Associate Professor Cady Sartini holds a baby black bear during a weekend-long workshop where students have hands-on research experiences at a bear den. (Courtesy UWSP)

College of Natural Resources funded $1 million for black bear project

September 28, 2023

Metro Wire Staff

Building on 46 years of impactful black bear research, the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point has received a $1 million endowment to ensure the continuation of the work and support the development of future conservation professionals.

The funding comes from The Stephens Family Foundation, the Searle-Dew-Thomas Boone and Crockett Wisconsin Black Bear Fellowship Endowment, and Safari Club International. All help provide funds to study, protect, and conserve Wisconsin’s black bear population.

Cady Sartini, an associate professor in the college, has led the Wisconsin Black Bear Research Project since 2020. She brings a wealth of expertise to the role, with extensive experience in wildlife and a strong commitment to student research.

Sartini’s creation of the Black Bear Ecology and Management course provides a weekend-long workshop where students learn and refine field techniques, further enhancing her impact on students and underscoring the promise her appointment holds for the future.

UWSP’s College of Natural Resources boasts a rich history in black bear research, housing one of the most extensive datasets available on black bears.