Wildlife Conflict Specialist - Fish and Wildlife Biologist 3 - Permanent - 2 Openings - 2026-05824

State of Washington • Multiple Locations - Western Washington, WA

14h • Onsite

About The Position

As a senior level biologist, you’ll apply your expertise and resolve human-wildlife conflict issues by providing sustainable solutions. Envision yourself working closely with private landowners to resolve damage to commercial crops, livestock, and other private property, with a primary focus on conflicts involving ungulates and carnivores. In this dynamic role you will also lead efforts in Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements, provide technical assistance to landowners related to preventative measures, depredation investigations, and assist in fostering recreational access opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.
• Three (3) years of professional experience in wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research.
• Or Two (2) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2.
• One (1) year of professional experience with: Working with ungulate and carnivore conflict issues
• Trapping, handling and immobilizing wildlife
• Performing complex field investigations and necropsies to identify the cause of a depredation on domestic animals and livestock associated with wild carnivores
• Six (6) months of professional experience in/with: Euthanizing/dispatching animals with a firearm or other approved methods
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Must successfully meet all requirements of agency firearm policy (Policy 7011) and maintain eligibility to possess and use agency-issued firearm(s) at all times while in this position.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required license to handle and administer animal capture and immobilization drugs, in accordance with RCW 69.50.320, RCW 69.41.080, and Chapter 246-945 WAC.
• Obtain certification to participate in aerial flight surveys before first flight.

Nice To Haves

• Wildlife population relationship and ecology
• Wildlife-habitat relationships and habitat management requirements
• Wildlife damage management and strategies to reduce wildlife–human conflicts
• General agriculture, silviculture, and range management principles
• Plant and animal species identification, including basic anatomy and physiology
• Wildlife management tools and field techniques
• Principles of wildlife harvest management
• Public speaking and/or experience working with stakeholders with varying wildlife/habitat management values
• Applying environmental rules, regulations, and permitting requirements.
• Field surveys to collect data
• Local, state, and federal laws governing wildlife management
• Contract administration
• Grant writing
• Using handheld data collection devices (e.g. smartphones, iPads) in the field and entering data using platforms such as Field Maps or Survey 123
• Working with GIS applications

Responsibilities

• Work with private landowners to prevent and control ungulate (elk and deer), turkey, and waterfowl depredation on crops and property damage and coordinate with federal agencies for other wildlife species when applicable.
• Provide a timely response for field investigations of crop depredation, primarily caused by ungulates.
• Conduct complex inspections and investigations to determine the nature and extent of damage to commercial crops.
• Identify damage mitigation alternatives and prioritize efforts aimed at resolving wildlife damage.
• Interact and coordinate with producers and crop assessors during the damage claim process.
• Negotiate contracts and/or agreements and identify settlement options with landowners and/or producers.
• Prepare final damage prevention strategy and associated landowner/producer agreement for agency approval.
• Perform follow-up inspections to ensure corrective action is implemented to address wildlife crop depredation.
• Work with private landowners, department staff and WDFW Enforcement personnel to prevent, reduce and control wildlife damage, livestock depredations and human safety concerns related to carnivores (cougar, bear, wolf, bobcat, coyote).
• Provide a timely response for field investigations (such as necropsies) of livestock mortality/injury purportedly caused by carnivores.
• Conduct complex inspections and investigations (such as necropsies) to determine the cause of mortality for domestic livestock.
• Coordinate with WDFW and/or Federal, State, and Local enforcement staff involved in investigations of wildlife conflict.
• Utilize capture and immobilization equipment, coordinate with hound handlers, and use firearms to capture and/or euthanize carnivores, when necessary, and follow agency policies and procedures.
• Document public safety or livestock damage incident details, landowner interactions, agency actions, and both non-lethal and lethal (if applicable) deterrent measures in a database.
• Perform follow-up inspections to ensure corrective action is implemented to address carnivore/livestock conflicts.
• Respond to reports of injured wildlife and/or dangerous wildlife and independently make decisions as to disposition.
• Physically capture injured wildlife when necessary.
• Utilize immobilization equipment (e.g., dart gun), syringes, needles, and darts to administer chemical immobilization drugs to injured wildlife.
• Coordinate and/or deliver injured wildlife to appropriate rehabilitation facility.
• Utilize firearms or approved drugs to provide field euthanasia of injured wildlife when necessary.
• Plan, facilitate, and represent the program/agency in public meetings, hearings, presentations and workshops involving wildlife conflict management in local assigned area.
• Provide education and outreach information designed to reduce negative wildlife interactions.
• Maintain records related to wildlife damage complaints, crop damage losses, lethal and non-lethal strategies implemented, and animals lethally removed.
• Participate in trapping, transfer, and releasing wildlife; tissue and specimen collection; and conducting priority game surveys when involving conflict management.
• Plan, facilitate and/or represent assigned area regarding wildlife conflict and damage abatement in public meetings, technical committees, hearings, presentations, and workshops.

Benefits

• Eligible for an additional 15% pay differential when the incumbent is performing low level flight duties or chemical immobilization
• Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

What This Job Offers

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