Location: California State Parks in the Lake Tahoe Basin
Commitment: 20-40 hours per week, minimum commitment 10 weeks
Time Period: May 26 – Sep 19, 2010
Application Deadline: February 28, 2010
Compensation: This is an unpaid position.  Housing and/or a stipend may be provided. 

Job Description: The main duties of the position are to work in the campgrounds educating visitors about the importance of food storage in bear country, communicating with visitors during bear capture, monitoring food storage compliance, and conducting campfire programs about bears and other topics of interest.  The position may also assist with bear capture and release.  Other interpretive topics and duties may be explored based on the successful applicant’s interest. 

We are looking for someone that has a good public presence, is able to successfully communicate with a diverse group of people, and work well independently.  Previous experience or knowledge about black bears and their management is not required; we will provide the necessary training.  The position is located in the Lake Tahoe Basin, where we have 5 campgrounds in 4 different park units.  If you would like to learn more about the parks and the area, visit www.parks.ca.gov.  This position will require working nights and weekends. 

To apply: Submit a cover letter and resume (email or snail mail) to the address below.  In the cover letter, please include the dates of your availability, any relevant course work you have completed, and any relevant experience you may have.  This should include public speaking, verbal communication skills, interacting with a diversity of people, and wildlife management.  

Lisa Fields
Sierra District, California State Parks
PO Box 16
Tahoe City, California 96145
530-581-3856
lfields@parks.ca.gov

Positions available: approximately 10 wildlife research internships.

Background: The USGS and University of Montana are leading a large, cooperative effort to evaluate the ability of noninvasive genetic sampling to estimate the population growth rate of a grizzly bear population in northwestern Montana.  The project is conducting repeated surveys of bear rubs to collect hair samples for genotyping and mark-recapture analysis.

Study area: The approximately 34,000 km2 study area is extremely diverse, ranging from remote, mountainous areas, to managed timber and agricultural lands, to native prairies.  Land ownership and management are equally diverse, with national park, national and state forests, Native American reservations, corporate timber, non-government organizations, and private lands included.

Responsibilities: Duties include surveying trails, forest roads, power lines and fences to collect hair from bear rubs in a portion of the study area.  Most of the positions will involve backcountry hiking and camping, however, some crews will be assigned to front-country locations that offer limited hiking or camping, and may require use of ATVs.  Interns will be assigned to work with an experienced Biological Science Technician.  Although most bear rubs were established in 2009, crews will continue searching for new sampling opportunities throughout the season.  As part of a non-invasive project, crews will be collecting hair from designated sampling sites and will not be involved with wildlife immobilization and handling, nor are observations of bears in the field guaranteed.  

Interns are needed from early June through October, but shorter assignments are possible.  We strive for 9 hour work days, following a 9 days on, 5 days off schedule.  However, longer days may occur to accomplish objectives.  We plan to offer a stipend of approximately $300 per month and will assist in locating housing for interns, but housing is not guaranteed.

Desired qualifications: 1) ability to work safely in remote field locations under potentially extreme conditions, including inclement weather, biting insects, river and snowfield crossings, and rugged terrain with a 40+ pound backpack, 2) ability to follow scientific protocols, 3) willingness to be flexible and maintain a positive attitude despite challenging conditions, 4) valid driver’s license, and 5) ability to communicate with the public and be a good representative of the project and our partners.

Benefits to interns: Interns will gain experience in the following: 1) working on large-scale, multi-year, multi-agency research on a threatened species that uses cutting-edge molecular genetic and statistical methods, 2) developing valuable skills including data acquisition, logistics, data management, back-country navigation, GPS use, hiking and camping in bear country, leave-no-trace ethics, and GIS/database management, and 3) living and working in northwestern Montana with its limitless opportunities to explore the surrounding wildlands and observe wildlife.

To apply, send the following to beardnajobs@usgs.gov: 1) a cover letter detailing your interests in this project and specifying available dates, 2) a 1-2 page resume with relevant work and personal experiences, and 3) contact information for 3 references.

For more project information visit: http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/NGSbear_monitoring.htm <http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/NGSbear_monitoring.htm>

If you still have questions, please send them to beardnajobs@usgs.gov.

Jeff Stetz
USGS Glacier Field Station
West Glacier, MT  59936
http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/staff/jstetz <http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/staff/jstetz