BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) - The state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking its bison expert to step down to a lower paying job as legislative budget reductions force the agency to cut five wildlife division positions.
Biologist Arnie Dood started at the department about four decades ago, with 25 of those years spent as the endangered species coordinator, The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports (https://bit.ly/1EnHfqC ).
“It obviously came as a huge shock,” Dood said. “And after dedicating my life to the agency, I didn’t think they would treat someone like this.”
Dood hasn’t decided if he’ll take the brucellosis technician job the department offered him.
Division head Ken McDonald says a Helena-based carnivore coordinator position is the only other available spot near Dood’s pay grade. McDonald says he couldn’t offer the job because it’s open to the public, and Dood would have to apply.
Cuts were made based on need, McDonald said, which is quickly diminishing for the bison planning position.
“The task of that one was to develop a statewide bison plan,” McDonald said. “We’re just completing that effort.”
The state’s bison plan is expected to be released this summer.
Cuts in the wildlife division will also reduce the hours put in by three upland bird biologists by 25 percent.
Department-wide, 20 positions are being cut.
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Information from: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com
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