WASHINGTON, D.C. – JULY 11TH, 2023
Amidst the thriving wilderness of Puxico, Missouri, Mingo Nationwide Wildlife Refuge confronted a urgent problem: a relentless invasion of feral hogs endangering its treasured species and delicate vegetation. Enter Brad Pendley, a devoted Wildlife Biologist at Mingo NWR since 2009, armed with a visionary answer – get rid of the hog risk to safe the refuge’s future for generations to come back. Recognizing his game-changing efforts at Mingo NWR and his continued management, Pendley has been bestowed with the esteemed 2023 Wildlife Refuge Awards – Worker of the Yr by the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation for 2023. Established in 1944 below the authority of the Migratory Fowl Treaty Act, Mingo Nationwide Wildlife Refuge serves as a testomony to our dedication to wildlife conservation.
This prestigious accolade celebrates the excellent accomplishments of people employed throughout the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System, honoring their invaluable contributions to the operation and administration of nationwide wildlife refuges throughout the nation. The 2023 Wildlife Refuge Awards ceremony and dinner will probably be held on September twenty sixth at 5:30 pm on the illustrious Mayflower Resort in Washington, D.C., and media protection of this occasion is extremely inspired.
“Brad works collaboratively with state, federal, non-profit, non-public, and college companions on quite a lot of initiatives and has sturdy administration abilities and produces outcomes when requested to work on a challenge,” says Sabrina Chandler, Pendley’s Space Supervisor at Mingo. “Brad actually saved our refuge from the specter of feral hogs by revolutionary and impactful mitigation strategies that eradicated this nuisance and risk to native conservation efforts.”
Amongst Pendley’s exceptional accomplishments are:
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Collaborating with the U.S. Division of Agriculture on an in depth feral hog trapping program, efficiently eradicating roughly 4,000 feral hogs from the refuge at a mean of over 500 per yr.
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Securing two grants from Area 3 Invasive Strike Group funds, leveraging round $80,000 in 2021 and $40,000 in 2022. These funds had been totally devoted to the feral hog program, facilitating aerial gunning flights, acquisition of drones/tools, monitoring cameras, and a spread of important tools.
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Enhancing communication, transparency, and constructing belief with stakeholders and neighboring communities, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the refuge’s conservation efforts.
Brad Pendley’s unwavering dedication to conserving wildlife and fostering neighborhood engagement stands as a testomony to his distinctive dedication and management. Allow us to have a good time his excellent achievements on the 2023 Wildlife Refuge Awards, applauding his exceptional contributions to wildlife conservation throughout the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System.
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The Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation is a non-profit completely targeted on defending, selling, and enhancing the 850-million-acre Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System, the world’s largest community of lands and waters put aside for wildlife conservation.
For all media inquiries and questions, please contact Eden Taylor, Communications Supervisor at etaylor@refugeassociation.org.