The Wildlife Restoration Foundation (WRF) Bear Conservation Specialist-Yellowstone Country Northwest (YC-NW) position is open to qualified individuals passionate about bears and based in one of the five counties in Montana that border Yellowstone National Park. The position is unpaid, but stipends are available to cover expenses and to reward accomplishments. The Bear Conservation Specialist (YC-NW) will rapidly gain valuable professional experience by playing an integral role on the WRF team. Work to build WRF’s bear conservation capacity and impact on Yellowstone area bears as you contribute and strengthen your Conservation knowledge and skills. Gain recognition for your efforts among area partners, on the WRF website and elsewhere, as you participate visibly in meeting WRF’s mission, which is to increase park wildlife population viability both ex situ and in situ, working closely with National Parks and Forests, zoo partners, and park gateway communities.

WRF operates effectively and efficiently and generates resources that enable measurable, boots-on-the-ground conservation results. The WRF Bear Conservation Specialist (YC-NW) will focus on the implementation of the “I Am Bear Safe” Project in West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Three Forks, Gardiner, Cooke City-Silver Gate, and possibly other towns that are Yellowstone’s gateway communities in northwestern Montana. The Bear Conservation Specialist (YC-NW) will collaborate with the WRF President, Director of Communications, and other team members, and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (GWDC)’s Lead Naturalist in connection to the “I Am Bear Safe” Project. [https://www.wildlifeandparks.org/projects].

“I Am Bear Safe”™ (IABS) is a multi-partner Wildlife Coexistence Strategy designed to equip National Park gateway community chambers of commerce and their member businesses (“Park Gateway Partners”) to “train people not to train bears” to get in the trouble they are in now because of human behavior—a situation that is assuring bear demise. Bears are a top attraction at many National Parks and are well-managed within the parks to avoid human interaction. But communities at the park’s edge are not sufficiently prepared or equipped for the increasing pressure of more visitors coupled with rapid development, naïve new residents, and a growing number of recreationists in bear country. Park Gateway Partner (PGP) businesses are the perfect intervention point and receive marketing benefits from participating in the IABS town-based bear stewardship effort. WRF provides customized tools (signage and SWAG) that equip PGPs to effectively intercept park visitors and recreationists and equip them to be bear stewards who act responsibly by securing attractants and following park rules for recreating in bear habitat. The IABS goal is that bears perform their natural behaviors and survive without risk and distraction caused by humans.

Responsibilities:

• Track the inventory of IABS materials distributed to PGPs in each town.
• Distribute IABS Toolkit materials to PGPs and redistribution points.
• Recruit new PGPs, as appropriate and assigned.
• Field questions and relay PGP concerns to WRF.
• Attend meetings of the chamber of commerce or local partner organization on occasion.
• Mail out reward IABS reward magnets to Bear Quiz-takers.
• Come up with novel ideas to make the IABS Project more effective.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject is required; graduate degree helpful.
• Knowledge and experience specific to grizzly and black bears required.
• Experience working with community-based organizations and/or local businesses.

WRF Bear Conservation Specialists are asked to participate in an initial training then designate 16 hours a week to WRF and agree to work with WRF for 4 months. The Bear Conservation Specialist (GYE-NW) must be a self-starter, ambitious, creative, productive, and dedicated to WRF’s mission. S/he must also exhibit a high degree of professionalism, accountability, and ability to follow instructions and manage time well. S/he should be friendly and approachable, well-spoken, bold, and personable. The internship is unpaid, but stipends are provided for approved expenses and as results are achieved. 

The Bear Conservation Specialist will report to Julie Anton Randall, WRF President. Hours are flexible within the week, with the exception that PGP deliveries and communications best occur during business hours. Participation in biweekly IABS team meetings and occasional full WRF team meetings by Zoom are required.