its reputation as a vacation destination came about relatively recently in its history. For generations prior, Florida was a largely untamed wilderness. Its early inhabitants were members of the Seminole tribe and, as European settlers moved onto the land, cattle ranchers. Given the harsh surroundings and two very different philosophies of…


New partnership reveals power, innovation of natural infrastructure

Some of the world’s most important feats of engineering come from natural formations. Sand dunes are engineered to prevent erosion. Floodplains along rivers give them space to ebb and flow while protecting communities from flooding—and also filter out pollution and provide wildlife habitat. Now, a new initiative between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the University of Georgia, bolstered by a $2.5 million federal grant, will expand the work…

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