Wildlife Technician (Small Mammals/Greater Sage-Grouse)

Description: We are hiring 1 technician to assist with a graduate research project examining the indirect effects of herbicide application on small mammals and greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Our aim is to determine whether herbicide application can indirectly affect wildlife through the control of annual grasses, with an emphasis on changes in available forage. Research objectives for this project are addressed via: 1. trail camera and pellet surveys to quantify greater sage-grouse habitat use, 2. small mammal live-trapping to examine changes in survival and density, and 3. rangeland plant surveys.

Start Date: ~05/27/2024

End Date: ~08/16/2024

Schedule: Technician will work 5-days on for 40 hours/week, with days often split into morning and evening shifts once small mammal trapping begins. Some occasional weekend work may be required. Exact start/end date may vary slightly from those listed.

Housing/Location: Field housing in the form of a wall tent is provided, and a permanent outdoor kitchen and pit toilet are present on site. All work will take place on Rinker Rock Creek Ranch, a working research ranch located just south of the Sawtooth Mountains near Bellevue, Idaho. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Set and maintain trail cameras for greater sage-grouse detection
• Assist with live-trapping and handling of small mammals (including ear tagging and collection of morphometric data)
• Complete microhabitat and preferred forb surveys
• Traverse transects for sage-grouse pellet surveys
• Enter data regularly

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 18 years of age or older
• High school diploma or GED
• A valid driver’s license
• Ability to pass a criminal background check
• Positive attitude and desire to learn about small mammal/greater sage-grouse ecology
• Ability to work and live closely with graduate student and ranch interns
• Willingness to live and work in a natural setting with few amenities

Desired Qualifications:

• B.S. (in progress or completed) in wildlife, natural resources, or related fields
• ~6 months of work experience in natural resources, ecology, or related field
• Experience collecting field data and following established field protocols
• Experience handling wildlife, particularly small mammals
• Experience using hand-held GPS equipment
• Knowledge of rangeland plant ID
• Experience operating trail cameras