NPS WNS Surveillance Technician
About The Position
Bat Conservation International (BCI) is seeking four NPS WNS Surveillance Technicians to assist the National Park Service (NPS) Mojave Desert (MOJN) and Klamath (KLMN) Inventory and Monitoring Networks with spring white-nose syndrome (WNS) surveillance. Two of these technicians will then transfer to Lava Beds National Monument (LABE) to aid in bat roost and cave monitoring during June and July. The role involves a varied work schedule, often including evenings and periodic weekends, with daily hours and days of the week varying based on project needs, field conditions, logistics, and bat behavior. Individual field trips can range from 2 to 8 days. Spring fieldwork requires travel to various field sites in project vehicles, extensive camping (from primitive to front country with amenities), capturing bats using mist-nets, H-nets, and funnel traps, identifying bats, collecting skin swabs and guano samples, and conducting emergence counts and roost checks. Summer fieldwork at LABE includes nighttime acoustic surveys, in-cave presence/absence surveys, and emergence counts at cave entrances, with a significant portion of the season dedicated to caving and occasional overnight backpacking trips.
Requirements
- At least one season of prior bat handling experience, including removing bats from mist-nets and collecting biometric data (age, sex, weight, etc).
- Experience implementing decontamination procedures for WNS surveillance.
- Ability to move and/or carry heavy equipment (up to 50 lbs.) and hike long distances with a heavy backpack through varied terrain.
- Experience conducting fieldwork in extreme conditions.
- Possession of a valid state driver’s license and meet Bat Conservation International’s driving and safety standards (motor vehicle record check required).
Nice To Haves
- Experience identifying western bat species.
- Experience swabbing bats for WNS detection.
- Experience using acoustic monitoring equipment and/or software.
- Caving and/or climbing skills.
- Experience driving 4WD or AWD vehicles on primitive roads.
- Current rabies pre-exposure vaccination status (Titer check record within last 2 years).
- Wilderness travel and camping skills.
- Wilderness first aid training.
Responsibilities
- Assist the National Park Service (NPS) Mojave Desert (MOJN) and Klamath (KLMN) Inventory and Monitoring Networks with spring white-nose syndrome (WNS) surveillance.
- Travel to Lava Beds National Monument (LABE) to assist with bat roost and cave monitoring.
- Capture bats using mist-nets, H-nets, funnel traps, and other methods.
- Identify bats to species.
- Collect skin swabs and guano samples.
- Conduct emergence counts and roost checks.
- Perform nighttime mobile and stationary acoustic surveys according to NA bat protocol.
- Conduct in-cave presence/absence surveys.
- Perform emergence counts at cave entrances.
- Engage in caving and occasional overnight backpacking trips.
Benefits
- Accrued sick time
- Option for 401(k) retirement plan
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Discount program for professional equipment
- Up to $42/night for meals on a reimbursement basis when traveling away from the base location.
- Campsite at Lake Mead National Recreation Area provided for use during days off while conducting fieldwork at MOJN.
- Travel costs associated with relocating between spring and summer work locations will be covered by the project.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
