Seasonal Biological Technician – Arizona Toad Surveys

Seasonal Biological Technician – Arizona Toad Surveys

Dates: early April – end of June 2025 (approx. 3 months)

Salary: $19 – $21/hour DOE

Location: Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) and surrounding areas

Project Background: The University of Montana in conjuncture with the U.S. Geological Survey is seeking applications for one (1) seasonal biological technician to assist with field surveys for the Arizona Toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus). The Arizona Toad has been petitioned for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to threats including drought, changes in hydrological regimes of streams, and hybridization with Woodhouse’s Toads. Arizona Toads are established at sites across New Mexico, Arizona, and southwest Utah but have not been confirmed in southern Nevada in several decades. 

The goal of the project is to determine the extent of occurrence by the Arizona Toad in southern Nevada and determine if there is suitable habitat available for the toad in the future. These surveys will provide critical information to the Clark County Desert Conservation Program (DCP) to inform land management and conservation decisions within Clark County in the coming years, as well as to agencies responsible for making an ESA listing decision.

Position Description: We are seeking one (1) technician to assist in conducting field surveys in remote desert areas across southern Nevada, with potential surveys in southern Utah and western Arizona. The work is ~90% field-based with ~10% data entry, QA/QC tasks, and gear maintenance and preparation. This position requires car camping and potentially short backpacking trips in isolated areas in a spectrum of spring and summer Mojave Desert weather, including extreme heat and sun exposure and potential for freezing overnight temperatures, rain, hail, and high winds. Schedule is TBD but will likely consist of ~10-hour field days with 4 days on/3 days off or 8 days on/6 days off hitches. An upbeat and positive attitude, flexibility to changing survey plans and weather conditions, willingness to learn, strong organizational and communication skills, and ability to care for one’s personal health and needs in extreme conditions are critical for success in this position. The technician is responsible for arranging their housing in between hitches. Personal camping gear (sleeping bag/pad, tent, etc.) is not provided.

Job Duties:

• Conducting visual encounter surveys (VES) for desert dwelling amphibians (with a focus on toads) including species identification, collecting buccal/skin swabs, collecting voucher specimens as necessary, and recording environmental data.
• Conducting environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling according to standard protocols, including clean sample collection, sample filtration, storage, and gear preparation.
• Collecting high quality species-level, environmental, and spatial data and performing daily data QA/QC checks with the project lead.
• Working irregular hours with long field days, including early mornings and both daytime and nighttime surveys if surveys reveal potential for presence of adults at a site (i.e. tadpoles present).
• Driving and navigating to field sites both on- and off-road and on- and off-trail.
• Maintaining and preparing field gear for hitches.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in biology, ecology, conservation, wildlife studies, or a related subject is required.
• 1 to 2 seasons of previous wildlife field research experience, preferably with amphibians and/or water sampling or eDNA protocols.
• Extreme attention to detail in data collection and ability to follow detailed protocols for surveys and data QA/QC, as well as disease transmission mitigation and between-site sanitation practices is required.
• Ability to hike ~10 miles/day in summer desert conditions, including extreme heat and sun exposure, while carrying heavy loads over steep and uneven terrain. Comfort with off-trail scrambling in washes/watercourses or on loose rocky terrain is strongly preferred.
• Experience navigating both on and off trail preferred, ability to read and navigate with a topographic map and compass, and experience with mobile mapping applications like OnX and Aveza.
• Experience driving on rough roads and on 4×4 trails, and a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Experience with Microsoft suite programs.
• Comfortable working at night and in remote settings, both independently and as a member of a small 2-person team.
• The person hired will have to be signed on as a volunteer for U.S. Geological Survey (pay will be through University of Montana), so they must be a U.S. citizen and able to pass a background check.