{"id":142,"date":"2026-05-13T15:54:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T15:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-uwsp-multi.pantheonsite.io\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/?page_id=142"},"modified":"2026-05-15T18:21:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:21:56","slug":"2023-seminar-series","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/seminar-series\/2023-seminar-series\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Seminar Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"uwsp-horizontal-cards light-gray-solid blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"site-width\"><section class=\"hcard-container\" aria-label=\"Horizontal Card\"><div class=\"uwsp-horizontal-card-container\" aria-live=\"off\">\n<div class=\"uwsp-horiz-card-block\" id=\"hcard17783530710941665\"><div class=\"uwsp-horiz-card-individual split5050 hcard-imgright\"><div class=\"hcard-infocell\"><h3 class=\"hcard-title\">The Science and Culture of Black Bears: Human Perspectives on a Large Carnivore<\/h3><div class=\"hcard-content\"><p>The Wisconsin Center for Wildlife&#8217;s 2023 Spring Seminar Series featured six speakers from around Wisconsin and around the country! The seminars in this series focus on the cultural, scientific, or ecologic importance of Wisconsin&#8217;s largest carnivore, the American Black Bear.<\/p>\n<p>\u200bAll Seminars were live-streamed via the College of Natural Resources YouTube Channel.<\/p>\n<p>Find the links to the recordings below!<\/p><\/div><div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hcard-mediacell\"><div class=\"hcard-images hcard-oneimg\"><div class=\"hcard-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/WCW-black-bears.jpg)\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"hslider-buttoncontainer\"><button class=\"hsliderBack horizontal-sliderbutton\" aria-label=\"previous slide\">\u276e<\/button><div class=\"single-card-nav\"><\/div><button class=\"hsliderForward horizontal-sliderbutton\" aria-label=\"next slide\">\u276f<\/button><\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtabs blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"vtab-thetabs\"><div class=\"accentlinetop\" role=\"none\"><\/div><div class=\"vtab-nav\"><\/div><div class=\"vtab-content\">\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">Black Bear Management \u200bi\u200bn Missouri<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Laura Conlee<\/h2><div>\n<p>This seminar, the first in the series, features Laura Conlee, Science Branch Chief of the Missouri Department of Conservation.<br><br>Here, she presents &#8220;Black Bear Management in Missouri&#8221;<br>The Missouri Department of Conservation has conducted extensive research on Missouri\u2019s black bear population, recently updated the state\u2019s Black Bear Management Plan, and in 2021 implemented the state\u2019s first black bear hunting season. Come learn about Missouri\u2019s growing bear population, research results, new hunting season, and the challenges of a growing bear population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Laura Conlee currently serves as MDC\u2019s Science Branch Chief, overseeing research and management programs for MDC. Prior to her current role, Laura spent 14 years working with black bears and furbearers, first as the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Furbearer and Black Bear Project Leader, and then as MDC\u2019s Furbearer and Black Bear Biologist.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Black Bear Management in Missouri - with Laura Conlee of Missouri Dept. of Conservation.\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BO-fGSMu7Dw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">Black Bears in Wisconsin: Living Alongside Our State&#8217;s Largest Carnivore<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Randy Johnson and Brad Koele<\/h2><div>\n<p>Randy Johnson, Large Carnivore Specialist, and Brad Koele, Wildlife Damage Specialist of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources join us in presenting the second seminar in the 2023 CNR Spring Seminar Series \u201cThe Science and Culture of Black Bears: Human Perspectives on a Large Carnivore\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wisconsin is home to a thriving black bear population estimated at more than 24,000 bears. Although the black bear primarily lives in the northern third of the state, bears are becoming more common in central and southern Wisconsin. As the bear population continues to grow and expand its range, more and more people have asked what they can do to prevent conflicts and keep bears healthy. In this talk, learn all about our state\u2019s bear population, the DNR\u2019s management program, and how to be a better bear neighbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Randy Johnson is the large carnivore specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. He is stationed in Rhinelander and his work focuses on statewide management efforts related to wolves, black bear, and the occasional cougar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brad Koele graduated from the University of Wisconsin \u2013 Stevens Point in 2001 with a degree in resource management and began working for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) soon after. He began his career with the WDNR as the Project Coordinator for the Deer 2000 Project before transitioning into the Assistant Big Game Ecologist position focusing on deer and bear management issues in the state. Brad was later promoted to the Wildlife Damage Specialist position, a position he holds today. In this capacity Brad\u2019s primary responsibilities include oversight of the Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program (WDACP), the wolf conflict program, the urban and nuisance wildlife programs, and the Wisconsin Deer Donation Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This seminar series was co-organized by the Wiscosnin Center for Wildlife at UW-Stevens Point and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Black Bears in Wisconsin: Living Alongside our State\u2019s Largest Carnivore\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DA8s7AnMcx8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">Bridging the Gap Between Black Bear Science and Policy at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Jennifer Price-Tack<\/h2><div>\n<p>Jennifer Price Tack, Carnivore and Elk Research Scientist joins us with her talk \u201cBridging the Gap Between Black Bear Science and Policy at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jennifer Price Tack works in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources\u2019 (WDNR\u2019s), Office of Applied Science. As a WDNR scientist, her role is to support science-informed policy for wolves, bear, and elk in Wisconsin through population modeling and development of projects to inform research needs. Additionally, she is the lead decision analyst for the WDNR&#8217;s new Decision Science Team. She has a Ph.D. in Wildlife Sciences from the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bridging the Gap Between Black Bear Science and Policy at the WI Department of Natural Resources\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ihb1ZE5VcW0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">BearWise in Florida<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Dave Telesco<\/h2><div>\n<p>Dave Telesco, Bear Management Program Coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission joins us with his talk \u201cBearWise in Florida\u201d BearWise is a national educational program developed to help people live responsibly with black bears. Several states, including Florida, participate in the BearWise program. The program aims to educate people about black bear behavior and ecology while reducing conflict between people and bears. Dave Telesco has served as the Black Bear Management Program Coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since 2008 and has over 20 years of experience researching and managing black bears with a focus on mitigating human-bear conflict.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"BearWise in Florida\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n_DV1ri4ia8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">The Wisconsin Black Bear Project: Celebrating 45 Years of Bears in the North Woods<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Cady Sartini, Ph.D.<\/h2><div>\n<p>This seminar: \u201cThe Wisconsin Black Bear Project: Celebrating over 45 Years of Bears in the North Woods\u201d is presented by Cady Sartini, Associate Professor and Black Bear Project Leader, College of Natural Resources, at UW-Stevens Point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The College of Natural Resource\u2019s Wisconsin Black Bear Project started in 1976 with a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that has since included a wide variety of other cooperators, volunteers, and sponsors. To date, the project has resulted in one of the longest-term data sets on cub production and survival in the country, along with the publication of over 11 Masters theses documenting the habitat use, diet, movement, denning, cub production, and other aspects of the life history of bears in Northern Wisconsin. Over 45 years since the beginning of the project, this year we are celebrating exciting new developments in bear education, research, and outreach in the CNR which promise to push us into the future as one of the most dedicated programs focused on bear research and management in the country.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Wisconsin Black Bear Research Project: Celebrating over 45 Years of bears in the North Woods\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NUTy0cKoTIw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">The\u200b Anishi\u200b\u200bnaa\u200b\u200bbe (Ojibwe) and Makwa (Bear) Relationship<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Waabishkaa Binesikwe (White Thunderbird Woman)<\/h2><div>\n<p> Waasbishkaa Binesikwe is a Carnivore Biologist and Graduate Student in Psychology. She is an Ojibwe Tribal Member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. She will be discussing the emotional and spiritual relationship the Anishinaabe tribes share with Makwa (bear). Makwa is regarded as a Gaurdian\/Protector within the tribes, and are also protectors or the plant\/tree beings on which they depend for food and cover. She will share perspectives on how the understanding of this spiritual connection can help scientific knowledge mature, help protect future bear populations, and ensure tribal viewpoints are respected.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and Makwa (Bear) Relationship\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QWBYfOKfvKo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"accentlinebottom\" role=\"none\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"111\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-1024x111.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-1024x111.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-300x32.png 300w, https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-768x83.png 768w, https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-1536x166.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-2048x222.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"parent":77,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-142","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":319,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/142\/revisions\/319"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/77"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}