Shelby McCay
Project Coordinator
shelby.mccay@ag.tamu.edu Curriculum VitaeShelby joined the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute in August 2017 as a student technician and now serves as a Project Coordinator II. As a part of the engagement team, her work focuses on managing and expanding the Institute’s distance education program. In addition, she assists researchers with conservation efforts on projects related to invasive species, wildlife management, and threatened and endangered species.
As a master’s student, Shelby was part of the Biodiversity Assessment & Monitoring Lab under Dr. Thomas Lacher in the Wildlife and Fisheries Department. Her work is focused on how IUCN knowledge products are used in the development and implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and National Reports under the Convention on Biological Diversity in North, Central and South American countries. Her other research interests include conservation biology, threatened and endangered species, and natural resource policy; her true passion lies in conserving and educating the public about small mammals and other uncharismatic species. In addition she served as the New World Program Coordinator for the IUCN SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group (SMSG) and is a certified IUCN Red List Trainer.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences in May 2015 from Texas A&M and Master of Natural Resources Development in August 2019.
Outside the office, Shelby enjoys painting, traveling, reading and exploring the outdoors.
Publications
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Importance of private lands in ESA implementation: 50 years of reflection and conservation
Mar 2025
Daily, T. S., C. E. Dannenfelser, M. M. Granger, E. Guest, O. A. Kost, S. D. McCay, B. R. L. Olsen, M. P. Riggs, A. Smith, M. E. Marshall, L. A. Martinez, and R. R. Lopez. 2025. Importance of private lands in ESA implementation: 50 years of reflection and conservation. Wildlife Society Bulletin e1597. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1597
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Use of live streaming systems in field-based learning
Oct 2022
McCay, S. D., R. R. Lopez, A. C. Sansom, C. M. Farrell, J. M. Holmes, A. Lopez, and J. C. Cathey. 2022. Use of live streaming systems in field‐based learning. Wildlife Society Bulletin e1381, https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1381.
Field Notes
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What Landowners Need to Know as We Reflect on 50 Years of the Endangered Species Act
Nov 10, 2023
To reflect on 50 years of the Endangered Species Act this fall is to acknowledge the nation’s wildlife and wild places in its simplest form. At the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, it's an opportunity to appreciate the research at the nexus of national security, conservation, and healthy working lands. Every day, we look to strengthen wildlife conservation and to keep working lands sustainable.
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The Wildlife Professional: Live-streaming brings remote learning into the field
Aug 1, 2023
The global COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of education, including how professors taught wildlife management classes. It's difficult for students to collar a deer or capture frogs when they're in lockdown in their parents' basement, after all.
But TWS member Shelby McCay, project coordinator at the Texas A&M University's Natural Resources Institute, had the perfect prescription for the challenges online learning caused for her students.
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San Antonio Rodeo Seminar Recap
Feb 17, 2023
Our director, Dr. Roel Lopez, recently had the pleasure of speaking at the Wildlife and Natural Resources Seminar at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
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A Virtual Approach to Field-Based Learning
Feb 16, 2023
In its best form, education equips others to make the best and most informed decisions—it requires preparation and constant adaptation to the environment and levels of engagement, sometimes in the very moment.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Deer Harvest Record Keeping
Aug 9, 2022
Lights, camera, action! We’re back with the newest episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. During this installment we chatted with ranch manager, Steven Fulton, and retired Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist, Mike Krueger, about deer harvest record keeping methods. We also discussed how you can use these techniques for the benefit of your deer herd and how you can use to qualify for the wildlife tax valuation program here in Texas.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Erosion Control
Jun 7, 2022
Lights, camera, action! We’re back with our latest episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. We spoke with Bamberger’s ranch manager, Steven Fulton, about erosion control methods and how you can implement these practices for the benefit of soil and wildlife on the land. We had a great time talking about this tool you can use to qualify for the wildlife tax valuation program here in Texas.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Rainwater Harvesting for Wildlife
May 6, 2022
From the Texas Hill Country, we’re back with our latest episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. During this installment, we chatted with Bamberger’s biologist, Christina Farrell, about how you can harvest rainwater for your home and for the wildlife on your property. We had a great time talking about this simple tool you can use to qualify for the wildlife tax valuation program here in Texas.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Grassland Preparation for Pollinators
Apr 4, 2022
We’re back with our newest episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 from the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. We truly enjoyed getting to connect with you to talk about another wildlife management tool that you can add to your stewardship toolbox. In this episode we talked with the ranch’s resident zoologist, Jared Holmes, about native grasslands and how they can be used to benefit pollinator species on your property.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Cowbird Trapping
Mar 2, 2022
We’re back with our latest installment of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we greatly enjoyed connecting with you to talk about wildlife management techniques. In this episode we spoke with the Bamberger Ranch’s resident ornithologist, Christina Farrell, about cowbird trapping and how it can be used to benefit native bird species on your property. Under the wildlife tax valuation program in Texas, cowbird trapping is listed as a qualifying management practice in the predator control category. But why? First we need to dig a little bit into the natural history of this species.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Herbicides and Brush Management
Dec 6, 2021
This past month we premiered our seventh episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our wonderful partners at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed connecting with you to talk about private land stewardship here in Texas. In this latest episode we spoke with Bamberger’s ranch manager, Steven Fulton, about herbicides and brush management and how this tool can help you manage wildlife habitat on your landscape.
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What Landowners Need to Know: The Endangered Species Act in Texas
Dec 1, 2021
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is a critical piece of legislation related to the conservation of threatened and endangered species and their ecosystems. This lesson provides historical context, a step-by-step look at the listing process, details on how this legislation impacts private landowners, and resources and opportunities for Texans.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Supplemental Water for Wildlife
Nov 9, 2021
In this latest episode we chatted with our own Dr. Jim Cathey and Bamberger’s resident zoologist, Jared Holmes, about supplemental water for wildlife and how you can implement it as a practice to help benefit species on your property.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Game Cameras
Oct 12, 2021
Lights, camera, Leopold Live! Last month we premiered our fifth episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our incredible partners at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed sharing more about wildlife management practices through the series.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2: Food Stations Recap
Sep 13, 2021
Lights, camera, Leopold Live! Last month we premiered the fourth episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our incredible partners at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed getting to share even more about wildlife management practices through this series. Our hosts, Dr. Roel Lopez and Dr. April Sansom, introduced this new chapter of Leopold Live! and explained how new episodes will be a little different from what we covered in Chapter 1.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2: Brush Clearing and Brush Piles Recap
Aug 16, 2021
Lights, camera, Leopold Live! Last month we premiered our third episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our incredible partners at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed getting to share more about wildlife management practices through the series.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2: Bluebird Boxes Recap
Jul 22, 2021
Lights, camera, Leopold Live! Last month we premiered our second episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our incredible partners at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed connecting with you again as we continue with the series. Our usual hosts, Dr. Roel Lopez (TAMU NRI) and April Sansom (Bamberger Ranch), opened the episode by introducing this new chapter of Leopold Live! and explaining how these upcoming episodes will be a little different from what we covered Chapter 1.
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Leopold Live! Chapter 2: Wildlife Valuation 101 Recap
Jun 21, 2021
Leopold Live is back! We have officially premiered our first episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our incredible partners at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed connecting with you again as we embarked on this next part of this series.
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Behind the Scenes: Leopold Live Chapter 2
May 5, 2021
We've officially kicked off filming for Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 and we're excited to give you a behind-the-scenes peek at what's coming up in the next few months from new stewardship practices to practical knowledge to keep in your back pocket.
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Leopold Live: Chapter One
Feb 5, 2021
Just like old times, only different. Adjusting to social distancing measures allowed us to think creatively in how we approach our engagement and education work, and partnering with the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve was a smart match for our team and like-minded missions—educating land stewards by demonstration and practice.
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Leopold Live launching in one week
Sep 16, 2020
If clinging to routines is what keeps us moving forward in these unusual times, consider this a hat tip to the creativity spurred on by our need to connect and teach in-person. Leopold Live! is here.