Blog List

Thursday 12 October 2017

Former USFWS directors urge Congress to reauthorize NAWCA

Author
By Rachel Schadegg

©Henry
On Mar. 30, six former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directors sent a joint letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Natural Resources urging for the reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The Act, which creates an incentive-based wetland conservation grant program, has not been authorized since FY 2012, though it still receives annual appropriations in the USFWS budget.
NAWCA was passed by Congress in 1989 to support the protection, restoration, and enhancement of waterfowl habitat as outlined in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). NAWMP was signed by the U.S. and Canada in 1986 and by Mexico in 1994 in response to broadly declining waterfowl populations. NAWCA provides grant funding for wetland conservation projects throughout all three countries.
In the letter, the former USFWS directors praise NAWCA’s history of promoting important wetland conservation partnerships between government agencies, non-profit organizations, private landowners, and other groups and individuals. NAWCA includes a non-federal minimum funding match of 1:1, but dollars have often been matched by conservation partners at above-minimum ratios. Over 5,600 partners have contributed to over 2,644 wetland and wildlife conservation projects in the past two decades utilizing NAWCA dollars and matched funding.
On Mar. 22, The Wildlife Society signed onto a letter, also addressed to the leading members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Natural Resources, in support of NAWCA’s reauthorization. Signed by over 30 conservation and outdoor recreation organizations, the letter highlights NAWCA’s economic and environmental benefits and asks committee members to commit their support for NAWCA funding in the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations process.
On Feb. 15, Rep. Robert Wittman (R-VA) introduced H.R. 1099, the North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act, with the intent to reauthorize NAWCA through 2022 at a maximum of $50 million per year. The Extension Act was referred to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands on Feb. 28 and has not yet seen further activity. NAWCA was last authorized at $75 million for each of the years FY 2008–2012.
Rachel Schadegg is a policy intern at The Wildlife Society as part of the Government Affairs & Partnership program. Read more of Rachel's articles here.
For further information log on website :
http://wildlife.org/former-usfws-directors-urge-congress-to-reauthorize-nawca/

Former USFWS directors urge Congress to reauthorize NAWCA

Author
By Rachel Schadegg

©Henry
On Mar. 30, six former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directors sent a joint letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Natural Resources urging for the reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The Act, which creates an incentive-based wetland conservation grant program, has not been authorized since FY 2012, though it still receives annual appropriations in the USFWS budget.
NAWCA was passed by Congress in 1989 to support the protection, restoration, and enhancement of waterfowl habitat as outlined in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). NAWMP was signed by the U.S. and Canada in 1986 and by Mexico in 1994 in response to broadly declining waterfowl populations. NAWCA provides grant funding for wetland conservation projects throughout all three countries.
In the letter, the former USFWS directors praise NAWCA’s history of promoting important wetland conservation partnerships between government agencies, non-profit organizations, private landowners, and other groups and individuals. NAWCA includes a non-federal minimum funding match of 1:1, but dollars have often been matched by conservation partners at above-minimum ratios. Over 5,600 partners have contributed to over 2,644 wetland and wildlife conservation projects in the past two decades utilizing NAWCA dollars and matched funding.
On Mar. 22, The Wildlife Society signed onto a letter, also addressed to the leading members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Natural Resources, in support of NAWCA’s reauthorization. Signed by over 30 conservation and outdoor recreation organizations, the letter highlights NAWCA’s economic and environmental benefits and asks committee members to commit their support for NAWCA funding in the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations process.
On Feb. 15, Rep. Robert Wittman (R-VA) introduced H.R. 1099, the North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act, with the intent to reauthorize NAWCA through 2022 at a maximum of $50 million per year. The Extension Act was referred to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands on Feb. 28 and has not yet seen further activity. NAWCA was last authorized at $75 million for each of the years FY 2008–2012.
Rachel Schadegg is a policy intern at The Wildlife Society as part of the Government Affairs & Partnership program. Read more of Rachel's articles here.
For further information log on website :
http://wildlife.org/former-usfws-directors-urge-congress-to-reauthorize-nawca/

Rare butterfly reintroduced on San Diego NWR

Author
By Lisa Cox, San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Pacific Southwest Region

The black, white and orange-checkered butterfly was once commonly seen south of Ventura County.
©Andrew Fisher/USFWS
The recovery of an endangered butterfly in southern San Diego made history last year and is seeing early success.
A team of biologists from the San Diego Zoo Global, the Service, San Diego State University and the Conservation Biology Institute released 742 larvae of the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly onto San Diego National Wildlife Refuge last December, the first release of captive-reared Quino larvae.
In January, 771 more larvae were released, bringing the total to 1,513.
The Quino population drastically declined over the last decade, and losing the native pollinator could hurt the coastal sage scrub ecosystems there.
“This is the first time we’ve attempted to release Quino checkerspot butterfly larvae here, and we expect to learn a lot from our work here today,” says biologist John Martin of San Diego Refuge. “It’s important to help the Quino maintain its distribution, and we hope they will thrive here and disperse to nearby suitable areas of the refuge.”
Refuge manager Jill Terp and zoo keeper Brandon Rowley prepare protective pods for the larvae’s arrival onto the refuge. ©Lisa Cox/USFWS
To save the butterfly, the team raised larvae in captivity in the San Diego Zoo’s Butterfly Conservation Lab, where zoo entomologists cared for the eggs, larvae and adults. The lab is funded by a Service Cooperative Recovery Initiative grant, which supports projects to help recover some of the nation’s most at-risk species on or near national wildlife refuges, and mitigation funds from CalTrans. The long-term goal of the grant is to help the Quino checkerspot butterfly’s population recover sufficiently to down-list it from the endangered species list.
“Quino checkerspots have been reared in captivity in the past, but this is the first time that captive-reared Quino have been returned to the wild to augment wild populations,” Martin says.
A member of the brushfoot family, the black, white and orange-checkered 1.2-inch butterfly was once commonly seen south of Ventura County, ranging to the inland valleys south of the Tehachapi Mountains and into northern Baja California. The last time Martin spotted one on San Diego Refuge was in 2012.
The butterfly’s rarity presented a challenge: how to capture enough butterflies to start the breeding program.
Since the Quino’s population was too low to gather adult butterflies from San Diego County, biologists had to resort to collecting them from the Riverside population, about 60 miles northeast of San Diego.
“The genetic work we’ve done indicates that Quino populations throughout their entire range are basically the same,” says Susan Wynn, a biologist with the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office. “Although these populations are widely separated geographically, they are genetically similar and should have similar biological needs. So we think they should do quite well.”
In recent years, the species’ drastic decline was primarily due to the loss of its habitat from increased urban development. Climate change, drought, pollution, invasive plants and fire pose additional threats to the butterfly.
“Humans have had a significant impact on the decline of the Quino checkerspot butterfly,” says Paige Howorth, associate curator of invertebrates at the San Diego Zoo Global. “But humans are also playing a critical role in their recovery and today’s release is an important first step in doing that.”
At the zoo last summer, the new larvae from the captured butterflies entered a period of dormancy, called diapause. This is a natural condition that coincides with the lack of availability of their host plant, dwarf plantain. During this time, the larvae retreat into silken webs and cease all activity. The biologists released them to the wild in this condition.
Beginning in February, biologists started checking the pods once a week, looking for signs of success. In early March, Martin counted 20-30 butterflies on the refuge in one day.
It’s still early, but not bad for a first try.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is a Strategic Partner of TWS.
For further information log on website :
http://wildlife.org/rare-butterfly-reintroduced-on-san-diego-nwr/

Seven species, one action plan

Author
Posted on April 5, 2016

©Godspeed70
Parks Canada is building a single action plan to address seven resident species listed under the Species at Risk Act – including the woodland caribou – in Jasper National Park. Actions prescribed by the plan will vary, with some addressing a single species and others designed to address multiple species. While the draft plan has not yet been posted, the public consultation period has been opened. A 60-day comment period will commence once the plan is posted, after which the plan will be finalized.
For information and how to engage in the consultation period, see the Jasper Fitzhugh.
For further information log on website :
http://wildlife.org/seven-species-one-action-plan/

Public debate over British Columbia national park continues

Author
Posted on June 8, 2016

©Province of British Columbia
A proposal to create a new national park in South Okanagan, British Columbia, is the source of varied public opinion. The provincial government released a proposal last year on potential land protection solutions, including the addition of two separate land areas into a new national park reserve. A public comment period garnered over 3,400 submissions, highlighting public concern over preserving biodiversity and the importance of hunting, fishing and tourism. Other groups issued concerns over the transfer of lands to the federal government and the subsequent lack of input from the local communities. British Columbia Parks, a provincial agency, released a report following the comment period stating that they will consider all feedback when creating the final proposal, and will likely release a decision on the park later this year.
For further information log on website :
http://wildlife.org/public-debate-over-british-columbia-national-park-continues/

TWS issues testimony on Agriculture appropriations

Author
By Lauren McDonald

In the past, Farm Bill conservation program funds have gone to enabling farmers to plant milkweed and other vegetation that help Monarch butterflies. Monarch butterflies are being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. ©NRCS Oregon
As a part of TWS’ continual involvement in the federal appropriations process, the Society submitted written testimony to Congressional Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food Administration and Related Agencies in both the House and Senate.
Within the testimony, TWS prioritized the funding levels of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Funding recommendations were based on the president’s budget request, and the Society’s own assessment on funding needs to support the work of wildlife professionals.
Among the recommendations, TWS requested that Congress significantly improve funding allotments proposed for Wildlife Damage Management, a program within APHIS’ Wildlife Services unit.
The Wildlife Damage Management program is responsible for resolving human and wildlife conflicts, which TWS recognizes as an important part of wildlife management. The fiscal year (FY) 2017 proposed budget included a $15 million decrease in funding from the FY 2016 enacted level. TWS proposed that Congress fund the program at greater than $90 million, which was the FY 2015 funding level.
TWS’ testimony also requested that Congress fund Farm Bill conservation programs, like the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, to levels that were mandated by the 2014 Farm Bill. Both programs help enable landowners to conserve natural resources, which ultimately benefit wildlife habitats. These programs have high demand but USDA is unable to meet program needs at current levels of funding.
TWS encourages member and chapter engagement with policy activities at the national, regional, and local levels through the Conservation Affairs Network.
For further information log on website :
http://wildlife.org/tws-issues-testimony-on-agriculture-appropriations/

Restoring arid western habitats — from The Wildlife Professional

Author
By R. Kasten Dumroese, Jeremiah R. Pinto and Deborah M. Finch

A male monarch butterfly feeds on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.). Members of the Asclepias family are the sole food source for monarch caterpillars, and their flowers provide exceptional nectar resources for a wide variety of pollinators. ©Dave Wendelken
Native Plants Maximize Wildlife Conservation Effectiveness
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and other pollinating insects have garnered a lot of attention recently from federal and state wildlife officials. These two species and pollinators share dwindling sagebrush habitat in the western United States that is putting their populations at risk. Sagebrush landscapes transformed by disturbances often require significant effort to restore their ecological function, and achieving desired results can be far more difficult and slow without the correct strategy. Fortunately, habitat restoration efforts focused on increasing the abundance and diversity of critical forbs can simultaneously benefit all three at-risk populations.
Research and development projects such as The Great Basin Native Plant Project — a joint effort of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service — are at the forefront of propagating plant materials and monitoring effectiveness of restoration of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) plant communities (Dumroese et al. 2015). However, a major hurdle confronting successful forb restoration in the sagebrush ecosystem is commercial propagation of sufficient quantities of plants and their seeds in order to make large-scale projects economically feasible. Notable challenges include seed dormancy that prevents prompt and complete germination during field establishment, indeterminate seed ripening times, short plant stature that makes mechanical harvesting difficult and lengthy times between initial seed sowing and first-seed harvest.
The important role of pollinators, such as this bumble bee (Bombus spp.), to the economic and ecosystem health of the United States and conservation of their populations, is the focus of recent federal attention. ©R. Kasten Dumroese
The important role of pollinators, such as this bumble bee (Bombus spp.), to the economic and ecosystem health of the United States and conservation of their populations, is the focus of recent federal attention. ©R. Kasten Dumroese
The Bureau of Land Management’s recently released National Seed Strategy specifically discusses the need for more research on species-specific methods for improved production of seeds and plants of native species for restoration work (Plant Conservation Alliance 2015). While successfully growing all the forbs needed for restoration of the sagebrush ecosystem has a ways to go, the number of plants doing well in commercial settings is increasing. Plus, the anticipated demand from land managers responding to a DOI Secretarial Order to restore sagebrush habitats should provide added incentive for growers to improve the supply and diversity of forbs offered for restoration work.
In order to maximize the effectiveness of wildlife recovery efforts, western land managers in arid regions will require a broad palette of forbs. But before these efforts can proceed further, some questions need to be answered, including, which forbs will provide the most benefit and have the widest applicability to sage-dependent species? And which methods for deploying the plants are most successful?
Three in Need
Greater sage-grouse may serve as an umbrella species for a variety of wildlife species in the sagebrush ecosystem. This means restoration of the birds’ habitat will likely benefit many other species at the same time. ©Stephen Ting, U.S. F&WS
Greater sage-grouse may serve as an umbrella species for a variety of wildlife species in the sagebrush ecosystem. This means restoration of the birds’ habitat will likely benefit many other species at the same time. ©Stephen Ting, U.S. F&WS
From 2014–2015, policy makers stepped up national efforts to address challenges facing sage-grouse and pollinator species including monarchs.
President Obama’s Executive Memorandum issued in June 2014 directed federal agencies to develop strategies, define research priorities, build conservation frameworks and implement best management practices to promote the health of honey bees, monarchs and other pollinators.
Declining greater sage-grouse populations also got a lot of attention when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the species did not warrant listing as a federally endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This decision was based on a tremendous five-year research and conservation effort by numerous state and federal agencies, research institutions and stakeholders across 11 western states to better understand threats affecting the birds and their habitat.
Although approximately 350 animal species — many with their own unique habitat requirements — occupy sagebrush ecosystems, some conservationists have suggested that sage-grouse are an “umbrella species” because their decline is an indicator of overall sagebrush ecosystem health. Declining health of the sagebrush landscape affects a number of other species of concern such as the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), sagebrush vole (Lemmiscus curtatus), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), sage sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli), Brewer’s sparrow (Spizella breweri) and sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus).
Recognizing that western sagebrush ecosystems remain threatened, in January 2015, DOI Secre
Secretary Jewell ordered development of management strategies (Secretarial Order 3336), clearly linking conservation of sage-grouse to protecting and restoring the sagebrush landscape. This linkage provides support for a holistic conservation plan — with multiple management objectives — that has the potential to benefit other flora and fauna such as monarchs, pollinating insects and others. It also provides improved leverage of available resources and more benefit to the landscape.
Forbs Are Foundational
More than 5,000 native plant species grow within the bounds of the sagebrush ecosystem, including nearly 30 taxa of sagebrush and a significant number of monotypic and species-rich genera. These forbs support a diverse abundance of invertebrates including herbivores, detritivores, predators and pollinators. In fact, in one Idaho sagebrush site, nearly 2,100 insect species have been identified.
Interactions between forbs and pollinating insects occur at many levels. At the species level, some forbs support an immense variety of insect pollinators. At the broader scale, abundance and diversity of insect pollinators are positively correlated with overall herbaceous plant species diversity. This is most likely because temporal differences in blooming reduce inter-species competition for food sources, which is an important consideration when restoring habitat for insect pollinators including monarchs.
Unlike bees that require nectar and pollen as a food source throughout their life cycle, adult monarchs are floral generalists that visit flowers only to obtain nectar, which is their primary energy source. The butterflies also convert sugar in the nectar to body fat that sustains them during migration and through the winter when most flowering plants are dormant. This means that nectar sources are particularly important during late summer and fall as monarchs begin their long migration to overwintering sites either in the mountains of Mexico or along the California Coast.
Forbs are also crucial, directly and indirectly, to greater sage-grouse. Annual and perennial forbs are an especially critical dietary component for nesting and brooding hens and chicks. Research shows that young chicks consume more than 66 forb taxa. Insects that feed on the forbs, along with other invertebrates, also serve as a high-protein food source for the birds. At least 41 insect families are known to be consumed by chicks, and their survival increases with greater forb and invertebrate consumption (Dumroese, et al. 2015).
Connecting Forb and Wildlife Restoration
©James H. Cane
©James H. Cane
Given this knowledge, various sage-grouse assessment frameworks, pollinator plant lists and milkweed reports have encouraged land management practices that incorporate a broad suite of genetically appropriate native forbs. Even so, typical seed mixtures for sage-grouse habitat restoration work often have limited numbers of forb species, ranging from just two to six plants.
Although many species of forbs, such as Utah sweetvetch are already in production, reliable methods are needed to economically produce a broader suite of sage brush species with appropriate genetics to meet restoration objectives. ©Matt Fisk, USFS
Although many species of forbs, such as Utah sweetvetch are already in production, reliable methods are needed to economically produce a broader suite of sage brush species with appropriate genetics to meet restoration objectives. ©Matt Fisk, USFS
To support the use of a broader suite of forbs in the sagebrush ecosystem, which in turn will aid restoration of more wildlife species, USFS researchers reviewed a list of sagebrush plant species and segregated them into three categories: most likely preferred by sage-grouse (Stiver et al. 2015), consumed by sage-grouse, and recommended for pollinating insects (Dumroese et al. 2015).
Of the resulting 225 taxa, 40 genera were associated with two or more categories. Twelve genera were common to all three categories: milkvetch (Astragalus), balsamroot (Balsamorhiza), mariposa lily (Calochortus), hawksbeard (Crepis), fleabane (Erigeron), buckwheat (Eriogonum), avens (Geum), desert parsley (Lomatium), bluebells (Mertensia), aster (Symphyotrichum), clover (Trifolium), and vetch (Vicia). Asters, which typically bloom in late summer and fall, are also important for migrating monarchs.
However, some genera include annual forbs that pose economic challenges in large-scale production.
One in particular, slender phlox (Microsteris gracilis var. gracilis), may be worth the effort because it improves brood survival of sage-grouse chicks (Gregg and Crawford 2009).
In addition, some evidence from restoration sites suggests that annual forbs may compete well with invasive species; and therefore, it may be worthwhile to use them as initial occupants on degraded sites until later seral forbs become established.
Forb Deployment Strategies
Western land managers also face other enormous challenges. Not only do numerous large tracts of land need to be restored, but the ongoing, unnatural effects of large, repetitive wildfires exacerbated by invasive annual grasses make restoration efforts difficult. Most efforts rely on direct seeding and seed mixtures that are usually formulated using available seeds. While this approach is thought to be the most economically plausible option, success can be limited and recovery speed can be slow (Shaw et al. 2005). Increasingly, planting nursery-grown seedlings into their final field location — known as outplanting — is gaining favor due to its good success rate.
On a large scale, outplanting is considered expensive. Nevertheless, seedlings may have an important role in corridor or island planting strategies, especially in reconnecting quality habitats. Habitat connectivity is important for sage-grouse, supports abundant and diverse bee communities, and is crucial for effective pollination of specific genera of forbs, some of which are consumed by sage-grouse. In the end, the outplanting strategy may be a way to mitigate restoration costs while simultaneously enhancing restoration success.
The idea of outplanting seedlings to establish vegetation islands that serve as seed sources and nucleate restoration areas is not new. In some instances, researchers have shown that it is better than passive restoration efforts. While outplanted vegetation islands have yet to be thoroughly tested in sagebrush rangelands, remnant native plant islands in naturally disturbed sagebrush ecosystems have shown their ecological value. Such islands create and maintain microsites that influence surrounding atmospheric and soil properties, making them more favorable for forb seedling recruitment than interspatial zones. Strategically, the goal in restoration outplanting is to mimic remnant islands and their benefits.
Recent work also shows that nursery-produced seedlings paired with proper site preparation can significantly increase outplanting survival and growth. This strategy may be a way to increase the restoration trajectory of degraded sites. By combining workhorse shrub species along with forb species that offer maximal benefit to a wide variety of wildlife, these island plantings may have the potential to provide improved habitat sooner and serve as year-round food sources and sources for future seed dispersal.
Linking Efforts for Wider Applicability
USFS-supportersPGWe are still learning how to best plan restoration efforts that include a robust complement of forbs that maximize benefits for multiple sagebrush-obligate species. By linking forb and wildlife restoration, land managers can maximize ecosystem benefits and more effectively leverage funding resources. For example, proposals for funding could explicitly identify how a particular project, or set of projects, meets multiple species conservation objectives. Subsequently, planning and project implementation could leverage holistic restoration methods (Pyke et al. 2015) to show more broad-scale ecosystem benefit.
demroeseKas Dumroese, PhD, is a research plant physiologist in the USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Grassland, Shrubland and Desert Ecosystems Science Program in Moscow, Idaho, and the national nursery specialist with the USFS National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries and Genetic Resources.
pintoJeremy Pinto, PhD, is a research plant physiologist in the USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Grassland, Shrubland and Desert Ecosystems Science Program in Moscow, Idaho, and the tribal nursery specialist with the USFS National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries and Genetic Resources.
finchDeborah Finch, PhD, is a supervisory biologist and program manager for the USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Grassland, Shrubland and Desert Ecosystems Science Program in Albuquerque, N.M.
For further information log on website :
http://wildlife.org/restoring-arid-western-habitats-from-the-wildlife-professional/

Students receive career advice from agency experts

Author
Posted on September 27, 2017

There are many agencies that hire wildlife biologists for a variety of different positions, but how do students get their foot in the door at these agencies?
During two sessions, Careers with the Bureau of Land Management and Careers with USDA Wildlife Services, student attendees received advice from peopleStudents receive career advice from agency experts at all stages of their career within these agencies and got the opportunity to personally ask them questions about their positions and advice on landing jobs in the agencies.
The first “Careers With” event featured a panel of individuals working with the Bureau of Land Management, The Wildlife Society’s most recent premier partner. The BLM manages almost 250 million acres of public lands, mostly in the West, but it employs just one wildlife biologist per million acres — an area the size of Rhode Island or Glacier National Park.
“It was quite an education coming out of college where they taught you to manage for individual species, but they never taught you there would be conflicting uses on lands,” said John Sherman, wildlife program lead for BLM in New Mexico.
Pamela Herrera-Olivias said that as a mother of two, she appreciated the flexibility offered to her by the BLM.
Panelists urged the attendees to be flexible, too, in what jobs they take on and where they plan to live.
Jeff Walsh, a senior wildlife biologist in the BLM’s Washington office, who has spent almost 30 years with BLM, stressed the importance of partnerships and friendships. “With very little staff and very little money, we meet and partner up to make mutually beneficial projects happen on the ground,” he said.
The BLM team also shared what a day in the life of a wildlife biologist is for them. It’s a lot about wearing multiple hats and preparing for future projects, they said. They also provided advice to students regarding getting their foot in the door.
“Be creative in how you approach making yourself known,” Sherman said.
Wildlife Services had a wide range of employees, from interns to seasoned professionals, offering their insight and advice to students.
Unlike most federal agencies, much of Wildlife Service’s funding comes from others that pay them to assist with their work, said Steve Kendrot, a wildlife biologist with Wildlife Services.
Speakers stressed getting involved in the agencies, whether volunteering or interning, early on.
“As you’re in school now, get involved in internships,” said Brian Archuleta, the district supervisor of the southeast New Mexico branch of the USDA. “It delayed my graduation, but it guaranteed me a job when I got out of college.”
Erin Harper, who has just stared her career with the Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center, shared with students how she landed her position. At a conference, she heard a presentation on wild pigs and human dimensions, she said. She reached out by email and got funding for her graduate research.
“When you’re at conferences, don’t be afraid to go up to and talk to people,” she said. “I got very lucky. They may not have something right now, but they may have something in the future.”
Panelists also stressed the importance of people skills, even for biologists who work with wildlife.
“If you can’t communicate well with the public or stakeholders, it’s really going to make it an uphill challenge,” Archuleta said.
Dana KobilinskyDana Kobilinsky is a science writer at The Wildlife Society. Contact her at dkobilinsky@wildlife.org with any questions or comments about her article. You can follow her on Twitter at @DanaKobi.
For further information log on website :
http://wildlife.org/students-receive-career-advice-from-agency-experts/

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fasting for Runners

Author BY   ANDREA CESPEDES  Food is fuel, especially for serious runners who need a lot of energy. It may seem counterintuiti...