Terms of Service:

• Start date: 5/10/26
• End date: 10/10/26
• Application Deadline: 3/16/26
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 22 weeks-675 hours

Purpose:

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in Socorro County, New Mexico. The 57,331-acre refuge was established in 1939 to provide a critical stopover site for migrating waterfowl and is well known for the tens of thousands of cranes, geese, and ducks that overwinter every year. Its primary purpose is to serve as a refuge and breeding ground for various bird species and other wildlife. More than 30,000 acres are designated wilderness, and the refuge provides year-round or seasonal habitat for four threatened or endangered species. Water movement throughout the management system relies on a complex network of irrigation canals, with surface water and groundwater interactions playing a key role in overall refuge function. Monitoring listed species and their habitats, along with improving habitat conditions through invasive species removal and restoration efforts, are critical responsibilities of the refuge.

Description of Duties: 

The intern will focus on invasive species management (60% of duties) and biological monitoring tasks (40% of duties) to assist the Invasive Species Specialist and biology team at Bosque del Apache NWR. 

Tasks may include but are not limited to:

• Conducting survey and monitoring activities for listed species, including the southwestern willow flycatcher, yellow-billed cuckoo, and New Mexico meadow jumping mouse 
• Chemically and mechanically treating invasive plant species and noxious weeds within the river realignment boundary and around the refuge's infrastructure and moist-soil units
• Conducting moist-soil seed yield surveys
• Inventorying and monitoring invasive plant species
• Collecting and dispersing native plant seed
• Maintaining issued GOV and refuge housing

Additional duties may include:

• Cleaning ditches and around water control structures
• Moist-soil mowing to prep for arrival of winter waterbirds
• Maintaining service roads and public tour loop using a pole saw, and/or handsaw
• Other duties as assigned

Training opportunities may include:

• Tier 1 Heavy Equipment training 
• Off-road Utility Vehicle training
• Pesticide Application
• Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Protocol training

This position is expected to be comfortable operating a UTV. It is also expected that the technician be comfortable mixing and applying herbicide to treat invasive species and noxious weeds. The technician is expected to perform duties independently and safely. Proper PPE and training will be provided for all duties.

Qualifications:

• United states citizen, United states national, or a lawful permanent resident
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or evquivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementrary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Minimum Qualifications:

• Driver’s license and clean driving record
• Experience conducting and/or some knowledge of wildlife and vegetation surveys
• Ability to lift 30lbs
• High school diploma 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with using an agricultural tractor
• Experience with pesticide application
• Experience with utilizing ArcGIS Pro and GIS applications
• Plant identification
• Bird identification