Jennifer L. Burghardt Dowd, MS Wildlife Biology

** ********* *****

Logan, UT 84321

Home Phone 307-***-****

Email abiuib@r.postjobfree.com

Career Interests

Predator behavior and ecology (particularly predator-predator interactions, corridor use and complex system dynamics), wildlife

biology and related fields

Education

Utah State University, Logan

Masters in Wildlife Biology, Spring 2010

Interest: Predator Ecology

Graduate Advisor: Eric Gese

Pertinent Classes: Predator Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Advanced Wildlife Techniques, Biometry,

Advanced Remote Sensing

California State University, Chico

BS in Biological Sciences, Spring 2002

Emphasis: Zoology/Ecology Theme: Environmental Health Issues

Pertinent Classes: Ecology, Zoology, Ornithology, Herpetology, Vertebrate Physiology,

Limnology, Statistics

Experience

Biologist, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Monitoring Plan for Canada Lynx in Western Montana

Missoula, MT 6/10-present

• Assisted in the writing and preparation of documents for a draft monitoring plan and presentation to the Canada Lynx

Steering Committee meeting in July, 2010

• Collected information on the most current research techniques used to implement long term monitoring, including

tracking changes in lynx populations and distributions, monitoring densities and distribution of snowshoe hare, and

monitoring changes in boreal forests and corridors

Masters Student Candidate, Utah State University

Coyote diet and movements in relationship to winter recreation, Northwestern Wyoming: Implications for lynx conservation

Jackson, WY 8/06 – 5/10

• Used skis, snowshoes and snowmobiles to conduct winter backtracking surveys on radio collared coyotes to determine

seasonal diet, use of snow compacted corridors, and habitat use across the landscape within areas occupied by lynx.

• Hired, trained and ran a crew of 3-6 field technicians for 6 months during two consecutive winter field seasons

• Participated as a mugger in coyote helicopter captures, and snowmobile captures

• Designed and maintained a data dictionary using Trimble GPS units, TerraSync and Pathfinder software

• Additional software use included ArcGIS, SPSS, LOCATE II, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, etc.)

• Collected and analyzed over 400 coyote scats and 27 lynx scats to document seasonal variations in diet and assess

dietary overlap

• Wrote, prepared, presented and passed a three chapter thesis defense in the presence of committee members, graduate

students and professors

Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, Biologist, Endeavor Wildlife Research Foundation

The Greater Yellowstone Lynx Study

Jackson, WY 8/04 – 4/09

• Co-founded Endeavor Wildlife Research Foundation (EWR), a wildlife research organization with 501(c)3 non-

profit status

• Designed and set up the organization, adopting The Greater Yellowstone Lynx Study as our first major undertaking

• Designed and conducted snow-tracking surveys to determine presence of lynx and other rare carnivores in the

Bridger Teton National Forest, using snowmobiles and ski/snowshoes to access, winter 2004/2005

• Interviewed, hired and trained winter employees winters 2004 through 2009

• Wrote project proposals, grants, press releases, budgets, designed datasheets and databases, and gave PowerPoint

presentations and outreach talks to state and federal government agencies, organizations, scientists and the general public

• Assisted with project planning, research design and administration

• Managed and maintained a four year budget, along with equipment purchases and acquisitions

• Acted as a board member and one of three executive directors overseeing EWR’s board

Biologist, Pioneer Environmental Services

Bald Eagle Monitoring, Snake River Sporting Club

Jackson, WY 4/05 – 9/06

• Monitored several eagle nests in the Snake River Canyon during the nesting season and documented disturbance to nests

as a result of golf course construction for two consecutive years

• Documented behaviors of adults and chicks during various developmental stages, hatching through fledging. Worked

with construction crews to minimize disturbance

• Wrote daily and weekly reports to express concerns and document progress

•

JY Ranch Restoration Project

Grand Teton National Park, WY 4/05 – 9/06

• Compiled a list of local flora and fauna for the southern Greater Yellowstone Area, to do a species account

and assist in preparing Environmental Assessment documents for the proposed project

• Harvested and relocated trees and other vegetation to fill previous road use areas

• Removed existing roads using a backhoe and helped restore a human use area back to natural conditions

• Assisted in creek and waterfall design for visitors center

Research Assistant, Dr. George Stevenson

Grizzly Bear Brain Anatomy Mapping Project

Bozeman, MT 5/03 – 8/07

• Euthanized, fixed, detached and transported grizzly bear heads from Bozeman, MT down to Jackson, WY for

analysis

• Facilitated the process where CT and MRI scans were conducted to determine structure and content of grizzly heads.

• Fixed and extracted grizzly brain from skull for further analysis

Wildlife Research Biologist, Beringia South

Teton Cougar Project

Kelly, WY 6/03-3/05

• Monitored several radio collared cougars (Felis concolor) using radio telemetry and remote download GPS collar

technology to investigate cougar ecology and large carnivore interactions in the Southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

• Took daily ground and/or aerial locations on cougars using compass and GPS for triangulations, to determine

homerange size, distribution, habitat use and general ecology of various sex and age classes

• Collected information on cougar predation to determine prey selection, utilization, predation rates, interactions,

scavenger use, and habitat use

• Located and worked cougar den sites (captured kittens, weighed, measured, eartagged, tattooed, determined sex,

collected hair and tissue samples, and collared)

• Tracked both previously collared and unmarked cougars on snowmobiles and foot in preparation for capture

• Captured and radiocollared subadult and adult cougars using hounds for our treeing method. Used ketamine

hydrochloride to immobilize cougars while in the tree using a pressurized dart/CO2 riffle system, and administered a

ketamine xylazine combination once an animal had been lowered to the ground. Fit collars, tattooed, eartagged,

monitored temperature/pulse/respiration (TPR), took blood samples, collected hair and tissue samples, weighed,

measured and assessed animal health

• Organized database and entered/analyzed data using Microsoft Excel, Access, and ArcView

• Assisted in writing annual reports and designing graphics, charts, tables and plotting homerange maps

• Researched and purchased project equipment and vehicles. Responsible for inventory and upkeep.

• Participated in annual immobilization reviews (Dr. Kathy Quigley, DVM, Wildlife Conservation Society) and other

field safety courses

• Gained capture and/or immobilization experience in Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Fox, Coyote, Elk, and Wolverine

Scientific Aide, California Department of Fish and Game

Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Harvest Monitoring Project (and CWT head recovery)

Chico/Sacramento, CA 8/00-4/03

• Performed angler interviews and collected data on the Sacramento, Feather and Yuba Rivers to determine Catch per

Unit Effort (CPUE). Used jet boats and kayaks to access anglers

• Identified and recovered adipose clipped fish for Coded Wire Tag (CWT) head recovery project

• Maintained boats, trucks, kayaks, and other project equipment

• Provided training and guidance for incoming personnel

• Maintained raw data collections and database using MS Access

• Interacted and coordinated extensively with various agencies and the general public

OSPR, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), Western Pilot Study

Northern/Southern California Costal Drainage Regions 5/02-5/03

• Performed remote stream bioassessment on wadeable freshwater streams in the California Costal drainage regions to

evaluate the health and biological integrity of the system

• Used GPS, topographical maps, and compass navigation extensively to verify and access site location

• Set up cross-section transects, collected water chemistry samples, performed intensive physical habitat characterization

(thalweg profile), performed rapid assessment of physical habitat quality

• Determined stream discharge, collected periphyton (composite) samples and benthic macroinvertibrates (target riffles)

sample, and collected aquatic vertebrate (electrofishing) samples to determine species presence

• Identified, prepared and processed periphyton, aquatic insects, and fish collections

• Hiked, camped, and exercised extensive team work

Butte Creek Chinook Salmon Spring-Run and Coded Wire Tagging (CWT) Project

Chico/Sacramento, CA 3/02-8/02

• Monitored a series of rotary screw traps providing baseline data on juvenile salmon/splittail emigration

• Performed CWT of threatened Spring-Run Chinook Salmon

• Identified fish species present in Big Chico Creek, Butte Creek, and Sutter Bypass water system

Research Assistant, California State University, Chico

Oxbow/Backwater Utilization by Juvenile Fishes on the Sacramento River, CA

Butte County, CA 2/01-12/01

• Collected larval fish in several backwater locations along the Sacramento River via beach seining

• Set up, conducted and monitored larval fish light box trapping

• Collected and recorded data and identified fish and aquatic insects collected

Field Assistant/Technician, Simon Fraser University, Canada

Tiger Shark and Bottlenose Dolphin Research Group, Mike Heithaus and Lawrence Dill

Shark Bay, Western Australia 5/97-6/99

• Investigated habitat selection and use by bottlenose dolphins (individual and group interaction) in a pristine world-

heritage area, as influenced by prey availability and predation risk (Tiger Sharks are the main predator influence)

• Investigated behavior patterns, migration patterns, and foraging habits of tiger sharks using experimental Crittercam

technology, and internal transmitter/radio telemetery technologies designed by National Geographic

• Maintained and kept all equipment (fish traps, Gutcams, Crittercams, bay stations, etc.) organized and functional

• Improved research proposal, grant proposal and scientific paper writing skills

• Conducted extensive field work (collection, identification, and observation skill; animal behavior, interaction, and

habitat use emphasized)

• Recorded entered and analyzed data (Excel, Access)

• Shot wildlife photography (manual, digital, automatic) predominately of dolphin dorsal fins to compile an

identification database for all individuals and groups present in the system

• Performed PR work and gave educational talks to groups of locals, tourists, and other scientists

Effects of Boat Disturbance on Habitat Use and Dive Patterns of the Green Sea Turtle

Shark Bay, Western Australia 1/99-6/99

• Conducted visial Encouter Surveys along designated transects for presence for green sea turtles and loggerhead turtles

• Investigated behavior patterns by attaching Crittercam systems and reviewing footage

• Collected data aimed toward determining home ranges, growth rates, and seasonal migration patterns by tagging

individuals and looking at recaptures

Field Expert, Department of Conservation and Land Management

Bottlenose Dolphin and Sea Turtle Relocation Efforts

Useless Loop, Western Australia 8/98

• Worked with a team of marine biologists, field experts, and local fishermen to identify and relocate a group of 13

bottlenose dolphins stranded in a twenty-six square kilometer bay that had been enclosed for salt mining purposes, using

helicopters and fishing vessels

• Relocated over 50 stranded turtles (green sea and loggerhead) using “bulldogging” techniques

Volunteer Work and Project Participation

Pronghorn fawn captures (Pinyon Canyon, CO), coyote capture and collaring (Dugway, UT), raven fledgling banding and

transmitter tagging (Kelly, WY), Wolverine kit captures (Driggs, ID)

Special Skills/Training

Utah State University Wildlife Immobilization Clinic, Cougar Immobilization Workshop, Scat Analysis, Animal Trapping,

Telemetry, ATV Safety, Snowmobile Safety, Dr. James Halfpenny Rare Carnivore Tracking Class, Jackson Hole Community

Foundation Grant Writing Workshop, MFWP Wildlife Handling Course, Level 1 Avalanche Awareness, PADI diver

certification, Swiftwater Rescue Tech.1, CPR, Wilderness Survival/First Aid 16hr, California Boating Safety, Columbia River

Live Capture/Selective Fishing Practices

Computer Skills Personal Interests

MS Office: Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint Traveling, skiing, fly fishing, backpacking, canoeing

Adobe Photoshop, ArcView, ArcGIS, canyoneering, scuba diving, photography, reading, cooking

TerraSync, GPS Pathfinder, LOCATE II

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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