Nonlethal Deterrent Technician – Mountain Lions

Overview

The Young lab at Utah State University is seeking one (1) technician to assist with fieldwork on a collaborative project with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, USDA’s Wildlife Services, and National Wildlife Research Center. The technician will work for a master’s student, assisting her with a study to evaluate the efficacy of several non-lethal deterrents for managing livestock depredations by mountain lions. The non-lethal deterrents that are being tested include: turbo fladry, visual barriers, motion-activated scare devices, and hazing with hounds. The position is expected to last ~4 months, but the exact start and end dates may vary, and there may be an opportunity to work through fall and winter (pending additional funding).

Responsibilities

Work will generally be on private ranchlands throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills. The technician’s primary duties will be assisting the graduate student with deploying and maintaining nonlethal deterrents. This includes building and modifying livestock fencing, often in the presence of a variety of livestock (some of which are not friendly).

 

Other duties include setting up and maintaining game cameras, communicating with CDFW personnel, and interacting with study participants. The technician can expect to work variable hours a few days per week, sometimes on weekends or holidays. While we anticipate an average of 20 hours/week, work hours will be highly variable due to weather, ranch access, and livestock depredations, such that any given week may be more or less than 20 hours and any given day may be anywhere between 0-10 hours.

 

In rare circumstances, the technician may accompany Wildlife Services personnel and the graduate student while they haze depredating mountain lions with hound dogs. This activity will often occur with little notice and may require extensive hiking over rough terrain.

 

Applicants MUST be comfortable working long hours, often in the presence of livestock and livestock guardian dogs, in variable weather and terrain conditions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Have or be working towards a degree in wildlife ecology/management, biology, natural resources, or a similar field.
• Self-motivated, capable of working independently in remote settings alone, and physically capable of conducting remote fieldwork.
• Able to navigate using GPS units and/or the OnX app.
• Good communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with landowners, CDFW personnel, USDA and USU personnel, and the supervising graduate student.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and have data management skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to follow directions, including strict field protocols.
• Valid driver’s license to perform essential job responsibilities, such as driving university vehicles and transporting materials. 
• Patience, attention-to-detail, adaptability, stamina (mental and physical), respect for others – even if they hold different opinions than you, professional behavior, and a positive team-player attitude.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with people or groups from differing backgrounds.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with livestock husbandry.
• Experience with building and maintaining fences.
• Certifications in wilderness medical care (Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder).

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV" 

2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application 

 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

$15/hour

ADA

The position requires considerable physical activity. Employees must have sufficient strength to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position, including heavy lifting (50 pounds) and/or pushing and pulling of heavy objects. Employees must be prepared to assume uncomfortable positions such as crawling, kneeling, and squatting. Additionally, the work often occurs in the presence of livestock. Applicants MUST be comfortable working long hours, often in the presence of livestock and livestock guardian dogs, in variable weather and terrain conditions.

College/Department Highlights

The S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources is nationally and internationally recognized for its research, extension, and teaching on natural and socio-environmental ecosystems. It is a high-impact college at Utah State University with over $15M in research funding annually, 55 tenure-track faculty in three departments, and close partnerships with federal and state natural resource agenc