Michael Gale: Hannibal thanks for coming.
So great to see you, thanks so much.
Hannibal Bolton: Thank you very much
I'm happy to be here.
You sit on the steering committee for the
conserving the future of the vision process
and why did you say yes?
A lot of people don't know that this part of
the country, I actually spent 10 years on
the Upper-Mississippi National Wildlife
and Fish Refuge as a fisheries biologist
and project leader, so, with an opportunity
to provide input and support for this
real key program within the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. I was absolutely honored
to be able to be part of that dialogue and
helping move the refuge system forward.
For our folks out there in the Fish and
Wildlife Service, why is it important for
them to engage?
You know I refer to the National Wildlife
refuge system as one of the services
crown-jewels. I think that in terms of what
all of us could be, should be, proud of into
how we can make the refuge system and
the Fish and Wildlife Service be much more
permanent than it is, because I think there
is a great future and I think we all, all of
our employees, including myself, are to be
part of that movement as we move into the
next generation.
So, this vision process, we're really excited
about partners coming in and helping us
craft what the future looks like for the
refuge system, what's in it for them?
I think that's a tremendous opportunity
take full advantage and be involved.
And kind of, promote responsible Fish and
wildlife conservation.
And one of our key partners in the is the
states. The state fish and wildlife agencies.
I'm wondering if you could kind of describe
their particular role?
I think that is a good partnership, a great
example, you know the refuge system will
be managing Fish and Wildlife resources
states are also managing Fish and Wildlife
resources, you can look at it in terms of
kind of a landscape, watershed, an area, so
it's just a natural fit that we continue to
engage with each other and work toward
common goals as we deploy our
conservation assets.
Hannibal, when I hear you sort of talking
about deploying resources I have this sort
of image of us going out and sort of
galvanizing the troops and we have a lot of
newer and maybe even younger employees
coming into the Fish and Wildlife service.
Do you have anything to say to that next
generation?
I think the concept or idea of, you know,
partnerships and learning and networking
your resources with someone else, another
organization. I think that is clearly the
future for conservation, and funding will
always be a challenge for a time and years
to come, but us to build on those
partnerships, the refuge system already
there is just a natural to take advantage of.
well Hannibal, thank you so much for
sharing with us today and for your
leadership in the conserving the future
process, and in the Fish and Wildlife service
But before we go I was wondering if I could
maybe learn a little more about sort of the
Hannibal behind the Hannibal?
As a grown up, as a young kid in Arkansas
I started out rabbit hunting, and then
squirrel hunting, and then I think probably
the advent of all the chemicals that we
went into agriculture farming and then the
rabbit population started to go away, and I
started to watch t.v. and try to figure out
what is this about and I realized it was such
thing as conservation, responsible use and
living on the land, the landscape and I said
well, if I can make a difference there, then
that's what I want to do. And I wasn't even
aware the Fish and Wildlife Service existed
but I guess the Fish and Wildlife Service
was on campus on year during career days
and recruitment and I talked to the
recruiter he started telling me about all the
great things and opportunities in the Fish
and Wildlife service, and I said sign me up
I'd like to try this and I was offered a
summer internship and the rest is history.