u.s. fish & wildlife service national wildlife refuge system steve hillebrand/usfws role of...
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Steve Hillebrand/USFWS
Role of Volunteers in the Wildlife Science Program atKodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Bill PyleKodiak NWR
Lisa Hupp/USFWS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Purpose & scope
• Describe the role of volunteers in & discuss potential volunteer opportunities
• Scope – primarily the science program
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Outline• My background• Role & importance of
volunteers• Science program volunteers• Volunteer opportunities
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
My background• Started career as volunteer• Rose through the FWS
ranks • Senior biologist at 5 NWRs
over past 20 years• 12 years at Kodiak NWR• Extensive experience with
volunteers supporting wildlife science & management
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Volunteer Program 2012
• 4 program areas: – wildlife & habitat– wildlife dependent recreation &
environmental education– maintenance
• 94 individuals• 17, 241 hours contributed
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Volunteers in Wildlife Science• Wildlife science
– 43% of volunteers; 68% of hours
• Assist research & habitat management
• Research – up to 3 months• Habitat management –
intermittent, 1 -7 days
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Research• Brown bear-salmon
interactions• Mountain goat diet &
feeding site preferences• Kittlitz’s murrelet nesting
ecology• Marine bird surveys• Plant inventory
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Photos: USFWS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Research (cont.)
• Researcher & team of volunteers
• Live in field camps up to 2 months
• Long duration & hours & physically demanding
• Recruitment starts in November & usually ends in February
• Field season: mid-May to mid-August or longer
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Habitat Management
• Primarily invasive plants• Late May – late September
field season• Survey & site preparation are
dominant tasks(95%)• Other tasks include herbicide
application & monitoring of vegetation response
Bill Pyle/USFWS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Blythe Brown/USFWS
Leslie Kerr/USFWS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
MonitoringOutreach
Control
EvaluationInventory
Control Photos: USFWS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Survey & map Prepare sites for treatment
Herbicide treatment Survey, map, remove flowers
Pho
tos:
US
FW
S
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
Training
• 1st Aid & CPR• Bear hazard
defense• Basic aviation &
dunker
Photos: USFWS
M. Weisenberger / USFWS