Furbearer Wildlife Specialist

This position serves as the Assistant Furbearer Specialist in the Bureau of Wildlife Management under the supervision of the Big Game Section Chief. This position works directly with the Furbearer Specialist and coordinates and collaborates with other staff including the Rules & Regulations Specialist, Licensing and Law Enforcement staff, and Research staff to accomplish furbearer management program objectives. This position requires knowledge of furbearer biology (i.e., beaver, otter, mink, muskrat, bobcat, coyote, red fox, raccoon, gray fox, fisher, and gray wolves), furbearer harvest management alternatives, furbearer population monitoring methods, hunting and trapping traditions, hunter and trapper behavior, groups interested in furbearer management, Chippewa Treaty Rights, furbearer management statutes and administrative code, data base management and analysis, and technical report writing procedures.

 

40% - Assist the furbearer management program by reviewing and interpreting furbearer population and harvest data to develop and write scientific reports, popular articles, and correspondence with the public. 

 

30% - Participate on interdisciplinary committees to develop, design or modify furbearer harvest regulations, permitting processes, harvest quotas, & permit levels that will result in appropriate furbearer population harvest levels. 

 

20% - Manage the furbearer program website, develop press releases on a variety of furbearer management activities, and provide input to regional publications of our furbearer management program using professional knowledge of furbearers and their ecology. 

 

10% - Conduct professional presentations at technical committee meetings, Conservation Congress meetings, the WI Trapper Association meetings, sport shows & a wide variety of public organizations.

 

This position is responsible for the statewide leadership, oversight, direction, and management of the Wisconsin Cooperative Trapper Education Program (WCTEP). The person in this position will cooperate with the Wisconsin Trappers Association (WTA) statewide coordinators in the overall implementation of the WCTEP and is responsible for the development and coordination of furbearer educational programming, workshops, outreach material, and communication with conservation partners. This position will also assist the state Furbearer Specialist to administer the furbearer management program. Furbearer wildlife species of primary concern include beaver, otter, mink, muskrat, bobcat, coyote, red fox, raccoon, gray fox, fisher, and gray wolves. 

 

50% - Administer the Wisconsin trapper education programs in cooperation with the WTA Statewide Coordinator & the WTA Correspondence Coordinator. 

 

30% - Assist in the development of trapper education program budgets & coordinate the payment of all bills & invoices. Handle telephone inquiries, e-mail & internet requests on the program, trapping regulations and general questions. Process first time hunter/trapper experience certificates. 

 

15% - Assist with trapper education Fur Schools designed specifically for Wildlife Management staff, Law Enforcement staff, and University students. 

 

5% - Lead the annual trapper education committee meeting and provide assistance in agenda development, presentation development & presenting, meeting management, equipment acquisition, report writing and final summaries.

Between $16.00 - $18.50 per hour depending on experience and training.