Wildlife refuge biologist to retire after 31 years

Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge biologist Al Clark is retiring after nearly 31 years with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He began his career here in 1977 and will finish it here at the end of this month.

Clark has seen changes positive and negative in his time. Coyote predation has become an issue where it wasn’t such a problem in the beginning.

However, many positive changes have occurred. Habitat improvements and the level of protection of the deer have increased. Private groups have been an integral part in the restoration of the refuge and protection of the deer; for instance, the Columbia Land Trust (CLT) and the Nature Conservancy have helped to purchase land.

The CLT has purchased land specifically for the deer and while Clark understands that the group isn’t very popular in some parts of the county he believes the land they purchased for the deer isn’t controversial or causing any problems.

A lot of people have come and gone in the past three decades. On the refuge and in the community, there are a lot more people moving in now.

Clark, who never had been to Cathlamet until he got the job, has seen a change for the better in attitudes toward the deer. It seems in the past 30 years people have become less aggravated about the endangered status. They still are, however, concerned about how the deer can affect their property.

“People have come to the realization that anywhere you live where there are deer, which is anywhere around here, whether it’s white tailed deer or black tailed deer, if you want a garden, you pretty much have got to fence it,” he said.

The refuge hasn’t always had the best reputation among locals. In the beginning, people were concerned that a valuable piece of property was being taken over but that has changed as well. “People in the community are very accepting of the refuge; by and large. They like having the refuge here.”

Prior to being with the department, Clark spent time in the Army on the G.I. Bill and eventually went back to college to major in Biology. He attended Cornell, the University of Florida and eventually Penn State.

Born and raised in New York, Clark and his wife Diane are ready for a new adventure. “We are going to meander our way back east, spend the summer in New York and Pennsylvania.” Then they will spend the winter in Georgia or Alabama, perhaps settling in the south east.

If they don’t like it there, he said, they may end up back out here.They know the good and the bad of living in the Northwest. The bad is mostly the weather. “It just gets really dreary and tiresome,” he said.

Clark has enjoyed his time working with USFWS. He worked with great people and liked that he never stopped learning. There is always something to look forward to and new wildlife to explore. “You learn so much, it’s really interesting stuff.”