Current Position: District Fisheries Biologist
How long have you been with Connecticut State Parks and in what capacity?
23 years as a Fisheries Biologist.
How did you become involved in working as a Fisheries Biologist?
I loved to hunt/fish/hike/camp as a Boy Scout when I was a youngster. I enjoyed reading fishing/hunting/outdoor adventure stories and magazine articles as a kid. I decided at a young age that this would be the only type of work that I would ever really be happy doing.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
There is no typical day. Some of my activities include:
- Fish stocking (primarily in Spring)
- Sampling freshwater fish populations (bass/pike/trout/etc) in western, Connecticut lakes, ponds, rivers and streams (Spring, Summer, Fall).
- Data analysis and report writing (Winter)
- Public outreach, including responding to questions from the public via phone and e-mails, and public speaking to various clubs and organizations (year round).
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
35-50 hours per week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
- Working out-of-doors.
- Getting to sample/observe an incredible number of large freshwater fish of many different species (largemouth & smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, trout, etc.).
- The variety of the work – hard physical labor, using analytical skills, report writing, public speaking, etc.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
Field sampling is often physically demanding. We work outdoors near water in all weather conditions (rain, wind, snow, cold, etc.). During the spring season (our busiest time of year), multitasking and the workload can be exhausting. As with any bureaucracy, how long it sometimes takes to get simple changes made.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Fisheries/Wildlife/Natural Resources or Biology (a Master’s degree is better). Some experience conducting field research.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
No. Actually, I minored in sociology in college and have found that background to be incredibly useful in the human dimensions aspect of this job. Courses in public speaking, which I also had, are invaluable.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Trophy Trout in Lakes project – we get to be out sampling some of Connecticut’s most scenic lakes at the most beautiful times of the year. Also, we get to sample and see numbers of very large trout, something most anglers rarely get to see.
Urban Fishing Program – a new program for our division where we are developing fishing opportunities in urban ponds.
If someone were interested in working as a Fisheries Biologist at a state park, what advice could you give them?
Go to college and get your degree in any of the above-mentioned fields. Try to obtain as much "hands-on" field experience working summers or whenever, with a Natural Resources agency or organization. If at all possible, pursue a Master’s degree in the Fisheries field.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
While you may not become a millionaire working is this field, the job satisfaction and enjoyment is, as the credit card advertisement says, "priceless"!
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