MDF Employee Spotlight!
Grace Bullington [email protected]
Idaho Big Game Migration and Connectivity Coordinator
Who:
Originally from Missouri, Grace developed her passion for animals through time spent at her grandparents’ lake house learning to fish and catch small wildlife, family vacations to the west, and the menagerie of family pets. It wasn’t until she graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in fisheries and wildlife and moved west to California that Grace discovered her love for public land and big game. After several years of moving around North America to study deer she was excited to settle in Idaho. You can find Grace hiking in the Pioneer Mountains, shed hunting in the Owyhee’s, or monitoring sagebrush plants in the Boise Foothills. Whether Grace is recreating or working she is immensely grateful for the opportunity to explore and protect the rugged landscape of the west.
What:
Grace is one of our partner biologists, which means she works for the Mule Deer Foundation and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. She works closely with staff from each organization on projects that align with both missions. Most of our habitat projects are collaborations with federal or state agencies, so Grace’s position improves the efficiency of these collaborations by representing both organizations. Grace’s primary work is focused on improving the winter range and migration routes of mule deer, elk, and pronghorn in Idaho. Winter range improvement projects are centered around increasing shrubs in low elevations and decreasing invasive annual grasses. While improving migration routes may include improving habitat quality of transition range or making it easier for the wildlife to move across the landscape by removing or retrofitting fences.
How:
Grace leverages the resources of both MDF and IDFG to get work done. Improving habitat for mule deer cannot be accomplished by a single entity. By developing strong relationships with partners, Grace can bring multiple stakeholders to the table to prioritize projects and achieve landscape level conservation. Every project is unique. Funding for each project also varies with Grace working to stretch every dollar. Many of Grace’s projects rely on volunteers whether their pulling fences or raising money.
Why:
Wildlife of the west are facing increasing threats to their continued existence. Grace understands the importance of protecting this wildlife and the habitats that they rely on. She is passionate about ensuring that future generations can spot a mule deer in the sagebrush sea. Or see a herd of pronghorn run freely across the landscape. It’s up to all of us to work together to give back to the landscapes and wildlife that are an integral part of our American identity.
Great Job Grace!
Send any success pictures or stories from the field to [email protected]. You could be featured on our website or in our magazine. If this article or any of our articles have helped you become a better hunter or conservation steward, become a member of the Mule Deer Foundation or Blacktail Deer Foundation for only $35 dollars a year. Click here to join: https://muledeer.org/product-category/membership/
