The Crowing Post:  10/01/07

 Quail Forever (QF) announces the hiring of Lara Fondow as the Loess Canyons Coordinating Wildlife Biologist stationed out of North Platte, Nebraska. Fondow joins QF while completing her graduate study requirements in Wildlife Ecology for the University of Wisconsin.

Coordinating wildlife biologist positions are designed to help implement Nebraska's Natural Legacy Plan. They focus on specific geographic regions of the state, helping bring together different agencies and individuals to benefit the state's natural resources. Fondow's work will focus on the Loess Canyons region of south-central Nebraska.

"Lara is extremely talented and energetic, and we're excited to be able to add her talents to help implement this state's wildlife plan," said Pete Berthelsen, Senior Field Coordinator with Quail Forever. This position is funded through a partnership between the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), and the NGPC will oversee the day-to-day operations.

Fondow's graduate work led her to Nebraska. For the past four years, she's worked with the eastern migratory Whooping Crane reintroduction project, in which chicks are led behind ultralight planes and the ultralight migration south. She noticed cranes utilizing many private cattle ranches on their wintering grounds in Florida, and that helped her understand the necessity of having knowledgeable wildlife biologists working with private landowners to manage lands. "It's something that I feel is really important," Fondow said, "The opportunity to come to Quail Forever and do private lands work while in the wildlife-abundant central flyway will be an incredible experience."

A good deal of Fondow's work will deal with the invasive red cedar species. The red cedar tree infestation inhibits wildlife growth and contributes to wildlife loss. "Though a native species, the over-abundance of red cedars is taking away vital grasslands and creating negative impacts on regional wildlife," Fondow said.

Fondow obtained her undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin. She also worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service through the Student Career Experiences Program, in which she worked with private landowners on land management in Wisconsin. A native of Hilbert, Wisconsin, she currently resides in North Platte.

Habitat today….pheasants forever!