Wildlife Division
Preserving Balanced Ecosystems
The Watershed Research and Training Center’s Wildlife Division is honored to partner with public land management agencies in order to provide reliable and exemplary data. These data are used to identify areas where protected species are active to ensure that project activities do not disturb sensitive wildlife. This critical work supports planning efforts for large scale, grant funded fire resiliency projects by completing environmental compliance requirements.
The Wildlife Division of the Forestry and Fuels Program supports forest health by locating and studying sensitive species in our surrounding forests. From well known birds of prey to our only native turtles, our field technicians perform a wide variety of wildlife surveys to monitor our forest neighbors, including:
Northern spotted owls
Bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and American goshawks
Northwestern pond turtles
Native bumble bees
Carnivore and small mammal camera traps
Autonomous Recording Units (ARU)
What We Do
-
![A wildlife technician takes notes in the field. She wears a hard had and backpack.]()
Biologist Services
Our Division Director serves as a Qualified Biologist, offering biological specialist experience to partner agencies, programs, and projects. They have experience in environmental compliance reporting, including NEPA Biological Assessments and Evaluations.
-
![A Northern Spotted Owl perches on a branch and looks off camera.]()
Northern Spotted Owl Surveys
The Wildlife Crew’s primary workload in Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests is to survey for northern spotted owls. By locating these intrinsically valuable birds, the Wildlife Division helps forest managers and landowners make proper decisions on preserving irreplaceable habitat.
-
![A wildlife technician uses a pair of binoculars to make observations. He wears a hard hat and backpack.]()
Other Raptor Surveys
In addition to spotted owl surveys, our technicians use different protocols and methods to survey for bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and American goshawks. These data aid forest managers to minimize their impact on species that thrive in our local ecosystems.
-
![Three wildlife technicians march through the forest wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, hard hats, and backpacks.]()
Biological Monitoring
In addition to avian species, Wildlife Technicians survey for a diverse range of taxonomic groups. From the Northwestern pond turtle, to native bumble bees, to setting up game cameras and Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs), the Wildlife Division’s scope of work is broad! This work helps our partners be proactive with any management concerns.
