Brooke VanHandel

• Coordinated statewide Deer Hunt for Hunters with Disabilities program, facilitating inclusive hunting opportunities for participants.
• Assist with administrative work for the Citizen Deer Advisory Councils (CDACs).
• Review state and program policies, assist with reviews and changes within the deer program.
• Take part in media requests such as news interviews and radio shows.
• Generate surveys and analyze responses.
• Create maps utilizing ArcGIS Pro.
• Communicate with many different stakeholders and provide customer service.
• Plan many different training and meetings for the species section and CDACs.
• Coordinated the Deer Donation program during staff vacancy.
• Record meeting minutes for both the Deer Advisory and Elk Advisory Committees.
• Assist with the elk program with field work such as calf searches and winter elk captures when necessary.
• Develop an annual report for the moose in Wisconsin using observations submitted by staff and Wisconsin residents.

● Coordinated Adopt-a-Wildlife Area (AWA) and Wildlife Management (WM) Friends Group programs statewide, enhancing community engagement in wildlife conservation.

● Developed annual reports, newsletters, and social media content for AWA and WM Friends Groups, improving communication and outreach efforts.

● Attended AWA workdays and WM Friends Group events to increase stakeholder engagement.

● Conducted outreach to raise awareness and grow the AWA program.

● Built Sharepoint site to provide an efficient way for staff and groups to access information.

● Planned an annual meeting for AWA and WM Friends Groups.

● Planned the Lands and Habitat Section in-person meeting.

● Helped plan supervisor training meeting and coordinate venue and lodging.

● Worked in Development Projects System to approve projects on wildlife areas throughout the state.

● Used Land Records System to find farmland easement deeds and documents.

● Developed a monitoring protocol for farmland easements.

● Created a survey123 form for annual easement monitoring.

● Provided resolutions for easement violations by working with Natural Resources Conservation Service, DNR real estate, wardens, and landowners.

● Presented to new biologists on AWA and WM Friends Group programs.

● Created maps of AWA and WM Friends Groups using ArcGIS Pro.

● Coordinated chainsaw trainings for AWA groups with course instructor.

● Communicated with different agencies, organizations, internal staff, landowners, and other members of the public.

● Coordinated CWD program in five counties (Adams, Juneau, Marathon, Portage, Wood).

● Worked with members within the DNR, as well as outside of the DNR for CWD program.

● Removed lymph nodes from harvested deer to submit for CWD testing.

● Aged harvested deer.

● Coordinated dumpster locations and managed pick-up and emptying to support CWD program logistics.

● Provided training to UWSP volunteers.

● Picked up samples and delivered supplies to cooperators.

● Coordinated dumpster locations and pick up/emptying of dumpsters with company.

● Responded to public inquiries regarding CWD and VPA/THAP, providing essential information and guidance.

● Contributed to carnivore tracking efforts to monitor local wildlife populations.

● Utilized LRS (Land Records System) for VPA and THAP properties.

● Utilized ArcGIS ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro for different projects.

● Posted signs on VPA and THAP property boundaries.

● Recruited landowners for new VPA/THAP enrollment.

● Conducted site visits for interested landowners.

● Recorded harvested sick deer in sick deer database.

● Worked as a wildlife technician at several different wildlife areas in Central Wisconsin such as Buena Vista, Sandhill, Mead, Paul J. Olson, Quincy Bluff, and Buckhorn Wildlife Areas.

● Conducted invasive species management on public lands utilizing herbicide application with UTV and sprayers (hand sprayer, hand pump, backpack, and boomless).

● Implemented habitat management plans through herbicide spraying, brush cutting, and other techniques.

● Worked in a variety of habitats including grasslands, forests, and wetlands.

● Collaborated with team members and worked independently on various wildlife projects.

● Ensured maintenance of public and shop facilities to provide a welcoming space for visitors.

● Built small structures utilized for storage at wildlife areas.

● Maintained grazing infrastructures.