Presentation Title: Bears & Brandy

Date & Time of Program: Thursday, September 18, 2025 - 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM 

Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Mullinax

Description of Program: Dr. Jennifer Mullinax, who spent more than 25 years trapping, collaring and tracking black bears, will describe their movements and behaviors, offering her own accounts of climbing 60-foot trees to listen to cubs and crawling into bears’ dens. She’ll discuss the history of black bear populations in the Eastern U.S. and how black bears are surviving in a more urbanized world. Learn how this once-disappearing charismatic megafauna is now expanding across Maryland.

Speaker Bio: Jennifer M. Mullinax is an associate professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Maryland in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology.  She has studied large mammals for over 25+, specializing in black bears, white-tailed deer, and North American elk.  Her ongoing research is focused on habitat use and modeling of land characteristics for black bears in Maryland, investigating the ecology of Lyme disease as it pertains to movements of white-tailed deer and small mammals, and studies highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds.

Member Cost: $55.00 per registrant

Non-Member Cost: $65.00 per registrant

This event will include a buffet style dinner by Ace Catering and signature alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails by the French Paradox. Adults only please.