A wildlife biologist studies wild animals and their habitat.
An understanding of animal behavior, skillful handling of wildlife, curiosity, and keen observation skills are all very important to my work.
How do bald eagles utilize elk meat and tissue in the absence of coyotes? Wintering bald eagles usually depend on coyotes to tear open elk carcasses.
Motion–activated trail cameras focused on elk carcasses are used to record foraging by both diurnal and nocturnal species. This enables us to monitor multiple areas simultaneously.
Typically only 10 to 15 wintering bald eagles frequent Mormon Lake. The eagles feed mostly on waterfowl. However, one winter and spring, counts of bald eagles increased weekly to a high of about 120 eagles. We discovered the food source was fathead minnows that were frozen into the ice during low water levels.
As a child I loved being outdoors with my family. I enjoyed fishing, cutting firewood, and visiting the family homestead. That family homestead is now part of a national forest! During my first season as a wildland firefighter for the Forest Service, I learned about the wildlife biologist job. It seemed like the dream job to me.
