“Boots on the Ground: Conservation and Management in Practice”
“Boots on the Ground: Conservation and Management in Practice”
2026 Annual Meeting-Grand Junction Feb 17th-Feb 19th 2026
Code of Conduct– Attendance at this meeting is at the discretion of the Colorado Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Anyone violating this code of conduct will be asked to refrain from attending the meeting or to leave.
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REGISTRATION – 2026
Early Bird Registration will end January 17th 2026
CO-TWS Members
Professionals: $250 early bird —-$300 late
Student: $100 early bird—- $150 late
Non-member: $280 early bird—-$330 late
*Non Members – This price comes with an annual membership, so if you need to renew you can do that by buying a non-member registration
To submit an abstract for the 2026 meeting please use the google form in this link. Abstracts are due on December 15th 2025.
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Workshop Descriptions
Held Tuesday February 18th
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Title: Facilitating Depolarization: Tools for Reducing Conflict and Depolarizing Conservation Issues
Organizer/Contact: Mirelle Gonzalez, Mirelle Gonzalez@colostate.edu
Workshop Description: max 40 people
In an increasingly polarized world, our ability to communicate across divisions is essential to building stronger, more resilient communities. Polarization has become one of the biggest barriers to natural resource management today- whether it’s wolves, and use, or climate policy, polarized debates stall decision-making and erode trust. Many engagement processes aren’t designed to reduce conflict; too often, they entrench it by overlooking the people, histories, and values shaping conservation debates. This interactive workshop provides practical facilitation techniques to reduce polarization and support constructive dialogue in contentious contexts. Drawing from real-world examples in human-wildlife conflict, participants will explore strategies to engage diverse values, manage difficult emotions, and design processes that move groups from entrenched positions toward shared goals. The session begins with a broader look at how to design effective stakeholder engagement processes aimed at achieving outcomes such as depolarization and conflict resolution. It also introduces research-based frameworks from deliberative democracy and conflict resolution, showing how research can inform practice in accessible ways. Tailored for Colorado TWS members, many of whom are biologists and managers, the workshop highlights how these skills can strengthen collaboration across disciplines and with communities, helping practitioners apply technical expertise more effectively in socially complex situations. Through interactive activities, participants will practice navigating conflict, fostering empathy and perspective-taking, and reframing wildlife issues to open space for more constructive dialogue.
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Title: Plant Identification and seed mixes
Organizer/Contact: Becky Ruzicka, becky.ruzicka@colostate.edu
Workshop Description:
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Title: Field Dressing
Organizer/Contact: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Workshop Description:
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Title: A Day in the Life of a DWM
Organizer/Contact: Becca DeVergie
Workshop Description:
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Field Trips
Title: Palisade Insectivory
Description: see https://ag.colorado.gov/conservation/palisade-insectary
Biological control is a method of pest management that uses the natural enemies of weeds or pests. The Palisade Insectary imports, raises, researches, and distributes biological controls for the state of Colorado.
Successful biological pest control does three things:
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reduces costs
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cuts down on the amount of chemicals entering the environment
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establishes helpful insects for a natural, permanent pest control choice.
More than 90 insects and fungi have been studied and released for use since the Insectary was started in 1945.