District Wildlife Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist

Position: District Wildlife Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4 - Permanent - 2025-09053
Location: Ridgefield

Title
:
District Wildlife Biologist

Classification
:
Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4

Job Status
:
Full-Time / Permanent

WDFW Program
:
Wildlife Program

Southwest Region 5 – District 10 – Counties Served
:
Cowlitz, Lewis, and Wahkiakum

Duty Station
:
Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County

Please Note
:
This position is eligible for an additional 15% pay differential when the incumbent is performing flight duties or chemical immobilization as noted in the duties listed below.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

WDFW Biologist using telemetry to locate a dropped GPS collar on the Klickitat Wildlife Area – Photo Credit: WDFW

As our District Wildlife Biologist
, you’ll play a key part in supporting healthy and diverse wildlife population and ensuring Washingtonians can continue to enjoy the many opportunities these resources provide.

As the senior biologist for the district
, you’ll take the lead on wildlife resource assessment and management efforts. You’ll independently carry out inventory and monitor work, track population changes, and collaborate closely with partners to support and manage both game and non-game wildlife populations.

You’ll also supervise staff and volunteers while serving as a key point of contact for the public, Tribes, and various agencies on a wide range of wildlife issues, from how to coexist with wildlife, wildlife protection and management to habitat restoration.

Come join our team and help shape recommendations for wildlife management conservation and recreation, and contribute to tribal co-management harvest agreements that guide responsible wildlife stewardship throughout the district!

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the District Wildlife Biologist will:

• Conduct assigned wildlife surveys as part of statewide efforts.
• Develop or co-develop, plan, and lead field surveys for game and non-game species using established and emerging monitoring techniques (e.g., aerial surveys, camera traps, acoustic monitoring, spotlight surveys, mark-recapture, telemetry).
• Collect biological samples (DNA, tissues, disease samples) to inform population health assessments.
• Estimate wildlife population size, distribution, recruitment, survival, and mortality using statistical models and data analysis tools.
• Investigate, monitor, and manage disease occurrence in various species.

Measure Population Changes within the District

• Evaluate population trends and identify factors influencing population change over time (predation, harvest, disease, habitat alteration).
• Compile and analyze population data and prepare written reports.

Develop Recommendations for Wildlife-Related Recreation Opportunities

• Apply knowledge of population status, trends, demographic parameters, habitat conditions, and ecology to recommend harvest regulations.
• Recommend changes to hunting regulations.

Supervise Staff

• Assign and direct work of staff while leading work teams in carrying out assignments and ensuring deadlines are met.

Implement Actions Advancing Species Recovery and Management

• Conduct population augmentation, capture, and translocation activities.
• Recommend appropriate management/recovery actions for wildlife populations.

Provide Input on Wildlife Habitat Management and Conservation

• Evaluate habitat quality and quantity and assess population responses to habitat changes.
• Make recommendations for habitat restoration and restore habitats.
• Provide input on habitat altering actions such as forest management, energy development, urban expansion.

Engage and Communicate with the Public, Government, Tribal, and Non-Governmental Partners

• Communicate data and present options, verbally and in writing, to partners and public groups to enhance understanding of wildlife issues.

Work with Private Lands/Conflict Program in Region 5

• Work with Private Lands staff to facilitate recreational access to private lands.
• Coordinate with Wildlife Conflict Specialists to establish hunting seasons and permit levels to help control damage.

WORKING CONDITIONS Work Setting, including hazards

• Work occurs in office environments and extensive field settings across terrestrial, aerial, and marine environments which includes operating a…