MEMPHIS, Tennessee - July 14, 2016 - Ducks Unlimited recently became a Leading Sponsor of The Wildlife Society, an international organization whose mission is "to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitats through science-based management and conservation."

The nearly 10,000 members of The Wildlife Society include scientists, managers, educators, technicians, planners, consultants and others who manage, conserve, and study wildlife populations and habitats, and students pursuing degrees and experience that will enable them to become the next generation of wildlife professionals and other supporters.

The new relationship will help DU and TWS reach more conservationists, scientists and wildlife advocates and enhance the ability of each organization to deliver its mission.

"Ducks Unlimited and The Wildlife Society were both founded in 1937," said Ed Thompson, TWS chief operating officer. "Since then, both organizations have become highly respected leaders in science-based habitat management and conservation, so the opportunity for us to collaborate on important issues and share information with each other's members will benefit both organizations."

Through this sponsorship, Ducks Unlimited will support the TWS Annual Conference, sponsor the quiz bowl competition and participate in a panel discussion for students on wildlife career opportunities. Ducks Unlimited representatives will also have the opportunity to share information related to wetland and waterfowl conservation with TWS members through articles published at wildlife.org.

"We are looking forward to building this partnership to help strengthen the link between science and management," said Ducks Unlimited Chief Scientist Scott Yaich. "The conservation and academic components of the wildlife conservation community complement and depend on one another to ensure the future of effective wildlife and habitat conservation."

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13.6 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.