University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

10/12/2026

🕷️ Participate in this year’s Joro Spider Spotting & Photo Contest!

Reporting Joro spider sightings helps researchers track the species’ distribution across Georgia and beyond.

📸 Want to help? Submit your photos by October 18 to be eligible for the contest!

Review the photo guidelines and submit your sightings at https://jorowatch.org/ .

🚨 Joro Watch 2026 is LIVE! 🚨

The contest is officially under way and every report helps improve our understanding of where Joro spiders are spreading. If you spot one, snap a clear photo and submit your sighting at https://jorowatch.org.

All verified reports and included photos submitted to our database from 12:00 a.m. ET, October 12, to 11:59 p.m. ET, October 18, are eligible. A report is considered verified when our expert verifiers confirm the submitted photo ID as a Joro spider.

🕸️ Contest open now through October 18
📸 Clear photos matter
📍 Help map Joro spider distribution

See full contest rules at JoroWatch.org

10/09/2026

Congratulations to our Distinguished Alumnus and Distinguished Young Alumni award recipients for their outstanding contributions to forestry, wildlife management, and conservation! 👏

🏆 Distinguished Alumnus: Scott D. Coleman, BSFR ’05
As Ecological Manager for Little St. Simons Island, Scott has made the island a model for science-driven conservation. He established the Center for Coastal Conservation and developed a research program that included at least nine Warnell graduate student projects.

🏆 Distinguished Young Alumnus: James L. “Jase” Brooks V, MFR ’15
Jase founded Brooks Land & Timber in 2020 and has expanded the business to include real estate and operations throughout Georgia. He also serves as chair for several organizations including including the Warnell Young Alumni Committee, Georgia Forestry Association Emerging Leaders, the Georgia Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, and his local Savannah Area SAF, where he has served in that role since 2016.

🏆 Distinguished Young Alumna: Elizabeth Miller, BSFR ’10, MS ’13
Elizabeth recently became Project Manager for USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Eastern Region. Named Eastern Region Wildlife Biologist of the Year in 2018, she continues to support Warnell through alumni leadership and student mentorship.

Join us in congratulating Scott, Jase, and Elizabeth on their accomplishments and continued impact!

10/06/2026

Taking our students beyond the arch and into the jungle 🌿

Take another look at the incredible work Warnell students and faculty member, Dr. Sonia Hernandez, are doing through the Conservation Medicine Maymester course in Costa Rica!

🎥 Video is out now! Check it out at https://t.uga.edu/costarica

10/05/2026

Turning Georgia's forests into fuel for the future.🌲✈️

Last week, Dean Petty and several alumni had the honor of representing Warnell at the kickoff of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition in Atlanta, GA.

Georgia is home to the world’s busiest airport and one of the nation’s largest forestry resource bases—a powerful combination that positions our state to help lead the way in the sustainable aviation fuel industry.

We’re proud to contribute to this important work as an academic advisor and to see Warnell’s expertise in forestry and natural resources play a role in shaping the future of sustainable aviation.

🔗 Read more at https://lnkd.in/eHBtC58b .

09/28/2026

Don’t forget — Warnell Homecoming is THIS weekend‼️

There’s still time to sign up for the Alumni & Friends Dinner and the tailgate!

We’re excited to see all of our amazing alumni, faculty and staff as we celebrate Homecoming and cheer on the DAWGS! 🐾❤️

09/18/2026

🚨 There are weasels in Georgia!

A study conducted by Warnell graduate students Jenna Myers and Lexie Dingerson, along with faculty member Dr. Steven Castleberry, used both camera traps and detection dogs to document long-tailed weasels on camera — an incredible finding for such elusive animals!

The study also detected weasels in areas of Georgia where they had never been documented before, including the Southern Coastal Plain.

👉 Want to learn more about this incredible study and its findings? Read the full story at https://news.uga.edu/georgia-weasels/. You can also view the full study publication through our Linktree.

09/16/2026

🌲 Register TODAY for Forestry for Non-Foresters!

Join us October 6–7 at Flinchum’s Phoenix for this Warnell continued education class!

The course is open to anyone interested in forestry and forest management and will cover a variety of topics, including forest health, logging, tree identification, silviculture and more.

👉 Ready to sign up? Learn more about the course and registration at https://warnelloutreach.org/continuing-ed/view/?id=23 .

09/09/2026

🌿 Where the jungle becomes a living laboratory.

This summer, students from Warnell and UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine took their learning to Costa Rica alongside our own Dr. Sonia Hernandez. 🌎🐾

Take a look at their unforgettable experience below!

This past summer, the Costa Rican jungle became a living laboratory for University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources students.

They participated in an immersive study away experience focused on conservation medicine and biology, specifically how human activities influence biodiversity and ecosystems. Their month was spent honing their technical skills at a wildlife rehabilitation center, learning methods of wildlife investigation through independent research projects, and working in various regions of the country with different social and economic factors and environmental issues.

Learn more about this study away experience at the link below! 🔗

09/04/2026

Happy National Wildlife Day! 🦊

Athens is home to more wildlife than you might think! Through Wildlife Athens, researchers are using motion-activated cameras to learn more about the species that call our community home and how they adapt to an urban environment.

Want to help with this research? You can volunteer to review camera images from around Athens! 📸

Learn more about the importance of this research at the link in our Linktree and volunteer at https://wildlifeathens.org/.

08/26/2026

Thank you, Warnell! 💚

Your generosity helped us reach our goal of raising $10,000 for the Warnell Student Emergency Fund for the upcoming year.

If you haven’t made your gift yet, it’s not too late! Every gift makes a difference and helps support Warnell students when they need it most.

Donate at https://give.uga.edu/story/the-warnell-school-of-forestry-and-natural-resources/ .

Keep the dream going for Warnell Dawgs. 🐾

Unexpected challenges shouldn’t stand in the way of a student’s education. The Warnell Student Emergency Fund provides one-time support to help students facing unexpected financial hardships.

This week, you have the opportunity to support the Warnell Student Emergency Fund as we work toward a $10,000 goal to help meet the needs of Warnell students. Every gift can make a difference in helping a student stay on track and keep pursuing their dreams.

🔗Donate at https://lnkd.in/ePfP-bm6.