Wildlife Technicians/Chronic Wasting Disease Technician

Description: Day in the life of a Chronic Wasting Disease Technician: A chronic wasting disease technician for the state of Montana is responsible for collecting and submitting CWD samples collected from harvested deer, elk, and moose during the general hunting season. Most technicians will be working on the weekends at one of our field sampling stations. At the beginning of each workday the technician will go to their assigned sampling station location and open it up for the day. This is usually some designated time early in the morning and the station stays open and ready for sampling until around sunset each day. The station opening involves setting up equipment for the day, opening signs, prepping for the cleaning of used sampling equipment and setting up a trash can. During the day the technician either working on their own, with a partner or alongside other FWP staff will be available to sample any suitable harvested animal that is brought in by the public.

For each animal, the technician will fill out a field survey on an iPad to collect harvest information from the hunter. The technician will then extract the retropharyngeal lymph nodes from the head of the animal, a tooth and muscle tissue sample from each animal, putting the samples in that animal’s designated sampling kit. The technician will give the hunter a card from the sampling kit that will provide them with information on how to look up their test result. Technicians will also have to clean and disinfect all equipment that was used to collect the sample, after each animal is tested. Samples will need to be organized and stored in a cooler or freezer. Technicians will also be trained to understand chronic wasting disease and answer questions about CWD that hunters might ask. If working at a field sampling station, the technician will have to drive their collected samples to their supervisor each week and help prepare samples  for shipment to the testing lab. At which time, they will also pick up any additional supplies they need for the following week.

Responsibilities: Work at a CWD sampling station to collect biological samples from hunter-harvested and road-killed animals to assist with surveillance and monitoring efforts

Record accurate field data

Label and maintain accountability for all samples

Enter sample data into a database

Organize and package samples

Submitting samples in a timely manner to the appropriate testing facility

Sanitize sampling tools after each test

Assemble CWD sampling kits

Maintain accountability and inventories of equipment and check station supplies

Make trips to regional dumps to dispose of deer carcass parts as needed

Assist with the distribution of CWD-related educational materials to various groups/locations

Assist with educational outreach with hunters and members of the public

Perform other duties as needed

Qualifications: Experience with accurately collecting samples, labeling data, and data entry

Ability to be comfortable around unpleasant smells and dead animal carcasses

Ability to be outside for the majority of the day in inclement weather

Ability to work in rural areas

Some travel required

Ability to effectively communicate and work with others

Ability to lift heavy objects (50+ lbs)

Must have ability to coordinate/pay for lodging for the entirety of the assignment

Learn more and apply here.