Volunteer field assistant - Black-tailed prairie dogs

Field Assistants Required - Black-tailed prairie dogs  

Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada       

I am looking for 3 volunteers to assist with fieldwork beginning March 10 and continuing until July 10 (with a possibility of extension to Oct 10 for at least 1 of the positions). The project investigates the ecology of Black-tailed prairie dogs and will involve live-trapping, handling and monitoring of individuals. Prairie dog towns are home to (among others): burrowing owls, swift fox and, the recently reintroduced, black-footed ferret. Assistants will have the opportunity of seeing all of these iconic grassland species, plus the many more resident in the Park.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience working with a population of wild mammals in a spectacular setting and in collaboration with university, park and zoo researchers.  All fieldwork is carried out in Grasslands National Park, southern Saskatchewan, one of the largest remaining tracts of native prairie in Canada. We will be staying in Parks Canada housing in the heart of the park. Food and accommodation are provided. Volunteers are required to provide for their own travel to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Travel between the field station and Saskatoon is provided. 

Training will be provided and no experience is necessary, but candidates should have an interest in the following (the more the better!): ecology, evolutionary biology, wildlife, field biology, and conservation biology. The field house and study population is isolated (the nearest town is approx. 45 min away) and, as such, successful applicants need to be able to cope under these conditions, enjoy the outdoors, be up-beat, positive, responsible and work well as a member of a team.      

If you wish to apply for one of these posts then please send a CV with a cover letter and contact details for three references (with e-mail addresses), by email to Jeff Lane (contact info below) by January 31, 2015.        

Contact:    

Dr. Jeff Lane   

Department of Biology  

University of Saskatchewan

jeffrey.lane@usask.ca

www.lanelab.ca