Wolf Technician

State of Montana • Kalispell, MT

5h • Onsite

About The Position

This position is challenging, requiring self-motivation, advanced mental and physical stamina, and good decision-making skills. Work is conducted throughout northwestern Montana, across a diverse landscape. Montana is home to a wide variety of wildlife with a full suite of predators including black bear, grizzly bear, mountain lion, wolf, coyote, bobcat, lynx, and wolverine. The applicant must be comfortable working alone in remote areas with this full complement of wildlife. The applicant must possess the ability to use or learn to use bear spray, which must be carried at all times when in the field. The Wolf Technician will conduct fieldwork for wolf monitoring activities that requires extreme flexibility of work schedules, frequent travel within the region, driving for long periods of time, skilled and careful use of 4WD vehicles on rough roads, hiking in remote areas, and lifting heavy objects up to 50 pounds. The Wolf Technician is expected to work both independently and in a team setting. Working conditions are routinely hazardous. Exposure to potentially harmful animals, chemical agents, and offensive sights and sounds are routine. Extreme caution and rigorous protocol must be followed to prevent exposure to serious injury indoors and outdoors. Exposure to outdoor hazards such as severe weather during extensive foot travel while carrying heavy packs in rough and remote terrain is possible. The Wolf Technician will be expected to follow direction from the Wolf Specialist, and at times use her/his own judgement in prioritizing and completing daily tasks independently and in a timely manner. Frequent public contacts include a diverse community of people ranging from landowners, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts with differing concerns and views on wolves and wildlife in general. As a result, good conflict resolution skills and an ability to effectively interact with the public are necessary. The Wolf Technician will work closely with the Wolf Specialist and must possess good communication skills and be detailed in providing information from field surveying activities. Lodging accommodations in the field will be varied and may consist of staying in cabins, camper trailers or tents for extended periods of time in close proximity to coworkers. A work vehicle will be provided. No vehicle will be provided for the technician when off duty; Technicians should have their own vehicle for transportation on days off. The position is based out of Kalispell although most field work will be conducted in a variety of locations throughout northwestern Montana. This job requires that the Wolf Technician maintain flexibility in work schedules and spend extended periods of time away from their home base.

Requirements

• Basic knowledge and understanding of biology, animal ecology, anatomy and population dynamics will be required.
• Training in tracking surveys and experience performing wildlife camera surveys is essential.
• Knowledge of animal handling is required including the safe collection of blood, tissue, or other samples from animals.
• Good organizational and time management skills are needed as well as the ability to accurately collect and record data.
• Knowledge of computer applications such as Word processing, spreadsheets, and database management applications is required.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to work with professional biologists, agency staff and the public.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are required.
• Map-reading skills and familiarity with GPS units are required.
• Applicants must have a valid drivers license and be able to operate a four-wheel drive vehicle on difficult remote roads.
• The ability to work effectively and safely both as a team and independently without supervision in potentially hazardous conditions is expected, and conversing with a diverse outdoors community is essential.

Responsibilities

• The technician will conduct projects addressing statewide wolf management priorities, both under the direct supervision of the Wolf Specialist, and independently.
• This work largely consists of scouting surveys along backroads for wolf scat and tracks to determine presence, and setting survey cameras to monitor the population.
• A few months will include extensive time setting and checking traplines to place GPS and radio-collars on wolves for monitoring survival and movements; includes releasing incidentally-captured nontarget species and collecting biological samples from animals including blood, hair, or tissue.
• The technician may investigate mortality sites of animals and collect samples including tissue, hair and skeletal parts.
• Routine job duties require proficiency with tracking animals, using GPS and maps to navigate in remote areas to monitor wolf activity, collect scat, maintain cameras, monitor dens, conduct hazing of wolves near livestock or humans, assist with capture and collaring of wolves, and talk with the public about wolf issues and information.
• The Wolf Technician will interact with the public and coworkers in a professional manner, respecting differences of opinion and seeking to resolve conflicts in an equitable manner.
• The Wolf Technician will work with the public, landowners, hunters, university personnel, federal and state land managers, non-profit organizations, and the media to coordinate projects.
• The Wolf Technician will maintain organized field notes and data forms, and assess the data collected to interpret information for making fieldwork decisions.
• The Wolf Technician will be responsible for troubleshooting and solving basic problems they encounter during fieldwork, while respecting the plans made for them by the supervising Wolf Specialist as well as the limitations of their equipment and abilities.
• Animal handling activities will be conducted professionally and ethically, demonstrating respect for captured animals.

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

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed