Mule Deer Foundation Appoints Full-Time Wyoming Director to Handle Unprecedented Growth
Mule Deer Foundation 05.16.12
The Mule Deer Foundation appointed Dennis McGraw as its historic first full-time Field Director dedicated exclusively to the State of Wyoming . Previous Field Directors have covered multiple states.
Marty Holmes, MDF Director of Field Operations says, “Dennis brings to MDF more than 10 years experience in wildlife conservation and management and nearly eight years in conservation event fundraising. I know him to be an enthusiastic wildlife professional who is highly capable of leading fundraising efforts for important wildlife projects. I could not be more pleased to have someone like Dennis serve as our Regional Director for such an important mule deer state as Wyoming.”
The Mule Deer Foundation has 11 Chapters in Wyoming with the newest chapter recently chartered in Cheyenne.
Miles Moretti, MDF President/CEO and Wyoming native, says, “Wyoming is a key state for MDF. Wyoming has been MDF’s number one fundraising state for the last two years and MDF has put more than $500,000 on the ground to enhance and restore mule deer habitat in Wyoming the last three years.”
Moretti continues, “Projects funded include the restoration of habitat north of Rock Springs in partnership with Shell Oil and the Rocks Springs Grazing Association, Bates Creek Restoration project near Casper and the Green River Valley Migration wildlife friendly fencing project near Pinedale.”
As a Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB) by The Wildlife Society (TWS), Dennis’s career started during his college years as a volunteer for the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW) conducting a variety of wildlife surveys and assisting on habitat improvement projects.
He served on two Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) chapter committees. He also worked as a field technician on an elk calf recruitment study in central CO, where he then went on to work as an RMEF ranch manager in the State of Washington and subsequently as RMEF Regional Director in Pennsylvania. He enhances MDF’s great track record of working with volunteers, donors and agencies to raise critical funds for wildlife habitat.
Dennis’ resume includes success with a multi-million dollar effort to create and enhance grassland habitat for elk, deer and other wildlife in Pennsylvania. In addition, Dennis has served as treasurer for the PA State Chapter of TWS and committee member for the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s (PGC) Habitat Alliance and Strategic Planning Committees.
Most recently, Dennis has worked as a wildlife consultant in the public and private sectors, working on a variety of wildlife surveys for threatened and endangered species, developing wildlife habitat mitigation plans and conducting wildlife damage management on airport facilities. His passion for wildlife, specifically western big game, is also reflected in his accomplished pencil artistry. He has sketched since childhood. Dennis is eager to work closely with volunteers again and looking forward to furthering the mission of the MDF in Wyoming and across the west.
Dennis will focus on working with the existing chapters in Wyoming, starting new chapters, and recruiting new volunteers and members.
For more information about MDF, or if you want to volunteer or start a chapter in Wyoming contact: Marty Holmes at marty@muledeer.org
The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and its corps of volunteers work hard to ensure the conservation of mule deer and black-tailed deer and their habitat. MDF is a non-profit 501(c) 3 wildlife conservation organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Formed in July 1988, MDF now has over 14,000 members and almost 100 chapters nationwide who support its grassroots efforts. Through chapter fundraising events, MDF volunteers raise thousands of dollars to help fund habitat and conservation projects throughout the West.
