Migration Initiative
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Wildlife from Purdue University in 2016, then spent several years working seasonal field technician jobs, primarily capturing and collaring elk and mule deer, and conducting vegetation surveys to assess habitat conditions. In 2019, I moved to Salmon, Idaho, where I worked for Idaho Fish and Game, first as a big game population technician, monitoring collared big game, and later as a depredation technician, working with landowners to mitigate wildlife conflicts.
Katie was born and raised in NE Kansas with a passion for the outdoors and wildlife. She followed this passion in her educational career, graduating from Benedictine College with a bachelor’s in biology and then completing her master’s degree at the University of Kansas in ecology and evolutionary biology. She worked for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for two years working with private landowners to further conservation of land and wildlife habitat.
The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and Idaho Fish and Game Department are seeking a highly motivated and dedicated individual to fill the role of Transportation Technical Assistance Liaison to support IDFG with providing biological technical assistance to ITD. In this role, you will be a critical member of an interagency team supporting ITD’s programs and projects with a nexus to fish, wildlife, and botanical resources. This position will provide leadership and creativity for exploring and implementing solutions to benefit both conservation and society’s transportation needs.
It is my pleasure to welcome our newest hire, Shelby Pollard. She will be our Region 2 Regional Conservation Coordinator helping us implement habitat projects and further our partnerships in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and parts of South Dakota. Below is more information about Shelby, please reach out to her and welcome her to the MDF team!
The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) applauds Senators John Curtis – UT-(R), Tim Sheehy – MT (R), John Hickenlooper – CO (D), and Alex Padilla – CA (D) for introducing the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) in the United States Senate. This bi-partisan Act will allow federal land management agencies including the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to improve the health of our public lands including work on important habitats for mule deer.
As part of our ongoing efforts to protect wildlife and ensure the survival of mule deer, we ask for your cooperation in respecting the winter range closures and restrictions that are in place during their critical winter survival period. Shed hunting is becoming a larger recreational pastime and it can be tempting to go out early especially as the weather gets better. However, the Mule Deer Foundation urges you to wait because now is an important time for mule deer and other wildlife trying to survive the last bits of winter. Late spring is when they are in the worst shape they will be in all year and any extra energy expenditure can be life threatening.