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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: WHISPER CAMEL
Whisper Camel, Tribal Wildlife Biologist, is working on
preliminary wildlife tracking surveys at the US Highway 93
wildlife crossing structures. The fresh snow of the past winter
provided Whisper the chance to observe wildlife using the
crossing structures.
She’s tracked animals along US 93 before. You may have seen
her in the summer of 2004 along the highway with an orange vest
and a large rake, studying the ground at the road side. The time
she spent as part of a research project that earned her a Master
of Science degree in Wildlife Management from Montana State
University in Bozeman, MT.
Whisper had worked for the CSKT Tribal Wildlife Program as a
Wildlife Biologist Trainee while completing her undergraduate
degree in Wildlife Biology at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo
and the University of Montana. As part of an education-to-work
contract with the CSKT, she was encouraged to pursue her
master’s degree. She was awarded a fellowship by the Wildlife
Conservation Society and the Western Transportation Institute to
attend Montana State University to study pre construction
wildlife concerns associated with US 93 reconstruction
activities.
Whisper is now back working as a Wildlife Biologist with the
Tribal Wildlife Management Program. She is currently working on
issues related to Highway 93 wildlife mitigation, wetland
restoration, amphibians and other projects in the program. “It’s
good to have Whisper as a part of the Tribes’ wildlife
management team” said Dale Becker, Tribal Wildlife Program
Manager. “The experience that she gained throughout her academic
career and especially during her graduate work, will provide her
with the foundation that she will need to work on the complex
wildlife and habitat issues here in the future”.
“It’s been a great journey and I’m happy to have accomplished
my academic goals” says the recently finished Ms. Camel. MSU’s
graduation is set for May 12, 2007 and Whisper has already
ordered her gown and hood in preparation for commencement. “I’m
happy to be living back in the Mission Valley and to be managing
our wildlife resources for the Salish, Pend d’Oreille, and
Kootenai people.”
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