WRA Leaders Foster Strong Partnership with The Wildlife Society and Ongoing Support for Annual Women of Wildlife Retreat

The Wildlife Society (TWS) is an international organization that supports wildlife professionals at the Society level, all the way down to the local Chapter level.  Recognizing a need for a space for women within the society and profession, a group of women created the Women of Wildlife (WoW) Community in 2011 to “promote and support women in the wildlife profession and to provide mentoring opportunities and advice.” The idea spread, and soon Sections (regional organizations) and Chapters began hosting their own WoW meet-ups and other events.  During the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Western Section (California, Nevada, and Hawaii), which was held virtually, a casual WoW mixer became an impetus for something bigger.  Input from women during this mix made it clear there was a need for a dedicated event for women at the Section level.  From that platform and via inspiration from colleagues WRA Wildlife Biologist and TWS Western Section Past President (2022-2023) Dr. Katie Smith planned and hosted the first annual Resource Retreat for Women+ of Wildlife in 2022, in Wawona, Yosemite National Park. 

Now in its third year, the retreats are organized and led by WRA Biologist and TWS-WS member Carla Angulo. The 2024 retreat was held at the Sedgwick Reserve Field Station in Santa Ynez, California, and provided a venue for women and femme-identifying biologists focused on wildlife studies and conservation to be part of an affinity space where they could feel empowered to advocate for their needs. The multi-day event included team exercises, presentations, nature excursions, and even self-defense training.  But most importantly, it provided a space where women could openly discuss the unique issues that they face in a field that, until recent decades, has been highly dominated by men.

This annual event has been gaining in popularity with members and its positive impact was recognized in a recent TWS-WS newsletter with testimonies from retreat attendees (reprinted below with permission).

I conceptually understood the importance of a Women of Wildlife Group prior to the retreat, but attending the event allowed me to truly experience its value. The retreat embodied a concept known as “placemaking”, or the making of places that nourish communities and empower people. I was immediately struck by the immense sense of community and support that a woman-only wildlife space provided through shared experiences like camping, cooking, and naturalizing together. This form of collective storytelling, creative problem solving, and resilience are known to create the skills necessary to take on greater environmental challenges. 

More specifically, the retreat gave me space to reflect on my experiences and the courage to do so with a new perspective. I realized that a lot of the uncertainties and doubts I express in graduate school and in my job are tied to biases against women. As a woman, I think I am more likely to question myself, experience imposter syndrome, and work twice as hard before expressing my opinion or putting myself out there. 

It was very helpful to process my experiences with women at different career stages. It was helpful to see successful female researchers who don’t overlook themselves nor ignore the unique hurdles they face by only talking about their research. I was reminded that there is no clear-cut road nor only one way to do things. I can be feminine, have children, slow down, be empathetic, and be a critically-thinking wildlife biologist.
~ Attendee

I would highly encourage anyone who is even a little bit interested in spaces for women+ in wildlife to consider attending this retreat as well as other events in the future. Prior to attending this retreat, I had not been involved with the Women+ in Wildlife group at TWS. It may seem intimidating to sign up and enter these spaces without fully knowing what it is about or knowing someone in the group. However, I quickly learned that this would not be a problem. Even before the retreat began, I was able to reach out to women who were excited to carpool together and share their knowledge as biologists with me. As an early career professional, I felt safe and understood in this space as everyone had insightful advice for someone at this stage in their career. 

Throughout the weekend, I was able to form strong bonds with the women and non-binary attendees of this retreat. We had many meals together, went bird-watching, and even roomed together. This space was incredibly inclusive and open to all members who identified with this group. Over the course of the retreat, we had many discussions on how the intersectionality of gender and self-identity played a huge role in the working environments that we were a part of. I found this group to be extremely open-minded to learning new terminology and they were receptive to brainstorming ideas to increase awareness and continued to include others into this safe space.

I particularly enjoyed taking a self-defense course which allowed us to practice being vocal and taking up space when we might be in danger. As women+ who work in the wildlife field, this group recognizes that not all work sites may be safe or accessible for people of certain identities. We covered a variety of topics over the course of the retreat and discussed potential future solutions and ways of protecting ourselves. We also got to attend a book talk given by Rebecca Kormos, the author of the book Intertwined: Women, Nature, and Climate Justice. I thought that it was a wonderful way to consider the work and perspectives of women within conservation spaces. These are only two examples of the well-thought out programming that was included in this retreat.

By the end of the W+OW Retreat, I had made many new friends and connections with others who were passionate about the same areas that I was! I am extremely grateful for this experience and for all the attendees of this event. Everyone was super friendly, and many offered guidance on my interest in finding an ecology graduate program. I found this space to be empowering and inviting. It has encouraged me to be true to myself and provided newfound comfort that I am meant to pursue opportunities in this field. Since attending this retreat, I feel motivated to become more involved with this group as they provide open online spaces such as their book club in which you can continue to stay connected until the next gathering.
~ Attendee 

WRA/TWS Service and Leadership History 

WRA supported both Katie and Carla in planning and executing these events by providing time to organize and attend and by providing material support, including vehicles and supplies. In addition, WRA biologists have a long history of involvement with TWS, from the student chapter level all the way up to the international level. This includes financial sponsorship of four Annual Meetings of The Western Section, as well as support for board events, Diversity Committee mixers, and other activities. More importantly, this involvement is realized through professional service and thought leadership.

Over the past decade, at least 13 WRA biologists have contributed to TWS in some capacity. That represents about 40% of WRA’s biological staff.  At Annual Meetings, Conferences, and Symposia, WRA biologists have contributed at least 27 oral presentations and 2 posters, and chaired at least 12 concurrent sessions. WRA biologists have chaired, hosted, or acted as instructors at a minimum of 20 workshops and social events. Some of this professional service to TWS has been more long-term in nature. Biologists at WRA have collectively served approximately 15 years on committees at various levels of TWS. Team members have served about 30 years collectively as board members and committee chairs, an impressive display of thought leadership.

This partnership has provided the opportunity for WRA staff to gain valuable technical and leadership experience and knowledge while building relationships with clients, partners, colleagues, and friends. No doubt this mutualistic relationship will continue to grow in the future, potentially in new and unexpected ways! Whether it be through supporting affinity groups like WoW, serving on boards and committees, or just submitting abstracts for events like the Western Section Annual Meeting each year. Congratulations, Carla on another successful event, we look forward to seeing more leadership from you and other WRA biologists in the coming years!