We want to acknowledge Team Army 2019 members. We were a small unit, but for this project I felt it was better to start small and manageable than be too big and potentially invite greater risk of accident. Fortunately, we all knew the Park’s back country really well, so we operated about as efficiently as feasible and maintained a clean safety record. In 2020, we will expand ground survey effort, doubling (and hopefully diversifying) our ranks. Here are short introductions for last summer’s team members:

Burt Bjorling

A former fee-program National Park Service seasonal employee at multiple parks (including Glacier), Burt brought a broad array of skills to the project thanks to his diverse professional and recreational background. Chief among these were his judgement and communication skills, two traits every field team needs, especially this endeavor. In 2019, Burt’s can-do attitude, flexibility, and mental perseverance greatly benefited field operations.

Jackson George

Also, a former seasonal National Park Service employee at Glacier, in trails, Jackson is a year-round mountain man. Possessing boundless energy, endurance, extensive knowledge of Glacier’s deep backcountry and a high-level of mountaineering experience, Jackson’s expertise helped crews access rugged field sites while adhering to project-safety climbing protocol. His contributions helped crews maintain an injury-and-incident free first field season.

Danny Proctor

Possessing a love of Glacier and its high country, Danny (who also is a member of the Glacier Mountaineering Society, http://www.glaciermountaineers.com/) took a break from his successful group business venture last summer to work as a full-time technician on Glacier’s remote camera Canada lynx occupancy project (https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2020/feb/26/study-catches-glaciers-elusive-lynx-on-camera/), which is also being supported by the Glacier National Park Conservancy. Following the conclusion of that project’s field operations, he was hired-on to finish-out our field season. Danny’s positive demeanor and all-around helpful interests were valued traits. 

Enrique Peterson

This graduate research represents the completion of a cycle for myself, as I am humbled to have the opportunity to pursue an early research interest that dates back to my undergraduate days. Since then, I’ve honed my professional experience and developed command of bear ecology while working for state, federal and tribal agencies. For nine summers prior to entering graduate school I worked as the Park’s east side wildlife technician.

Volunteers

Last summer, we benefited from targeted assistance by volunteers. In 2020, we anticipate broadening our volunteer base of support, so we can cover more ground with our crews.