Questions and Answers

All Fish and Wildlife Agency Profiles are available on this site as profiles are completed. The information is viewable by anyone. All of the information compiled in profiles is general public record. Agencies are not asked to provide any sensitive or confidential detail. The timely and transparent information positions elected and appointed officials, peer agencies, associations, NGOs, and the private sector to support conservation policy and actions collaboratively. 

Visualization and aggregation 

After fish and wildlife agencies have completed profiles, WMI will make a set of dynamic reports, information aggregations, and visualizations available. The compiled information will be available to all. 

Examples of what will be available: 

• Map highlighting which states have a Wildlife Veterinarian position/staff 
• Map highlighting states currently conducting research and/or monitoring trends in wildlife migration corridors 
• Table of mechanisms used by each state to promote public access to private lands (e.g. agreements with private landowners; agreements with industry; cooperative programs with USDA; cooperative programs with private groups; landowner liability relief law) 

Analysis 

The information collected in Fish and Wildlife Agency Profiles can be used collectively across the conservation community to identify threats to modern conservation agencies (e.g., loss of authority; increasing legal challenges; and impacts from invasive species, wildlife disease, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change). 

 The information can be examined for opportunities to leverage the collective strengths and experiences of agencies and their partners as they adapt to societal changes (e.g., changing wildlife values; increasing relevancy; application of social science in decision-making; improved customer service platforms; expanded funding models; landscape-scale conservation; increased collaboration and use of technology; engaging with and serving broader constituencies). 

WMI asks agencies to complete their profiles by January 31, 2024. WMI staff will contact agency leadership to provide updates on status and prompts for completion.

Profiles include a wide range of questions organized by these topics: 

• Agency Organization 
  • Agency Administrator 
  • Commission/Board 
  • Personnel 
• Agency Administration 
  • Public Engagement 
  • Public Information and Education Resources 
  • Fiscal 
  • Planning and Policy 
• Regulatory Authorities and Law Enforcement 
• Agency Operations 
  • Research and Monitoring 
  • Management and Operations  

Unlike the Organization, Authority, and Programs of State Fish and Wildlife Agencies reports of yore, the Fish and Wildlife Agency Profiles are designed to be updated regularly and as needed. 

When your agency structure, authority, and program changes 

Any time – as state agency situations change – WMI encourages agency staff to update profile information. As outdated information is discovered, agency staff can log in and directly update individual profile components as needed. 

Periodic and as-needed prompts 

WMI will occasionally prompt agencies to review and update profiles. We will do this periodically (once a year or so) just to keep information fresh.

Addressing regional and national urgent needs 

Regional or national needs may occasionally arise, calling for up-to-date, definitive information about a particular policy area. In these cases, we may contact agencies and request focused scrutiny on a specific topic area. 

Each state fish and wildlife agency has exclusive access to build and update its own Fish and Wildlife Agency Profile. While the profile can be completed and maintained by one person, the wide range of topics and questions in the profile may require a few areas of expertise to complete. For most agencies, completing the profile is a small team effort. 

Fish and Wildlife Agency Profiles may be updated at any time by any agency staff member with an email account assigned by the agency. When you update any information, the system logs the date, time and lists you as the information updater.

Only agency staff and WMI administrators can update Fish and Wildlife Agency Profiles. 

Each profile statement includes a date indicating when it was last updated or confirmed, and by whom. This gives agencies an understanding of when information was provided and who entered it. For those using the information for research purposes, the date updated/confirmed provides some means of discerning how current the information is and how accurate it may be.

While voluminous, WMI recognizes that conservation community members may have information needs beyond what is currently collected in Fish and Wildlife Agency Profiles. WMI may consider adding profile questions/statements if there is significant value to agencies providing the information and the additional information would not require an undue workload for agency staff.

To request the addition of topics and questions/statements, please email aforstchen@wildlifemgt.org.