 Enhancing conservation on private lands, including through fire, is a key challenge. (Hal Massie/DNR)
A message from WRD Director Ted Will:
Over the past month, I have had the chance to get out and talk to several of you in the field. You all are asking some great questions. In response, I want to share a couple of top priorities here, with more coming in the next WeAreDNR issue.
Our division already has a strong strategic plan with some great focal areas. But most importantly, we have extremely talented staff in the field who have some great ideas. My desire is to work with your chiefs to identify field staff who are willing to help shape the future on some important challenges facing our division.
First, how do we recruit and retain quality employees? We are so grateful to be able to initiate the two- and five-year criteria-based adjustments again, but I’d like to develop further opportunities for our employees.
Some ideas shared with me along those lines include increasing mentoring and cross training (within and outside the division); developing financial stewardship training for young employees; expanding our management training opportunities; exploring options for supplemental education that connects to career goals; identifying any hinderances involving minimum qualifications for certain job classes; and, developing a WRD certification program that could substitute for education for select job classes. I know there are even more great ideas, and I’m excited to see some of them implemented.
Second, we need to enhance conservation and management on private lands. This centers largely on prescribed fire and landowner workshops. We all are aware of the complexities surrounding this challenge, but engaging landowners is a critical resource management effort that will greatly benefit Georgia’s wildlife. This will also involve collaborating with other agencies and NGO partners, and using existing and new strategies to reach the goal.
These first two items should not be a surprise to anyone: They have been division priorities for many years. But it’s time we start putting good ideas into action.
Going forward, we will take a slightly different approach to how we develop, refine and implement action plans to seize these opportunities. I am working with your chiefs to develop Fast Action Implementation Teams. The goal is to garner the ideas, knowledge and experience in the field to help work on these issues. This will include aggressive timelines and a commitment to taking the proposed actions when approved. Headquarters will not guide or lead teams but will provide support where needed and requested by a team.
Bottom line, I hear some of the best ideas while visiting with field staff, and we need your talent to take these ideas and create plans to make them a reality.
Of course, the two issues noted aren’t all we’re focused on. We are also looking to create teams that explore carbon credits, a formal internship program and opportunities to simplify rules and regulations.
Do you have a project or idea that might fit into a Fast Action Implementation Team? If so, give me a call or shoot me an email. I would love to hear about it – and then put it into action.
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 Zebra mussel in a moss ball; (right) WRD tech Anna Raney collects zebras off the boat at Lanier (USGS, DNR)
In March, DNR was urging Georgians to avoid aquarium moss balls possibly infected with zebra mussels, and explaining how to properly dispose of the products.
Last month, after the invasive mussels were discovered on a boat near Lake Lanier, WRD called on Georgia boat owners to clean, drain and dry their vessels when moving them between water bodies.
The alerts indicate the threat zebra mussels pose. Native to eastern Europe but now established in many U.S. waters, these mini mollusks multiply fast, foul boats, clog water intake pipes, filter out algae that native wildlife need and outcompete native mussels. In sum, they can wreak ecological and economic havoc.
When the finger nail-sized mussels were spotted on a vessel bought in Tennessee and hauled to Georgia, the find highlighted the risk of zebras hitchhiking here. The boat, which was not launched at Lanier before the mussels were found, had been near Chattanooga on the Tennessee River, a waterway already infected.
The owner contacted WRD. Aquatics biologist Matthew Rowe and wildlife technician Anna Raney worked with him to remove the mussels, collecting about a gallon of dead ones. Staff also commended the owner for reporting the mussels.
Georgia has no known populations of zebra mussels. WRD Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator Jim Page is hoping that with the public’s help we can keep it that way.
WHAT WE CAN DO
Encourage Georgians to:
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Report non-native aquatic species to WRD. (FYI: Quagga mussels – as problematic as zebras – were also found in moss balls that WRD analyzed.)
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Remember that when moving a boat between water bodies, whether in-state or out, thoroughly CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY it before launching again.
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Remove any non-native aquatic species caught or collected.
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Reach others with the news about aquatic invaders. Posters of Georgia’s worst invaders, plus another of native fish that should not be moved between watersheds, can be picked up at WRD offices, education centers and PFAs (they can also download them). There’s even a free educational workbook.
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Learn more at georgiawildlife.com/ans.
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 NatureServe's Sean O'Brien and Jackie Aliperti explore persistent trilliums with Carlee Steppe. (Beth Quillian/DNR)
Wildlife Conservation staff hiked Tallulah Gorge with NatureServe President and CEO Sean O’Brien last week to highlight DNR’s conservation work at the gorge – particularly with endangered persistent trillium – and the role NatureServe plays.
NatureServe is a nonprofit that networks with 100-plus programs to power a Biotics database vital to conserving at-risk North American species and ecosystems. In Georgia, Biotics is critical to tracking and understanding the status of rare plants. WRD tracks 782 plant taxa, about half of all elements tracked in the state.
O’Brien is making a van tour of sites in the U.S. and Canada to celebrate and turn attention to the partnerships and the species.
At Tallulah Gorge, Wildlife Conservation botanist Carlee Steppe, Assistant Chief Matt Elliott and Program Manager Trina Morris led a tour of the south rim, discussing persistent trillium and the habitat fallout of Carolina hemlocks dying from invasive hemlock woolly adelgids. WRD is mapping and monitoring Trillium persistens, also known as Edna’s trillium, to assess long- and short-term changes in the population at the gorge.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Charles Seabrook covered the tour. Beth Quillian of WRD Public Affairs and NatureServe’s Jackie Aliperti also documented it. NatureServe plans to post about the visit on social media and use interview clips in a regional video.
Later that day, NatureServe staff joined WRD to sample for sicklefin redhorse spawning at Brasstown Creek in Towns County.
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 Emily Rushton led the Facebook live talk on 2021-2023 regulations.
Game Management continued pushing its outreach on proposed hunting regulations to new levels with a Facebook live presentation and Q&A on April 13.
The live session, engineered by social media specialist Denise Shepherd and led by wildlife biologist Emily Rushton, reached more than 60,000 people and drew more than 500 comments. More than 250 tuned in for the entire feed! (Also, Rushton’s premiere presentation reached 22,000 and fielded 100-plus comments.)
During the Q&A, Game Management Chief Alan Isler – who was off-camera – helped answer viewers’ questions about the 2021-2023 regs. The post also made clear that participants who wanted to enter comments in the official record had to email or snail-mail those by April 30.
The Facebook live event followed a virtual public meeting held in January, at the start of the two-year regulations cycle.
The proposed changes are detailed in this document. The Board of Natural Resources will vote on them May 25. They would take effect starting with the fall 2021 seasons.
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 Go Fish Hatchery's Jonathan Savarese siphons walleye fry for counting before stocking them into ponds. (DNR)
Spring marks Fisheries Management’s massive effort to produce millions of sportfish fingerlings for stocking public waters. From collecting brood fish to raising 1- to 2-inch fingerlings – more than a million each of striped bass, hybrids and largemouths alone – the statewide coordination that many popular fisheries depend on involves scores of staff navigating weather and other conditions key to success.
When a tornado tore through Coweta County the night of March 25, DNR responded quickly. Game wardens helped search for people, WRD crews removed trees and debris from public roads, and DNR pilots flew officials over hard-hit areas to survey the damage and help direct operations.
Social-distancing concerns have moved this year’s Keeping Georgia Wild festival online. Check out Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center’s Facebook page May 10-15 for helpful info on outdoor activities, from catching fish to building campfires. (Also because of COVID, the Youth Birding Competition has been rescheduled for Sept. 24-25 at Indian Springs State Park.)
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 A season-first gobbler for @richierichkbf (left) and a Long County tom for 92-year-old Jim Bland
Turkey season has already produced plenty of memories. In addition to the birds above, more than 10,600 toms have been killed, with the harvest per square mile rating strongest overall in northwest Georgia, according to WRD’s turkey dashboard.
It’s the thick of fire season and prescribed fire is a hot topic. In addition to treating hundreds of acres statewide with fire, recent highlights include a high-profile burn at Tallulah Gorge (Wildlife Conservation’s Nathan Klaus explains the focus in this video), a Georgia Wild slideshow illustrating fire’s restorative power and social sharing of this podcast on burning while turkeys are nesting.
Black bears are on the move in a post-hibernation hunt for food that can lead to garbage cans and bird feeders, landing them in hot water with homeowners. BearWise, an education program created by state bear biologists, helps Georgians learn to live responsibly with bears. Can you list the six BearWise basics?
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 Florida FWC staff examine a right whale calf killed by boat strike (Tucker Joenz/FWC, under NOAA permit 18786)
With winter calving for North Atlantic right whales a wrap, WRD and partners documented 17 mom/calf pairs, the most since 2015. The downside is that the calf count averaged 22 a year from 2000-2009, and this winter saw the death of two whales in the Southeast from the leading human-caused threats to the species: entanglement in commercial fishing gear and vessel strikes (more in this blog post).
Christian Blake Jones may have been fishing for crappie on the Ogeechee River Feb. 7 but his most memorable keeper was a state-record hickory shad (right). The 2-pound, 3-ounce fish easily beat the previous mark, a 1-pound, 15-ounce shad caught in 1995. More on state-record fish, plus how to apply.
From Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve in Grady County to Prater’s Mill Historic Site near Varnell, the six projects selected for the 2021 WRD Wildlife Viewing Grants promise Georgians a variety of outdoor opportunities. Plans call for new viewing platforms, upgraded trails and native plant gardens.
Miss a WRD WeAreDNR issue? Catch up here! And let us know if you have comments or know of a WRD retiree who would like to receive the e-newsletter.
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WRD announced Scott Robinson as chief of fisheries in February. Robinson, (right), a 25-year employee and formerly assistant fisheries chief, replaces Thom Litts, who was appointed the division's assistant director. Also, Chris Harper has been promoted from fisheries biologist in Region 6 to assistant chief. Harper’s background has varied from developing an American shad spawning program to helping meet statewide stocking needs.
Other personnel updates include Amanda George’s promotion to conference center coordinator at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center and the departure in January of Clybel ranger safety officer Skyler Redmond to take part in the Law Enforcement Division’s Game Warden Cadet Academy.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation presented the Guy Bradley Award posthumously to DNR Law Enforcement Capt. Stan Elrod, who died after being hit by a car Sept. 3. The award named for the first wildlife officer killed in the line of duty recognizes lifetime contributions for a state and a federal wildlife law enforcement employee each year. Elrod’s widow, Julie, accepted the award.
The Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia honored WRD outreach coordinator Linda May for Outstanding Service to Environmental Education by an Individual. The alliance announced awards for May and others at its annual conference, held virtually.
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A recent Fish and Learn II featured a rich lineup of leaders, as Fisheries Chief Scott Robinson and two former chiefs, John Biagi and Matt Thomas (right with a participant), teamed up to volunteer as guides.
Wildlife Conservation Program Manager Trina Morris and her bat survey crew contributed to a recently published assessment detailing the scope and severity of white-nose syndrome. One of the insights gleaned from North American Bat Monitoring Program data is that the disease has killed more than 90 percent of three bat species: northern long-eared, little brown and tri-colored bats.
A Banks County teacher’s proposal to create a wildlife garden and outdoor classroom earned her the DNR Conservation Teacher of the Year grant. Dr. Wendy Fuschetti will use the $1,000 for a Learning in the Lab of Life program in which third-graders will plan, design and install the garden and classroom area.
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 Bill Baker leads a Charlie Elliott class on building bird feeders in 2007 (Linda May/DNR)
Bill Baker, an amazing volunteer at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center for years, died Dec. 3. Baker was a talented woodworker who taught dozens of backyard habitat classes with WRD’s Linda May at Charlie Elliott and in 2011 was named Volunteer of the Year by TERN, Wildlife Conservation's friends group. May notes that another Dave Decker, another standout volunteer who helped with birding programs and gardening, also died last year.
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WRD We Are DNR recipients include the following, plus some of the comments from those nominating them:
Anna Yellin, Wildlife Conservation, Social Circle – Anna has incredible enthusiasm for her work. She approaches everything with a positive perspective and sets ambitious goals for herself and her team. She also does an exceptional job with outreach. Anna went above and beyond this winter to promote a new citizen-science project through Journey North that engaged the public in reporting monarchs overwintering in the southern U.S. This effort, which included UGA as a partner, documented multiple sightings in south Georgia. Thanks to Anna, we are now working more closely with other states and countries on conserving monarchs, a candidate for Endangered Species Act listing.
Jody Swearingen, Fisheries, Albany – Jody has a great attitude and is always willing to help whenever asked or when he sees work that needs doing. In spring 2020, with most in lockdown because of the pandemic, Jody stepped in to prepare ponds for white, hybrid, shoal and largemouth bass production at Cordele Fish Hatchery when the hatchery manager and assistant manager resigned. When a new manager was hired, Jody helped prepare them for the role. And with the district technician post vacant, Jody coordinated Region 5 Kids Fishing Events, in addition to his normal duties. He also entered the region’s sampling data, general surveys and other information into Survey 123 for the annual report.
We Are DNR awards allow all WRD employees to recognize associates for exemplary work. Just click the button above and answer the brief questions.
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WRD champions chosen by section chiefs for the past quarter are:
Wildlife Conservation
Bruce Thomas, hunting and shooting education specialist, Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center: An integral part of the center’s office, Bruce works hard to make sure programs he oversees succeed and that all customers receive good service. After noticing trends and questions regarding the Hunt and Learn program, which he runs, Bruce compiled those perceptions and created Safe Harvest and Responsible Practices (SHARP). This program targets people eager to hunt but lacking the knowledge or skills to start, including those who want to instill a hunting tradition in children or grandchildren but don’t have a hunting background. The first class received rave reviews. Bruce plans to offer three SHARP programs this fall, along with Give It a Shot and Hunt and Learn classes.
Game Management
Bobby Bond, senior wildlife biologist, Thomson: Bobby was instrumental in getting Region 3’s chronic wasting disease and county deer data collected in fiscal year 2021. Assigned to lead this effort, he and regional supervisor Lee Taylor worked to hire a temporary employee to assist with the project, then Bobby set up a dashboard in ArcGIS and consistently monitored it. Techs and biologists collected and entered data. Bobby provided weekly updates so field personnel knew where to focus their efforts. The updates also provided an effective way for personnel to measure their progress. Bobby’s efforts are to be commended.
Fisheries Management
Jim Page, senior fisheries biologist, Waycross: Jim serves as WRD’s state aquatic nuisance species coordinator. When notified that zebra mussels may have been sent to Georgia through the aquarium trade, Jim quickly organized aquarium store visits around the state to educate store employees and collect and dispose of products that might contain zebra mussels. He developed educational materials to distribute to stores and aquarium owners, coordinated on the response with neighboring states and federal partners, and helped Public Affairs develop news and educational releases. Jim juggled these long hours while managing his always-busy spring schedule. The fast and thorough response, and the teamwork across WRD, may have helped prevent zebra mussels from becoming established in Georgia.
Congratulations to all of these employees. Thanks to each for helping WRD excel at customer service and continue to pursue its mission.
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 WRD staff check a fox squirrel pup (left) found in a kestrel nest box, and a newborn black bear.
Juvie wildlife are a timely topic and one that always draws awwwws, whether it’s newborn black bears or fox squirrel pups (scroll to Noteworthy in the enews issue).
Speaking of pups – sky puppies, in this case – April Instagram and Facebook posts called for more volunteers to join WRD’s Bat Roost Monitoring Project.
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Changes for January through mid-April (hourly positions not included).
HIRED
- Aubrey Nicole Alexander, Waterfowl Habitat Program, wildlife technician 1
- Houston Elliott Channell, Game (Region 6, Brunswick), wildlife tech 1
- Matthew Francis Cooper, Game (Region 5, Albany), wildlife tech 1
- George Branden Gavrielides, Fisheries Management (Region 2, Gainesville), fisheries biologist 2
- Jesse Theodore Kamps, Bobwhite Quail Initiative, wildlife biologist 2
- Jacob Kyle Melton, Game (Region 1, Armuchee), wildlife tech 1
- Ian Stuart Murray, Waterfowl Habitat, wildlife tech 1
- Mark Kevin Myers, Rocky Mountain PFA, facility maintenance worker 3
- Emilia Verena Marshall Omerberg, Fisheries (Region 5, Albany), fisheries biologist 2
- Erik Arne Sandal, Fisheries (Region 2, Gainesville), fisheries tech 2
- Kimberly Denise Shepherd, WRD Public Affairs, communications specialist 1
- James Walker Shortnacy, Game (Region 1, Armuchee), wildlife tech 1
- Edward Parker Smith, Game (Sapelo Island), vessel mate 1
PROMOTED
- Sonja S. Daniels, WRD administration, business support analyst 2
- Emily Ann Ferrall, WCS (WRCC), wildlife biologist 1
- Amanda Lauren George, WCS (Charlie Elliott), communications specialist 2
- Joseph Vernon Harnage, Game (Region 6, Brunswick), wildlife tech supervisor
- Christopher J. Harper, Fisheries administration, manager 2 natural resources
- Jerome A. Hay, Game (Region 3, Thomson), wildlife tech 3
- Dallas R. Ingram, Bobwhite Quail Initiative, wildlife biologist supervisor
- Katrina M. Morris, WCS (WRCC), manager 2 natural resources
- Craig Robbins, Fisheries (Region 5, Albany), fisheries tech supervisor
- Michael Scott Robinson, Fisheries (administration), senior manager natural resources
- Brandon Wayne Smith, WCS (WRCC), wildlife tech 2
TRANSFERRED
- Jennifer Carolyn Beard, Game (administration), business support analyst 1
- Megan Sarann Boswell, Game (administration), administrative assistant 1
- Colt Logan Martin, Fisheries (Region 2, Gainesville), fisheries tech supervisor
- Mark D. Rigglesford, Fisheries (Region 3, Fort Valley), fisheries tech 3
RESIGNED
- Seldon Eugene Bailey, Boating Access, construction specialist 2
- Luke Mitchell Baker, Fisheries (Region 3, Fort Valley), tech 3
- Taylor Chamblis Cumbie, Game (Region 5, Albany), wildlife tech 2
- Camilla Gaye McClain, Fisheries (Region 4, Waycross), administrative support 1
- Stacy Anne Moritz, Game (Region 5, Albany), wildlife tech 2
- Michael Anthony Schena, Boating Access, construction specialist 2
RETIRED
- Gregory D. Balkcom, Game (Region 4, Fitzgerald), wildlife biologist 3
- David B. Neyhart, WRD administration, database administrator 2
- Lajuana M. Smith, WRD administration, business support analyst 2
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