Author: Blake Sasse

Take Precautions When Working in Dangerous Areas

While it is an extremely rare occurrence, murder is one of the most common causes of deaths of wildlife workers and assaults against government employees are an often under-reported problem. According to the Tuscon Sun, on August 23rd a group of bat biologists were confronted by armed militia members while counting bats at a site near the Arizona Border.

It is probably worth doing to always let law enforcement agencies know of your presence and intentions when working on any public lands and to check with them about any recent incidents that could prove a danger to you and your folks. For example, is the area known for sites where marijuana is grown? Are people cooking meth in caves or at campgrounds that you may be working around.

When working alone set up some sort of check-in system with your agency, friends, or family to let them know where you are, what you are doing, and when you expect to return. And be sure that your family knows the right people to contact if you are overdue.

Some agencies may allow firearms to be carried by wildlife biologists that are also not certified law enforcement officers. Depending on your situation, this may be something worth considering.

Sure, many of us work alone in remote areas on a regular basis and setting up and organizing such a system can be somewhat burdensome, but it only takes one incident to make it all worthwhile. Hopefully, all public agencies keep close track of their employees, but it appears to me that as cell phones are taking over from the radio as the main source of communications, wildlife biologists aren’t as likely to be keeping in contact with the dispatchers as well as they did in the past. Shouldn’t it be a matter of critical priority for public agencies to keep track of their biologists as they do others in the agency?

Boating Safety for Wildlife Biologists

Boats are commonly used by wildlife biologists for transportation, management and research activities. After aviation accidents, drowning was the second leading cause of wildlife worker mortality from 1937-2000, accounting for 11% of known deaths.

Boating Safety Education
Everyone operating a boat should at a minimum be required to complete the state boating safety education class offered in all fifty states. Sure, many states have phase-in requirements that may exempt those above a certain age from taking the class, but we, as professionals should be setting the standard for the general public. And if you work for a state fish and wildlife agency there is really no excuse for not having taken this class since your employer most likely not only teaches the class but enforces the rules as well.

The state boating class is akin to the driver’s education class that many of us took in high school in that it will teach you many principles of boating safely as well as the “rules of the road”, but won’t really give you the hands-on experience you need to really become proficient in their use. Before going out on your own, you should spend some time running a boat under the supervision of someone who really knows what they’re doing. In some areas the Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron offer advanced boating skills classes that may be helpful to new and experienced boaters alike.

Some boats pose unique challenges that need to be addressed as part of the orientation process. Those using canoes and kayaks should consider taking a course from the American Canoe Association or other organization. Airboats have an entirely different set of operational principles and risks than other motor boats and some agencies will require an airboat training class. If this isn’t offered by your employer, check out the airboat safety manuals available on our Safety Resources page.

Life Jackets
This one is simple — if you’re on a boat deck, you must have your life jacket on. I don’t care whether or not its required of the general public, but those of us that work for public agencies need to be setting the example by wearing the jacket. If you don’t want to do it for them, do it for your family.

If your only experience is with those old bulky orange life jackets you really should check out some of the new models on the market. Inflatable life jackets are great for use in hot and humid environments as are mesh vests with strategically placed floatation materials. For winter use there are jackets or full body suits (similar to a snow suit) that will keep you from sinking in the water while providing some measure of protection from the wind (but not a lot of thermal protection) while on board.

Weight Management
Wildlife biologists don’t just use boats to get from one place to another – sometimes we’re using small boats as cargo vessels to move the supplies and equipment we use for management and research purposes. These small boats weren’t really built for this purpose and we need to pay special attention to how much weight we put in them as overloading can drastically change the handling characteristics of the boat and a lower free board will increase the risk of swamping the boat. Each boat should have a capacity plate that lists the maximum payload. Before launching make sure that the weight of the people and cargo don’t exceed the capabilities of your boat.

Annual Inspections
In addition to pre-trip inspection before every use, it is important that a thorough annual inspection be completed on boats and trailers. In many areas the Coast Guard Auxiliary can provide a free annual boat safety inspection. Annual inspections should ensure that:
1) Registration and hull identification numbers are clearly legible and that all required documentation is up-to-date and available.
2) Life jackets stored on or used by those on the boat are in good condition.
3) Fire extinguisher(s) is fully charged and within its service life.
4) Ventilation system is working on boats with enclosed engines.
5) Horn and navigation lights are working
6) The engine horsepower does not exceed the rated horsepower for the boat as noted on the capacity plate and that the engine kill switch is installed and working.
7) Visual distress signals are on board.
8) Trailer tires tread is serviceable, tires are properly inflated, turn signals and brake lights are working.
9) Battery terminals should be covered to prevent arcing
10) The general condition of the hull, deck, engine, and other parts of the boat is sound

Boats and Prescribed Fire
In certain parts of the country airboats are commonly used to set prescribed burns in shallow marshes. After making a fire line by mashing down grass in the swamp, flamethrowers mounted on the airboat are then used to start the fire. This can be quite risky as you are generally dependent on the boat to get you out of the hazard zone and into a safe area and if the boat fails for any reason other options may not be available. Obviously, all precautions should be taken to remove unnecessary materials from the boat that could catch fire due to a stray ember. Special precautions should be taken to shield extra gasoline needed for boat operation from heat generated from the flamethrower. Communication is essential so that if your boat fails you can request assistance immediately.

Are there other safety issues involving the use of boats for wildlife management and research that I should address?

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In Memoriam – David Sherwood Pitkin

Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist David Sherwood Pitkin died in the crash of a small plane on January 27, 2010 while performing an aerial survey of migratory waterfowl near Corvallis, Oregon. At the time Pitkin was working under contract to the USFWS. In 1992 Dave began work with the USFWS as a volunteer at the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge before becoming a biological technician. In 1999 he was promoted to the position of wildlife biologist at the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. He left the service in 2007, but continued to volunteer and do contract work for the Service until his death.

A plaque dedicated to Pitkin was placed at the Coquille Point Unit of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Bandon Oregon.

In Memoriam – Rocky Spencer

Rocky Spencer, a wildlife biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, was killed near Yakima, WA on September 8, 2007 after being hit by a helicopter rotor while walking around the aircraft as part of a project to capture big-horn sheep.

Spencer joined the department as a technician in 1978 after graduating from Western Washington University.

In Memoriam – Ronnie Marie Sidner

Dr. Ronnie Marie Sidner was killed in a car accident on August 2, 2014 while returning from a birding and nature festival in Arizona where she had been educating participants about bats by using night vision equipment to show them foraging at hummingbird feeders. She obtained a Bachelors degree from Kansas State University and later attended the University of Arizona where she earned Masters and PhD degrees in Mammalogy.
Sources: EIN News; www.obitsforlife.com

In Memoriam – Eric C. York

Eric C. York, a wildlife biologist with the National Park Service, died on November 2, 2007 died of pneumonic plague contracted after conducting a necropsy on a mountain lion. York earned a Bachelors Degree from the University of Maine at Orono in 1992 and a Masters Degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Sources: Greenfield (MA) Recorder November 13, 2007; KMGH TV, Denver CO November 13, 2007.

In Memoriam – Tami Wagner

Tami Wagner, a wildlife biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, died in a vehicle accident on October 25, 2010. While driving a state vehicle on Highway 20 near Toledo, Oregon another vehicle crossed the highway median and was struck by a large truck which flipped over and hit the pickup truck driven by Ms. Wagner.

Originally from South Norwalk, CT she earned a bachelors degree in wildlife biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1980. After working for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game she moved to Oregon in 1989. She had been an Assistant District Wildlife Biologist at the office in Newport for 21 years.

A 141 acre wildlife area along the Yachats River was named in her honor in 2011.

Sources: Newport (OR) News-Times October 29, 2010. Oregonlive.com

In Memoriam – David S. Maehr

Dr. David S. Maehr, of the University of Kentucky, died June 20, 2008 in an airplane accident near Lake Placid, Florida while monitoring radio-collared black bears using radiotelemetry. He earned his BS in wildlife from the University of Ohio and MS and PhD degrees from the University of Florida. He was among the pioneers in the study of the endangered Florida panther as a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from 1980-1994.

Source: Tampa Bay Times, June 21, 2008; http://sofia.usgs.gov/memorials/maehr/