Experiencing Wildlife: Cape Cod & Nantucket

This summer POL331 Issues in American Politics and Policy and SMS272 Outdoor Recreation and Environment will be taught as a part of a Summer Travel Institute: Experiencing Wildlife: Cape Cod & Nantucket, June 5-June 12. The course will combine information on wildlife biology and ecology with insights into the key stakeholders and politics, policy and management issues on controversies related to piping plovers, osprey and marine mammals among other wildlife species. Guest speakers will include wildlife habitat managers, scientists, naturalists, and advocates. Students will have the opportunity to participate in experiential activities such as bird banding, collection of data on wildlife species and habitat restoration. All course instruction takes place at locations on Cape Cod and Nantucket.

Housing Assignments

Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary:

Kelsey and Amy

Nick H. and Micaela

Nikolai and Cam

Brandi and Meaghan

Amanda

Professor Jackman

Cottage:

Dylan, Walter and Nick P.

Becky

Professor Bloom

Background Videos (Optional)

Thoreau's Cape Cod

Organizations and Agencies Involved in Wildlife Controversies on Cape Cod

Cape Cod Times

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Syllabus for POL331 Issues in American Politics and Policy

POL331 Final Project Instructions (Students who are taking both POL331 and SMS 272: The two final projects must be on different topics.)

Course Schedule and Readings

COURSE SCHEDULE, READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS

(Note: All assignments except experience-based reflections can be completed in advance.)

Sunday, June 5

Readings

SMS 272 Readings:

June 5.pdf

OR chapter 2.pdf

June 5 Sustainable Tourism or Maintainable Tourism Managing Resources for MoreThan Average Outcomes-2.pdf

Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Schedule of Activities

9 a.m. Depart Salem

11:30 a.m./Noon

Arrival & unpack at housing in Wellfleet

12:30– 1:30 p.m.

Lunch & Lecture: Introduction to Wellfleet Bay

Illustrated presentation focusing on diversity of programs (research, education) at Wellfleet Bay. Q&A.

1:30–3:30 p.m.

Field Walk: Nature of Wellfleet Bay

Naturalist-guided walk along the Goose Pond and Bay View Trails providing an overview to the variety of natural communities found on the sanctuary and associated wildlife, plants. Introduction to tools of the trade (i.e. binoculars, scope).

3:30– 5:30 p.m.

Field Walk: Studying Diamondback Terrapins

Wellfleet Bay has been monitoring Outer Cape populations of the state-threatened diamondback terrapin since 1980. This field walk will search for mating aggregations of this salt marsh turtle. Using nets, we will attempt to catch them in the tidal creeks at low tide. Turtles found will be weighed, measured, and recorded. A walk around nesting areas will also focus on their nesting and habitat requirements, as well as conservation measures used to support local populations.

6/6:30 p.m. Pizza dinner)

Assignments Due After Activities

SMS 272 Reading Questions #1 (Due Sunday 11pm. This assignment can be done in advance.)

POL331 & SMS271 Reflections #1 (Due Sunday 11pm. This assignment can be done in advance. You may submit same reflection in both courses.)

Monday, June 6

Readings	SMS 272 Readings: June 6.pdf June 6 Wildlife-based tourism and increased support for nature conservation financially and otherwise.pdf Cape Cod Natural History Museum Osprey Cam Monomoy Wildlife Refuge Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Optional: http://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/advocacy/news-events/us-national-park-service-drafting-a-comprehensive-shorebird-management-plan
Assignments Due Before Activities	None for SMS 272
Schedule of Activities	9 a.m.–Noon Field Trip: Managing Plovers & Return of the Osprey Mass Audubon and Wellfleet Bay protects and monitors nesting piping plovers, least terns, common terns, and American oystercatchers at several private, state, and Mass Audubon-owned beaches between Truro and Chatham. The work we do related to these coastal waterbirds includes monitoring and protecting these local breeders by recording information related to mating activity, nest attempts, egg laying and hatching, chick survival, and reports on predator activity. We also actively protect nests by erecting fencing around nests. Additionally, Wellfleet Bay also organizes a volunteer-based effort to monitor and map as many osprey nests on Cape Cod. Over the past 40 years osprey populations have made a huge comeback. This field trip will take us to local beaches and marshes to learn about both endangered coastal waterbirds and the increasing populations of osprey. Discussions will include wildlife research and monitoring efforts, and the related human-wildlife issues including the controversial closing of beaches for piping plovers. 12:30– 2 p.m. Field Trip & Discussion: US Fish & Wildlife Service Meet with Kate Iaquinto, USFWS biologist at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge for a presentation and discussion on refuge mission, management goals, projects and research, followed by time in exhibits and Morris Island. 2:30 –3:30 p.m. Presentation & Discussion: White Shark Research and Conservation Meet with Cynthia Wigren, director and founder of Atlantic White Shark Conservancy at the AWSC office in Chatham. Despite its well-established presence in the North Atlantic, the white shark is not considered an abundant species. Off the coast of Cape Cod, scientists have predictable access to white sharks, but rely on outside funding to conduct research. Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) was established in 2012 to fund white shark research and promote shark education. From 2009-2015, Massachusetts scientists have tagged 79 white sharks with coded acoustic transmitters and/or satellite-based tracking tags to examine fine- and broad-scale movements along the east coast of the US. In 2014, these scientists began a multi-year study to estimate local and regional white shark population sizes in the Western North Atlantic. This presentation provides a brief overview of the methods and equipment used, highlight the results of the research, and open it up for discussion related to education and changing perspectives related to this apex predator. 5:30 p.m. Barbecue with Wildlife Biologist Jonathan Way, Eastern Coyote Research
Assignments Due After Activities	Reflection 2 (Due at 11:00 pm Monday) Stakeholder Analysis of Horseshoe Crab Controversy (Due Tues, 8 Am)

Tuesday, June 7

Readings	SMS 272 Readings: June 7.pdf Cape Cod National Seashore Website
Assignments Due Before Activities	POL331 & SMS272:Stakeholder Analysis of Horseshoe Crab Controversy (Due Tuesday, 8am. This assignment can be done in advance. The same assignment can be submitted for both courses.)
Schedule of Activities	10 a.m.–Noon Presentation & Discussion: Cape Cod National Seashore Meet with Sue Moniyhan, Chief of Interpretation at Cape Cod National Seashore to discuss NPS mission, visitor services, recreation, interpretation, and resource management for that purpose 1–4 p.m. Field Work: Horseshoe Crab Tagging Since 1990, Wellfleet Bay has conducted research and monitoring related to horseshoe crab populations on the Outer Cape that has helped promote a sustainable fishery and guide local conservation efforts. Program starts with brief indoor presentation followed by field work. Students will help conduct tagging efforts – location TBD. 4:30 – 6:30 pm Class
Assignments Due After Activities	None for SMS 272

Wednesday, June 8

Readings	SMS 272 Readings: June 8.pdf CBS, Resurgence of Seals on Cape Cod Beaches Means More Sharks Center for Coastal Studies
Assignments Due Before Activities	None for SMS 272
Schedule of Activities	9–11 a.m. Fisheries and Marine Mammals Meet with Lisa Sette, Center for Coastal Studies Rescue Assistant and Seal Research Coordinator, and Owen Nichols, Director of Marine Fisheries Research at Center for Coastal Studies, to talk about fisheries, seals, whales and entanglements. Meet in Provincetown at CCS offices. Afternoon Whale Watch aboard the Dolphin Fleet
Assignments Due After Activities	Reflection #3 (Due by 11 pm Weds)

Thursday, June 9

Readings	International Fund for Animal Welfare Cape Cod Wildlife Website and Facebook
Assignments Due Before Activities	SMS 272 Reading Questions #2 Conduct preliminary research to determine topic for final project. Prepare for discussion with faculty on topic.
Schedule of Activities	8:15 a.m. Depart Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary 8:30 a.m. Depart Cottage 9 a.m. -10:45 a.m. International Fund for Animal Welfare Talk and Tour IFAW’s mission is to rescue and protect animals around the world. Kristen Patchett, Director of Marine Mammal Research and Rescue and head of the Cape Cod Stranding Network, will discuss IFAW’s work to save seals who have been entangled, injured by boat strikes or stranded. We also will tour IFAW facilities and view the equipment used to rescue animals. 11a.m. – 1p.m. Cape Wildlife Center Talk and Tour Cape Wildlife Center is a wildlife rehabilitation facility. We will meet with staff to discuss human-wildlife conflict from a wildlife rehabilitation perspective and tour the facility, which is likely to provide an up-close view of foxes, raccoons, songbirds, waterbirds, rabbits, fishers and other wildlife species. 2:45 p.m . Ferry to Nantucket Individual student meetings on ferry about projects 5 p.m. Arrive Nantucket and travel to Nantucket Youth Hostel 6 p.m. BBQ at Nantucket Youth Hostel
Assignments Due After Activities	Proposal for final project topic (1-2 paragraphs). Due Friday, 8 am.

Friday, June 10

Readings	SMS 272 Readings: Sarah Otkay, Among the Whales Vaske, J. & Manfredo, M. (2012). “Social Psychological Considerations in Wildlife Management.” In Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management, eds. D.J. Decker, Riley, S.J. and W.F. Siemer. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. Nantucket Marine Mammal Conservation Program Website
Assignments Due Before Activities	POL331 & SMS272: Proposal for final project topic(s) (1-2 paragraphs). Due Friday, 8am
Schedule of Activities	8 a.m. Bus Pick Up and Tour of Nantucket 10 a.m. Meet with Natural Resource Director 11 a.m. Whaling Museum 12:30 p.m. Lunch on Own Downtown 2 pm UMass Field Station Plant Walk Open Time at UMass Field Station/Beach 6 p.m Dinner and discussion with Nantucket Marine Mammal Conservation Coalition
Assignments Due After Activities	Reflection #4 Due 11 pm Friday

Saturday, June 11

Readings	SMS 272 Readings: Sarah Otkay, True Seals Fraser, D. (2013) “Muskeget Island: Largest grey seal breeding colony in US.” Cape Cod Times Trustees of the Reservations Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge Website
Assignments Due Before Activities	Work on Stakeholder Analysis for Final Project Reading Questions #3
Schedule of Activities	7:45am Pick up at Youth Hostel (8 passengers) 8:15 - 11 a.m. Tour of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge with Trustees of the Reservations (half of class) Work on Final Project (half of class) 11 a.m. Pick Up at Youth Hostel (7 passengers) 11:30 a.m. Drop off at Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge (7 passengers) Pick up Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge (8 passengers) 12 p.m. Drop off at Youth Hostel (8 passengers) 12:15 p.m . Tour of Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge with Trustees of the Reservations (other half of class) Work on Final Project (half of class) 3 pm Pick up at Youth Hostel (8 passengers) 3:30pm Pick up at Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge (7 passengers) 4:15 p.m. Drop off at Shearwater Seal Cruise (15 passengers) 6:30 p.m. Dinner on own 9 p.m. Pick Up in front of Whale Museum
Assignments Due After Activities	POL331 Wildlife Policy Reflections #4, Due 11pm

Sunday, June 12

Readings	None
Assignments Due Before Activities	POL331 & SMS272 Stakeholder Analysis for Final Projects (Due 8am)
Schedule of Activities	9 a.m. Class Meeting and Presentations of Final Project Topics and Stakeholder Analyses 10:30 a.m. Leave Nantucket Youth Hostel 12 p.m. Depart for Hyannis by ferry 2:30 p.m. Depart for Salem 5 p.m. Arrive Salem
Assignments Due After Activities	POL331 & SMS272 Reflection #5 (Due Monday, June 13 by 11pm) POL331 & SMS272 Final Project Presentation/Paper Due on June 20 If you are enrolled in both courses, you may submit one project by June 20 and the second by June 27. All papers/presentations submitted on time will be entitled to a rewrite/revision. Please inform faculty of intended submission deadline.