Rich Hansen, Wildlife Biologist

Manager, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area

and Statewide Migratory Bird Banding Coordinator

                  Growing up on a farm, the love for being outdoors was instilled upon me at a young age. When I was 8 years old,

I knew that I wanted to do something with wildlife for a career and this made it very easy for me to stay focused on getting

an education in Wildlife Management. I received my Bachelors Degree in Wildlife Management from Utah State University in

2002. While attending college, I spent four summers working at Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area (OBWMA), and one

summer working for Wildlife Services in Alaska. My love for waterfowl and interest in wetlands led me down the road that I am

now on. I am now the manager of Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (FBWMA) and the Statewide Migratory Bird

Banding Coordinator. I absolutely love my job and love to wake up every morning to go to work!

I am lucky to have great co-workers in Jason Jones, who helps with the marsh management;

and Justina Parsons-Bernstein, who is in charge of the Nature Center.

I love the water management challenges that are presented at (FBWMA), and what can be accomplished with the

correct water management. We have many challenges at FBWMA including: Invasive noxious weeds

(Phragmites, Hoary Cress, Pepper weed, Dyer’s Woad, Purple Loostrife, Salt Cedar),

Nutrient issues, Invasive wildlife species (Carp, Bull Frogs, Raccoons, Red Fox), and Encroachment.             

I believe that we need to manage the habitat in a way that is most beneficial to Waterfowl and Shorebirds,

but to also implement an intensive predator control program. We try to control Raccoons, Skunks, Red fox,

and feral cats. With our predator control program, we have seen a direct correlation in

drastically increased waterfowl, shorebird, and upland bird production.