Seasonal Furbearer Technician

State of Montana; East Helena (MT); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Montana seeks a Field Technician to conduct fieldwork on prioritized furbearer projects, deploying remote cameras and collecting biological samples across western Montana's remote sites.

You will record and manage data, coordinate with trappers and biologists, and ensure safety protocols in challenging winter backcountry conditions. Strong teamwork and field experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Education and experience are required in wildlife biology or closely related field.
• Ability to conduct fieldwork with wildlife, and to follow established protocols.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills with safety awareness in remote field conditions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fieldwork for prioritized furbearer projects using established protocols and remote cameras.
• Accurately record, enter, review, and manage biological and project data using field forms and databases.
• Prepare, test, operate, and maintain field equipment; monitor weather, access, and safety; coordinate with supervisors.

Job description

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Announcement

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

Effective June 22, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/

Fieldwork will occur during fall, winter, and early spring in remote mountainous locations across western Montana. The incumbent must work safely in deep snow, extreme cold, inclement weather, rugged terrain, and variable road and backcountry travel conditions. Temperatures, including wind chills, may occasionally reach -40 degrees F. Work may require hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, operating or riding snowmobiles and other off-highway vehicles, and carrying equipment or animals weighing 40 pounds or more over uneven terrain. Hazards may include wildlife, winter travel, trapping and handling equipment, biological materials, pathogens, chemicals, and remote work with limited communications. Rigorous adherence to animal-welfare, biosecurity, and safety protocols is required.

The work requires strong interpersonal skills and effective coordination with coworkers, landowners, land-management agencies, project partners, and members of the public. The technician must work effectively both independently and as part of a team, maintain professional relationships, and communicate field status, safety concerns, animal-capture events, and project needs clearly and promptly.

Job Duties

A. Conduct fieldwork for prioritized furbearer projects using established protocols. During fall and spring, assist with deploying, maintaining, and retrieving remote wolverine survey stations. Tasks may include navigating predetermined sampling locations; assessing access and field conditions; installing and maintaining remote cameras, bait, lure, and associated equipment; collecting biological samples; and documenting station information. During winter, serve as the lead seasonal field technician for a marten translocation project. Under the direction of FWP biologists, coordinate daily field activities; establish, bait, check, and maintain live traps; safely handle, transport, and release martens according to approved protocols; and assist with biological measurements, sample collection, animal marking, and other processing activities. Coordinate with trappers to gather captured animals, holding or transferring of held animals, and releases. The technician may also support other furbearer monitoring, research, management, and conflict-response activities as assigned.

B. Accurately record, enter, review, and manage biological and project data using field forms, mobile data-collection applications, spreadsheets, databases, and other standard software. Organize remote-camera photographs, biological samples, capture and release records, equipment inventories, and project files; conduct data-quality checks; and submit routine progress and field summaries.

C. Prepare, test, operate, clean, and maintain field equipment, including remote cameras, live traps, GPS units, telemetry equipment when applicable, vehicles, snowmobiles, and winter backcountry gear. Monitor weather, access, trap status, animal welfare, and field-safety conditions and communicate promptly with supervisors.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience)

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through a combination of education and experience equivalent to at least one year of college in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, fish and wildlife management, animal ecology, biology, or a closely related field, together with relevant field experience. Experience conducting wildlife surveys, working with furbearers, live trapping or handling wildlife, using remote cameras, or conducting winter backcountry fieldwork is preferred. Combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.