United States of America
Dave Telesco graduated with a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife Resources from Virginia Tech. After graduation, Dave worked for 4 years on a variety of wildlife projects across the country. He earned his M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science at The University of Tennessee, where he worked on bear population estimation and habitat modeling. He has worked as the Bear Management Program Coordinator for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since December 2008. Dave’s main focus at FWC is to take actions to ensure and maintain the successful recovery of the Florida black bear while alleviating and preventing human-bear conflicts.
United States of America
Becca Carniello graduated with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wildlife biology from Humboldt State University where her research focused on black bear genetics and behavioral ecology of carnivores and ungulates. Before starting her current position, she worked with various species in California and Nevada including black bear, bobcat, elk, and greater sage-grouse. Becca is now a game biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife in Reno, Nevada, USA where she primarily works with Nevada’s growing black bear population.
Canada
United States of America
Hilary is the Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She has worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service for over 10 years, first as the Wolf Recovery Coordinator for the Northwest Region and then as the Polar Bear Program Lead in Alaska. She also spent time working for Idaho Department of Fish and Game as a regional wolf biologist. Her wildlife career began working on mountain lions in Wyoming and then in Washington, where she received a M.S. and Ph.D. studying mountain lion prey selection and population demographics at Washington State University.
Canada
Paul Frame is the Provincial Carnivore Specialist for Alberta Environment and Parks. He is responsible for policy initiatives and general coordination of provincial level programs for bears, wolves, and cougars. Before joining the Department in June of 2014, Paul worked as a biologist with polar bears in Nunavut, and wolves in the Northwest Territories, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Alberta. He has a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s in Ecology from the University of Alberta.
United States of America
Lindsey Mangipane is a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Polar Bear Team. Since joining USFWS in 2019, Lindsey’s work has primarily focused on preventing and mitigating human-polar bear conflicts. Additionally, Lindsey works as one of the representatives for the United States to the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Range States). Before joining the USFWS, Lindsey worked with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks where she helped to resolve conflicts between grizzly bears and people. She then attended graduate school at Mississippi State University where she completed her master’s thesis evaluating the effects of dietary plasticity and landscape heterogeneity on brown bears in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Lindsey lives in Anchorage, Alaska with her husband and their dog, Stanley.
United States of America
Colleen Olfenbuttel is the statewide Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist for North Carolina (12+ years) and has been involved in bear research and management for about 20 years. She received a B.S. in wildlife biology from Ohio University (1996) and a M.S. in wildlife management from Virginia Tech (2005). She is an active member of The Wildlife Society (TWS), serving on various boards, and has been a member of the IBA since 2000. She previously served as co-chair of the Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) Large Carnivore Working Group, is a member of the Southern Appalachian Black Bear Study Group, serves on the Eastern Black Bear Workshop Steering Committee (EBBW), and has been on several planning committees for the EBBW.
United States of America
Mark Vieira has been the statewide program manager for black bears, mountain lions and furbearers for Colorado Parks and Wildlife since 2017. He is responsible for coordination and implementation of statewide management and harvest programs as well as influencing and developing policy and funding prioritization for game carnivore species. Previously, Mark served as a game biologist in north-central Colorado for CPW from 2001-2017. He has a B.A. biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an M.S. in wildlife biology from Colorado State University.
United States of America
United States of America
Canada
Canada
The Research and Conservation Grants Committee evaluates grant proposals and recommends projects for funding that advance scientific knowledge and promote the conservation of bear species and their habitats for grant awards. By supporting innovative research, this committee helps drive impactful conservation efforts across the globe.
United States of America
United States of America
The Experience and Exchange Grants Committee evaluates grant proposals and recommends projects for funding that facilitate professional development and knowledge exchange among bear researchers and conservationists. By supporting opportunities for individuals to gain hands-on experience or collaborate with peers in different regions, the grants foster global learning and skill-building that enhance bear conservation efforts worldwide.
United States of America
United States of America
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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live, work and research across the earth. We recognise their continued custodianship and connection to the land, waters and community. We respect and honor Elders past, present and emerging. Our hope is that we move forward with open minds listening and learning from their wisdom and knowledge.
