CRAIG B. SWOPE

** ******* ****** . *********, ** 15905 . abibxa@r.postjobfree.com .

814-***-****

Experienced Wildlife Biologist with expertise in project management,

writing

management plans and assessments, wildlife consulting, firearms training,

building

cooperative relationships, and resolving human wildlife conflicts.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

. More than 11 years of experience in the wildlife management field,

including 7 years as a Supervisory Wildlife Biologist for the Federal

government.

. Managed multiple large scale projects simultaneously, including

writing agreements, logistics planning, and tracking budgets.

. Skillfully managed partnerships and cooperative relationships based on

knowledge and trust.

. Exceptional problem solver with strong interpersonal and negotiation

skills.

. Entrusted with all facets of Wildlife Services operations in Western

Pennsylvania.

. Independently written wildlife management plans, assessments, monthly

and yearly reports, work and financial plans, project summaries, and

peer-reviewed articles.

. Proven self-starter and leader that can work independently while

contributing to the success of the entire team.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Wildlife Biologist/District Supervisor

09/2003-08/2010

USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Bolivar,

PA

. Supervised 14 employees, including one subordinate supervisor and

managed western PA.

. Managed approximately 1.2 million dollar budget comprised of Federal,

state, and local monies.

. Negotiated agreements (contracts), wrote monthly/quarterly reports,

final project reports, environmental compliance (NEPA) documentation,

memorandums of understanding, use agreements, performance plans, and

other technical materials.

. Represented Wildlife Services on numerous multi-agency task forces

including: Livestock Protection, Chronic Wasting Disease, Feral Swine,

Aviation Safety, and Rabies Management.

. Guided the implementation of the PA WS Oral Rabies Vaccination

program.

. Coordinated the activities of WS and our state and local partners.

. Partnered with the aviation industry in Pennsylvania by providing

wildlife training, direct control, technical assistance, grant funding

requests, and writing management plans and assessments.

. Responsible for procuring wildlife management equipment and supplies.

. Highly skilled at planning, organizing, and coordinating operations to

manage wildlife.

. Determined the appropriateness of the management methods/procedures

used and their effectiveness, including proper NEPA documentation and

reporting protocols.

. Proficient at determining, modifying, and applying wildlife management

techniques, methods, and procedures to maximize efficiency, comply

with funding, and utilize accepted techniques.

. Complied with regulations and used appropriate biological concepts.

. Planned, implemented, and participated in wildlife surveys and

research.

. Extensive experience presenting technical information to small and

large groups.

. Prepared reports that document activity, observations, events, and

other relevant or required data, independently and usually without

review by supervisor.

. Capable of independently making decisions concerning work priorities

and operational needs.

. Routinely planned work assignments, established work schedules,

assigned tasks to team members, evaluated the effectiveness of

completed operations and provided budget estimates.

. Directed multiple projects that were in progress concurrently.

. Approved the scope of wildlife management projects, authorized

funding, assigned resources and monitored progress.

. Negotiated adjustments to project timetables, budgets, scope, and

personnel as needed.

. Highly skilled at supervising, managing and directing complex

programs, projects, and work units comprised of professional,

technical, and support staff.

Research Assistant

08/2001-09/2003

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA

. Designed and implemented an MS project focused on human dimensions of

deer management.

. Coordinated research efforts with various organizations, partners, and

agencies.

. Implemented an extensive public relations campaign including personal

communication, posters, brochures, and presentations, as well as,

various media sources.

. Regularly conducted presentations for professional organizations and

sportsman's groups.

. Responsible for hiring, training, and supervising 40+ field

technicians.

. Trained employees in the use of computers (Waypoint, Windows, MS

Office, and GPS).

. Created an MS Access database for the collection of real-time data

entry in the field.

. Applied GPS and GIS technology to study hunter field behavior.

. Performed the necessary data analysis for journal publications and

assisted in writing progress reports to various cooperating agencies.

. Researched hunter participation, attitudes, perceptions, motivations,

and field behavior and wrote several literature reviews pertaining to

human dimensions of wildlife management and white-tailed deer

management.

. Conducted statistical analysis using SPSS, SAS, and Excel.

. Mapped hunter behavior and movements using GIS.

. Assisted with the logistical planning for all phases of this project

including budget planning.

Biologist Aide 05/2000-

11/2000

The Pennsylvania Game Commission

Harrisburg, PA

. Conducted radio telemetry to track habitat usage of hen turkeys.

. Participated in public outreach, including giving presentations to

local hunter organizations.

. Located nests, performed cause-specific mortality investigations, and

conducted flush counts.

. Utilized handheld GPS units and topographic maps daily.

Wildlife Technician

05/1999-08/1999

The University of Tennessee

Tallulah, LA

. Trapped and handled threatened Louisiana black bears as part of a mark

recapture project.

. Constructed and set modified Aldrich spring-activated snares.

. Collected biological data from captured bears.

. Used ATVs, handheld GPS units, topographical maps, and chemical

immobilization drugs daily.

EDUCATION

Postgraduate Coursework

The Pennsylvania State University

38 Semester Hours (GPA: 3.7)

Relevant Coursework: Statistics; Population Parameters; Sociology;

Population Ecology; Forest Ecology

B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Science - 12/2000

The Pennsylvania State University

133 Semester Hours (GPA 3.2)

Relevant Coursework: Statistics; Biology; Technical Writing; Wildlife

Conservation;

Recreation Management; Ornithology; Natural Resource Public Relations;

Forest Resource Measurements; Wildlife Management; Conservation Biology;

Biometrics

VOLUNTEER WORK

Wildlife Technician

06/2002-08/2002

ECASE Upper Wabash River Basin Project - Purdue University

. Trapped small mammals and mesocarnivores using live traps; captured

aquatic and terrestrial herpetofauna; identified and sampled woody

species; collected forest stand measurements.

Wildlife Technician

11/2001-12/2001

Pennsylvania Game Commission

. Certified as a white-tailed deer aging technician; collected

harvest data including sex, weight, and age; extracted a tooth for

laboratory analysis; recorded antler measurements.

Independent Wildlife Consultant

04/2000

Sand County Foundation in cooperation with PA DCNR

. Applied distance sampling techniques to count white-tailed deer pellet

groups; categorized forest understory and species composition.

Independent Study

02/2000-05/2000

The Pennsylvania State University

. Researched small mammal and white-tailed deer sampling methods;

established line transects and sampling plots using GIS to determine

population size; generated a methods paper for sampling Penn State's

Experimental Forest.

Wildlife Student Mentor and Judge

04/1999, 04/2000

Pennsylvania 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Project

. Facilitated environmental education and interpretation; acted as student

mentor in wildlife studies; judged participants.

Ruffed Grouse Survey

10/1998

The Pennsylvania State University

. Conducted line transect drumming and flush count surveys; recorded

vegetation type, percent cover, and location of flushes using distance

sampling techniques.

RELEVANT TRAINING

Certified Wildlife Biologist (TWS) - Pending

Legislative and Public Affairs Risk Communication Training - 2010

Work Place Safety Training - 2010

NRA Certified Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun Training Counselor - 2009

ICS 100, 200, 300 Emergency Response - 2008

NRA Certified Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun Instructor - 2007

WS Leadership Training - 2005

ATV Safety - 2005

Alpha Chloralose Trainer - 2005

APHIS Supervisory Training - 2004

Qualified (Certified) Airport Wildlife Biologist - 2003

Chemical Immobilization Training - 2003 & 2006

PA Class B Drivers License

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS

Diefenbach, D. R., J. C. Finley, A. E. Luloff, R. Stedman, C. B. Swope, H.

C. Zinn, G. J. San Julian. 2005.

Bear and Deer Hunter Density and Distribution on Public Land in

Pennsylvania. Human

Dimensions of Wildlife. 10:201-212.

Puskas, R. B., J. W. Fischer, C. B. Swope, M. R. Dunbar, R. G. McLean, and

J. J. Root. 2010. Raccoon

(Procyon lotor) movements and dispersal associated with ridges and

valleys of Pennsylvania:

implication for rabies management. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.

10:1089.

Root, J.J., R.B. Puskas, J.W. Fischer, C.B. Swope, M.A. Neubaum, S.A.

Reeder, and A.J. Piaggio. 2009.

Landscape genetics of raccoons (Procyon lotor) associated with ridges

and valleys of

Pennsylvania: implications for oral rabies vaccination programs.

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic

Diseases 9:583-585.

Stedman, R, D. R. Diefenbach, C. B. Swope, J. C. Finley, A. E. Luloff, H.

C. Zinn, G. J. San Julian, and G.

Wang. 2004. Integrating Wildlife and Human-Dimensions Research Methods

to Study Hunters. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 68:762-773.

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