Consultants
Pat Merkord, President, Founder, Wildlife Biologist & Educator
- B.S. Texas A & M University-Kingsville; M.A. Biology (Wildlife Management), Texas State University.
- Bluestem Environmental Consultants, founder and president (two years)
- 29-year award-winning science educator
- Intel Excellence in Science Teaching Award - 2001
- Consultant and monitoring of prairie restoration projects and easements
- Current Secretary and Board Director of Native Prairies Association of Texas
- Four years experience with Wildlife Management for Agricultural Tax Exemptions
- Food research study of endangered species using fecal analysis (Texas State University thesis)
- Over 20 years of experience creating and presenting workshops on plant identification, endangered species, invasive species, water quality, wildlife restoration, wildlife management, pond management, integrated pest management, aquatic science and marine science
- Over 20 years of experience writing curriculum and textbooks for biology, chemistry and environmental science
- Water quality project study of Rio Hondo for water discharge permit and presentation of findings at Texas Academy of Science (teacher/student 1 yr research project with TPWD)
- Over 30 years of experience in bird identification and bird survey techniques
- Small mammal trapping projects and studies (Texas A&M Kingsville)
- Entomological Curator and related projects (Texas A & M Kingsville)
- Herbarium curator and plant ID for education (all areas of Texas)
Randy Moss, Senior Biologist
- B.S. Systematics and Ecology, University of Kansas; Ph.D. Biology (Aquatic Biology) University of Kansas
- More than 30 years experience as a researcher and biologist at universities ( University of Kansas , University of Michigan , Oklahoma State University) and government (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 1987-2005)
- Endangered species research and management experience with Neosho madtom (recovery team consultant), many Texas federal and state-listed species
- Advisor and consultant for wildlife exemptions for ranches and other properties. Involved in many land stewardship activities.
- Experience performing aquatic assessments in streams, rivers, lake, bayous, and coastal areas of Texas . Experience performing many types of terrestrial assessments, especially for ranches and properties in central Texas and the Hill Country.
- Experience in general environmental assessments under federal and state statutes and regulations.(Environmental Assessment Biologist, TPWD)
- Teaching and seminar experiences include instructor for Texas Master Naturalist courses, instructor for the Texas Game Warden Academy, adjunct faculty at Texas State University, and many professional and technical presentations
- Published in peer reviewed journals including American Midland Naturalist, Kansas Academy of Science, Texas Journal of Science and many government publications
- Lead biologist for instream flow river evaluation in Guadalupe and Brazos river basins; Chair of Biological Advisory Team, Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation plan, lead for Federal Regulatory Energy Commission actions and assessments, and conducted Regional EMAP study for U. S. Environmental Protection Agency for east Texas ecoregions
- Special Programs Coordinator, Environmental Contaminants Branch
- Research "Limiting Factors, Production and Ecology of Laguna Atascosa and Adjacent Wetlands" (USFWS, Laguna Atascosa)
- Developed Habitat Suitability Index Curves (HIS) for over 20 fish species
Linda Laack, Consulting Wildlife Biologist
- B.S. Biology, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; M.S. Range and Wildlife Management, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
- More than 20 years experience as a Wildlife Biologist in university (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, 5 years), government (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 15 years), and private sector (Environmental Defense, 1 year) settings
- Endangered species research and management experience with the ocelot, gray wolf, piping plover, aplomado falcon, golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, and Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. Technical team member of the Ocelot Recovery Team
- Game management experience with white-tailed deer, waterfowl, wild turkey and northern bobwhite. Non-game management experience with songbirds, raptors, reptiles and amphibians.
- Experience with radio-telemetry, trapping and sedating wildlife, bird banding, wildlife surveys (ungulates, carnivores, small mammals, breeding birds, waterfowl, shorebirds, reptiles, amphibians), remote-trip cameras, hair snares, vegetation sampling and monitoring, upland habitat restoration, prescribed fire.
- Published in peer-reviewed journals including Journal of Wildlife Management, Biological Conservation, Wildlife Society Bulletin
Chris Merkord, Consulting Biologist
- B.S. Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M Univesity (Zoology); Ph.D. Biology, University of Missouri (Avian Ecology, 2008)
- Waterway mapping and characterization of 300+ miles of oil and natural gas pipelines for risk analyses, logging thousands of hours with Trimble XPS unit. Assistant project leader, Fenchurch Environmental Services.
- Experience designing and implementing Animal Care and Use Committee-approved field and lab research protocols, hiring and supervising technicians, collaborating with government, univeristy, and private entities, obtaining permits for local and international research (including USDA APHIS imports), and working in bilingual settings (Mexico and Peru).
- Research experience with birds: mist-netting, banding, morphometric measurement, visual/aural surveys of forest and grassland birds, colonial waterbird surveys, audio playback, and specimen preparation in Texas, Missouri, Minnesota, Mexico, and Peru.
- Research experience with mammals: small mammal live trapping, morphometric measurement, and specimen prepartation in Texas and Mexico
- Tour leading experience with Victor Emanual Nature Tours (4 years) and Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival (4 years)
- 20+ years experience identifying birds, mammals, herps, and insects
