Senior Wildlife Technician - Depredation

Idaho Fish and Game is hiring a Senior Wildlife Technician - Depredation in Lewiston, ID. The role involves assisting wildlife staff with programs to prevent conflicts between big game and private landowners. Responsibilities include responding to wildlife complaints, developing partnerships, conducting surveys, and managing data. The position requires knowledge of wildlife ecology and habitat, along with experience in data handling. Strong commitment to wildlife management is essential.
About the position

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is currently seeking to fill a Senior Wildlife Technician - Depredation position at the Clearwater Region office in Lewiston. The successful candidate will assist the region's wildlife staff in implementing wildlife programs that help prevent and compensate private landowners who are experiencing conflicts with big game. This role is crucial in maintaining the balance between wildlife conservation and agricultural interests, ensuring that both wildlife and landowners can coexist. The technician will work directly with private landowners and sportsmen, providing solutions to minimize wildlife-related losses and fostering partnerships that benefit both parties. In addition to working with landowners, the Senior Wildlife Technician will assist in the administration of the Access Yes! program, which facilitates access to private lands for hunting and fishing. Responsibilities will include using and maintaining vehicles such as trucks and ATVs, conducting plant and animal surveys, collecting data, and managing electronic databases. The technician will also assist with report writing, ensuring that all findings and activities are documented accurately. This position requires a strong commitment to wildlife management and the ability to work in challenging outdoor conditions, including adverse weather and rugged terrain. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game prides itself on being a premier natural resource agency dedicated to preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing Idaho's fish and wildlife. The agency is committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence, cultivating opportunities for customers to engage with natural resources and become stewards for future generations. The successful candidate will join a dedicated team that values work-life balance while making a significant impact on wildlife conservation efforts in Idaho.

Responsibilities
• Respond to complaints concerning wildlife depredations.
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• Assist in developing partnerships with farmers and ranchers experiencing wildlife depredations and provide solutions to minimize losses.
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• Haze wildlife away from agricultural crops.
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• Assist regional staff with depredation mitigation, including delivering and erecting fencing materials and deploying wildlife deterrence equipment.
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• Design and implement data collection programs to estimate yield losses.
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• Assist in implementing research to address depredation and landowner/sportsman issues.
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• Assist with administering a private lands access program for hunters and anglers.
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• Assist with big game check stations.

Requirements
• Good knowledge of wildlife ecology and habitat requirements, typically gained by successful completion of college coursework in a wildlife-related field or at least two years of work experience equivalent to a wildlife technician position.
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• Good knowledge of habitat development practices and procedures, typically gained by successful completion of college coursework in wildlife habitat requirements or at least two years of work experience equivalent to a wildlife technician position.
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• Experience recording, summarizing, and analyzing wildlife biological data, typically gained by at least six months of experience manipulating data using a computer.
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• Valid driver's license.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience working with private landowners on private land access programs, depredations, or habitat improvement projects.

Benefits
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance - employee only coverage for PPO $65/month for medical and vision & $11.82/month for dental
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• Participation in one of the Nation's best state retirement systems
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• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual that begins as soon as you start (accumulate approximately 3 weeks of vacation the first year, and increasing with state longevity)
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• Eleven paid holidays a year
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• Eight weeks of Paid Parental Leave
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• Multiple saving plans - optional 401k and 457 plans
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• Group Life Insurance/Disability Insurance/Supplemental Life Insurance - state provided basic life insurance coverage and affordable supplemental plans
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• Public Sector Student Loan forgiveness (eligibility requirements may apply)
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• Employee Assistance Program - confidential support, information, and resources for all of life's challenges
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• State and Department Wellness Programs
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• Ongoing training opportunities
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• Potential flexible work schedule