Melissa (Missy) Kalb Email & Phone Number

Hopkinton, Ri, Us

Abingdon, Va

Abingdon, Va

Canaan Valley Institute has a unique partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program. As a Habitat Restoration Specialist and volunteer with the Partners Program, I assist with delivering conservation and habitat restoration projects on private lands throughout Southwest Virginia to enhance and protect the aquatic resource and benefit federal trust species and other associated wildlife. I work on a small, fast-paced and dynamic team to survey project sites, plan and design restoration projects, coordinate with state and local agencies for permitting and compliance, and participate in project management on site during implementation. Our project goals may include habitat enhancement, stream bank stabilization, sediment load reduction, and water quality improvement. I also write and help administer federal and private grants to leverage funding from partners.

Worton, Maryland

At Andelot, I was solely responsible for establishing a habitat management and monitoring program on 2,900 acre conservation easement. I frequently led a team to achieve wildlife habitat management goals and was supervisor to a temporary assistant. One of my most common responsibilities was to implement extensive control of invasive plants using mechanical, chemical, and biological methods. I started a project to restore native bobwhite quail habitat and eventually reintroduce a population in cooperation with local experts, college personnel, and MD DNR. I used annual predator surveys to document risks to eventual bobwhite quail populations and made recommendations about predator control. I designed and conducted a deer population estimate using 24 trail cameras, collected over 46,000 pictures, and analyzed data to make harvest recommendations. I routinely reported project updates, progress, and future plans to a board of 4 members and the farm manager. Andelot is located in northeast Kent County, Maryland, on the Delmarva Peninsula coastal plain. It consists of 2,900 contiguous acres and is bordered by approximately 8 mi of waterfront. The majority of Andelot is farmed (about 1,700 acres). The remaining land consists of currently unmanaged natural areas including mature hardwood forest, early successional forest, wetlands, shell middens, fields, and some planted pine woods. Andelot, LLC is dedicated to maintaining the working landscape and taking steps to enhance its role in regional ecology by improving the naturally occurring habitats and enhancing the native plant communities.

Exton, Pennsylvania

As an environmental scientist, I performed wetland delineations, review of project impacts on threatened and endangered species, wetland mitigation planning, planting, and monitoring. I often implemented sampling techniques (soil, sediment, surface water, fish, and macro-invertebrates) to assess stream quality and environmental risks. I also conducted habitat assessments and species specific surveys for state and federal threatened and endangered species including the Eastern redbelly turtle and bog turtle. I was responsible for writing wetland delineation reports, desktop reviews, habitat assessment reports, and survey results. I directly coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state and federal agencies, and a diversity of colleagues and clients via e-mail, phone, meetings, and on site project visits.

Newark, De / Georgetown, De

As a graduate student and research assistant, I led a team of fellow students, technicians, and volunteers in proper capture techniques of white-tailed deer utilizing drop nets, box traps, and dart guns. I collected and organized detailed data via radio telemetry while maintaining a rigorous work and class schedule. I used computer programs (JMP, GIS, SAS, Microsoft Office) to make home ranges estimates, conduct resource use analyses, and make survival rate estimates. I was the main author for manuscripts and presentations to report results and management implications to colleagues at professional meetings. I also gained experience with rocket nets for capture of wild turkeys.

Newark, De / Cambridge, Md

I helped design and coordinate a pilot study investigating vegetation, snails, and songbird reproductive success. I conducted field visits to collect data on snail abundance and vegetation characteristics. (August – September)I was also responsible for conducting radio telemetry on sika deer in Dorchester County, MD while preparing field site in Delaware for upcoming graduate research project. (October – December)

Hockessin, De

I worked as a member of the Lands and Facilities team managing invasive species throughout the property and maintaining the grounds. I planted and monitored native trees and shrubs, conducted surveys for queen snakes, cut grass and fence rows in public visiting area, repaired fences, maintained walking trails and bird watching sites. I routinely operated tractors, trailers, lawn mowers, weed trimmers, and UTVs

Laurel, Md

I was assistant to the National North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) coordinator and manager of National Amphibian Atlas (NAA). I compiled, extracted, and manipulated data using advanced computer programs; ArcGIS, Access, SQL Server and Excel.

Greenville, De

I supported the Natural Lands team while achieving habitat management goals. I gained valuable experience using mechanical and chemical control methods to combat invasive plant species, planted and maintained native plant species, monitored blue bird nest boxes, maintained and repaired equipment such as clippers, loppers, herbicide applicators, and weed trimmers. I consistently completed labor-intensive tasks during long, hot weather days without complaint. I developed an individual project; 8 hours a week dedicated to conducting a herptofauna survey.

Master Of Science (M.S.), Wildlife Ecology

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Wildlife Conservation

Activities and Societies: Member, Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society