Field Research Assistant - Behavior of the Gray Fox

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Covid-19 Precautions: While at the baylands doing the work that is needed, we will remain at least 6 - 10 feet apart at all times. We will wear gloves but face mask is optional.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a part of a scientific study on the behavior of wildlife and do it in the field live and on the ground? Have you ever been curious about what wildlife is doing out there in the dark of night? Learning to set up and care for trail cameras will give you a few of the answers. The Urban Wildlife Research Project (UWRP See www.urbanwildliferesearchproject.com/) is conducting such work on the behavior of the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). The research being conducted is vital to understanding their predatory behavior and their direct impact on the environment.

As such, we need a volunteer who lives locally in the Santa Clara Valley, California and who can commit to being in the field twice a day: Once in the early morning at around 5:30 AM and then later in the day at around 3:00 PM. For many this is tough, because you have to rise and shine before sunrise. You will be directly working with Bill "The Fox Guy" Leikam, president of the UWRP.

Interested applicants for this position should have some college work completed preferably in ecology, conservation, biology or related fields of study or roughly the equivalent of those preferred requirements. Some prior field work experience is an advantage. Your task will be to learn the use of trail cameras, sometimes called camera traps, how to document the video data taken from the previous night on SD Card files, battery maintenance, and more. We need someone who is in the habit of replying to text messages and to email in a timely manner.

The purpose of this program is to learn the processes in the field so that when Bill needs to travel to make presentations, attend meetings, etc. you will know what to do and how to do it. You need not be in the field seven days a week like Bill but you can choose the number of days that you wish to be out with Bill learning the process. You can select for instance, Monday, Wednesday and Friday or any other two- or three-day combinations. We are very flexible here so make your wishes known.