Mark Shepard

Background

About Mark Shepard

I am a Conservation Officer with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. I work to protect fish, wildlife, and habitat across the state for the people and act as a trustee and guardian of the state's protected wildlife. I was an experienced conservation, ecology, and wildlife manager with an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Resources and a graduate degree in Natural Resources. I understand and am able to implement and facilitate wildlife management techniques, science communications, inter-personal relationship building with stake holders and peers, and work well as a team in field and office work settings.I spent 4 years in the active duty United States Army as an infantryman. Progressing from a rifleman to squad leader, I gained extensive experience in how to effectively lead and manage peers and subordinates as well as how to communicate with the public, subordinates, peers, and supervisors.I was an experienced wildlife ecologist through working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as a Technical/Professional employee. I conducted wildlife fitness, vitality, and habitat surveys through the use of GPS, GIS, and telemetry tools as well as collecting biological samples for analyses. I also assisted the University of Idaho, Bureau of Land Management, and United States Forest Service in wildlife management through conducting research on landscape ecology, animal activity and occupancy levels, vegetation surveys, and the study of wildlife behavior.The McCall Outdoor Science School and corresponding graduate program has provided experiences that have refined my science communication skills, inter-personal relationship building skills, and environmental education skills. Through providing an educational experience to K-12 students about topics including but not limited to natural processes, watershed and water quality, interconnections of ecosystems, climate change, and wildlife biology I became an expert in how to effectively educate students and society.Specialties: Working with computer software programs including Microsoft office, Program R, and mapping software programs. The implementation of map and navigation tools such as maps, compasses, and GPS. Coordinating and working with stake holders, peers, and the public in the construction of management, education, and outreach programs. Providing clear, concise, and multi-modal communication to effectively outline missions, goals, and objectives for projects and programs.