Conservation Education

The California Deer Association is committed to conserving California deer today and for future generations. In order to ensure healthy deer herds now and forever, it is essential to educate the public about this important natural resource. CDA regularly funds education projects that teach our young people stewardship of California deer and other wildlife.

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Science Curriculum
Tom Stephenson, California Dept. of Fish and Game, Bishop, CA

The proximity of schools in communities of the eastern Sierra Nevada and the abundance of field projects conducted by CDFG in this region provide a unique opportunity to offer students hands-on instruction in wildlife ecology and conservation. Thanks to funding from CDA, CDFG staff worked with local teachers to enhance the science curriculum by incorporating wildlife science and exposing students to field work and data collection being conducted by employees from the Bishop field office. Students received classroom and field instruction and an introduction to spatial data analysis of mule deer, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions that are being studied by CDFG as part of the Round Valley Mule Deer Project and the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program. Students initially received classroom instruction on the ecology of large mammals, their interactions, and their habitats in the eastern Sierra. Subsequently, students were able to participate in the Round Valley mule deer capture where they were able to handle animals, witness helicopter captures, and learn about radio-telemetry and its applications.

Students also were lead on a hike through deer winter range adjacent, discussed deer ecology, habitat, and forage, and were able to observe mule deer and bighorn sheep in their native habitat using binoculars and spotting scopes. Grade 6 and 7 students were introduced to the basics of GIS and GPS collar data to understand the questions that such tools can be used to answer relative to our understanding of large mammal ecology and conservation. Bishop Union High School students worked in groups and used CDA-funded equipment to conduct their advanced biology projects that focused on topics such as 1) measuring habitat variables of Round Valley mule deer, and 2) using GIS to model movements of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Laptop computers purchased with CDA funds enabled students to run GIS software (donated by ESRI) with which GPS collar locations of mule deer and bighorn sheep are overlaid on 3-dimensional photographs; data was then analyzed for spatial patterns and displayed on maps. Efforts are planned to further expand this educational program as teachers continue to express interest in incorporating local opportunities for field studies into their life science programs.

 

Round Valley Elementary School

Students arriving from the Round Valley School are met by Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Tom Stephenson

The Round Valley deer research project is one of the largest on-going deer projects in California. There is more to it than just deer. The project also includes research of the endangered Sierra bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and what impacts mountain lions have on deer and bighorn sheep. Many organizations have provided funding for this research, including the National Rifle Association, the Safari Club International, the Mule Deer Foundation, the California Deer Association, the Inyo and Mono Counties Fish and Game Commissions, the Sacramento Safari Club, and others. Many papers have been published on the research, providing information needed for the protection of wildlife as development occurs in the area.

Department of Fish and Game biologist Becky Pierce tells students about Bitterbrush, and how the Round Valley deer depend on it.

Wildlife education is a topic not taught in many public schools. One exception is the Round Valley School in Bishop, California. Teacher Jennifer Morales took advantage of an invitation by California Department of Fish and Game biologist Tom Stephenson to observe Round Valley deer captures. On each day of the capture eight lucky students arrived to watch the Department of Fish and Game and volunteers working on deer at the base camp. They learned why blood samples were collected from each deer. They watched each doe get an ultrasound to find out how many fawns it was carrying. They learned about GIS collars and all the information they would provide. The students also learned about the local habitat, and that bitterbrush is the most important food source for deer on this winter range. Each student was also given a CDA shirt, which was a Big Hit. After talking with and watching some of the students you could see that some may be thinking about a career in wildlife management.

CDA wants to thank Jennifer Morales and the rest of the Round Valley School staff for making this memorable field trip possible.

Both teachers and students watch as volunteers and Department of Fish and Game personnel put a radio collar on a deer.