Pheasants Forever Hires New Wildlife Biologist for Texas
Pheasants Forever 09.25.14
Joseph Bauer will implement organization’s upland bird habitat mission in eastern panhandle
Pheasants Forever recently hired Joseph Bauer as the organization’s newest Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist in Texas. The position is derived from a partnership between Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and others. Bauer will be based in the NRCS Field Office in Pampa, providing habitat conservation services to Gray, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Roberts, Hemphill, Wheeler, Donley, and Collingsworth counties.
According to Pheasants Forever’s Regional Director, Steve Riley, “Bauer will be working to provide conservation technical assistance to private landowners, farmers, and ranchers. His work will focus on the wildlife aspects of NRCS’s mission, which coincide well with those of PF-QF and TPWD, especially focusing on upland bird habitat. Specifically, Bauer will be working as a part of the team implementing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative.”
Bauer, a native of Atlanta, Ga., earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management and biology from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU). Bauer has enjoyed the outdoors since early childhood and chose to become a wildlife biologist because of his passion for habitat conservation, restoration, and management. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Bauer worked on wildlife management areas in Indiana implementing habitat management practices benefiting quail, turkey, and other native wildlife. He also conducted population surveys with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and SFASU.
“I have always had a strong interest in working with upland birds, so I am especially pleased to be joining Pheasants Forever,” noted Bauer, “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with such a talented team of professionals who work within the partnership and am looking forward to the new challenges and friendships ahead.”
Bauer joins two other Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists working to restore lesser prairie-chickens, pheasants, and quail populations in Texas. As partnership positions, these wildlife biologists receive daily instruction and leadership from NRCS and additional guidance from TPWD, but are employed and supervised by Pheasants Forever. Funding is provided by NRCS, TPWD, Pheasants Forever, and other partners. Bauer can be contacted at (806) 678-8634 / JBauer@pheasantsforever.org.
Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Program
Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists are specialized consultants in conservation programs and habitat planning. Their purpose is to assist landowners in designing, developing, and funding habitat improvements on private lands. Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists possess the knowledge of federal, state, and local programs to assist landowners in finding the right program to meet their personal habitat and land use goals. For more information, please contact Steve Riley at sriley@pheasantsforever.org or contact a Farm Bill Biologist in your area.
Contact
Jared Wiklund (651) 209-4953
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
