Dominic Bachman, Aquatic Biologist, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Dominic Bachman, Aquatic Biologist at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, is all about aquatic health with a focus on the enhancement and restoration of Malheur lake wetlands for migratory birds. This involves creatively managing invasive common carp populations, while assisting with and supporting any research or restoration projects that Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative partners are doing to improve Malheur Lake aquatic health; for example, working with partners to find solutions to wetland turbidity that reduces food for native wildlife. Dominic also manages the many fish screens and water diversions on the refuge as well as monitors populations of native fishes and freshwater mussels. And, as an experienced airboat pilot, Dominic takes care of the fleet of three airboats and is an instructor for the airboat safety course. 

Prior to his work at the refuge Dominic worked with High Desert Partnership supporting the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, before HDP he was the District Biologist for Oregon, Washington and Idaho for the National Wild Turkey Federation and also worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service as the State Wildlife Biologist, where he was working across the state of Washington to conserve habitat for fish and wildlife. He has worked on bird habitat projects in most of the western states and spent ten years working as a refuge biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Coastal Northern California and in the Modoc plateau of Northeastern California. Dominic grew up in Utah and was raised on the Ogden Bay Wildlife Management area where his father was the manager. He got his master’s degree from Humboldt State University, working on coastal grassland habitat management for geese. He enjoys partnership building and has been heavily involved in The Wildlife Society at the state and national levels.

Dominic has a huge passion for bird habitat, bird hunting and bird dogs. He has been breeding German Wirehaired pointers for more than 20 years and is a volunteer judge for the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association. Dominic is also the host of the Western Bird Biologist podcast. A podcast promoting bird habitat and hunting from a biologist’s perspective.

Dominic has had an interesting history with Highway 395; he has worked and lived in five places along this highway from Nevada to Washington. Harney County is right in the middle of his stomping grounds and he is excited to be a resident here. Dominic and his wife Jill have a farm in Princeton where they raise hay as well as breed and train their beloved pack of German Wirehair Pointers. They even have a pet porcupine. In the Fall and winter they offer guided bird hunting trips across the state of Oregon.