Conservation Corner: November 12, 2001

Wildlife Mississippi Announces Biologist For South Mississippi
by James L. Cummins

Randy Browning has been selected as the private lands biologist, a new position that is a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation. It is based in Hattiesburg and covers south Mississippi.

According to Ray Aycock, field supervisor for the Service's Field Office in Jackson, Browning's position will allow him to work with private landowners to accomplish three major objectives. "The first objective is to promote longleaf pine management on private lands. Second, Browning will utilize programs like Partners For Fish and Wildlife and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, where possible, to aid landowners in conserving fish and wildlife habitat." And, lastly, Aycock concluded, "Browning's third objective is to encourage landowners along the scenic river systems of South Mississippi to manage for better water quality and fish habitat."

The Service and the Foundation have a mutual interest in protecting, restoring and enhancing natural fish, wildlife and plant resources. This unique partnership will facilitate specific habitat improvement projects on private lands mutually approved by the Service, the Foundation and the landowner. Browning will also work with area landowners in learning about conservation easements.

"Randy is the ideal person for this task. He has the right balance of technical expertise, experience in working with private landowners and a strong desire to help them meet their objectives," stated Leila C. Wynn, President of the Foundation.

Browning will spend most of his time working with private landowners to cooperatively manage the habitat and wildlife within the longleaf and coastal savannah ecosystems. He will prepare prescriptions for forest management and prescribed burns, along with making recommendations to manage a diversity of species of wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, turkey, quail, gopher tortoise, red-cockaded woodpecker, black pine snake and black bear.

Browning is looking forward to his new venture. He said, "I'm excited about this opportunity to spend quality time assisting Mississippi landowners to enhance, restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on their property." Browning started October 1.

Prior to taking the private lands biologist position, Browning worked for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for nearly seven years as a district biologist in the 10 coastal counties from Hattiesburg, south.

Browning earned a bachelor of science in forest game management with a minor in agriculture and a master's degree in forestry with an emphasis in wildlife, both from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Browning, with wife Rachel and children, Miranda, Colt, Ryan and Jessica, reside in Purvis.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.