Current Position: Wildlife Specialist (Reservoir Biologist)
How long have you been with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (Division of State Parks and Reservoirs) and in what capacity?
I've been with IDNR for five months in the capacity of Wildlife Specialist. In this capacity, I am in charge of all aspects of the wildlife management program at Salamonie Reservoir. My main objectives are to increase opportunities for hunters, trappers, wildlife, viewers, and fishermen.
How did you become involved in working as a Wildlife Specialist?
I’ve had a steady interest in working to improve the environment since I was 12 years old. While growing up, my father got me involved in hunting, trapping, fishing, planting trees and releasing pheasants on the family farm. I loved my time in the outdoors. As a result, I decided pursue a career, where I could have fun and improve the outdoor experiences for others. After graduating from college and working a couple of temporary wildlife jobs, I was offered the Wildlife Specialist position with IDNR. This position interested me because it had great potential and a variety of duties.
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.)
My duties include:
- Acquiring equipment and supplies for the wildlife program
- Coordinating reserved hunts on property
- Hiring, training, and supervising employees
- Administering tenant-farming and bid-trapping contracts
- Coordinating property maintenance
- Overseeing food-plot plantings
- Working with partners (e.g. Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, etc.)
- Conducting wildlife population surveys on the property
- Managing the walleye-stocking program
- Giving presentations to local community groups
- Assisting in activities associated with the recreation and interpretive programs
This job requires me to switch from task to task frequently to stay productive. During the average work day, I may talk to 3-4 visitors who have questions about the property. I am in the office around 80 percent of the time. During some days, I will be out in the field checking on my 2-3 man crew or looking at habitat needs. During other days, I will be in the office working on purchasing supplies or requesting multi-agency approvals for construction activities. During most days, it is a little of both. During select times, I serve as the primary manager on duty. I am on call 1-2 weekends a month and I am required handle any emergency situations that occur on the property.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
On average, I work about 43 hours a week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I like the variety of duties within my job and enjoy switching from one duty to the next.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
My job requires a broad variety of knowledge that keeps me learning new things everyday. Supervision is also challenging in dealing with different personalities of people and working with their strengths and weaknesses.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife science is required.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Supervisory training. I am scheduled to attend a supervision training course in the fall.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I am presently modifying property regulations to allow beaver trapping on the property to reduce beaver populations. Trapping on the property is currently held by bid-trapping. Beaver have been causing damage to many of our pond and wetland dykes by digging through them. Trapping regulations will also be expanded to increase opportunity for raccoon trapping so that human-wildlife conflicts can be minimized. Regulations will be based on scientifically-approved trapping methods.
If someone were interested in working as a Wildlife Specialist, what advice could you give them?
For the wildlife specialist position, a person needs a diverse background encompassing wildlife management techniques, heavy equipment, engineering, budgeting, people management, stakeholder relations, state and federal policy, and good communication skills. Some of these skills can be obtained by working temporary wildlife jobs on wildlife management areas during summers while attending college. In addition to education, hands-on experience is crucial.
Wildlife students frequently choose their field because they would rather seclude themselves in work filled with nature. Managing people and money are two crucial keys to mastering a job like this. To succeed in this field good people skills are a requirement.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
Wildlife specialists and biologists working on parks and reservoir properties accommodate a variety of resource users. This means accommodating for hikers, horsemen, and wildlife viewers, as well as hunters, trappers, and fisherman. On these properties, regulations are designed to minimize conflicts among these activities and maximize recreational opportunity.
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