Coraopolis, PA –-(Ammoland.com)- The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) recently named Dr. Brent A. Rudolph as director of conservation policy to work with the Administration, Congress, state agencies and the wildlife conservation community to promote policies and programs that enhance RGS/AWS opportunities to sustain early successional forest habitat on public and private forest lands and to provide for thriving ruffed grouse and American woodcock populations throughout the United States. Rudolph will also broaden public understanding of the role of science-based forest management in forest wildlife conservation.
“The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society are highly-respected in the halls of Congress as the voice of reason when issues involving scientific forest management arise, and Brent will continue our legacy of impacting legislation and policy from the federal to the local levels,” said RGS/AWS President and CEO John Eichinger. “Brent’s combination of extensive education in forestry and wildlife, 17 years of wildlife biology experience and numerous professional accomplishments make him the right person for this position and a great fit for our organization.”
Rudolph will aid in the coordination of RGS/AWS staff and member involvement in regulatory development affecting forest management on public and private forest lands. Outreach through appropriate media channels to increase public awareness of the ecological and social benefits of forest wildlife habitat management will be a focus of this position. These efforts will include regularly communicating RGS/AWS policy efforts through a column in the Ruffed Grouse Society magazine.
“The American public consistently and strongly supports public lands and conservation, though that support often wavers when it comes to specific policies needed to cut through burdensome bureaucracy and implement management. I’m honored by the opportunity to work with the passionate members and my new colleagues at the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society to promote the benefits of healthy forests, abundant wildlife and sporting traditions, and to mobilize public backing of these benefits and the scientific management upon which they depend,” said Dr. Brent A. Rudolph, RGS/AWS director of conservation policy.
Prior to this RGS/AWS position, Rudolph worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in various positions since 1999, including most recently as the social science coordinator and wildlife research specialist, and previously as the deer and elk program leader, acting species and habitat section supervisor, deer research biologist/specialist and wildlife habitat biologist. He has taught biology classes and mentored numerous students over his career, including many at Michigan State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife where he has served as an adjunct assistant professor since 2013. He received his Ph.D. in fisheries and wildlife from Michigan State University, his M.S. in environmental and forest biology from SUNY – College of Environmental Science and Forestry and his B.S. in biology from Ohio Northern University. He works and resides in Mason, Michigan, and is a proud husband, father of two daughters, an avid hunter and an active outdoorsman.
About the Ruffed Grouse Society/ American Woodcock Society
Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving our sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other wildlife. RGS/AWS works with landowners and government agencies to develop critical habitat utilizing scientific management practices. Information on RGS/AWS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.RuffedGrouseSociety.org.