SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
RENO, Nev. — Ben Miller of the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services Division (USDA – APHIS, Wildlife Services) has won the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioner’s 2009 Wayne E. Kirch Conservation award.
Miller’s commitment to Nevada’s wildlife resources will be recognized during the May, 2010 Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioner’s meeting in Reno, Nevada, where he will receive the award.
Miller has worked for Wildlife Services as a Wildlife Specialist in Nevada since 2002. During 2009 Miller worked many hours in the Washoe County Mule deer protection area (hunt unit 014) removing predatory wildlife from the area. Additionally, Miller assisted the Nevada Department of Wildlife by recording global positioning system locations of wildlife observed while conducting routine wildlife damage management activities.  Miller has also presented information to the Wildlife Commission and the public who attended the meeting.
Miller co-authored The Electronic Calling System; Effectiveness for Capturing a Wide Variety of Offending Wildlife Species in Nevada (Univ. California, Davis, 2006) which detailed ongoing research utilizing electronic wildlife calling systems. Miller uses the devices to attract predatory wildlife in the performance of his duties.
The Wayne E. Kirch Conservation Award is given annually to recipients who have demonstrated significant results towards conservation, management or enhancement of wildlife.
It is named in memory of Wayne E. Kirch, who served on the Fish and Game Commission for over 25 years, the longest tenure on the board since its inception in 1877. Kirch, of Las Vegas, passed away in 1989.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety.  NDOW’s wildlife and habitat
Conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.
