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John McDonald
Department Chair

Biography

Joined Westfield State in 2012.

I have been involved with research on and management of black bears, white-tailed deer, moose, Canada lynx, ruffed grouse, and beavers, among other things. My interests include the management of Northeastern forests for wildlife, sustainable use of wildlife, population estimation, and forest and wildlife management policy. Current research with students includes an inventory of the natural resources and wildlife communities at the Bear Hole Reservation in West Springfield and a collaborative project on gray squirrel evolution and genetics.

I was elected and served as President of The Wildlife Society, the largest international organization of wildlife scientists and managers, in 2017-18, and currently serve as Associate Editor for the Journal of Wildlife Management and the Wildlife Society Bulletin, and am chair-elect of the Hunting, Trapping, and Conservation Working Group of The Wildlife Society.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me for more information about the Environmental Science Program at Westfield State University.

Education

  • B.S. Forest Resource Management, Virginia Tech (1989)

  • M.S. Wildlife Science, Pennsylvania State University (1993)

  • Ph.D. Wildlife Conservation, University of Massachusetts (1998)

Courses Taught

  • ENVS 0105 Natural History and Field Techniques

  • ENVS 0209 Wildlife Biology

  • ENVS 0230 Estimating Wildlife Populations

  • ENVS 0233 Environmental Legislation

  • ENVS 0225 Natural Resource Conservation and Management

  • ENVS 0309 Wildlife Conservation and Management

  • ENVS 0390 Senior Seminar

  • I also lead a 2-week field course each May in conjunction with the Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Castleton State College. This course is all about hands-on learning and covers the basic skills needed to get an entry-level job or succeed in a graduate research project.

Areas of Research

Management of black bears, white-tailed deer, moose, Canada lynx, ruffed grouse, and beavers.

Current research with students includes an inventory of the natural resources and wildlife communities at the Bear Hole Reservation in West Springfield and a collaborative project on gray squirrel evolution and genetics.

Professional Service

  • Elected and served as President of The Wildlife Society, the largest international organization of wildlife scientists and managers, in 2017-18.
  • Currently serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Wildlife Management and the Wildlife Society Bulletin.
  • Chair-elect of the Hunting, Trapping, and Conservation Working Group of The Wildlife Society.