Volunteer
Job Description
DATES: 5/1/2023 – 10/1/2023
ADDRESS:
Bridger-Teton National Forest
PO Box 1888, 340 North Cache
Wyoming 83001
The Bridger-Teton National Forest, in partnership with Friends of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, is recruiting a Wildlife & Education Ambassador for a full- time ambassadorship on the Blackrock Ranger District during summer season 2023. The Blackrock Ranger Station is located in Moran, Wyoming, in the beautiful Northwestern corner of the State within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The individual will lead bear safety education efforts across the district, providing education in the field to National Forest visitors, permit holders such as resort and outfitter/guide operators, and homeowners adjacent to the National Forest. Additionally, the incumbent would coordinate with district staff on signing and infrastructure related to bear safety and food storage compliance. Education will include all forest wildlife species as well as monitoring forest visitors, campsites, food storage equipment, and refuse.
Work Schedule: Full time, 4 days per week
Duty Station: Blackrock Ranger Station, Wyoming
Position Start and End Date: May 1, 2023 – October 1, 2023
Government Housing Options: Full RV hook ups to accommodate camper unit. Government housing may or may not be available.
DUTIES
Serves as bear safety education lead for the district in coordination with Zone Wildlife Technician and Biologist to help mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
Grizzly bears frequent meadows along US Highway 26, the Togwotee scenic corridor that attracts large crowds. Education is important to deliver in these scenarios to help prevent potentially dangerous human/bear encounters due to people getting too close to grizzly bears and bear cubs.
The district has a variety of infrastructure including food storage boxes, food storage poles, and a wide variety of signage at campgrounds, trailheads, and dispersed campsites throughout the district front country and backcountry. This signage and infrastructure require maintenance, inventory, and evaluation of adequacy/needed changes or updates, and consistency across types of sites.
Ambassador would also be responsible for assisting with signing of temporary area closures for public safety in instances such as a bear claiming a carcass near a developed area, campsite, trail, etc. and communicating human-bear safety concerns with forest colleagues and partner agencies as appropriate.
Individuals may assist with bear safety/bear spray use trainings for resort and outfitter/guide employees.
· Proactively patrol and initiate public contacts and educational outreach focused on reducing bear conflict; promoting food storage, Bear Aware, and responsible wildlife-viewing best practices.
· Respond to calls and provide roadside bear education, presence, and signage in collaboration with WGF/WYDOT and Togwotee Mountain Lodge Staff to prevent unsafe behavior.
· Facilitating bear safety training sessions for local outfitters and lodges in collaboration with WYGF.
· Helping inventory, maintain/repair existing bear boxes and signage in campgrounds/trailheads/dispersed camping sites throughout the district.
· Responding to situations across the district where we may need to provide safety signage such as a bear on a carcass.
· Additional outreach/education to the “inholding” areas on Buffalo Valley to promote good behavior with grills, bird feeders, trash storage, etc.
· Work independently around potentially dangerous wildlife.
· Provide forest visitors with information about bear ecology, behavior, and conservation, bear safety, and ethical wildlife viewing standards.
· Record bear observations and behavior including the use of scopes, binoculars, range finder, and interpreting bear sign.
· Interprets bear behavior and ecology for visitors and answering questions.
· Deliver PowerPoint and oral bear/wildlife safety presentations.
· Documenting human behavior related to bear encounters and providing these details in written fashion to US Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers or position supervisors.
· Keeping daily records of grizzly bear, black bear, and other wildlife observations.
· May remove roadkill or assist WDOT or WGFD when removing roadkill.
· Demonstrate a courteous, customer service attuite with visitors and colleagues.
· Follow U.S. Forest Service procedures and policies.
· Follow US Forest Service social media policy.
· As an agency representative, support and explain agency policy and objectives.
· Ambassador will carry, at a minimum, a radio, bear spray, maps, and cell phone.
· During wildlife downtime, assist district with chores, minor maintenance, and other program needs.
· Operate a government motor vehicle and/or side-by-side safely while adhering to USFS defensive driving standards. Many forest roads are dirt/gravel and can be rough and dusty and at times impassable due to downed trees.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Ability to engage the public with a friendly and professional public service attitude.
· Experience working with people under challenging and emotionally charged situations.
· Ability to work independently with little or no known supervision for extended periods.
· A passion to serve and promote public lands and their stewardship in the spirit of a public servant, recognizing the mission of the Forest Service to provide for the sustainability of many diverse uses.
· The ability to be self-motivated and work independently and have the ability and willingness to ask questions for clarification. The ability to cooperate and serve as an extension of the Forest Staff.
· An understanding of bear behavior and an operational command of safety and ethical standards of wildlife viewing.
· Ability to stand/walk for long periods of time in all weather conditions.
· Ability to engage the public with a friendly and professional public service attitude.
· Experience working with people under challenging and emotionally charged situations.
· A passion to serve and promote public lands and their stewardship in the spirit of a public servant, recognizing the mission of the Forest Service to provide for the sustainability of many diverse uses.
· Ability to maintain attention to safety while following FS protocols and safety operation procedures.
· The ability to be self-motivated and work independently and have the ability and willingness to ask questions for clarification. The ability to cooperate and serve as an extension of the Forest Staff.
· An understanding of bear behavior and an operational command of safety and ethical standards of wildlife viewing.
· Operate a government motor vehicle and or side-by-side safely while adhering to USFS defensive driving standards.
· Wear the provided identifying uniform.
· Records own volunteer hours, fill out daily logs, and accomplishments. Timesheets turned in a timely manner at the beginning of the month. Turn work logs in weekly.
· During wildlife down time, assist district with chores, minor maintenances, and assist with other program needs.
· Provide supervisors with recommendations for improving the operation as necessary.
· Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some early evenings (before dark) and weekends.
· Ability to commit to the full term of service.
· Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
· U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.
SKILLS
Biology
Conservation Education
Fish/Wildlife
Visitor Information
Working with People
WORK ENVIRONMENT
· Work may require extended periods of standing and walking, including many hours spent standing near traffic and in proximity to potentially dangerous wildlife.
· Educational interfaces may be formalized through indoor presentations or in the field and situationally dependent. Not all visitors will be friendly or cooperative.
· Work will be performed in inclement weather, including hot, sunny, buggy, rainy, cold, and snowy conditions.
· Can lift objects that weigh up to 50 pounds plus. Cooler, bear boxes, carcasses etc.