DESERT TORTOISE TECHNICIANS NEEDED
Where: Mojave Desert, California
Description: Biological field technicians needed to conduct radio tracking
for transmittered
Desert Tortoises in the western Mojave Desert. Project is associated with a
large-scale
translocation effort. Technicians will need to attend a 1 to 2 day training
session prior to
beginning work. Training will enable personnel to use radio-tracking
equipment, identify
Desert Tortoise sign, learn searching protocols, and data entry procedures.
Upon
successful completion of training, technicians will work with several other
personnel to
locate translocated, resident, and control animals. While radio tracking
will continue into
the fall, there will also be the opportunity to conduct Desert Tortoise
surveys on a separate
project. In addition to radio tracking, we will also be conducting large
scale perennial
vegetation surveys to assess habitat use. Work will be conducted in remote
desert areas,
some of which will be in steep, mountainous terrain. Standard work period
will be 6 days
on, 1 day off, generally 10 hour days. This is an excellent opportunity to
improve or learn
many wildlife skills, get to know the Mojave Desert, and work with an
amazing species.
Qualifications: Applicants need to be to be self-sufficient in the
field. Primitive camping,
at times without phone service or facilities required. Must have 4WD or
high-clearance (at
a minimum) vehicle and personal camping gear. All work and base camp will
be roughly
20 miles from Barstow, California. Experience with radio tracking, GPS,
data entry onto
PDA’s preferred but not necessary. Most important, is that people are
willing to learn
correct field and data entry techniques, endure the heat, and keep a
positive fun attitude.
Salary: $25/hour, no per diem, government mileage when on site.
Date to Apply: Immediately; work begins immediately continuing to
approximately 10
November 2008.
Contact: Send resume with contact info and references to Andrew Walde at