A truly wild summer adventure

Olivia Bledsoe, a junior in CNRE's Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, was one of four young women who canoed from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay in the summer of 2025, an 80-day journey of 1,300 miles. Olivia's video and photography show the trip to be an amazing adventure.

‘Curious Conversations’ podcast: Marcella Kelly talks about black bears

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:09:00 -0500

Kelly offers insights on black bear populations in Southwest Virginia, the use of genetic sampling to study bear health, the impact of warm winters on their behavior, and how to navigate human-bear interactions.

Water Center Undergraduate Research Fellow begins long-term water monitoring

Jesse Gutierrez is working on collecting data from McDonald Hollow in Blacksburg, Va. building on the years worth of research in the area. Gutierrez, majoring in Water: Resources, Policy, and Management in the College of Natural Resources and Environment is working with the Virginia Water Resources Research Center at Virginia Tech.

Saving a salamander may require human intervention

Virginia Tech researchers William Hopkins and Erin Hotchkiss and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologists are rearing hellbender salamander eggs in captivity to help stabilize eastern hellbender populations and support long-term population recovery in Virginia. By protecting eggs and juveniles during their most vulnerable stage, the head start approach gives populations a better chance to recover while broader ecological restoration efforts, such as planting riparian buffers and implementing best land management practices, take root.

Student paddles historic 80-day canoe expedition to the Arctic

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:36:00 -0400

Olivia Bledsoe, a junior studying wildlife conservation, joined three other women this summer on an 80-day, 1,300-mile canoe journey from Lake Superior to the Hudson Bay to bring awareness to proposed harmful mining operations in wilderness areas along the U.S.-Canada border and to encourage women to participate in paddle sports.

Student finds her calling in conservation

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:05:00 -0400

Abby Marino’s passion for nature grew from a family devoted to conservation who taught her not just to enjoy the outdoors but to protect it for others.

Virginia Water Resources Research Center celebrates 60 years

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:18:00 -0400

The Water Center has been operating in Virginia since 1965. It was created by an act of Congress in 1964.

Hellbender salamander faces water quality woes

Virginia Tech professor William "Bill" Hopkins studies the eastern hellbender salamander and how environmental disasters like Hurricane Helene's floodwaters and anthropogenic factors affect the survival of the species. Undergraduate researchers and alumni from the College of Natural Resources and Environment help facilitate the study in partnership with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Learn more at https://news.vt.edu/

When hellbenders thrive, clean water flows downstream

Professor William Hopkins and his team, along with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, are tracking the species’ survival, studying stream impacts, and using a “head-start” program that raises larvae in captivity before releasing them back into the wild.

Listening to the ecology of birds

Shawn Kurtzman and Megan Zeger with the Conservation Management Institute at Virginia Tech, are surveying birds around Mountain Lake Biological Station in Pembroke, Va. The research has been contracted through the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and funded by the National Science Foundation. With several sites located in Virginia and Tennessee, the survey is collecting data on the changes of the ecosystem of higher elevation birds and the effects of change in climate.

Virginia Cooperative Extension launches survey to recognize farmers’ contributions to Chesapeake Bay watershed

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0400

An essential part of the region’s soil and water health, Virginia farmers have an opportunity to share best practices and influence state planning.

Virginia Tech salamander expert joins 'Wild Kratts' for a creature adventure

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:01:00 -0400

The Kratt brothers, host of the popular PBS show "Wild Kratts," turned to wildlife expert Bill Hopkins to show off the hellbender salamander for a Nov. 4 episode. Check local listings for times.

Examining chestnut blight in local forests

College of Natural Resources and Environment students visited a chestnut restoration orchard managed by the American Chestnut Foundation to learn about blight-resistant breeding techniques used in the region.

Tracking how seeds travel in the Southern Appalachians

Abir Jain, a Ph.D. student in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, is conducting a community-wide study of seed dispersal of forest plants by animals. Jain and a team of both faculty and undergraduate researchers are marking certain species of fruiting plants in the region and monitoring them with trail cameras to determine which animals are responsible for dispersing their seeds.

Monitoring bluehead chub nests

Fourth-year Ph.D. student Thomas Bustamante explains why this species of minnow is crucial to the ecosystems of rivers and streams in Southwest Virginia.

New study views wildlife through the lens of diversity

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:33:00 -0400

The study from the College of Natural Resources and Environment reveals that social support is a key driver for diverse participation in wildlife viewing.

Natural resources in an urbanizing world

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 10:30:00 -0400

The College of Natural Resources and Environment is leveraging research in natural resources to shape the cities of tomorrow.

Utqiaġvik Migratory Bird Festival connects bird conservation with Indigenous communities in northern Alaska

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 14:01:00 -0400

College of Natural Resources and Environment Alumna Lindsay Hermanns M.S. ’24 hosted the second annual festival.

Rooted in service

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 10:30:00 -0400

Senior Extension Agent Adam Downing talks about his journey connecting forestry knowledge and education with communities and individuals in Virginia.

New lectureship will spotlight natural resources and the environment

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:00:00 -0400

The Dr. John F. Hosner Distinguished Lecture Endowment will bring leading voices to the College of Natural Resources and Environment while honoring the legacy of the college's honorary founding dean.

New leadership to guide the Virginia Water Resources Research Center

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Director Kevin McGuire and Associate Director Daniel McLaughlin will continue the center’s mission to support research, collaboration, and outreach on water issues impacting the commonwealth.

New research details economic, nutritional impact of global recreational inland fishing

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 10:59:00 -0400

A new paper explores the critical role inland recreational fisheries play in providing affordable nutrition and how climate change threatens access for millions of people globally.

Alumna finds her fit with a career in environmental planning

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:40:00 -0400

Environmental resources management major Abagail Megna ’21 coordinates with government agencies to obtain environmental permits for infrastructure projects as an environmental scientist in New York.

Class of 2024: Rachel Morse named Outstanding Senior for the College of Natural Resources and Environment

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 08:30:00 -0400

From local shrews to ocelots in the Amazon, Morse’s academic journey in the wildlife conservation major has been defined by hands-on learning experiences.

Rachel Morse - College of Natural Resources and Environment's 2024 Outstanding Senior

Morse, who is majoring in wildlife conservation with a minor in geographic information systems, is the 2024 Outstanding Senior in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.

Memories of fishers reach beyond the data

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:56:00 -0400

A research team led by Associate Professor Leandro Castelli demonstrates that local knowledge of past harvests can provide an accurate – and affordable – depiction of historical fish stocks.

'Curious Conversations' podcast: Jennifer Russell talks about circular economies

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:11:00 -0400

Jennifer Russell explained that a circular economy is a shift away from the linear economy, which follows a take-make-dispose model, and instead focuses on reducing waste and reusing materials and shared examples of tangible products and industries that can be, or already are, part of a circular economy.

Maple syrup producers provide sweet news for threatened birds

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech researchers are participating in a new grant that will encourage maple syrup producers to improve forest biodiversity in an effort to help bird populations in the U.S.

Research aims to bring a circular revolution to industry

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 08:18:00 -0400

College of Natural Resources and Environment researchers are gaining insights from value-retention processes and natural systems to explore how to transition industry toward a sustainable future.

From field sites to C-suites

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 10:10:00 -0400

Three alumni of the College of Natural Resources and Environment share their stories of moving into executive leadership roles in the field of conservation science and advocacy.

Fall Forestry and Wildlife Tours connect the campus to the commonwealth

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:01:00 -0500

Jennifer Gagnon coordinates annual tours as part of Virginia Cooperative Extension’s efforts to connect campus research to forest landowners in the commonwealth.

The Antarctica journals

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:40:00 -0500

Virginia Tech students shares experiences and insights traveling to Antarctica over the winter break.

Forensic science combats wildlife trafficking

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 06:30:00 -0500

A $2.6 million grant will fund a new wildlife forensic center in Botswana as part of Virginia Tech’s ongoing collaborations with the government of the Republic of Botswana to foster conservation and global research initiatives in Africa.

Forging the global land-grant mission

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:07:00 -0500

Virginia Tech President Tim Sands traveled to Botswana to meet with President Eric Mokgweetsi Keabetswe Masisi and celebrate the expansion of collaborative projects as part of Virginia Tech’s efforts to expand the land-grant mission globally.

Joe Knight named head of the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 08:11:00 -0500

Knight brings an extensive background in forestry and natural resources science to his new position.

Hope takes root in Uganda

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 09:34:00 -0400

Fulbright recipient Sarah Juster is researching how agroforestry interventions can help displaced refugees in Uganda.

College of Natural Resources and Environment adds three new faculty members

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 08:48:00 -0400

Michael Berry , Carrie Fearer, and Kiara Winans joined the college's faculty.

On the prowl for big cats in Belize

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 08:30:00 -0400

Wildlife conservation faculty Marcella Kelly and Brett Jesmer and their teams of student researchers are leading the efforts to protect jaguars and other animals in Belize.

Rising seas mean less space for people and nature

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 15:17:00 -0400

Virginia Tech researchers will merge social and geographic information system science to investigate how coastal communities and ecosystems will migrate because of sea-level rise.

Got wildlife? Get Jim Parkhurst

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 12:17:00 -0400

Parkhurst has built a 35-year career around solving and preventing the problems that arise when people and wildlife find themselves in close quarters.

Luis Escobar receives NIH award to study rabies transmission from wildlife to humans

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 10:50:00 -0400

Escobar will study vampire bats in Latin America to learn more about the spillover of a wildlife disease that can severely impact human health: rabies.

Big teeth, bigger data

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:19:00 -0400

Virginia Tech researchers use geospatial data to understand shark catch and mortality rates in ocean sanctuaries, a critical step in merging data science with conservation efforts.

Mill Mountain Garden Club explores Health Sciences and Technology campus green roof, other conservation measures

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:34:00 -0400

The club is keenly interested in environmental conservation, and members wanted to see how the newest building on Virginia Tech’s Health Sciences and Technology campus in Roanoke earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

A Hokie packaging major faces reality … television

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 08:36:00 -0400

Packaging systems and design major Zachary Weston talks about his experience on the YouTube reality show “Pack It!”

Harold Burkhart honored with emeritus status posthumously

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 08:30:00 -0400

A member of the Virginia Tech community, Burkhart’s work using modeling to understand forest stand dynamics contributed significantly to the field of forest biometrics.

Into the woods: Forestry curriculum provides immersive experience

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:06:00 -0400

The College of Natural Resources and Environment is where the fundamentals of forestry science merge with new technologies and hands-on experiences, readying students to take on the challenges of conserving, managing, and utilizing our forest environments.

Virginia Tech study reveals reason hellbenders are disappearing

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0400

The gigantic, slimy salamanders known as hellbenders, once the apex predators of many freshwater streams, have been in decline for decades. A study led by Virginia Tech professor William Hopkins, published in The American Naturalist, determined that in deforested areas, hellbender fathers are far more likely to eat their entire brood than in areas that still have lush foliage.

The soul of a department

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 08:52:00 -0400

A conversation with Don Orth, the Thomas H. Jones Professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, who is concluding a 43-year career teaching fisheries science at Virginia Tech.

'Get a good pair of boots'

Thu, 18 May 2023 13:32:00 -0400

Five graduates who came to Virginia Tech as transfer students talk about the highlights and challenges of studying fish and wildlife conservation and how growing up in rural Appalachia motivates them as Hokies.

Grassroots philanthropy effort will fund Virginia Tech white-tailed deer research

Fri, 05 May 2023 08:40:00 -0400

A philanthropic grant from Virginia Hound Heritage will help support research on a disease impacting white-tailed deer in Virginia.

Kathleen Alexander brings a One Health vision to conservation efforts in Botswana

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 08:29:00 -0400

Alexander makes a global impact merging wildlife conservation with community health and economic development in Botswana.

Feathered friends visit ornithology class

Students had the opportunity to observe two owls and an American kestrel up close when senior staff from the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center visited Dana Hawley's ornithology class.

No frogs or toads left behind on Virginia Tech researchers’ watch

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 09:02:00 -0500

For the last two years, researcher Traci DuBose and her team have evaluated and compared more than 140,000 observations of anurans native to the contiguous United States, making it the first study of this size and scope.

Hokies take the plunge in pursuit of a sustainable New Zealand

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 08:22:00 -0500

Students learn about the interplay between humans and the natural environment on an overseas study trip to New Zealand.

Sharks, spatial data, and a conservation success story

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 15:00:00 -0500

Researchers in the College of Natural Resources and the Environment contribute to research aligning fisheries management with shark and ray conservation.

Wildlife Viewing Club spotlights future career opportunities for local elementary school students

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 08:44:00 -0500

Graduate students from the College of Natural Resources and Environment are preparing the next generation of conservationists by teaching local elementary students about wildlife and engaging them in hands-on learning experiences.

Virginia Tech researchers will investigate how bird feeding influences humans and birds

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 21:44:00 -0500

Ashley Dayer of the College of Natural Resources and Environment and Dana Hawley of the College of Science are leading a multifaceted project funded by the National Science Foundation to study the effects of bird feeding.

Jeff Marion earns the U.S. Department of Interior’s highest award

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 10:51:00 -0500

Marion, an adjunct professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and a pioneering recreation ecologist known for "Leave No Trace in the Outdoors,” is honored for a career protecting and preserving America’s greatest natural assets.

Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment partners with The Nature Conservancy on $60 million grant to advance agroforestry

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 07:58:00 -0400

The USDA-funded agroforestry project will help farmers reduce carbon emissions, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, and increase profitability.

Fall Forestry and Wildlife Field Tours flourish in the commonwealth

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 13:23:00 -0400

Virginia forest landowners are invited to participate in fall networking and educational tours to learn more about sustainably managing natural resources.

Trying out potential careers from packaging to conservation

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:54:00 -0400

Students in the College of Natural Resources and Environment are getting a head start on career success through summer internships.

Four new faculty members join the College of Natural Resources and Environment

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:20:00 -0400

The new faculty are Haldre Rogers and Elizabeth "Beth" Nyboer in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Junghwan Kim in the Department of Geography, and Eduardo Molina in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials.

Summer research projects empower wildlife conservation students to make an impact in their field

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 07:03:00 -0400

Students in the College of Natural Resources and Environment are making new and helpful discoveries about pinesnakes, green salamanders, and minnows.

From camera traps to tank tracks: Hokies manage conservation work on military landscapes

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 08:42:00 -0400

The Conservation Management Institute works with the military to protect threatened and endangered animals and plants while preserving critical conservation landscapes.

From hatchlings to loggerheads: A Hokie spends the summer aiding and rehabilitating sea turtles

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 10:21:00 -0400

A student in the College of Natural Resources and Environment spent the summer helping threatened sea turtles in North Carolina.

From treetops to tree cores: A new generation of foresters conducts summer research

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:31:00 -0400

The student research is part of the Next Generation Scholars Program, which aims to expand opportunities for underrepresented students interested in the fields of forestry and environmental resources management.

Propagating mussel power to purify Virginia's freshwater

The Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center at Virginia Tech is a cooperative research and propagation facility to restore and recover endangered freshwater mollusks in Virginia and adjacent states.

Choosy lemurs choose sumac: how Hokie researchers are working to feed lemurs far from home

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 11:34:00 -0400

Wildlife and forestry researchers in the College of Natural Resources and Environment are answering the call to help feed residents of the Duke Lemur Center.

Bear’s-eye view: Cameras on black bears provide research and outreach opportunities

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 09:11:00 -0400

Researchers in the College of Natural Resources and Environment are gaining a closer look at our elusive neighbors by putting collars mounted with small video cameras on bears to record their day-to-day activities.

From mollusks to mountaintops: Working with federal agencies to make strides in conservation science

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 10:31:00 -0400

The College of Natural Resources and Environment partners with several federal agencies to serve Virginia and the nation while providing students with unique learning opportunities.

Mongoose in the city: How landscape can impact disease transmission in Botswana

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 10:00:00 -0400

Researchers are using genetic tools on banded mongooses to better understand how and why animal behavior changes in proximity to human development and how that change can impact infectious disease spread.

Protecting species on the move

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 09:34:00 -0400

As temperatures and sea levels rise as a result of climate change, flora and fauna are migrating into new and unknown lands to survive. With a grant from the National Science Foundation, an interdisciplinary team of researchers is helping conservation agencies and other stakeholders across state and local boundaries to rethink biodiversity protection approaches for this new era of climate change.

Virginia Tech professor and Discovery Channel team up on a great white shark research expedition in the Mediterranean

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 09:29:00 -0400

Led by Assistant Professor Francesco Ferretti, the team is seeking to become the first to tag a Mediterranean great white shark, one of the most endangered and least known white shark populations globally.

An amazing ecosystem engineer in Southwest Virginia

Faculty and students from the College of Natural Resources and Environment are gaining a better understanding of the bluehead chub and uncovering their secrets just may be the key to conservation efforts.

The amazing ecosystem engineer of Southwest Virginia: the bluehead chub

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0400

Fish conservation and engineering researchers will use a $1 million National Science Foundation grant to decipher the nest-building secrets of the bluehead chub.

Class of 2021: Connecting with Indigenous groups defines one Hokie’s leadership journey

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 10:01:00 -0400

Senior Nizhoni Tallas’ interest in work with Indigenous groups to find innovative ways to share traditional knowledge while honoring cultures has spanned the country — and even the globe.

Under her wing: Wildlife student applies experience to rehabilitating birds

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 08:09:00 -0400

Wildlife conservation major Haley Olsen-Hodges, the staff naturalist at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, brings extensive experience working with birds and other animals to the classroom.

Campus trees help train the next generation of arboriculturists

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 08:59:00 -0400

Arboriculture students got to see firsthand how to care for old trees like Virginia Tech’s Alwood Oak and participate in protection strategies used by urban foresters and arborists.

Biodiversity, fishing, and the environment: thinking globally to protect our oceans

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 12:05:00 -0400

Researchers estimate that 90 percent of the ocean’s biodiversity could be preserved by strategically protecting just 21 percent of the ocean, and that protecting high-priority areas would have significant ramifications for critically endangered ocean species.

Coffee for the birds: connecting bird-watchers with shade-grown coffee

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 08:20:00 -0500

Researchers from Virginia Tech, Cornell University, and Columbia University examined ways to improve awareness of coffee grown in a way that protects bird habitat.

Zooming loggers, high-fiving naturalists, and forest landowner workshops: Extension agents reach out in new ways

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:05:00 -0500

Extension staff affiliated with the College of Natural Resources and Environment have taken steps to adapt their normally in-person programs to a largely virtual world.

Threading a (pine) needle: Virginia’s Big Tree Program finds balance between tree science and community engagement

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 07:48:00 -0500

The success of the Virginia Big Tree Program helped move the commonwealth to the top spot on the National Register of Champion Trees.

Leaping lemurs and hidden hellbenders: Class of 2020 graduates get up close to wildlife

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:37:00 -0500

Giovanni Walters and Margot Breiner each got valuable hands-on experience outside the classroom while to completing their degrees in wildlife conservation.

The human dimensions of water

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 12:41:00 -0500

Luke Juran’s research ranges from flooding and drought in India to residential water quality in Virginia.

What does the fox say to a puma? Predators form an unusual coexistence in the central Chilean Andes

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 12:22:00 -0500

While pumas and foxes overlapped significantly where they lived and what time they were active, researchers found the predators had little overlap in what they were eating.

Collaboration with U.S. Air Force helps restore, protect endangered salamander

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 08:40:00 -0400

Reticulated flatwoods salamander larvae successfully developed after being placed into two ponds in Florida where the species hadn’t been seen in over a decade.

One fish, two fish: merging marine animal tracking with fishing fleet movements

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 15:10:00 -0400

During the inaugural “Fish and Ships” workshop researchers brainstormed ways to merge different data sets to address critical questions about human impacts on ocean biodiversity and sustainability.

New water monitoring station in Blacksburg will provide research experiences for Virginia Tech undergraduates

Tue, 26 May 2020 09:57:00 -0400

The monitoring station, located on the south-facing slope of Brush Mountain, will provide students with field research experiences close to campus that cannot be replicated in the classroom.

Researchers seek to impact New Zealand water quality by understanding forest-water interactions

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 10:10:00 -0500

The ambitious collaborative project will utilize remote sensing technology, isotopic tracing, and manipulative field studies to develop a comprehensive model of water and nutrient flow through forested watersheds and streams.

Tracking white-tailed deer movements during Hurricane Irma

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 08:48:00 -0500

The team was able to track the movements of individual white-tailed deer in real time throughout the storm, receiving satellite information on deer location and movement at four-hour intervals.

Exploring agriculture in South Africa

Follow a group of students through South Africa as they learn about agriculture, conservation, and wildlife management during a winter term abroad

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