CON-236 Wetland Mammals

This residential course will be held at the Muller Field Station over two weekends plus two additional class meetings. The focus of the course will be the natural history, research and management of four wetland mammals: beaver, muskrat, mink and river otter. Students will design and conduct a field study. Students will be required to stay at the Muller Field Station for the two weekends as some field work is done in the late evenings and early mornings, rain or shine. Students will be required to canoe.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

CON-102

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

0

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

• Environmental Conservation and Horticulture

Grading Scheme

• Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

• No

Semesters Course Will Be Offered

• Fall

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the characteristics of beaver, muskrat, mink and river otter (professional competency)
2. Identify wetland mammal sign including tracks, scat, and dens (professional competency)
3. Describe the natural history of wetland mammals, including mating, feeding and habitat requirements (professional competency)
4. List several major factors involved in making management decisions regarding wetland mammals in NY including trapping, research and habitat protection (professional competency; critical thinking; ethics/values)
5. Design implement and present (orally with accompanying written component) the results of a field study focusing on one or more of the wetland mammals covered in the course (professional competency; critical thinking; oral communication; mathematics; information resources)

View Course Outline

CON 236: Wetland Mammals

Department

Environmental Conservation and Horticulture

Course Description

This residential course will be held at the Muller Field Station over two weekends plus two additional class meetings. The focus of the course will be the natural history, research and management of four wetland mammals: beaver, muskrat, mink and river otter. Students will design and conduct a field study. Students will be required to stay at the Muller Field Station for the two weekends as some field work is done in the late evenings and early mornings, rain or shine. Students will be required to canoe.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture	3
Lab	0
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered

Fall

Prerequisites

CON-102

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the characteristics of beaver, muskrat, mink and river otter (professional competency)
2. Identify wetland mammal sign including tracks, scat, and dens (professional competency)
3. Describe the natural history of wetland mammals, including mating, feeding and habitat requirements (professional competency)
4. List several major factors involved in making management decisions regarding wetland mammals in NY including trapping, research and habitat protection (professional competency; critical thinking; ethics/values)
5. Design implement and present (orally with accompanying written component) the results of a field study focusing on one or more of the wetland mammals covered in the course (professional competency; critical thinking; oral communication; mathematics; information resources)

Topic Outline

1. Identification of wetland mammals and their sign  
2. Natural history of wetland mammals
3. Introduction to research techniques  
4. Management of wetland mammals in NY State 
5. Field research project