Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Technician - Natural Resource Tech - Seasonal

Title: Sherman Creek Wildlife Area Technician

Classification: Natural Resource Technician 3

Job Status: Full-Time/Career Seasonal

Season Length: Eight (8) months – April 1 – November 30

WDFW Program: Wildlife Program – Lands Division

Duty Station: Kettle Falls, Washington – Ferry County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Located a few miles northwest of Kettle Falls and bordered by the Colville National Forest, the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area contains many wildlife species that are dependent on its managed Ponderosa pine forest habitat.

The Wildlife Area Technician helps to implement projects to protect, maintain, and improve habitats, species, and recreational opportunities on the Wildlife Area. This involves the inspection and maintenance of area facilities, equipment, and infrastructure, as well as vegetation management and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance.

Our ideal applicant will be an excellent communicator with both organization and time management skills, along with experience in land management and habitat enhancement duties.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Wildlife Area Technician will,

• Plan, coordinate and implement projects to protect, maintain, and improve habitats, species, and recreational opportunities on the Wildlife Area.
• Restore, enhance, and maintain wildlife habitats.
• Implement Integrated Pest Management plan and apply herbicides as needed.
• Conduct agricultural activities such as mowing, disking, seeding, and trimming trees.
• Operate a variety of small and heavy equipment to include brush cutters, chainsaws ATVs, UTVs, tractors, and excavators.
• Inspect, manage, and maintain access areas and public use resources on the wildlife area to ensure the health and safety of the public, compliance, and the aesthetics of the wildlife area.

• Work collaboratively with WDFW staff to collect CWD samples at hunter check-stations, from taxidermists and meat processors, at drop-off locations with sample collection receptacles, and opportunistically from road-killed deer.
• Collect medial retro pharyngeal lymph nodes and obex using knives, scalpels, forceps, and other appropriate biological sampling tools.
• Manage biological samples including proper organization, storage, and shipment to approved labs.
• Organize and enter data in a timely manner using ArcGIS Survey
  123 and associated web-based platforms, i.e., ArcGIS Web Maps.

• Maintain Wildlife Area buildings, information kiosks, and signage.
• Maintain and oversee irrigation systems.
• Assist/oversee the implementation of capital improvement projects.
• Maintain roads, culverts, gates, fences, parking lots and other capital improvements.
• Maintain wildlife area vehicles, equipment, and maintenance records.
• Monitor/assess/ensure safety of Wildlife Area facilities and equipment.

Work Setting, including hazards:
Primarily field work, which includes exposure to inclement weather including extreme heat or snow, difficult terrain including slippery rocks, steep banks and sticky mud, and water. Hazards include tripping/falling and other things consistent with working with small and large equipment in an outdoor setting or while working around water. Some work is performed in an office or shop setting. Work requires employee to walk, lift, bend, and stoop – sometimes on uneven terrain and while at times carrying up to 45 pounds of tools and/or equipment, safely drive on primitive roads during all weather conditions, use 4 x 4 trucks, utility and large frame tractors, construction equipment, ATVs, UTVs, and must load and transport heavy equipment.

This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work as needed.…