Location: Western Wyoming (i.e. Pinedale to Rock Springs)

Compensation: $15/hr

Last date to apply: Feb 22, 2025

Start date: ~May 17/18 *tentative

End date: ~August 16/17 *tentative

Description:

We are seeking two wildlife technicians from ~May 17-August 16 for a study investigating habitat selection and behavioral thermoregulation in pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis). This project is part of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at University of Wyoming and will involve working alongside a graduate student. Study sites will span an elevational and thermal gradient between Rock Springs and Pinedale, WY. 

Primary Duties:

• Capturing, collaring, and tracking pygmy rabbits
• Detecting and recording pygmy rabbit sign
• Deploying and monitoring weather stations, data loggers, and trail cameras 
• Collecting habitat/vegetation data
• Entering and proofing data

Timeline and Conditions:

Work will start in mid-May and continue through early to mid-August. There is some flexibility with start and end dates. Technicians are expected to work 40 hours/week.

Technicians should expect to hike up to 10 miles per day off-trail through sagebrush, while carrying necessary equipment. There will also be a considerable amount of driving, as our sites cover a wide area. Additionally, the weather in our study area is highly variable, with snow likely to be present in the early part of the season and hot, dry conditions later in the season.

Shared housing and work vehicles will be provided. 

Required Qualifications:

• Attention to detail, careful data collection, and ability to follow protocols and instructions
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team (i.e. good communication and collaborative skills) 
• Strong work ethic, flexibility, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude even in challenging conditions
• Demonstrated interest in ecology and/or wildlife biology 
• Ability to hike long distances in difficult terrain and variable weather
• Comfortable living in shared housing in a rural western town for the summer
• Must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and a clean driving record

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience collaring, capturing, and handling small mammals 
• Experience tracking collared individuals 
• Completed or in the process of obtaining a B.S. in wildlife ecology, zoology, biology, environmental science, or a related field

Relevant Resources

To learn more about the study species and study area, feel free to reference the following links. 

• Wyoming Species Account (Pygmy Rabbit): https://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/1422/download?inline
• Pinedale Anticline: https://main.wsgs.wyo.gov/outreach/cultural-geology/guide-pinedale