Cowboy State Ropes New Wildlife Biologist
Pheasants Forever 09.19.12
Larry Johnson represents first Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist in Wyoming
Pheasants Forever announces Larry Johnson of Wheatland, Wyoming, as the organization’s newest Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist. Johnson, who is Pheasants Forever’s first Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist in Wyoming, will cover Platte, Goshen and Laramie counties. Stationed at the Wheatland Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office, Johnson is available to provide conservation and land-use consulting to area landowners.
Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists work to provide technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and landowners—through one-on-one consulting—regarding the benefits of conservation programs (such as the Conservation Reserve Program). By working with landowners to develop and implement individual wildlife management plans, these biologists represent Pheasants Forever’s on-the-ground efforts in ensuring landowner are aware of conservation program options. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever initiated the Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Program in 2003 with 4 positions, and it has since grown to more than 100 partnership positions located throughout the country.
“Partnerships are critical to accomplishing our habitat mission in this day and age,” explains Bob Hix, Pheasants Forever Regional Field Representative for Wyoming, “All of the Pheasants Forever chapters and partners that contributed to this new position came together as a team and made sure that we have a new resource capable of furthering the state’s natural resources. Larry’s position will translate into thousands of acres of improved habitat and hunting access for all Wyomingites.”
Originally from Riverton, Utah, Johnson graduated from Utah State University with a degree in wildlife sciences. Prior to his position with Pheasants Forever, Johnson worked with a variety of natural resource organizations including Utah Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State University – Natural Resources Research, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. During his time at Colorado State University, he was part of a bear trapping and research team. Johnson, his wife, Camri, and their red heeler border collie, Bongo, currently live in Wheatland, Wyoming.
“My main goal with this new position is to help area wildlife and landowners as much as possible,” states Johnson, “I have always thought Pheasants Forever is a great organization because of the habitat work they accomplish, and the ability to work on both public and private land creating habitat is something I am really looking forward to.”
“Wyoming NRCS is very excited about this new partnership opportunity with Pheasants Forever and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD),” says Tom Watson, NRCS Area Conservationist – East, “The position will assist our field offices in southeast Wyoming near Torrington, Cheyenne and Wheatland, with technical assistance on private lands to improve wildlife habitat, including efforts with invasive species, wetland restoration and the Conservation Reserve Program.”
“This new partnership is an important step in team building between Pheasants Forever, the Mule Deer Foundation, NRCS and WGFD,” says Ian Tator, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Terrestrial Habitat Program Manager, “We are looking forward to a productive relationship that benefits not only pheasants, but all wildlife found in southeastern Wyoming.”
“This is the first Farm Bill partnership in the West where the Mule Deer Foundation and Wyoming Pheasants Forever chapters’ funds were instrumental in rounding out the partnership with WGFD and NRCS. It is partnerships like this one that will lead the way into new opportunities that leverage both state and federal dollars to do more for on the ground conservation,” notes Sam Lawry, Pheasants Forever Western Farm Bill Coordinator.
For more information on this position or “The Habitat Organization” in Wyoming, please contact Bob Hix at (303) 588-1542 / Email Bob. For all other inquiries, please contact Rehan Nana, Pheasants Forever Public Relations Specialist, at (651) 209-4973 / Email Rehan.
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.
