Research Ecologist
USFWS
Fort Collins, CO, United States
Nifer Wilkening has worked on wildlife conservation projects in California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Brazil and India. She has trapped and handled animals, conducted vegetation and habitat surveys, analyzed physiological samples, and worked with local communities to manage wildlife populations and preserve habitat for a variety of species from prairie dogs to pikas to pacific pocket mice. She currently resides in the Mojave desert eco-region, where she serves as a wildlife biologist and habitat conservation planning coordinator for the USFWS southern Nevada field office. She received her BA and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder and her MS in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her research has focused on the effects of climate change on desert and mountain ecosystems, with particular emphasis on the use of a habitat specialist mammal to identify, interpret and model climate change impacts. When not chasing after her 11 year old daughter or German Shepherd mix puppy, she enjoys yoga, camping, hiking, skiing, rafting, vegetarian cooking, and reading.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM EDT