PINEDALE – After an accomplished 35-year career devoted to Wyoming's wildlife, Dean Clause, Pinedale wildlife biologist, has retired from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Clause began his tenure with the Department in 1988, marking a long-standing commitment to various regions and roles within the state. His diverse experience included seasonal positions as a wildlife damage and fisheries technician in the Green River and Lander regions, as well as a waterfowl technician. He also worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Grand Teton National Park.

From 1993 to 1998, Clause served as a habitat biologist in the Lower Bear River Watershed, based in Kemmerer. In this role, he focused on vegetation surveys and habitat treatments for important big-game winter ranges.

In 1998, he relocated to Pinedale, where he worked as a brucellosis, feedgrounds, and habitat disease biologist. He was responsible for administering elk vaccinations, collecting data on brucellosis prevalence, developing management plans for feedgrounds, habitat monitoring, and implementing habitat improvement projects.

In 2003, he assumed his final position as the Pinedale wildlife district biologist, serving in this role for over two decades. Reflecting on his responsibilities during this time, Clause remarked, “I’m not sure where to start in describing my job duties and accomplishments over the past 23 years, as this position was by far the most diverse, busy, rewarding, and demanding of any I held previously with the Department.”

Throughout his career, Clause traversed the country on foot, skis, horseback, truck, and aircraft. He collaborated with the public, served on various committees, and mastered the intricacies of wildlife management. He also shared his passion and knowledge by teaching hunter education classes. In 2015, the Wyoming Game Warden Association recognized his dedication by naming him Wildlife Manager of the Year.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department extends its gratitude to Dean for his decades of service and contributions to the state’s wildlife resources, wishing him the best in his retirement.