Julie Young Named Newest Director of QCNR's Berryman Institute of Wildlife Damage Management

Wildlife biologist and animal ecologist Julie Young has been named as director of the Berryman Institute of Wildlife Damage Management, a 30-year-old organization based at USU that works to minimize conflicts between wildlife and people across the U.S.

With over two decades of experience in research and strategies for reducing negative animal interactions, Young takes the reins of the organization at a critical time.

“Communities across the West are looking to find ways to live with wild animals in increasingly complex circumstances,” said Linda Nagel, dean of the Quinney College of Natural Resources. “With the depth of experience in research and practice she brings to the role, Dr. Young offers a wealth of expertise toward creating workable solutions that support both people and ecosystems.”

Young is an associate professor in the Department of Wildland Resources and an affiliate of the Ecology Center. Her professional background includes working with federal and state agencies to find strategies to reduce conflicts involving wildlife interactions with people, including work on issues with cougars, bears, beaver, coyotes, wolves, livestock guardian dogs and more.

“The Berryman Institute has been the go-to name for expertise in research, teaching, outreach and extension for reducing conflicts and increasing coexistence between wildlife and people,” Young said. “It is an honor to be asked to serve in this leadership role."

Established in 1993, the Berryman Institute has served as a resource for wildlife professionals, government agencies, landowners and communities across the country. Its members work to promote sustainable solutions to wildlife damage management through research, education, outreach and extension.

“Under Young’s leadership, the team will work toward building partnerships with on-the-ground practitioners, as well as expand their work with state, federal and nonprofit agencies throughout the U.S. and internationally,” said Becky Quay, administrative and outreach coordinator for the Berryman Institute.

Young said that her vision for the future of the organization includes:

• Enhancing opportunities for students and faculty to focus on human-wildlife interactions.
• Building partnerships with agencies and others interested in human-wildlife interactions.
• Fostering stronger community outreach and extension programs to engage more landowners and wildlife beneficiaries, in line with the organization’s mission.

A primary goal of Young’s is to let people know the Berryman Institute is here to help.

"The Berryman Institute is now set to relaunch after a year of intense strategy planning for the future,” Young said. “I want to reinforce our reputation as the go-to place for any aspect of human-wildlife interactions — whether an agency, business or individual needing information or assistance, students wanting hands-on experience, or researchers needing technical support, we want anyone interested to use us as a resource to learn about, manage and research these issues."

The Berryman Institute is also inviting advisory boards to help focus activities grounded in the needs of those directly dealing with human-wildlife interactions.

“While my academic expertise is helpful for issues around carnivores and beavers in urban and rural settings, human-wildlife interactions are diverse,” Young said. “We want to ensure that we are keeping pace with the range of needs.”

By incorporating the help of experts from USU alongside professionals from state, federal and nonprofit agencies, Young aims to integrate knowledgeable perspectives into the resources provided by the Berryman Institute. This collaborative approach will help the institute address real-world challenges and develop solutions that reflect the complexities of human-wildlife coexistence, she said.