Meet Jim Williams | Partnerships Manager and Wildlife Biologist for the Heart of the Rockies Initiative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jim Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jim, what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by wild nature. I have really enjoyed spending time near wild things in wild places. My life has been a journey from a young surf bum to marine biology, to wildlife biology, to husband and father, and now to habitat conservation. I am currently the Partnerships Manager and Wildlife Biologist for the Heart of the Rockies Initiative. We work to keep the private lands that are so important for wildlife connectivity open and free of residential subdivisions. By doing this we get to help hard working agricultural families that produce our food stay on the land. During and following the pandemic there has been a heightened renewed interest for formerly urban people to relocate to small rocky mountain towns. This migration of humans typically leads to urban sprawl and that is never good for wildlife. Prior to this position I worked at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for 30 years. During that time I was a wildlife biologist, wildlife program manager and regional supervisor. I was fortunate in that I was on the ground floor of developing puma, wolf and black and grizzly bear conflict and research programs for the state of Montana.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Career Summary: Jim is an award-winning, professionally certified wildlife biologist who has worked for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for the last 30 years. He received an undergraduate degree in biology with an emphasis on marine biology from San Diego State and Florida State universities and his graduate degree in wildlife biology from Montana State University in Bozeman. Jim studied mountain lion ecology for his Master’s Degree on Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front and has focused on mountain lion and other wildlife conservation issues in various roles ever since. As a wildlife biologist in central Montana, Jim managed and conserved big game populations ranging from pronghorn antelope and black bear to mountain goats, worked with private agricultural landowners on wildlife tolerance issues, implemented local wildlife research projects and developed new conservation easements, wildlife management areas and other habitat conservation projects. Later as the FWP Wildlife Program Manager, Jim supervised and led a talented group of research and wildlife management biologists and his team developed grizzly bear monitoring and research programs, initiated western Montana’s first wolf conservation program, and provided program support and leadership on wildlife habitat conservation projects. Most recently as the current Regional Supervisor for western Montana, Jim provides leadership and support for wildlife, fisheries and enforcement and administration divisions. Jim has also been working with wildlife biologists in Chile and Argentina on a variety of wildlife conservation projects. In 2018, Patagonia Inc. published his autobiography, Path of the Puma, which shares some of those adventures and the story of mountain lion conservation in the Americas. Penguin Random House Audio recently published the audio version of Path of the Puma which Jim personally narrated. Jim enjoys swimming and kayaking in Whitefish Lake, mountaineering in Glacier National Park and downhill skiing. Jim and his wife Melora reside in Whitefish in the City Beach neighborhood. Jim is currently the Partnerships Manager for the Heart of the Rockies Initiative where he works with a creative team to protect private land open agricultural spaces that are so important for wildlife movement and connectivity. The Initiative supports and partners with 29 rocky mountain land trusts, several Native American Tribes, and 13 rancher led collaboratives. The most exciting program I work with at the Initiative is called “Keep it Connected”. I get to connect donors and foundations with land trusts to permanently protect private agricultural open spaces on the landscape that exist between public lands. My greatest asset is that I enjoy working with people and and that is not typical of most scientists. I am an over caffeinated extrovert. ENFP in Briggs or high WOO in Clifton Strengths. Not the norm for biologists. I try to bring contagious enthusiasm to all of my work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think I would first take them up high above timberline in Glacier National Park (my backyard park) as the views, cool fresh air and immense landscapes are unforgettable. After that it would be a quick trip to downtown Whitefish for a local craft beer and some good food. Whitefish is still a charming ski town in northwest Montana. After dinner a quick dip in Whitefish Lake would follow.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My life story is pretty much laid out in my book “Path of the Puma” published by Patagonia Inc. I have had so many mentors over the years. I credit Dr. Harold Picton, professor of wildlife biology at Montana State University in Bozeman for changing my life when he decided to admit me into graduate school and take me under his wing. The rest is history. Teachers and professors really do change lives!

Website: pathofthepuma.com

Image Credits
photos from authors collection