Closing Remarks—Seventeenth Vertebrate Pest Conference

Authors

Rex O. Baker, California State Polytechnic University

Date of this Version

1996

Document Type

Article

Citation

Published in Proceedings: Seventeenth Vertebrate Pest Conference … 1996, ed. Robert M. Timm & A. Charles Crabb (University of California, Davis, 1996).

Comments

Copyright © 1996 (where applicable) by the Vertebrate Pest Council of the Vertebrate Pest Conference. Used by permission.

Abstract

As chair-elect of the council, I would like to thank all of those who participated in this 17th Vertebrate Pest Conference.

We had a total attendance of 340 from 27 states in the U.S., including 27 attendees from 8 countries outside the U.S. The contributions and sacrifices made by foreign speakers is genuinely appreciated and has, as always, added greatly to the diversity of the conference.

As most of you know, the council's primary goal is fostering education and advancement in the field of vertebrate pest management. We have always tried to draw noted experts to present a broad range of information on animals, large and small, from areas around the world. Our program chairpersons, John O'Brian and Gary Simmons, have accomplished this goal by providing a new program with a variety of information regarding development of new materials, techniques and improvements in integrated pest management. In addition, we have also listened to environmental and regulatory issues and have been challenged to consider new and varying public values, attitudes and philosophies covering a very broad spectrum of vertebrate pest control and Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare issues.

The council also tries to provide a forum for networking between professionals with all levels of expertise. It is for this reason the commercial exhibit and poster presentation area were used to offer refreshments at breaks and the complimentary buffet reception. I feel these changes were successful thanks to Paul Gorenzel, the Commercial Displays Chair, and Lew Davis, who once again did an outstanding job of handling arrangements for us.