John Niewoonder was named wildlife biologist of the year by the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Photo provided by John Niewoonder.
John Niewoonder was tricked into showing up to a Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting earlier this month. The state’s wildlife division chief told him to be there to comment on his recent work.
But actually, he’d won an award.
His colleagues announced that the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies named Niewoonder wildlife biologist of the year. A committee chose him out of candidates from 13 states and 3 Canadian provinces.
“I was surprised. I didn’t really anticipate that happening and wasn’t even thinking about it,” Niewoonder said, who’s been a wildlife habitat biologist at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment since 1998.
The award recognizes exceptional dedication to wildlife and conservation.
“It meant a lot to me to be recognized like that,” Niewoonder said.
Award earned through hard work
Niewoonder usually works out of a quiet field office in Belding, Mich. But for the last couple of years he frequently traveled an hour southeast to Lansing to lead a four-person team in writing the new, 50-page Michigan deer management plan.
Russ Mason, chief of the state’s wildlife division, picked Niewoonder for the challenging job because of his strong leadership and his ability to sift through the heated opinions that often come with big game management.
“He’s a guy that’s see solutions as opposed to obstacles,” Mason said.
To write the plan, Niewoonder attended numerous meetings including some open to public comment and others with a deer advisory team. And he did this while completing his routine work back in Belding.
“You know I was putting in, it wasn’t too bad, 50 to 55 hours a week,” he said.
But Niewoonder is quick to thank his team and fellow biologists that made the process successful.
“There’s a lot of wildlife biologists and they’re all doing a great job and typically doing things that people don’t notice too much,” he said. “And I just happened to be involved in a noteworthy project.”
John Niewoonder poses with a sedated black bear during his work with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Photo provided by John Niewoonder.
A career defined by a hunting heritage
A Michigan native, Niewoonder credits his interest in wildlife to a childhood immersed in hunting and fishing in the state’s untamed spaces.
“The hunting heritage that I got from my family, from my father in particular, sparked an interest in wildlife,” Niewoonder said.
He earned two degrees in wildlife ecology from Michigan State University. Working with the resources he grew up in seemed like the right fit.
“I really like just working with wildlife and wild places,” he said.
As a biologist for the state, Niewoonder tackles a variety of jobs like timber sales, brush control and working with private landowners.
“That’s one of the things about this job is the diversity. You have about five balls up in the air at once,” he said.
And this juggling act is one he seems to be good at beyond the field office.
A balancing act
He’s able to weave his work, his family and other activities together, Mason said.
“He understands the importance of these things and acts on his convictions,” he said.
When Mason asked Niewoonder to take on the demanding and time consuming formation of the deer plan, Niewoonder made his priorities clear.
“The first thing I said to him is, I’ve got three little kids. I coach their basketball and I coach their baseball. That’s what’s most important to me,” he said.
And his dedication to family is noticeable.
“He seems like a real good family guy,” said Jim Strader II, who’s known Niewoonder for nearly a decade and saw him recently at a baseball tournament with his family. Strader is the former state chapter president of Quality Deer Management Association and former county president of Pheasants Forever.
“He hunts a lot with his son,” Strader added. “That’s always good to see guys taking their kids out.”
And along with these roles as father and biologist he’s also plays one as a youth mentor.
“Not only is he a strong biologist and important to our staff in western Michigan, but at the same time, he’s involved in other groups,” Mason said.
Groups like the National Wild Turkey Foundation, where Niewoonder talks turkey biology and hunts with kids.
This year he helped a child snag his first wild bird.
“The kid I was with, he shot a nice bird. It was the first successful hunt of his career and his life,” he said.
“John is a great guy”
Friends of Niewoonder recognize him as a good father, patient with other people’s opinions and an all around good person.
“Oh, John is a great guy,” Strader said. “Anytime I’ve called John he’s never put off, he’s always had time to talk about wildlife, wildlife management. I think he’s really knowledgeable. He’ll tell you what he thinks,” he said.
And Mason will tell you that this award is significant for Niewoonder because few biologists’ accomplishments come with an award and a plaque to match.
“They do these things in the field every single day because it’s a love for them, they’ve very concerned with the resource. There are a lot of things you could do to make more money, this is bad a financial choice,” Mason said, “And I’m very proud to be associated with all of them.”