The Young lab at Utah State University is seeking two (2) short-term black bear hair snare technicians to assist with the Baldwin Bear Project. The Baldwin Bear Project is a collaborative research project with the Michigan DNR, looking at the socio-ecological systems of black bears. The technicians will primarily assist a master’s student, in her study determining the density of black bears and analyzing their movements in the Baldwin Bear Management Unit of the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. This study area includes most of the landscape between Grand Rapids and Traverse City. The position is expected to last from 1 May – 16 May 2025, with preference given to applicants who can also work from 13 October – November 1, 2025.

This position will involve working in small teams to set up hair snares using barbed wire, creating rub trees using duct tape, and setting up camera traps. Applicants should expect long days while setting up hair snares and be able to carry 40+ pounds of barbed wire and gear into relatively thick brush and swampy bottomlands. Technicians will be part of a team that will be responsible for setting up, baiting, and luring 144 hair snares over a 2-week period in May. This hair snare set will run again beginning in October, so hair snares will not be taken down over the summer but will potentially need to be repaired in the fall. Technicians will be responsible for repairing the snares and setting up camera traps. Fall technicians will also assist with hair sample collection from barbed wire and duct tape, as well as maintaining the camera traps and photo database.

This area of Michigan has mild topography, and applicants should be able to traverse through it while carrying a heavy pack. Technicians MUST be comfortable performing solo fieldwork in adverse conditions (such as heat/cold, bugs, challenging terrain, and remote locations with little or no cell service), driving 4x4 trucks, and problem-solving independently to ensure that fieldwork is completed safely and efficiently. Technicians must be aware of their surroundings and be confident hiking alone where carnivores and other wildlife species are present. Additional fieldwork related to the study may include helping a Ph.D student with human dimensions related tasks and tracking GPS-collared bears. Applicants must be comfortable handling live and dead animals, pungent lures and blood, and pastries for baiting. For human dimensions work, technicians must be comfortable with social science data collection fieldwork, talking to strangers, facilitating meetings, and visiting remote homes with a graduate student.

Field housing will be provided in the form of a camper trailer that may be shared with the other technician. Campers have cooktops and microwaves and will be stationed at a DNR office or a state park with accessible bathrooms and showers. Technicians are encouraged to bring bedding, field clothes, boots, and other gear needed to work in summer heat or fall cold. Long pants and long sleeves are encouraged. Work vehicle(s) will be provided for fieldwork and essential travel and will be shared between technicians. Crew members will be expected to use a personal vehicle for recreation and personal errands/travel during their time off.

Exact start and end dates are flexible, but our preferred dates for this part of the study is 1-16 May, and again from 13 October to 1 November 2025. Applicants that can return in October to lure, bait, and collect samples for the second run will be given priority in hiring.

• Have or be working toward a degree in wildlife ecology/management, biology, natural resources, or a similar field OR be able to demonstrate equivalent experience.
• Must be independent and hardworking.
• Must be willing to work alone in inclement weather without cell service, communicating via radios and satellite communication devices.
• Must be able to navigate on and off-trail using topographic maps and a hand-held GPS or OnX.
• Must have good communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with hunters, MI DNR biologists and staff, landowners, recreators, other technicians and volunteers, and the supervising graduate student.
• Must be detail-oriented, organized, and have data management skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to follow directions including strict field protocols.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have a clean driving record.
• Patience, adaptability, stamina (mental and physical), respect for others, professional behavior, and a positive team-player attitude are by far the most important skills.

• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on dirt, sand, and gravel roads and hiking on and off-trail through rugged terrain in remote locations.
• Prior experience setting hair snares, using camera traps, collecting hair samples, and managing camera data.
• Experience working alone in remote locations.
• Certifications in wilderness medical care (Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder).

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV" 

2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

The position requires considerable physical activity. Employees must have sufficient strength to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position including hiking, heavy lifting (40 pounds) and/or pushing and pulling of heavy objects. Employees must be prepared to assume uncomfortable positions such as crawling, kneeling, and squatting. Additionally, the work environment can include confined or narrow spaces. Employees work outside and will not be protected from weather conditions, including extreme cold and extreme heat for extended periods. Employees must adhere to safety precautions and may be required to use protective equipment. 

The S. J. & Jessie E.Quinney College of Natural Resources is nationally and internationally recognized for its research, extension, and teaching on natural and socio-environmental ecosystems. It is a high-impact college at Utah State University with over $15M in research funding annually, 55 tenure-track faculty in three departments, and close partnerships with federal and state natural resource agencies.  

 The Department of Wildland Resources in QCNRR encompasses research in applied terrestrial ecology, including the ecology and management of wildlife, forests, rangelands, conservation biology, and climate change adaptation.  Award-winning faculty teach courses that prepare students for professional careers in many natural resources fields, including programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters and the Society for Range Management and aligned with the Society of Ecological Restoration. 

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

*updated 02/2025

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023