Wildlife Management | P18AS00077

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Wildlife Management grant opportunity (P18AS00077)?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS). It is focused on natural resources work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) and is designed to support hands-on wildlife management activities through a dedicated internship position.

Who is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

Where will the work take place?

The work is tied specifically to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM), one of the most heavily visited national parks in the United States.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is P18AS00077.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.931.

What type of award is this?

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. In general, this means NPS expects to be actively involved with the recipient in carrying out the project, rather than simply providing funding with minimal agency involvement.

What is the main purpose of this grant?

The core purpose is to support a single intern position that provides hands-on wildlife management support in GRSM. The emphasis is on practical, on-the-ground work that supports real management needs rather than purely academic research.

How many intern positions does this funding support?

Based on the description, the intent is to support one intern position dedicated to wildlife management support in GRSM.

What kinds of tasks would the intern be expected to support?

The announcement describes a wide range of applied wildlife management and operational tasks, including black bear management support, wild hog control support, bat population monitoring, beaver management support, food storage cable repairs at backcountry sites, and elk management and population monitoring activities.

What does the black bear management work involve?

The intern would likely assist park staff with monitoring bear activity, responding to human-bear conflict situations, collecting field observations, and supporting management actions intended to keep bears wild and visitors safe.

What does the wild hog control work involve?

The intern would help support efforts aimed at reducing ecological damage caused by feral hogs. This may include assisting with monitoring, supporting control operations under staff direction, and documenting outcomes.

What does bat population monitoring mean in this opportunity?

It suggests the intern would assist with surveys or monitoring protocols used to track bat presence and population trends, especially relevant in the context of threats like white-nose syndrome and habitat pressures.

What does beaver management involve under this project?

Beaver management activities may include assessing beaver activity and impacts on waterways and infrastructure, supporting coexistence strategies, and helping track population and site conditions.

Why are food storage cable repairs included in a wildlife management internship?

Food storage cable systems at backcountry sites are part of visitor-safety and wildlife-protection infrastructure. Keeping these systems functional helps prevent wildlife from accessing human food, reduces wildlife habituation, and lowers the likelihood of human-wildlife conflict.

What does elk management and population monitoring include?

The intern would likely assist with surveys, observe herd behavior and distribution, and contribute to field data collection that supports elk population management decisions.

Is the work primarily research-based or operations-based?

The description emphasizes practical, applied field and operational work in support of day-to-day wildlife management and monitoring, rather than purely academic research.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling listed for the project is $23,800.

How many awards will be made?

The listing shows expected awards as 0. This can occur when an agency is not committing to a specific number of awards in advance or when the published record uses a placeholder. However, the narrative description indicates the intent is to support one intern position.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited primarily to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education, along with other eligible applicants as clarified in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.

Are colleges and universities eligible?

The eligibility language provided indicates that institutions of higher education are excluded from the primary 501(c)(3) nonprofit eligibility category described.

What is NPS likely looking for in an applicant organization?

Based on the description, NPS appears to be seeking a qualified nonprofit partner that can host, recruit, and administer the internship while coordinating closely with GRSM staff under the cooperative agreement framework.

When was this opportunity created?

The program was created on April 5, 2018.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was April 30, 2018.

What makes this opportunity distinctive compared to broader wildlife grants?

This opportunity is targeted and practical: it is focused on strengthening GRSM's wildlife management capacity through a single internship role that spans multiple species and management needs, including invasive species control, monitoring sensitive wildlife populations, and maintaining infrastructure that reduces human-wildlife conflicts.

How will the National Park Service be involved during the project?

Because the award is a cooperative agreement, NPS is expected to be actively involved in carrying out the project with the recipient. This typically means close coordination with park staff and shared responsibility for implementing the work described.