Adapted from Headwater Montana announcement

Lisa Bate with Harlequin - courtesy of Lisa Bate
Lisa Bate with Harlequin – courtesy of Lisa Bate

Lisa Bate, Glacier National Park wildlife biologist (and Flathead Audubon Member) has been awarded the Jack Potter Glacier National Park Stewardship Award. established to promote stewardship of Glacier Park’s spectacular natural resources.

Lisa exemplifies the key attributes behind the Stewardship Award. She loves the Park, and she works intelligently and with determination to understand and protect the big as well as small wonders of Glacier. Even those little things like bats, that people don’t even know they come to Glacier to enjoy!

Lisa began as a seasonal wildlife technician and was rapidly promoted to more demanding project work. She led the wildlife mitigation work for reconstruction of the Going to the Sun Road. Simultaneously, she coordinated the harlequin duck study that led to the discovery of the ducks wintering ground in Puget Sound, Washington.

Speaking of bats, Lisa conducted the park’s first bat study that led to the discovery of two new bat species living in the park. She has also assumed the leadership the of the Breeding Bird Survey that monitors breeding success in the park. And she contributes annually to the Citizen Science Program in Glacier that allows visitors to participate in the Park’s scientific research.

Lisa’s passion for wildlife and education don’t stop at the park boundary. She is always ready and willing to give public presentations, assist teachers with science education, and apply her expertise to local conservation issues.

Headwaters Montana established the award in 2011 after the retirement of Jack Potter, a 40-year veteran of Glacier Park. Potter retired from the park as Chief of Science and Resources. He was known for his vigorous defense and advocacy of the Park’s natural resources, sometimes in opposition to forces looking to be expedient or financial rather than custodial.

Lisa Bate second from right with her Bat Crew - courtesy of Lisa Bate
Lisa Bate second from right with her Bat Crew – courtesy of Lisa Bate