Human Dimensions of Dog Hunting in South Carolina
Hunters who hunt with dogs (hereafter "dog hunters") are an understudied subject in relation to their identity and value to the larger hunting community. Further, there is little to no information that we are aware of on minority (race and gender) dog-hunters. Past literature indicates that the limitation of dog-hunting regulations by the state and/or local governments may cause a disturbance in the identity of the dog hunting community, but the identity of dog hunters in South Carolina in comparison to other states where this topic has been studied, is not known, and also it is not understood whether the identity of different demographic groups of dog hunters is similar. We are conducting a qualitative study of dog hunters in SC.Determining Species Nativeness Among Wildlife and Fisheries Professionals Across the United States.
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Determining Species Nativeness Among Wildlife and Fisheries Professionals Across the United States

Although there is debate over definitive classifications, it is generally accepted that a species classified as native refers to that species being naturally found in the area of question, while a species classified as non-native is not naturally occurring in the area of question (e.g. introduced by humans, range expansion, etc.). Time, impact, and method of introduction all play major impacts on how professionals deem a species native or non-native, but this nativeness (or lack of) is not unanimous for all species throughout natural resources related fields. Due to the lack of agreed upon criteria, the nativeness of a species is often left up to the individual. To examine how professionals quantify and classify nativeness, we emailed an online survey to natural resource related faculty and staff at land grant universities in all 50 states of the United States. 

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Determining the Impact of the October 2016 Flood Event and the October 2016 Hurricane Matthew Event on the

Forestry Industry in South Carolina
​Dr. Shari Rodriguez and Dr. Patrick Hiesl are collaborating with the South Carolina Forestry Association to survey non-industrial private foresters to better understand the impacts of these two events on their forestry yields and their land.

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Assessing the Direct and Indirect Impacts of Predator Conflict and Mitigation Methods in Kanha National Park, India

Kanha National Park (KNP) is home to imperiled tigers, leopards, and dholes. Human-predator conflict near KNP has both direct

(i.e., livestock depredation, personal injury/death) and indirect

(e.g., food insecurity, fear of attack) impacts on local people. Methods to mitigate human-predator conflict have been implemented, yet perceptions of the severity of the impacts and of mitigation’s effectiveness at reducing them are not fully known. Our research will seek to fill these knowledge gaps, as well as determine local’s attitudes towards predators and mitigation methods through a case study (quantitative methodology) of local people living in villages around KNP.

 

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Preston Durham, Masters student
Dr. John Bailey's lab, Sustainable Forest Management,

Oregon State University
B.S. Forest Resource Management, Clemson University
Preston is working with Shari Rodriguez and Don Hagan on a survey

of three trail user groups (i.e., equestrian, hiking, and bicycling)

who readily use the Clemson Experimental Forest to better understand their awareness and knowledge of non-native invasive grasses and what actions they do that might aid in the propagation

of such species.

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Lauren Toivonen, Masters student 
Dr. Matthew Gompper's lab, University of Missouri in Columbia, MO 
Lauren is working towards her M.S. and her thesis research focuses on identifying habitat suitable for the red wolf (Canis rufus) throughout its historic range via biotic and abiotic factors. Additionally, Lauren has been working with Shari Rodriguez and Charles Nilon (of the University of Missouri) to develop a questionnaire to identify people's perception of carnivores. Lauren received her B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Missouri State University in 2010. 

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