Paul Nickerson Oral History Transcript

Paul Nickerson grew up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he was interested in hunting and fishing as a child, which led to his interest in becoming a wildlife biologist. He went to University of Maine and graduated in 1966 in wildlife management. After returning from the military where he served for three years, he approached Fish and Wildlife Service in Washington, DC where he received a temporary appointment in 1969. He married and went back for a master’s in forest science at the University of New Hampshire. After obtaining his degree, he contacted folks and was given a career-conditional appointment for one year in Washington, DC, which led to a three-year conditional appointment, and finally a permanent position in 1970. His job initially was as office assistant, but later worked in Pesticide Appraisal Monitoring (later known as Environmental Contaminants). His research on the effect of DDT on starlings resulted in co-authored papers on the findings, which may have helped to convince EPA to suspend DDT in 1972.

Paul’s focus turned to raptor work, which was new at the time for the then waterfowl-based Fish & Wildlife Service. His eventual position as the Chief of Endangered Species for Region 5 (a position he held for 28 years), led to the listing of the Endangered bald eagle in the northern states, as well as delisting the peregrine falcon, both of which have since fully recovered – a source of great pride in his career.

Another source of pride for Paul was his work in getting all States in Region 5 on board with the Endangered Species Act via cooperative agreements, which was the first Region to do so. Paul was also involved with section 7 consultations, that for the first time, included plants and invertebrates, also a turning point for the Service. 

Paul felt that the Endangered Species Act gave the Service opportunity to reach beyond traditional hunting/fishing, establish partnerships, as well as to employ more women in the Service - all of which he is proud to have been a part of.