Becky Rosamond, USFWS wildlife biologist, removes a bat from a mistnet at Dahomey. The biology summer class Wildlife Techniques recently participated in a bat mist netting event at Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Dr. AHM Ali Reza, assistant professor of wildlife management, partnered with Becky Rosamond, wildlife biologist from USFWS, to conduct the research at Dahomey.
“The main purpose of this recent field exercise was to provide the students with hands-on training in wildlife ecology,” said Reza. “Many of these students will work as wildlife professionals either by getting into a graduate program or by taking a job with state, federal agencies or NGOs immediately after they graduate from Delta State. These type of experiences will better prepare them as qualified wildlife personnel while working with different wildlife species.”
The trip to Dahomey focused on the diversity of the bat population, as well to monitor any infectious diseases the bats may carry. With a team of about 10 students, Rosamond and Reza worked until midnight catching bats in the high humidity and mosquito-infested forest.
“The goal is to learn more about the bats, the only flying mammalian group of animals on the planet,” added Reza. “The team managed to catch a few and examine them up close.”
The wildlife management program at Delta State offers a number of courses where students receive professional job training. For more information on the program, contact Reza at 662-846-4242 or areza@deltastate.edu.
