October 4, 1925 – May 5, 2010
Don Dodds was born and raised in New York State. Upon completion of a B.Sc. in Science Education at Cornell University in 1953, Don came north to Newfoundland where he worked as a wildlife biologist until 1960. During that time, Don also served as a Teaching Associate and Research Associate at Cornell University where he completed his M.Sc. in 1955 and a Ph.D. in 1960.
Don joined the Wildlife Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Lands & Forests in 1960 and worked as a Big Game Biologist as well as Assistant and Acting Director. During his four years with the Department, he played a key role in advancing the structure of the Wildlife Division and establishing its office in the town of Kentville.
In 1964, Don began a long and strong association with Acadia University and from 1964 to 1987, he held the titles of Associate Professor, Professor of Biology and Dean of Science. He was instrumental in establishing the Acadia University wildlife program whose graduates have filled key positions in wildlife management agencies in Canada and the United States. He supervised 30 Master of Science students as well as several honours studies. His areas of research included reproduction in snowshoe hare, wildlife forest relationships, and the study of the brain worm parasite in moose and deer. In 1966, he spent a year in Zambia, Africa, where he worked on wildlife and land-use issues.
In addition to researching, teaching and sitting on numerous committees and boards, Don managed a consultant business and took on contracts addressing a broad range of issues including wildlife and tourism issues in Ethiopia; wildlife policy, organization and legislation in Trinidad; impact studies throughout the Atlantic region and many other projects locally and around the world. He has 42 professional publications to his credit in addition to numerous government, corporate and conservation agency reports, and a long list of nonprofessional publications.
Don’s accomplishments have not been limited to teaching and research. He was an active and valued member of numerous local, Canadian and international wildlife related organizations, committees and advisory boards. He was a founding member and president of the Atlantic Section of the Canadian Society of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologists and was one of the original members of the Atlantic Society of Fish and Wildlife Biologists formed in 1963.
Don Dodds… Teacher, mentor, wildlife researcher, writer, biologist.
– inducted October 26, 2004