Wilsons new responsibilities as field supervisor include directing a staff of six biologists on projects ranging from investigating effects of contaminants on fish and wildlife to endangered species conservation to habitat and wetland restoration projects. The field office works closely with other federal and state conservation agencies on fish and wildlife projects statewide. Service biologists also assist private landowners in restoring wetland and prairie wildlife habitats; work with the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain river habitat for native river fish species; and provide technical assistance to the U.S. Army for endangered species conservation efforts at Fort Leonard Wood.
I am excited to be returning to my home state, said Wilson, who has lived in St. Louis, Jefferson City, Kansas City, and Springfield. I am deeply dedicated to conserving fish and wildlife, and I look forward to working with all of our partners in Missouri for the benefit of this states outstanding natural resources.
Wilson comes to the Columbia office from the Services New Mexico Field Office in Albuquerque, where he served as an environmental contaminants specialist. He has worked for the Service in several field stations, including LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota, and ecological services offices in Pierre, South Dakota; Grand Island, Nebraska; Manhattan, Kansas; and Cookeville, Tennessee. During the past 15 years of his career, Wilson worked in the Services environmental contaminants program. He has also handled wetlands conservation projects, mitigation of losses of fish and wildlife resources resulting from federal water projects, and restoration of hazardous waste sites.
A graduate of Southwest Missouri State University, Wilson earned a bachelors degree in biology and chemistry. He also obtained a masters degree at the University of South Dakota where he studied biology and public administration. He and his wife Judy have two sons.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
