State Beaver Trapping Jobs

[h2ofwl4]

The State of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife currently has at least 2 jobs opening for nuisance beaver trapping and relocation.  Jobs are located in Kittitas and Okanogan.  Educational requirements from HS diploma/GED to 4 year college degree depending on the position.


Job Title:    Scientific Technician 2 *05049H
Opening Date/Time:    Wed. 05/23/12 12:00 AM Pacific Time
Closing Date/Time:    Tue. 05/29/12 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Salary:    $2,426.00 - $3,041.00 Monthly
Job Type:   Full Time - Non-Permanent
Location:    Kittitas County – Other, Washington
Department:    Dept. of Fish and Wildlife


 Duties:
Primary duties include:
Assists project Biologist with all phases of project implementation.
Explains Yakima Beaver Project objectives to the public and enlists their cooperation in either managing beaver in place or moving beavers to suitable restoration location.
Purchase and organize project supplies. Organize and upkeep equipment (live-traps, fencing, tools, truck, irrigation pump, beaver holding facility).
Collect biological data on beavers (length, weight, sex, ear tag, PIT tag beavers). Safely handle and transport beavers from live-trap sites to holding facility and then into the final release sites. Feeding and upkeep of beavers.
Enter data, create maps, organize files and biological data and assist with report writing.
Working Conditions

The successful candidate must be willing and able to:
Work hours outside of the regular hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm including weekends.
Work in an open, office environment and/or in an office trailer.
Work alone or as a team in remote areas in constantly changing environmental conditions.
Lift up to ~80 pounds (live trap and beaver)
Follow written and oral directions; implement designs for beaver deceivers and pond levelers.
Improvise innovative field solutions to common beaver management problems (flooding due to beaver dams, unwanted vegetation chewing, culvert plugging).
Communicate in a professional manner with the public (including positive and negative interactions).
Effectively diffuse hostile interactions.
Communicate in a professional manner with colleagues.



Job Title:    Non-Permanent Fish and Wildlife Biologist 1 04822W
Opening Date/Time:    Fri. 05/18/12 12:00 AM Pacific Time
Closing Date/Time:    Thu. 05/24/12 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Salary:    $1,291.50 - $1,677.50 Semi-Monthly
Job Type:   Full Time - Non-Permanent
Location:    Okanogan County – Other, Washington
Department:    Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

 Duties:
These positions serve as field biologists on the Methow Watershed Beaver/Wetland Restoration Project. Primary duties include but are not limited to:
Capturing wild beavers from undesirable locations and caring for them in temporary holding facilities. Interacting with landowners at beaver capture sites and coordinating with local biologists and enforcement staff. Identifying, evaluating, and preparing beaver release sites. Transporting beavers to these sites, and monitoring beaver activity at these sites.
Deploying stream parameter monitoring equipment, collecting stream data, and downloading and organizing data in computer spread sheets.
Maintain agency vehicles, stream data loggers and other field equipment.
Work with other professional biologists to refine project protocols, develop new beaver restoration methodology, train staff from other beaver efforts, and help with public outreach and education concerning the project.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The successful candidate must be willing and able to:
Work in all weather conditions including extreme heat or snow and sometimes over difficult terrain and surfaces up to 90% of the time.
Work hours outside of the regular 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday work hours including evenings and weekends.
Transport and lift equipment weighing up to 40 pounds over uneven terrain.
Travel up to 2 hours to field sites.
Safely operate motor vehicles, animal traps, and chainsaws.
Have a valid driver’s license.
Work alone in remote locations.

[Machias]

Wow and if trapping were legal you'd have guys lined up to do it for free.   

[SunnySlopes]

Thanks, I'll pass this on.

[Humptulips]

Wow, so that second listing pays  from about $650 to $840 per month. Sounds like you'd have to butcher the beaver and eat them instead of releasing them.

[Helix]

If I wasn't married you could sign me up.  Never knew the state would pay a guy to hunt beaver. Most guys I know spend a lot of time and effort to do it for little pay off. Curious what they mean by "manage in place" though.

[TwoSixFourWins]

This looks to me like the first job is more of a wetland management type job focused on the wetlands created my beavers and dealing with them in a way to try and keep the bunny huggers happy as well as the land owners. 

[Humptulips]

I think what this is about there was a bill passed this year dealing with introduction of beaver to land of willing landowners.
It  is a pet project of one legislator. The Department has  not been interested in doing this. Basically there are beaver everywhere in the state there is suitable habitat. I think the whole thing was forced on them and the positions are temporary. The whole thing will disappear when the appropriation runs out.

[TwoSixFourWins]

I'm fairly new to the state here so I'm not "up" on Washington's critter populations but I do know that everywhere I have lived (This is state number 4 for me) had problems with beavers and control was usually limited to trapping. Granted everywhere else we could use real traps. Are Beavers a problem species here as well?

[Hannibal]

Are Beavers a problem species here as well?

Not since Hump and trapperguy started using cages,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 

[Cylvertip]

After the trapping laws changed, the beaver population has soared for some strange reason   They are still reclaiming territory they were run out of long ago, causing more and more conflict/ damage.   Because of the ban though, nuisance trappers have seen some benefits. What would have been done for free for the most part previously, is now a charge.

[Humptulips]

Are Beavers a problem species here as well?

Not since Hump and trapperguy started using cages,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 

Don't kid yourself we're not taking nearly enough beaver in this state to not have problems.
That being said beaver are slim pickings around my trapline. Cougar get most of them.