Wildlife Technician (Forest Grouse): North Utah

Salary

$11-12/hr ($1,800/month), depending on experience

Start Date

04/01/2023 and Early May 2023

Last Date to Apply

03/17/2023

Description

Two wildlife technicians needed for dusky and ruffed grouse breeding surveys, active grouse capture for GPS/radio tagging, brood and individual relocation and monitoring, deploying automatic recording units (ARU’s), and data entry. Other tasks may include grouse nest searching, passive grouse capture via traps, vegetation surveys and measurement, and ARU construction/maintenance.  Grouse capture will involve trained bird dogs. Tasks will vary depending on project needs, and will change over the course of the field season.

This is part of a multi-year study investigating dusky grouse habitat selection, breeding ecology, survival and reproduction, management and harvest rates (for both dusky and ruffed grouse). An additional objective is assessing survey methods for both species including ARUs. Dusky grouse are a relatively understudied species. Modern wildlife field techniques have yet to be thoroughly used on them. Those selected for this position have the opportunity to be a part of some novel and exciting research.

At least one of the positions will start ~April 1st and the other has the opportunity to start early to mid May (or right after most spring semesters end). Preference may be given to those who can start earliest. 

Field work will be just outside Logan, UT around Logan Canyon in the Bear River Range. Backcountry camping may be required (or most convenient) for some early field days. 

This position will be under the guidance of graduate student Logan Clark and Dr. Dave Dahlgren who runs the USU Extension Wildlife-Rangeland Habitat Lab https://www.usugrouserange.com/

Qualifications

All applicants must have a strong work ethic, a valid driver’s license, adequate hearing, willingness to travel, ability to walk long distances in forested mountain terrain, navigate with GPS/aerial maps on smartphone or tablet, willing to conduct field research under rigorous and remote conditions during variable weather (snow and rain early in the field season; full sun and heat at the end of the field season), comfortable around free ranging cattle, and comfortable around dogs for research. Those with, or working towards, an undergraduate degree in wildlife biology, natural resources, zoology, rangeland ecology, botany or a related field will be preferred. 

Preference will also be given to those with experience working alone in a backcountry setting, operating 4WD vehicles, camping in remote areas, experience with bird dogs, a passion for upland gamebird ecology, experience handling wild birds, familiarity with the flora and fauna of Northern Utah, and radio telemetry experience. 

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and contact info for two references in a single PDF file to Logan Clark (logan.clark@usu.edu)

USU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive

consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion,

sex/gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran

status, or any other attribute protected by law. We appreciate applications that

help build a more diverse community here at USU.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Contact Person

Logan Clark

Contact eMail

logan.clark@usu.edu