Although her career has been filled with highlights, Ms. West is incredibly proud of working with red wolves.
POST FALLS, ID, December 02, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kyla West has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Inspired to care for wildlife, Ms. West fostered her professional aspirations from the time that she was a child. In 2008, she was offered the Quality Deer Management Association's first-ever scholarship at 15 and became the youngest in the organization's history to certify as a Deer Steward. By 2012, she was able to work with the world's most endangered wolf species, the red wolf, while earning a Bachelor of Science in wildlife science from the State University of New York's College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, Ms. West gained valuable expertise in the field as a wolf research technician with the United States Geological Survey, a staff member in animal care for the Philadelphia Zoo, a biological technician for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and a fish and wildlife technician for the United States Army.
In 2016, Ms. West's dedication to understanding wild canids led her to work as a canine research technician for her alma mater before moving to Washington State, where she became a certified sanctuary guide through Wolf Haven International. Over the years, she further served as a fish and wildlife biologist for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, a grants writer for the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Army, a mesocarnivore crew lead at the University of Washington and a staff biologist for Puget Sound WildCare. Ms. West was additionally active as a small game and furbearer biologist with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Maintaining a prominent role in this agency, she currently excels as a statewide human-wildlife conflict analyst, actualizing her career goals to reduce negative interactions between humans and large carnivores.
In conjunction with her work, Ms. West is a member of the exclusive Vidocq Society. She also holds several leadership roles in various organizations, including Artemis Sportswomen and the PNW Outdoor Women Group. Due to her outstanding wealth of knowledge, Ms. West was appointed as lead author of the manual for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Beaver Relocation Program, and co-authored a publication in the Journal of Ecology and Evolution, cited below:
Hinton, J.W., E. Heppenheimer, K.M. West, D. Caudill, M. Earthman, J. C. Kilgo, J. Mayer, B. vonHoldt, and M. J. Chamberlain. 2018. Geographic patterns in morphometric and genetic variation for coyote populations in North America with consideration of coyotes in the Southeastern United States. Ecology and Evolution https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4966
Although her career has been filled with highlights, Ms. West is incredibly proud of working with red wolves. She is compelled by this species not only because there are so few of them that are left, but also for their evolutionary distinction as being endemic only to the United States. According to her, only eight red wolves are known to remain in the wild as of October 2021, though the species persists through captive breeding programs across the country. Ms. West also found great satisfaction from being able to conduct other amazing research projects that included studying grey wolves in Minnesota, providing improved habitat for the endangered Florida panther in Florida and working to support wildlife and military operations in upstate New York and Washington.
Ms. West fondly recalls her work in Washington as well, as she was able to help with the development and lead the implementation of the state's very first statewide beaver relocation program, which served to reduce human-wildlife interactions and promote ecological restoration. Finally, she is honored to be the youngest member and only wildlife biologist in the history of the Vidocq Society, a crime-solving organization of forensic scientists and criminal experts that focuses on cold case murders. In the near future, Ms. West aims to promote good science while providing outreach and education so communities can better understand and coexist with wildlife.
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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