Kroger retires as Worland wildlife biologist

As of January 1, Bart Kroger retired as the wildlife biologist for the Worland office of Wyoming Game and Fish.

As a wildlife biologist, many know Kroger for his work with the public and his activism in youth hunting programs. When you didn't see Kroger, he was working hard either in his office or in the field, making observations and collecting data to assist in important conservation decisions.

Kroger's career spanned 35 years, and he considers himself lucky that 20 of those were spent serving his hometown, Worland.

Growing up, Kroger said his love of the outdoors was shaped by his parents. He said, "They exposed me to all sorts of things to do in the great outdoors, including hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, hiking, and just observing wildlife whenever possible."

Kroger's passion for the outdoors grew until it became time to graduate from Worland High School, and then it became a career path. He attended the University of Wyoming, and in the summers (beginning in 1984) he worked for the Game and Fish as a seasonal contract habitat technician at Yellowtail and Soda Lake wildlife habitat management areas. He graduated in 1988 with a degree in wildlife management. After graduating, he landed his first job in his field as a habitat special project biologist in Jackson Hole. Kroger remembers this first job fondly, and describes it as the turning point where he knew that this is what he wanted to do.

He said, "I just wanted to give back and continue to enjoy wildlife and the outdoors for future years."

He worked in Jackson for three years, then in 1991 he accepted a similar position in Cody. He worked there until 1997, when he was hired as the Game and Fish wildlife biologist in Douglas, where he would spend another six years. Kroger said, "I knew all along I wanted to get back to the Big Horn Basin since this is where I grew up and have so much passion for.  That became a reality in 2003, when I was hired as the wildlife biologist in Worland. Since then, this is where our family and careers have stayed."

During his employment with Game and Fish, Kroger served for nine years in the Wyoming Army National Guard.

He has received many accolades during his tenure with Game and Fish including the 2007 Cody Region Peer Recognition Award, 2016 Wildlife Division Employee of the Year, 2020 Management Team of the Year for his work on the CWD Team, and most recently in 2023, the Wyoming Game Wardens Association Wildlife Manager of the Year and the department's Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Bart has been referred to as the 'core of the agency', meaning through his dedication and continuous hard work, he has significantly and meaningfully impacted wildlife management within his district and throughout the state," said Corey Class, Cody region wildlife management coordinator. "Throughout his career, he has been a solid, steady and dependable wildlife biologist, providing a foundation for wildlife conservation and management in the Big Horn Basin."

According to a G&F press release, Through his quiet and thoughtful approach, Kroger has gained the respect of both his peers and the public. He is best known for his commitment to spending time in the field gaining first-hand knowledge of the wildlife and the habitat that supports them, as well as the people he serves in his district. Kroger served as a mentor and role model to new biologists and game wardens, and has received letters from the public praising their interactions with him during hunting seasons. 

KROGER REFLECTS

Looking back on his career, Kroger said he had a hard time saying what his favorite memory was because it was such a fun job. He said, "I have many great memories of my career, but the most memorable are the places I have been, the people I have had the privilege to work with, and the many wildlife I have gotten to work for.  Working for Game and Fish as a wildlife biologist is downright fun 75% of the time. There were numerous times in my career I wondered why I was even getting paid to do what I was doing, like spending days and days on horseback in the backcountry checking hunters and recording wildlife observations, getting to fly in a helicopter and count thousands and thousands of elk and deer, or observing over 100 grizzly bears on a single morning flight.  But the most memorable, are the good people I got to work with throughout my career, including fellow employees, landowners, hunters, and the general public."

Of the challenges he faced over his career, Kroger said that his greatest was always trying to balance interests. He said, "Hunters, landowners and the general public all want to see wildlife managed a little bit differently. I grew up and I still enjoy just being able to go hunt every year, now we are faced with hunters wanting trophy animals, people wanting more or fewer animals, hunting season lengths, how to manage the animals, disease issues, habitat issues, the list goes on ... It's a big challenge trying to incorporate all these interests and issues when it comes to managing wildlife. You are being pulled in so many directions."

Having seen over three decades worth of management and conservation practices in his career, Kroger was asked how he has seen wildlife conservation change over time. He felt that the data biologists collect has not been what has changed, but the way that it's gathered has. He said, "It used to be all paper and pencil, but now it is all computers and phone Apps. Technology has been the biggest change. Heck, I can now sit behind my computer and watch when and where 100 radio collared deer move to. I grew up old-school, so all this new technology has been a challenge for me. There is nothing wrong with that, because there are plenty of rising new biologists that embrace the technology." 

In retirement, Kroger looks forward to continuing to enjoy the outdoors, but with friends and family and on his own time. He added, "I have lots of home projects to get done, like I need to build a garage for my father-in-law, but mostly I look forward to being able to spend more time with my family. My wife Brenda and two boys have basically followed me and my career for the last 35 years, and I'm grateful for them doing that. Its time now to give back to them.  We still plan to stay in Worland since its where my wife and I grew up and where we raised our two boys Blake and Blaine."