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Introducing the Caribou Expert
Meet Caribou Expert, Don Russell
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There is no single memory that "turned me on" to wildlife biology. We lived in a rural area of the lower mainland of British Columbia and I was always tending cows and chickens and pigs. Bears and deer were common visitors to our property. In my early teenage years I took a brief interest in mounting birds and small mammals and played around with trying to photograph hummingbirds. I remember spending many hours throughout the summer with my brother and neighbours tromping around in the forest on our property and we made countless "forts" in secluded parts of the forest. We had bicycle access to a number of good fishing spots and spent many an afternoon trying our luck at whatever would bite.
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2) Any person, role model or leading authority that greatly influenced
you (a parent, 6th grade teacher, scientist etc.)?
A few people had an influence on opening my eyes and a few doors in my
career. In school an older friend, Keith Fraser now a Science teacher)
would constantly drag me out on overnight hikes, and fishing and hunting
trips. We spent a couple of years as roommates at University as well.
At university as an undergraduate and later as my supervisor in a Master's
program, Dr. Fred Bunnell provided me with lots of opportunities to get
involved in projects and his work in the Arctic first introduced me to
caribou. In university and throughout my career as a biologist in the
Yukon, Dr. Robert White at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks was a tremendous
mentor in the field. We remain great friends to this day. Professionally
in helping guide my career, Dr. Art Martell of Environment Canada, was
probably the most influential person. He always had an uncanny ability
to sense what next career move would be best and we shared a commitment
to the health of caribou populations and the arctic environment in general.
3) Your background:(job title, profession, education/training
etc...)
Presently I am a Research Manager in charge of something called Circumpolar
Global Change Program. This is a relatively new position and will allow
me to finish my career focussing on the impacts of global change on arctic
ecosystems with, of course, reindeer and caribou as the primary focus.
Until the last couple of months I was the Manager of Canadian Wildlife
Service in the Yukon where I have been working since 1983. From 1976 to
1983 I worked for the Yukon Government as a wildlife biologist. I have
a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Forest Wildlife Management from the
University of British Columbia.
4) Favorite work story or experience: (One
of your most exciting, memorable, or exhilarating experiences in the Field!)
From 1984 to 1986 I spent a number of weeks each summer studying the role
of insects (mosquitoes, warble flies, nasal bot flies) on the summer ecology
of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. Our day would consist of locating the large
aggregations of caribou with a helicopter and being dropped off for the
day while we made our observations. Most days we would have the rare opportunity
to see golden eagles and grizzly bears preying on the herd. On one occasion
we were watching a group of about 5000 animals standing on a windy ridge
top trying to stay out of the bugs. Soon the whole herd moved off and
as is normal, leaving a few calves unattended by their mothers. We watched
a golden eagle come over the ridge, spot a calf and quickly swoop down
for the kill. The impact sent both calf and eagle, rolling down the hill
in a cloud of feathers and hair. When they stopped the calf wiggled free
and ran further down the hill. It took the eagle a minute to regain its
composure then he/she took off and hit the calf again and again they went
head-over-heel down the hill, same result. This replayed itself one more
time until the calf finally succumbed to the attacks. I imagine it was
the hardest meal that golden eagle has ever had to work for.
5) What advice can you provide to a student who might be interested
in working in your occupation some day?
I think any environmental career looks promising in the future. Many of
us "old guard" will be retiring opening the way for new blood.
I think one of the things that helped me throughout my career was my early
introduction to computers and data analysis. My Master thesis involved
field work combined with the construction of a number of computer models
to predict impacts of development. Anyone thinking about a career in biology
should make sure they are very comfortable with math and computers.
6) Any family members, including pets?
I'm the second oldest of 4 brothers. I have a wife and 4 kids of my own.
Kyle, is in Anthropology, Aubyn, is in Nursing School. Both of my younger
kids, Dylan, and Kelsey are Yukon representative teams in soccer.
7) Favorite book(s), Favorite food(s), Any hobbies?
It seems I spend most of my free time coaching soccer. Right now I coach
2 teams in the house leagues and coach the U14 girls team that represents
the Yukon. Food wise, my all time favourite is moose ribs that are pressure
cooked in a Hawaiian sauce. I also love any type of chicken dish especially
Chicken Diablo (baked in oven with a honey mustard marinade). When I do
have time for books, I am an escapist and enjoy fantasies. I especially
like the books of Guy Gabriel Kaye.
Copyright 2001-2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
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