Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment

10/23/2026

When Dr. Stephen Ditchkoff started the Auburn University DeerLab 20 years ago, he knew that it was going to change the world of white-tailed deer research. 🧬

Two decades later, that vision has become reality. From groundbreaking studies on deer ecology and management to training the next generation of wildlife professionals, the Deer Lab has helped shape how researchers, agencies, and hunters understand and manage one of North America’s most iconic species. 🦌

What began as an ambitious idea has grown into a globally recognized research program, leaving an impact that extends far beyond Auburn's campus and across the deer hunting and conservation community. 🌎

▶️ Watch the video feature and celebrate 20 years of the Auburn University Deer Lab. 🧡🦌

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10/22/2026

A night dedicated to those who make a difference. ✨

This week, the CFWE celebrated the generous donors whose support helps transform lives, expand opportunities, and create unforgettable academic experiences year after year. 🗓️

Thank you for choosing Auburn students. 💙🧡

📸 Photo album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD8gv1

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10/21/2026

Meet Katie Temple, the CFWE’s graduate writing fellow with Auburn’s Miller Writing Center ✍️

Whether you're working on a class assignment, scholarship application, resume, or another writing project, Katie is here to help you strengthen your writing and build confidence along the way ✏️💭

CFWE students can book an appointment with Katie through Advise & Assist and receive personalized feedback tailored to their goals 🎓💚

📖 Learn more about Katie, her role as a Writing Fellow and how she is supporting CFWE students:
🔗 https://bit.ly/4z60SaS

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10/20/2026

🎙️ Tripp Hodges, a graduate of the first cohort of Auburn’s Wildlife Enterprise Management (WLEM)program, is helping showcase the opportunities available to students pursuing careers at the intersection of conservation, recreation and business. His journey highlights how the program prepares graduates to lead in the wildlife and natural resources industries. 🦌🌿

In this episode of The Southeastern Land Show, Tripp shares what makes wildlife enterprise management unique, the hands-on experiences that shape student success, and the wide range of career paths available to graduates. From habitat management and private land stewardship to outdoor recreation and entrepreneurship, the program equips students with skills that make an impact. 🐾

Tap below to hear the full conversation and learn how the WLEM program is preparing the next generation of leaders in conservation and business/hospitality management. ⬇️🎙️🦅

🟢 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4jxZVmM
🟪 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4i4oaXa
🦆 Auburn's WLEM major: https://bit.ly/4ecwDHm

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10/16/2026

🦅 Take a flight through Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment

Explore the spaces where students are preparing to tackle some of today’s biggest challenges, from conserving wildlife and natural resources to shaping sustainable communities and advancing environmental technologies. 🌎

From classrooms and collaboration spaces to labs and hands-on learning environments, see where passions meet purpose in the Forestry, Wildlife and Environment Building. 🔬

🎓CFWE degree programs: https://cfwe.auburn.edu/explore-cfwe/
🎥More virtual tours from CFWE properties: https://cfwe.auburn.edu/explore-cfwe/virtual-tours/

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10/14/2026

The CFWE's own rockstar environmental law professor, Jim Noles, will be the guest DJ during the Knockin on Evyn's Door show this morning at 10 a.m. on Auburn's WEGL 91.1 FM! 🎧 Listen up as Jim spins all the famous "nature" tunes! 🎶



https://www.weglfm.com/

10/13/2026

🦌 Detecting the Undetected 🔎

Researchers in Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment are helping wildlife agencies stay one step ahead of chronic wasting disease (CWD) by developing advanced surveillance and modeling tools that improve early detection efforts. Led by Dr. Aniruddha Belsare, this work supports data-driven decision-making to help agencies identify potential outbreaks sooner and better protect deer populations across the country.

By combining wildlife ecology, disease ecology, and innovative computer modeling, Auburn researchers are providing practical tools to address one of the most significant challenges facing deer management today. 🦌🌲

📖 Read more about Auburn's research: https://bit.ly/3VrRY8J

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Chronic wasting disease (CWD), one of the most significant diseases affecting white-tailed deer, has proven to be one of the most fatal neurological diseases threatening North America’s wildlife populations. Once established in a deer population, it is extremely difficult to eliminate. An Auburn U...

10/12/2026

Scholarships change lives. Just ask Bennie F. Vinson Jr., who graduated from Auburn with a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management and went on to become chief forester at Alabama Power Company. 🌲

As a student, Bennie received the Edward A. Hauss Endowed Scholarship in Forestry, which recognized his scholastic achievement and made it financially possible to complete his Auburn degree. That support stayed with him throughout a career spanning more than 50 years in Alabama forestry. 📈

Now, Bennie and Amanda Vinson are paying it forward. The Bennie Vinson Family Endowed Scholarship will provide annual financial support to academically eligible Forestry undergraduate students within their junior or senior years at the Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE). 🎓

📲: https://bit.ly/4yapNZe

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Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) is honored to announce the Bennie Vinson Family Endowed Scholarship. Created in June 2026 by Bennie F. Vinson Jr. and Amanda...

10/08/2026

We join the wildlife conservation community in honoring the life of Col. Tom Kelly, legendary turkey hunter, author, forester, and lifelong advocate for wild turkey conservation, who passed away on Oct. 2, 2026.

A graduate of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University, Kelly built a remarkable legacy through his work in forestry and his influential writing, inspiring generations of hunters, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts. His classic works on turkey hunting helped deepen appreciation for wild turkeys and the habitats that sustain them, leaving a lasting impact on conservation across the South. 🦃

Our thoughts are with the Kelly family, their friends, and the many people whose lives were touched by his passion for the outdoors, storytelling, and stewardship of natural resources. His legacy will continue to resonate wherever wild turkeys roam, and conservation remains a guiding principle. 🌲

📲Learn more about the life of Col. Tom Kelly: https://bit.ly/4yCY9oO

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After 99 remarkable years, our dear friend Col. Tom Kelly has flown home to his final roost.

10/06/2026

Innovative research at the Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment is helping strengthen the competitiveness of the forest products industry through energy and cost-saving innovations. 🌲✨

The forest products industry produces nearly $300 billion worth of essential products annually and employs approximately 950,000 people nationwide. However, the industry is the third-largest consumer of energy in the U.S. manufacturing sector, accounting for 15% of total energy use. ⚡

Dr. Yucheng Peng, CFWE associate professor of sustainable packaging and bioproducts, is leading a U.S. Department of Energy-funded project to develop novel dewatering processes that will help the forest products industry decrease energy consumption and explore value-added byproducts. 📊

The novel method will provide opportunities to reduce thermal energy consumption while creating value-added products with enhanced performance. This will have cascading benefits to downstream applications that may manufacture higher-quality wood composites and pulp products, such as composites with improved adhesion strength and better fiber quality for papermaking. 📈

📲 Read more about this forest industry research: https://bit.ly/3UaANYM

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Auburn University is one of 56 institutions to receive $117 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) to help strengthen the competitiveness of key American industries through energy and cost-saving innovations.