Kathryn Sliwa
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Masters of Science in Range and Wildlife Management / Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Nilgai Movement Ecology: Implications for Management of Cattle Fever Ticks in South Texas
My name is Kathryn Sliwa and I am originally from Tuckerton, New Jersey. I received my B.S. in Conservation and Wildlife Management from Delaware Valley University in 2015. After graduation, I worked as a technician on many different research projects throughout the country that promoted hunting and wildlife conservation. I have had the opportunity to work with many different species including sea turtles, pheasants, white-tailed deer, and black bear. In 2018, I began my Master’s degree with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. My research focuses on nilgai movement ecology and how nilgai impact cattle fever tick eradication efforts. As an exotic species in South Texas, nilgai are poorly understood. With the risk of a cattle fever tick outbreak in the region, the presence of nilgai has become increasingly important. For my study, we deployed 30 GPS-satellite collars on nilgai in Cameron County, TX. The collars provide us with 1-hr locations, so we can closely monitor nilgai movements. From this research, we will gain a better understanding of nilgai space use with the hopes of providing insight on how to target nilgai for cattle fever tick treatment.
