Outreach

Warnell receives national recognition for forest outreach programming

Communications Director

Contact Information

Contact Kristen Morales

Phone:

706-542-2079

706-206-3055

kmorales@uga.edu

Campus address

Office:

Building 1-202

About

Education:

B.A., Graphic Design, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, 2002

B.S., Print Journalism, Syracuse University, 1998

Biography:

Kristen comes to Warnell after spending five years as communications manager at the UGA College of Education. At Warnell, she oversees the production of The Log, the college's alumni magazine, as well as regular news releases, website updates and social media content. Before working for UGA, Kristen spent more than 15 years in the newspaper industry as an editor, writer, copy editor and designer at newspapers in New York, Massachusetts, California, Florida and Georgia.

Programs developed by Warnell’s outreach faculty received major recognition today, when they were honored with the Comprehensive Family Forest Education Award.

The award is presented to educational institutions deemed to have delivered the most effective education program to benefit family forest owners over the past five years. It was given at the organization’s annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.

One year later, dam removal already reveals benefits

Communications Director

Contact Information

Contact Kristen Morales

Phone:

706-542-2079

706-206-3055

kmorales@uga.edu

Campus address

Office:

Building 1-202

About

Education:

B.A., Graphic Design, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, 2002

B.S., Print Journalism, Syracuse University, 1998

Biography:

Open water and an unobstructed views now offer tourism, recreational opportunities

The cranes and earth movers are gone. So is the concrete and rusted rebar.

Now all that’s left is the gentle sound of water lapping the edges of the Middle Oconee River where once it poured over White Dam.

It's a banner year for baby Loggerhead turtles

Communications Director

Contact Information

Contact Kristen Morales

Phone:

706-542-2079

706-206-3055

kmorales@uga.edu

Campus address

Office:

Building 1-202

About

Education:

B.A., Graphic Design, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, 2002

B.S., Print Journalism, Syracuse University, 1998

Biography:

This summer is a banner year for sea turtles, according to data collected by University of Georgia researchers.

By early July, roughly halfway through the annual nesting season along the southeastern coast of the United States, more than 11,000 loggerhead sea turtle nests have been logged by organizations and volunteers and reported to the Northern Recovery Unit Loggerhead DNA Project, housed in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. This number tops the previous record for sea turtle nests set in 2016, when 11,321 nests were recorded.

Tags:

sea turtles; research; loggerheads

Jennings named to international fellows program for fisheries science

Communications Director

Contact Information

Contact Kristen Morales

Phone:

706-542-2079

706-206-3055

kmorales@uga.edu

Campus address

Office:

Building 1-202

About

Education:

B.A., Graphic Design, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, 2002

B.S., Print Journalism, Syracuse University, 1998

Biography:

A faculty member’

Tags:

award

Warnell named "Clean Water Hero" by Georgia Water Coalition for White Dam Removal

Associate Professor, Fisheries

Contact Information

Contact Dr. James Shelton

Phone:

706-542-3108

jshelton@uga.edu

Campus address

Office:

Warnell 4-430

Education:

PhD, Auburn University - Fisheries Science

MS, Auburn University - Fisheries Science

BS, Nicholls State University - Marine Biology

Research

Area of Speciality:

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Biology/Ecology

Research Areas Detail:

Threatened aquatic species; water quality management in aquaculture and in fisheries biology.

Labs/Centers/Committees:

Outreach Faculty

Water Resources

UGAquaponics

Teaching:

WILD 3000, Intro to Fish and Wildlife Management

FANR 3200, Ecology of Natural Resources

FANR 3200L, Ecology of Natural Resources Lab

FISH 5360, Fisheries Management

FISH 5360L, Fisheries Management Lab

FISH 3900, Fisheries Internship

FISH 4650L, Fishes Field Lab

FANR 5690L, Natural Resources Management for Teachers

FISH(ECOL)(MARS)(WILD) 4550/6550-4550L/6550L, Sustainable Aquaculture/Sustainable Aquaculture Lab

Courses Regularly Taught:

FISH(ECOL)(MARS)(WILD) 4550/6550-4550L/6550L

Tags:

White Dam

Faculty Q&A: Dr. Elizabeth Benton

In each edition of The Log, we talk to a faculty member about their work, love of natural resources, and what they are excited about right now. In the most recent edition, we featured Dr. Elizabeth Benton, a forest health outreach specialist.

Fall Webworm Outbreaks

Forest Health Specialist

Contact Information

Contact Dr. Elizabeth McCarty

Phone:

229-386-3078

elizabeth.mccarty@uga.edu

Campus address

Office:

122 S. Entomology Drive, Tifton, GA

Lab Location:

122 S. Entomology Drive, Tifton, GA

Education:

Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2016

M.S., Biology, University of South Alabama, 2006

B.S., Biology, University of Mobile, 2002

Research

Area of Speciality:

Forest Biology

Environmental Risk

Health and Protection

Research Areas Detail:

Current Research Areas

- Pine tip moth phenology and management

- Environmental effects of pesticide use in forests

Labs/Centers/Committees:

Outreach Faculty

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Recent Citations:

Wiggins, G., E. Benton, J. Grant, M. Kerr, and P. Lambdin. 2018. Short-term detection of imidacloprid in

streams following applications in forests. J. Environ. Qual. 47: 571 –578.

Benton, E., J. F. Grant, R. J. Nichols, R. J. Webster, J. S. Schwartz, and J. K. Bailey. 2017.

Risk assessment of imidacloprid use in forest settings on the aquatic macroinvertebrate community. Enviro. Tox. Chem., 36: 3108 – 3119.

Benton, E., J. F. Grant, R. J. Webster, R. S. Cowles, A. F. Lagalante, R. J. Nichols and

C. I. Coots. 2016. Hemlock woolly adelgid abundance and hemlock canopy health numerous years after imidacloprid basal drench treatments: Implications for management programs. J. Econ. Entomol. 109: 2125 – 2136.

Outreach:

Forest Health

Trees for Bees

Pesticide Safety

Links:

Website

You may have noticed glistening webs suspended in tree canopies all over Georgia. These webbed masses are nests of the fall webworm, one of our native insects. Webworm populations are high this year. Rather than having a few webs in a tree canopy here and there, we see canopies loaded with many webs, and some small trees losing all of their leaves.

Dr. Kim Coder Awarded the 2018 Walter Barnard Hill Fellow Award for Distinguished Achievement in Public Service and Outreach

Dr. Kim Coder was awarded the 2018 Walter Barnard Hill Fellow Award for Distinguished Achievement in Public Service and Outreach which is UGA’s highest award in public service and outreach.

Protecting Pollinators in Forests

Elizabeth Benton picking up leaves in the forest

Forest Health Specialist

Contact Information

Contact Dr. Elizabeth McCarty

Phone:

229-386-3078

elizabeth.mccarty@uga.edu

Campus address

Office:

122 S. Entomology Drive, Tifton, GA

Lab Location:

122 S. Entomology Drive, Tifton, GA

Education:

Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2016

M.S., Biology, University of South Alabama, 2006

B.S., Biology, University of Mobile, 2002

Research

Area of Speciality:

Forest Biology

Environmental Risk

Health and Protection

Research Areas Detail:

Current Research Areas

- Pine tip moth phenology and management

- Environmental effects of pesticide use in forests

Labs/Centers/Committees:

Outreach Faculty

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Recent Citations:

Wiggins, G., E. Benton, J. Grant, M. Kerr, and P. Lambdin. 2018. Short-term detection of imidacloprid in

streams following applications in forests. J. Environ. Qual. 47: 571 –578.

Benton, E., J. F. Grant, R. J. Nichols, R. J. Webster, J. S. Schwartz, and J. K. Bailey. 2017.

Risk assessment of imidacloprid use in forest settings on the aquatic macroinvertebrate community. Enviro. Tox. Chem., 36: 3108 – 3119.

Benton, E., J. F. Grant, R. J. Webster, R. S. Cowles, A. F. Lagalante, R. J. Nichols and

Outreach:

Forest Health

Trees for Bees

Pesticide Safety

Links:

Website

Hemlock woolly adelgid can kill hemlock trees in as little as three years. Insecticides are commonly used to conserve hemlock forests. Research has shown that the insecticide use in hemlock forests is a responsible management choice, as it preserves a keystone species while having little to no negative effects on the surrounding ecosystem. Soil arthropods, canopy arthropods, and aquatic insect communities have all been assessed. Now Elizabeth Benton is working to get the last pieces of the puzzle: forest pollinators and arthropod seed dispersers. She is working with rare ephemeral pla

Prepare Now for Wildlife Damage Problems in Yards and Gardens

Professor, Wildlife Specialist

Contact Information

Contact Dr. Michael T. Mengak

Phone:

706-583-8096

mmengak@uga.edu

Campus address

Office:

Warnell 4-435

Education:

Ph.D. 1987 Forestry/Wildlife Clemson University Dissertation: 'Impacts of natural and artificial regeneration of loblolly pine on small mammals in the South Carolina piedmont.'

M.S. 1982 Forestry/Wildlife Clemson University Thesis: 'A comparison of two diet analysis techniques applied to white-tailed deer in coastal South Carolina.'

B.S. 1979 Fisheries/Wildlife Virginia Tech

Curriculum Vitae:

Vitae_OVPA format.pdf

Research

Research Areas:

Wildlife Ecology and Management

Area of Speciality:

Service and Outreach/Extension

Wildlife Ecology and Management

Human Dimensions of Wildlife

Non-Game and Endangered Species

Wildlife and Forest Management

Wildlife Damage

Research Areas Detail:

Research focuses on natural history and ecology of woodrats (Allegheny and Key Largo); distribution and economic impact of wild pigs; inventory and monitoring of mammals; and nuisance wildlife management.

Allegheny Woodrats

Conduct a survey of historical sites in Virginia for the presence of Allegheny woodrats. Collect biological data on individuals captured and habitat/landscape date for each site sampled.

Area of Specialization
Inventory and monitoring of non-game wildlife; wildlife damage management; wildlife service and outreach

Labs/Centers/Committees:

Outreach Faculty

Georgia Master Naturalist

Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (PSAC CESU)

Wildlife Damage Laboratory

Recent Citations:

Books or Book Chapters

Mengak, M. T., and C. A. Miller. (In press). Human Dimensions and Education. Chapter XXX in K. Vercaurteren (editor). Ecology and Management of Feral Swine in North America. Taylor and Frances Publishers.

Mengak, M.T. (2018). Relocation of nuisance wildlife. Technical Report. National Wildlife Research Center, USDA Wildlife Services, Ft. Collins, CO.

Foster, M.A. and M.T. Mengak. 2015. Georgia Wild Pig Management Manual. River Valley Regional Commission, Columbus, GA. 102 pages

Kammermeyer, K. and M.T. Mengak. 2010. Camera Surveys. Pages 193-197 in K. Kammermeyer and R. Thackston. Deer & Turkey Management Beyond Food Plots. Scott Lithographing Company, Tucker, GA.

Mengak, M.T., C.M. Butchkoski, D.J. Feller, and S.A. Johnson. 2008. Lessons form long-term monitoring of woodrats. Pages 109-132 in J. Peles and J. Wright (editors) The Allegheny Woodrat: Ecology, Conservation, and Management of a Declining Species. Springer-Verlag Publishers.

Monographs

Linehan, J. M, and M. T. Mengak, S. B. Castleberry, and D. Miller. 2008. Inventory of the mammalian species at Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Occasional Papers of the Texas Tech Museum. Number 272. 11 March 2008. 16 pages.

Castleberry, S. B., M. T. Mengak, W. M. Ford. 2006. Neotoma magister. Mammalian Species No. 789, pp. 1-5, 3 figs

Journal Articles (since 2012)

Hohbein, R. R. and M. T. Mengak. 2018. Extension wildlife damage management in Georgia: Survey of county extension agents. Human-Wildlife Interactions 12(2): 242-258.

Kanine, J. M., E. M. Kierepka, S. B. Castleberry, M. T. Mengak, N.P. Nibbelink, and T. C. Glenn. 2018. Influence of landscape heterogeneity on the functional connectivity of Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) in Virginia. Conservation Genetics Published online_6 August 2018 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-018-1093-4

Lombardi, J. V., M. T. Mengak, S. B. Castleberry, and V. K. Terrill. 2018. Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting Allegheny woodrat occupancy. Wildlife Society Bulletin 42(2): 667-673.

Mingie, J., N.C. Pouydal, M. K. Bowker, M. T. Mengak, and J. Sirey. (In press). Comparing the net benefit of forestland access for big game hunting across landownership types in Georgia, USA. Forest Science XX(XX): 1-12. doi: 10.1093/forsci/fxy045

Lombardi, J.V., M.T. Mengak, S.B. Castleberry, and V.K. Terrell. 2017. Mammal occurrence in rock outcrops in Shendandoah National Park: Ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing trap success and co-occurrence. Natural Areas Journal 37(4): 507-514.

Mingie, J., N. Poudyal, M. Bowker, M. T. Mengak. 2017. Big game hunters preferences for hunting lease attributes: An application of a choice experiment. Forest Policy and Economics 78(2017): 98-106.

Mingie, J., N. Poudyal, M. Bowker, M. T. Mengak, and J. Sirey. 2017. A hedonic analysis of big game hunting club dues in Georgia. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 22(2): 110-125.

Ninke, L.B. and M. T. Mengak. 2016. Evaluating the Georgia Master Naturalist Program. Journal of Extension, June 2016, Vol. 54, No. 3, Article #3RIB7. www.joe.org

Harper, E.E. , J. J. Vaske, C. A. Miller, M.T. Mengak, and S. Bruno. 2016. Stakeholder attitudes and beliefs toward wild pigs in Georgia and Illinois. Wildlife Society Bulletin 40(2):269-273.

Lombardi, J. V., M. T. Mengak, S. B. Castleberry, V. K. Terrell, and M. Fies. 2016. A new long-tailed weasel county record in Shenandoah National Park. Virginia Journal of Science 67(1):1-5.

Lombardi, J. V., M. T. Mengak, and S. B. Castleberry. 2016. Three new county records for Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius) in Shenandoah National Park. Banisteria 46:25-27.

Harper, E.E., J.J.Vaske, C.A.Miller, M.T. Mengak, and S. Bruno. 2016. Stakeholder attitudes and beliefs towards wild pigs in Georgia and Illinois. Wildlife Society Bulletin 40(2): 269-273.

Kanine, J. M., S.B. Castleberry, M. T. Mengak, and C. Winchester. 2015. Seasonal variation in Key Largo woodrat (Neotoma floridana smalli) diets. Southeastern Naturalist 14(2): 405-414.

Castleberry, S. B., M. T. Mengak, and T. E. Menken. 2014. Comparison of trapping and camera survey methods for determining presence of Allegheny woodrats. Wildlife Society Bulletin 38(2): 414-418.

McCleery, R., M. Oli, J. Hostetler, B. Karmacharya, D. U. Greene, C. Winchester, J. Gore, S. Sneckenberger, S. B. Castleberry, and M. T. Mengak. 2013. Are declines of an endangered mammal predation-driven, and can a captive-breeding and release program aid their recovery? Journal of Zoology, Print ISSN 0952-8369; doi 10.1111/jzo. 12046.

Greene, D. U., S. B. Castleberry, and M. T. Mengak. 2013. A methodology for long-term monitoring of the endangered Key Largo cotton mouse. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 37(2): 368-374.

Conference Proceedings

Mengak, M. T. 2016. Landowner opinions regarding wild pigs in Georgia, USA. Pages 162-169 in RM Timm and RA Baldwin (editors). Proceedings 27th Vertebrate Pest Conference, Newport Beach, Ca. March 6-10, 2016.

Mengak, M. T. 2014. The extent and impact of wild pig damage to landowners in southwest Georgia, USA. Pages 287-290 in RM Timm and JM O’Brien, (editors). Proceedings 26th Vertebrate Pest Conference, Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. March 3-6, 2014.

Mengak, M. T., C. A. Miller, and D. I. Hall. 2009. Attitudes of students in a wildlife damage management class towards nuisance wildlife control. Pages 75-83 in J. Boulanger (editor). Proceedings 13th Wildlife Damage Management Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY. May 3-6, 2009.

Mengak, M. T. 2009. Growing loblolly pine with wildlife food plots, hunting lease assumptions and liability issues. Pages 92-100 in Siry, J. et al. (editors). 2009 Proceedings of the 2008 Southern Forest Economics Workers Annual Meeting; 2008 Mar 9-11, Savannah, GA.

Stephens, L. R., M. T. Mengak, D. I. Hall. 2007. Evaluation of resident Canada Goose relocation in Georgia. Pages 543-553 in D. L. Nolte (editor). Proceedings of the 12th Wildlife Damage Management Conference, Corpus Christi, TX.

Technical Bulletins and Final Reports

Lombardi, J. V., M. T. Mengak, S. B. Castleberry, V. C. K. Terrell. 2016. Observations from a rock outcrop camera survey in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. National Park Service Final Report. 83 pp.

Hatt, J., L. Worsham, G. Sundin, G. Grossman, M.T. Mengak, and N. Nibbelink. 2016. Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Gulf Islands National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/GUIS/NRR—2014/1135. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Hatt, J., L. Worsham, G. Sundin, G. Grossman, M. T. Mengak, and N. Nibbelink. 2016. Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/JELA/NRR—2014/953. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Sundin, G., L. Worsham, N. Nibbelink, G. Grossman, and M. T. Mengak. 2014. Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Vicksburg National Military Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/VICK/NRR—2014/769. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report – 2207798.

Worsham, L, G. Sundin, N. Nibbelink, G. Grossman, and M. T. Mengak. 2014. Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Natchez Trace Parkway. Natural Resource Report NPS/NATR/NRR—2014/843. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report – 2216371.

Recent Grants and Contracts

Survey and protect the rare Allegheny woodrat, NPS-Shenandoah National Park; 2014 - 2016 $49,993

Development of the Georgia Wild Hog Management Field Manual, River Valley Regional Commission; 2013 - 2014 $15,000

Natural resource condition assessment for 5 regional parks, NPS; 2010 - 2013 $285,000

Natural resource conditions assessment for 6 regional parks, NPS: 2005 - 2010 $200,780

Status & Distribution of Allegheny Woodrats in Virginia, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries; 2009 - 2011 $87,500

Ecological understanding as a guideline for evaluation of nonformal education (EUGENE), USDA Forest Service; 2005 - 2009 $200,780

Assessing knowledge gain from the Natural Inquirer, USDA Forest Service; 2009 - 2011 $96,390

A protocol for monitoring Key Largo cotton mouse, US Fish and Wildlife Service; 2006 - 2008 $75,000

Teaching:

Graduated Students (Since 2013)

In Progress

Jaques, Ben (MNR, 2019)

Completed

Kelley, Steven (MNR, 2018) - Biology Teacher, Forsyth County

Mingie, James (PhD, 2016) - Post-Doc, Univ Tennessee

Kanine, Jennifer (PhD, 2013) - Wildlife Biologist, Michigan

Todd, Charles (MNR, 2017) - UGA Cooperative Extension Agent

Foster, Michael (MNR, 2015) - UGA Cooperative Extension Agent

Fulmer, Josie (MNR, 2014) - UGA 4-H Environmental Education

Hildreth (Ninke), Lauren (MNR, 2013) - Missouri Dept Wildlife Conservation

Arnold, Sarah (MNR, 2013) - ZooAtlanta

Courses Regularly Taught:

WILD 4500/6500

WILD 4900/6900-4900L/6900L

Outreach:

My outreach focus is on nuisance wildlife management and human-wildlife conflict resolution. I work with county extension agents and various landowners and clients to solve urban nuisance wildlife issue. I also work with county extension agents to resolve wildlife damage issues related to wild pigs, white-tailed deer, and common urban wildlife. I am the state coordinator for the Georgia Master Naturalist Program.

Links:

Georgia Master Naturalist

Spring has arrived – and with warm weather and new gardens wildlife will again inflict damage on lawns, landscape, and gardens. There are several simple and inexpensive things that homeowners can do to deter wildlife and prevent wildlife problems.

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