Bear Management Technician

State of Montana • Choteau, MT

1d

About The Position

We are accepting applications for a bear management technician to assist with human-bear conflict management in Montana FWP Region 4. The incumbent will primarily work with grizzly bears, though black bear management will also take place.
This position is based in Choteau, though the area of responsibility includes all of FWP Region 4.
Choteau, MT, located on the Rocky Mountain Front, is home to approximately 1700 residents, has abundant recreation opportunity and has rich agricultural history.
This position is full-time permanent with approximate field work from March 15th – December 15th. The schedule will be variable with the employee often working long shifts (> 10 hours/day), including evenings, nights and weekends as needed and with short notice. Candidates should expect to remain flexible with their schedule balancing availability with other staff and rotating on-call weekends.
The incumbent will be expected to provide his/her own housing in Choteau or nearby.
The incumbent must be able to work well with other people and agencies while representing FWP in a professional manner. Applicants should have demonstrable interpersonal skill set and should make evident, their ability to communicate and negotiate with disparate interest groups and individuals. An understanding of the social, economic, recreational, and agricultural components of the work area of responsibility is vital.
Much of this work will be done in the field, on private land, working in potentially hazardous conditions involving dangerous wildlife, extreme weather conditions, exposure to potentially lethal capture drugs and animal pathogens. Heavy physical labor, such as lifting and moving large, heavy objects and exposure to offensive sights and smells will occur. The employee will need to work comfortably and with a high degree of safety and awareness around dangerous animals such as grizzly bears and rattlesnakes. Grizzly bears are a controversial species; the incumbent must be able to maintain a calm demeanor when working with sometimes irate constituents and successfully provide good customer service.
The incumbent will work alone in the field as required and with a team of staff.

Requirements

• Must be skilled in oral and written communication.
• Must have an outgoing, personable nature and be able to initiate successful interactions with others.
• Must be skilled in balancing work duties and managing time accordingly.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of biology, animal ecology, anatomy and population dynamics is required. Ability to identify bear foods and attractants, tracks, scat, and other signs are preferred.
• Ability to pass firearms qualifications is required. Experience using defensive firearms proficiently is preferred.
• Valid state driver’s license is required. Ability to operate a four-wheel drive vehicle, and ability to back a trailer is preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Capability of monitoring bears via ground, vehicle, and aerial telemetry (helicopter and fixed wing) is preferred.
• Experience in wildlife conflict management is preferred.
• Knowledge of the use of geographic information systems, topographic maps, aerial photos, and GPS is preferred.
• Experience handling bears by use of culvert traps, foot snares; chemical immobilization delivery systems and skills is preferred.
• Knowledge in the basics of bear management techniques, especially including conflict prevention techniques and equipment, is preferred.
• Experience with livestock management techniques, farming practices and other agricultural experience is preferred.
• Experience with welding, fabrication, and basic mechanical skills is preferred.
• Experience with fencing systems, especially highly powered electric fencing, is preferred.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrable experience with 1) large carnivore capture/management, 2) customer service, 3) minimizing human-bear agricultural conflicts, 4) bear education to agricultural communities, 5) interacting with rural agricultural communities in both formal and informal settings, 6) livestock production, and 7) firearms.

Responsibilities

• Work with the bear management specialist to identify and minimize conflicts between grizzly bears and people.
• Initiate contacts with landowners, ranchers, farmers, and other residents to identify potential grizzly bear conflicts, propose solutions, and initiate the appropriate prevention techniques. Locate radio-collared bears aerially and the ground.
• Data input, analysis, and report preparation.
• Assist with, and sometimes lead, educational presentations to schools, community groups, clubs and conservation organizations to inform people about wildlife ecology, management and ways to coexist and avoid conflicts.
• Meet regularly with individual landowners to inform them of wildlife interaction management issues, determine their concerns regarding department programs, discuss alternative solutions that mutually benefit the landowner and address program goals, and identify opportunities for long term wildlife management.
• Create and maintain community bear alert phone trees.
• As directed by the Specialist, conduct and/or participate in public involvement meetings and presentations on a local basis by method of "citizen participation" to receive comment on proposed wildlife conflict management programs and make modifications prior to implementation.
• Establish and employ effective repellent and deterrent techniques for preventing human-bear conflict and livestock depredations. This will include applying hazing and aversive conditioning to animals to modify their behavior. These techniques involve the use of dogs, drones, non-lethal projectiles, and pyrotechnics. Other tools involve the construction of high-power electric fences, use of scare devices, and the testing and use of other innovative techniques.
• Minimize human-bear conflicts by implementing preventative techniques, applying hazing or aversive conditioning strategies, capturing and relocating the animal(s) involved. In some situations, removing the animal(s) using lethal means is required.
• Respond to and investigate wildlife interaction complaints involving bear and other wildlife interaction with people, damage to property and livestock depredation.
• Minimize the potential for wildlife/people interaction by informing and working cooperatively with private landowners and local communities and implementing proactive management programs to reduce or remove potential bear and other wildlife attractants. This includes developing and applying techniques such as removal and containment of spilled grain, livestock feed, or food waste at priority sites, improving sanitation guidelines and livestock carcass removal.
• Constructively build relationships with people and professionally diffuse often tense situations with residents regarding a controversial species.

Benefits

• Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance.
• Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays.
• This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level