HomeMy WebLinkAboutBIO-119Bergen Community College
Division of Mathematics, Science and Technology
Department of Biology and Horticulture
Intensive Wolf Study (BIO-119)
General Course Syllabus
Course Title: Intensive Wolf Study (BIO-119)
Course Description:
This course is a comprehensive study of perhaps the most
misunderstood mammal in the northern hemisphere, the gray wolf
(canis lupus). This course is taught over a period of one week in
January at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota. Topics
include the biology, ecology and social behavior of this organism.
Wolf management issues including the reintroduction of the wolf to
parts of its former range will be discussed. Afternoon sessions include
field work in tracking wild wolves and observations of the W olf
Center’ captive wolf pack. Evening sessions include calling and
tracking wild wolves and independent study.
Prerequisites:
none
General Education
Course:
No
Course Credits:
4.0
Course Coordinator:
Charles Sontag
Required Textbook:
John Elder, ed. The Return of the Wolf. Reflections on The
Future of Wolves in the Northeast, 2000. Middlebury College
Press. TO BE READ BEFORE YOU ARRIVE IN ELY
On your arrival you will submit your paper on this book, more
about it inside.
Mech, L. David, Editor. The Wolves of Minnesota: Howl in
the Heartland. Voyageur Press, Stillwater Minnesota, 2000.
TO BE READ WHILE IN ELY
ORDER THESE BOOKS FROM BARNES & NOBLE, AMAZON.COM, YOUR COLLEGE BOOKSTORE, ETC.
Revised 2018
EVALUATION: One exam will be scheduled for the last morning session
before we leave Ely, and one paper will be due, on your arrival
in Ely. This paper will be on The Return of the Wolf. It is a
book of four essays. To make this easy for you, I expect you,
for each essay, to highlight the main points and then spend
time discussing your reaction to the essays. I would spend a
MINIMUM of two, double-spaced, no larger than 12-point
fonts, on each essay. It of course, must be typed. You may
email the paper to me BEFORE the course actually begins, if
you wish, as an attachment to an email.
“GENERIC” DAILY AGENDA: I.
Morning lectures will be followed by a video where
appropriate, observations of the captive pack and independent
study. We will fit the “Wolves and Humans” exhibit in there,
and a conference call with Dr. Mech, if possible, and
observations of the captive pack in morning sessions.
“Generic” Lecture Schedule: Evening #1: Ecology of the Northwoods
Day #1: Your Basic Wolf Biology
Day #2: Basic Wolf Ecology and Pack Structure
Day#3: Wolves Around the World, the Wolves of Isle Royale,
Yellowstone and Idaho Reintroduction
Day#4: Wolf Management and Reintroduction Issues
Day#5: Reintroduction into the Northeast, Canis lycaon Issues,
the Mexican Wolf and current Research Topics
A modified schedule will be distributed as circumstances allow
II. Lunch is approximately at noon.
IV. Dinner will be at approximately 5:30 p.m.
V. Evening Sessions: Evening sessions will begin at approximately
7:00 p.m.
Afternoon 1: Wolf Signs and the Ecology of the North Woods
Hike/
Snowshoe:
Afternoon 2: Aerial Telemetry and/or Wolf Parasites
Afternoon 3: Wolf Signs and Hike/Snowshoe to an Abandoned
Den
Afternoon 4: Wolf Necropsy and/or Ground Telemetry
Afternoon 5: Wolf Signs/Parasites
V. Dinner will be approximately 5:30 p.m.
VI. Evening Sessions: Evening sessions will begin at approximately
7:00 p.m. One evening we will observe the captive pack as it is fed.
On two evenings, we will finish up early (between8 and 9 p.m.).
We will then meet again at 12:30 a.m.!!! To go howling and
looking for wolves? We will return at about 2:30 a.m. Class will
reconvene at approximately 9:30 a.m.
Evening Sessions will be spent in the field, communicating with wolves, moonlight hikes, ground
telemetry and time to work on the independent projects.
This schedule is subject to change depending on the WEATHER and other circumstances!
A note about the WEATHER!!!!!
Northeastern Minnesota is known for its WEATHER! Temperatures of - 40° F are not unknown and
January temperatures are commonly BELOW 0° F !!!!
You must dress appropriately for this kind of WEATHER. It is not something to be taken lightly or for
granted. Dress in layers, with the layer next to the skin of a thermal material such as polypropylene.
Cotton is not recommended because it stays wet with perspiration and does not retain your body heat.
Layer your clothing so it can be removed as you warm up. you do not want to sweat, if possible, and if
you do, you want material that will wick away the perspiration. Fleece material is also very good because
it will keep you warm even if it gets wet.
A good pair of boots is essential. We aren’t talking about hiking boots or galoshes or heaven forbid,
sneakers. You will need a pair of boots that you can snowshoe in, that will keep you warm in subzero
temperatures. Two such companies that make these boots are SorelTM and L.L. BeanTM. Pacs (with heavy
socks) and mukluks will also do the trick.
A Note about SMOKING!
There is no smoking in the Wolf Center, the lodge and the van. There are no exceptions and please do not
take a “vote”. If you need to smoke you will do it out-of-doors. If we are ALL out-of-doors (as in the
field), you will remove yourself from the group and smoke your cigarette DOWNWIND of the group.
Thank You!
College Policies:
Student Responsibility
Students will be held responsible for reading all pertinent information in college publications
regarding withdrawals, course drops, college deadlines, and tuition refunds. Students are
responsible for compliance with the rules and regulations as stated in college publications.
Absence of Instructor
Students are expected to wait twenty minutes for a faculty member to come to class. If at the end
of twenty minutes, the faculty member does not come, the students should sign an attendance
sheet, which indicates the course, date, and time. A student should deliver the attendance sheet
to the divisional office (A304) if between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or to the Evening Office (C107)
if before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. Students cannot be penalized by faculty for not waiting
longer than twenty minutes.
Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
Bergen Community College is committed to academic integrity – the honest, fair and continuing
pursuit of knowledge, free from fraud or deception. Students are responsible for their own work.
Faculty and academic support services staff will take appropriate measures to discourage
academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty and may be a violation of
U.S. Copyright laws. Plagiarism is defined as the act of taking someone else’s words, opinions,
or ideas and claiming them as one’s own.
Consequences of Violations Academic Integrity
A. Instructor’s Sanctions for a Violation
The faculty member will determine the course of action to be followed. This may include:
• Assigning a failing grade on the assignment;
• Assigning a lower final course grade;
• Failing the student in the course
• Other penalties appropriate to the violation;
In all cases, the instructor shall notify the Vice President of Student Services of the
violation and the penalty imposed. The student has the right to appeal the decision of the
instructor to the appropriate department head.
B. Institutional Sanctions for Violations
When a violation of academic integrity has been reported regarding a student, the Vice
President of Student Services may impose disciplinary penalties beyond those imposed by
the course instructor, which may include suspension or dismissal from the College. The
student shall have the right to a hearing before the Vice President of Student Services or a
designated judicial affairs committee. Judicial procedures governing violations of academic
integrity are contained in the student handbook.
Class Attendance
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which
they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the
instructor for each section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual
course outline. Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling
purposes.
Eating and Drinking
Eating or drinking in classrooms, lecture rooms, laboratories, gymnasium, swimming pool, or
passageways is forbidden. Covered beverages only are permitted in the library. Eating and
drinking are permitted in cafeteria and vending areas only.
Learning Assistance
Henry and Edith Cerullo Learning Assistance Center
The Tutoring Center, English Language Resource Center, Math Walk-In Center and Writing
Center are collectively known as the Henry and Edith Cerullo Learning Assistance Center. The
Cerullo Learning Assistance Center is located in the Pitkin Education Building, in Room L-125.
The telephone number is (201) 447-7489. The Learning Assistance Center, staffed with peer and
professional tutors, offers free individual and group tutoring, supplemental instruction, and
online tutoring for subjects offered at the College. The Center provides alternative approaches to
problem solving and organizational skills. Tutors help clarify classroom lectures and textbooks
and help students prepare for exams. These services build student self-confidence and reduce
fear of failure. The Center is equipped with the latest technology and software, including tapes,
books, review sheets, exercises and software.
Services For Students With Disabilities
Bergen Community College aims to create inclusive learning environments where all students
have maximum opportunities for success. Any student who feels he or she may need an
accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Specialized
Services at 201-612-5269 or via email at ossinfo@bergen.edu for assistance.
Sidney Silverman Library
Main Building, Pitkin Education Center, L-wing, 2nd Floor.
Paramus Library Hours: (201) 447-7131 or visit http://www.bergen.edu/library/calendar/gcal.htm
Paramus Service Desk: (201) 447-7970
Meadowlands Location: 1280 Wall Street, Lyndhurst 2nd Floor
Meadowlands Library Hours: http://www.bergen.edu/library/calendar/gcal.htm
Meadowlands Service Desk: (201) 301-9692
www.bergen.edu/library
Testing Services
The Bergen Community College Office of Testing Services (OTS) is located in Room S -127.
OTS serves the college community by identifying, developing, procuring, administering,
processing, and/or evaluating examinations, which meet a variety of administrative and
instructional needs. To contact the OTS, please call (201) 447 -7203. The Office of Testing
Services administers makeup tests as a service for students who, for compelling and exceptional
reasons, have missed a scheduled classroom examination. Students must receive prior permission
from and make arrangements with their course instructors to take these examinations, under
specific conditions, in the Office of Testing Services, Room S-127.
WebAdvisor
WebAdvisor is a web interface that allows students to access information contained in Datatel’s
Colleague, the administrative database used by Bergen Community College. Students ma y use
WebAdvisor to register for classes, to pay tuition and fees, to view their class schedules, to check
grades, to check on progress toward degree requirements, etc. WebAdvisor accounts are
available for all students enrolled in credit programs. New students are strongly encouraged to
attend an in-person registration or advisement session before using a WebAdvisor account.
Eligible students without WebAdvisor user names and passwords may access their WebAdvisor
account by going to go.bergen.edu and selecting “I’m new to WebAdvisor.” Then, follow the
on-screen directions. Check the WebAdvisor FAQ for answers to common questions, such as
how to reset your password. Students must have a valid e-mail address on file with the College
to use WebAdvisor