Adam Stephens

Replacing terrestrial habitat biologist and renaissance man Jerry Altermatt after his 33-year career with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department was a concern for the department. He has been in the Cody Region since 2001 and is largely responsible for one of the most successful beaver conservation programs in the U.S.

Altermatt began his Game and Fish career in 1992 as a special project biologist and worked on a cooperative project with the Bureau of Land Management to resolve big game and livestock conflicts. Over the next nine years, Altermatt worked on various habitat projects throughout the Big Horn Basin. In 2001, Altermatt transitioned to the role of terrestrial habitat biologist for the Cody Region where he remained for the rest of his 33-year career.

Wildlife Management Coordinator Corey Class said Altermatt’s knowledge of ecological principles and habitat management is well-known and respected throughout Wyoming.

“While not the only noteworthy accomplishment of his career, Altermatt is best-known for his work with riparian habitats and beavers,” Class said. “Over the past decade, he has been at the forefront of utilizing beavers to restore riparian areas across the Cody Region and researching best practices for beaver reintroduction.”

Yet, despite the “big shoes” to be filled in his absence, the department found the perfect replacement living in Cody. He’s not only a working terrestrial habitat biologist with 16 years of experience with the Bureau of Land Management, but he has also previously worked on projects a “handful of times” with Altermatt.

The Cody Region welcomed Adam Stephens as the new terrestrial habitat biologist for the Big Horn Basin last week. He is originally from Rapid City, South Dakota, yet he graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in rangeland ecology and watershed management and has lived and worked in the Cody Region for the past nine years. Stephens is a big fan of Altermatt’s portfolio of work during his career.

“He was a pioneer in facilitating the use of nuisance beavers for restoration projects,” Stephens said in an interview with the Tribune. “He has some big shoes to fill.”

The process of relocating beavers from one area to another is often a method of stream restoration or conflict resolution. It involves trapping beavers in conflict zones and releasing them into areas where their dam-building activities can be beneficial for the environment. While translocation can be a valuable tool, success rates vary, and factors like site suitability, beaver behavior, and potential conflicts need careful consideration.

Stephens will spearhead critical habitat enhancement projects benefiting wildlife across the  basin. His responsibilities include assessing needs, proposing and planning habitat projects, securing funding, managing on-the-ground initiatives throughout the region and continuing habitat restoration work through the translocation of beavers, according to a Monday press release. 

“I am excited for the opportunity to contribute to the enhancement of Wyoming’s wildlife habitat and be a part of the Game and Fish team,” Stephens said. “I’ve always been passionate about enhancing and restoring riparian and upland vegetation to benefit valuable wildlife habitats. Having lived and worked in the Big Horn Basin with the BLM for the past nine years, I feel fortunate to also have been a part of numerous working relationships and partnerships with a variety of stakeholders in the region, which I am eager to continue.”

Stephens is keen on meeting stakeholders in the region and he is counting on the outdoor sports-loving crowd in the basin to help him identify new habitat projects, he said.