Washington Wolf politics

[haus]

You're right about the art science part of biology, however- a person trained in the habits and motivations of wildlife can make more accurate and precise (though still imperfect) decisions about management.  In any population there are going to be outlyers.  I'm not saying that it takes a 'trained' (college) biologist to make accurate assumptions and decisions, but it takes someone that understands the function of a natural system.

I think there are still a lot of well meaning biologists that have foremost interest in the wildlife and the habitat (I'd like to think that I am one).  Biologists are not exactly getting rich off their studies or any of the legislation or persuasion of the FWS. 

It's not the skill level that concerns me as much as the application of the data and how its being interpreted by the managers overseeing the biologists. Most often we are receiving filtered information from biologists. Who the intent of the filterer can sway the overall impression of a biologist, especially when it comes to media reports. As for items off of the WDFW, I'm seeing a filter being applied to everything thats coming out of the department. From basic website layout to the details of each regional wildlife report. I'm doubting that biologists have much control over this and I'm curious how much it bothers them. WC in your opinion, what sort of perspective do biologists have towards the media and fish/wildlife departments? Do the read reports from each and feel like they were interpreted properly or do they feel like their data's being cherry picked to serve special interest?

[Special T]

I would be happy to buy WB and WC beer just to sit down with them....   I have a degree in Marketing.... I was going to do some side work/ market survey for a Dept at the university..... I sat and talked to the director of this dept and he told me he needed me to do a survey of the students so that he could make changes to his dept.... I told him and a couple of other students could take care of it... So in the discussion, background info, He said 60-70 of other universities  had made this change in the last 4 years. He had been to a Convention that discussed this issue at length and it was praised as the new way to do "business"... I was befuddled and said to him "What do you need me to do a survey for? your on the right track and can save yourself some cash... I wouldn't waste your time!" He ended up hiring an out of state Mkt firm to come up with the "Documentation" he required to CYA... That was one of my 1st lessons about the world of politics in gov institutions.... I later learned he knew i was right and hired someone else because He already had the end in mind adn just needed "confirmation/covering fire" to move ahead.