Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Demographic Surveys Member

EPIC • El Centro, CA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is seeking members to contribute to a Flat-tailed Horned Lizard survey and wildlife monitoring projects alongside BLM staff. For more information about ACE, please visit the American Conservation Experience website. Start Date: June 1, 2026 Estimated End Date: August 14, 2026 a full schedule commitment is required Funding dependent Location Details/Description: El Centro Field Office El Centro, CA The Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office manages approximately 1.4 million acres of public lands spread across two counties: Imperial and San Diego. Approximately 95% of the public lands lie within Imperial County. The area is bordered by the U.S./Mexico International border to the south and the Riverside County line to the north. For more information on the El Centro FO, please visit their website. Position Overview: The ACE member will survey and monitor for Flat-tailed Horned Lizards (FTHL) as part of the demography survey crew. FTHL have the most limited distribution of any horned lizard species in the USA. There have been multiple attempts to have the species listed at both the State and Federal level which resulted in a multi-agency partnership, the development of a Conservation Agreement, and the development and implementation of the FTHL Rangewide Management Strategy (RMS). The RMS provides a framework for the securing and management of sufficient habitat for self-sustaining populations of the FTHL throughout the species range. A central component of the RMS is the designation of five management areas, and the agreement of land management agencies to minimize disturbance within these conservation areas. Three of those management areas are managed by the BLM El Centro Field Office (ECFO). They are the East Mesa Management Area, West Mesa Management Area, and Yuha Management Area. The ECFO needs demographic surveys completed on 4 plots following the interagency agreed-upon survey protocol. The purpose of FTHL demographic surveys is to gather information on population dynamics that can be used to characterize local populations through time. These surveys can aid in the detection of year-to-year trends in abundance, recruitment, and survivorship. The data gathered in demographic surveys supports the management strategies outlined by RMS whose primary objective is to "maintain self-sustaining populations" of FTHLs. This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and resource areas, assisting with additional biological projects, and shadowing different work groups within the ECFO. Schedule: The typical schedule will be Monday to Friday from 5 am-1 pm in the field. Members can generally expect to serve for 35-40 hours each week on this project.

Requirements

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning-of-term feedback forms, end-of-term evaluations, and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Ability to withstand rigorous physical conditions and inclement weather, particularly in desert ecosystems where temperatures are regularly above 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Participate for the full term of the internship.
• Participate fully in surveys from July 6 to July 17rd without time off.

Nice To Haves

• Applicants for this position should have a general interest in wildlife, biology, environmental sciences, etc.
• All candidates are encouraged to apply, though locally regional candidates will be strongly considered.
• Knowledge of studying and documenting site usage.
• Familiarity with wildlife identification and handling.
• Ability and willingness to use GPS equipment and maps.
• Familiarity with field notes methods, data collection, and preparation techniques.
• Familiarity with the use of computer programs like email, excel, word, Teams, etc....
• Local / Regional applicants highly considered

Responsibilities

• Locate and capture Flat-tailed horned lizards on 4 demographic monitoring plots located throughout a FTHL management area.
• Collect demographic information such as sex, weight, snout-to-vent length, age, and location.
• Collect habitat, soil and climate data.
• Inject Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags into captured adult lizards for year-to-year tracking and comparison.
• Humanely clip either the tail or toe from captured lizards for year-to-year tracking and comparison.
• Organize and submit demographic survey datasheets, GPS survey data, and GPS survey tracklogs.
• May be required to operate a motor vehicle.

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $700.00/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
• The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the BLM and ACE and is not flexible.
• Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and is not provided by ACE or BLM.
• Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, and networks for support.
• Specific training may include the implementation of monitoring protocols, PIT tagging methods, wildlife handling, animal tracking, 4x4 driving, data collection, radio communication, and appropriate heat & safety protocols.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed