Matt releases a juvenile spotted owl after banding. The red-white-red pattern on the band indicates the bird was originally banded as a juvenile.

When our Eugene, Oregon, Giving Fund Advisory Committee told Matt Hane it was considering a $14,200 grant to support youth education at the Cascades Raptor Center, he enthusiastically endorsed the nonprofit.

Matt, a terrestrial resources manager based in Eugene, has worked with the Raptor Center since 2005. The organization runs a regional nature center and wildlife hospital that focuses on raptor rehabilitation and public education.

"The relationship started when I needed to acquire a spotted owl banding permit," says Matt, who monitors our Oregon timberlands for threatened and endangered land species, including the spotted owl. "I've established a good relationship with the center's staff and support their work wholeheartedly. When they need help, like to clean up after an ice storm in 2019, I jump in."

Over the years, Matt has also worked with the center to recover a few injured hawks and owls on our property - sometimes when log truck drivers notice the raptors along roadside.

"One time, a Weyerhaeuser neighbor called our Coos Bay team and said there was a spotted owl in their barn," Matt says. "We agreed to help, and sure enough, it was a spotted owl that couldn't fly. We took it to the Cascades Raptor Center, and it got the help it needed."

Weyerhaeuser volunteers, including Matt (arms folded above the sign), participate in a clean-up at the Cascades Raptor Center following a 2019 ice storm.

MEET MATT

Your title is terrestrial resources unit manager. Tell us what you do.

I'm a wildlife biologist and have a great team of people based in Eugene, Oregon. Our program focuses on threatened and endangered species in Western Timberlands, excluding fish and aquatic species. Two people help me run contractor surveys, and we also have a plant ecologist.

What led you to choose this job?

I have a master's degree in wetlands ecology from Duke University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, as it was called when I graduated. After getting my degree, friends invited me to visit Seattle. One friend worked for a consulting firm doing spotted owl surveys for Weyerhaeuser, and I joined their team in 1992. The spotted owl field season lasts six months, and there's some work on both ends to prepare and summarize the studies. During the remaining months, I did whatever wildlife contracting came my way.

After the Weyerhaeuser-Willamette merger in 2002, Weyerhaeuser reevaluated the mix of internal and external staff conducting field surveys. When it was decided to add another person to handle the work internally and contract out the rest, I landed the internal position. I started in January 2003, on my birthday, and have been overseeing our threatened and endangered species field surveys ever since.

Matt enjoys a sunny day with his wife Sheila during a 2023 camping trip to Diamond Lake, Oregon. His son Richard is creekside in the background.

Tell us what your day is like.

There's a seasonal rhythm to survey work. Since wildlife doesn't stay in one place, the surveys are ongoing. Our focus is on spotted owls, marbled murrelets and other species of concern. Owl surveys start at the beginning of March, with contractors in the field supplying data. We review raw data as it comes in and oversee the fieldwork to ensure it meets our standards. This process takes us through August. In September, we put all the data together and interpret it for Timberlands operations to help harvest planners and operations forest make appropriate decisions. That takes us through fall, and then we start planning for the following year's surveys.

What's your favorite part of the job?

It's intellectually challenging to puzzle together so many constantly moving pieces, some of which change shape as we assemble them. Survey protocols for owls and marbled murrelets continue to evolve, so we have to stay on top of the science and emerging best practices.

You must have some challenges. What are they?

With technology constantly evolving, new ways of collecting and analyzing data exist. However, the differences in the protocols can make people uneasy, leading to concerns about the accuracy of the data. We rely on scientific validation to address these issues and work closely with regulators and third-party organizations before implementing any changes. Everything we do must be thoroughly evaluated, so we have to be patient even when we suspect there might be a better way.

Sheila, Matt and Richard ski Mt. Bachelor near Bend, Oregon, in February 2024.

Tell us something about your job that might surprise people.

Most people think I'm out in the field and don't realize how much time I spend at my desk planning, overseeing quality control and analyzing data.

YOU MANAGE A TEAM OF PEOPLE. HOW DO YOU LEARN ABOUT THEIR CAREER ASPIRATIONS?
I make it clear that I want to hear about my team's specific career aspirations. We regularly discuss their goals and plans to fill any skill or experience gaps they'll need to achieve their desired career path. It all starts with the willingness to speak up about what you want. Personally, I've worked on exciting projects by simply raising my hand and expressing an interest.

What are you proud of in your work? Have you worked on any really big projects in the past few years that you're proud of?

I worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on rewriting the spotted owl survey protocols in 2011. More recently, I've been collaborating with our public and third-party partners to explore using cutting-edge technology - including passive acoustics, which listen for species-specific calls and vocalizations - to streamline and improve the surveys.

Who are your customers?

Our internal customers in Timberlands include harvest planners, engineers and harvest managers. We're deeply involved with the five-year harvest plans and ensure operations have the necessary information to make the best possible decisions for wildlife. We have a great two-way relationship. They do an excellent job of training people and contractors on identifying endangered species and reporting sightings for further investigation.

Matt and Richard crab in Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon. "Nice weather, no crabs," Matt says.

When you were young, what did you want to do?

As a child, I had no idea. When I started college at a small liberal arts college in Wisconsin, I initially planned to study physics and then move into engineering. However, biology and environmental sciences classes changed my career perspective and life.

Tell us about your other interests. What do you like to do when you're not at work?

Sports have always been a big part of my life. I watch and play various sports, but basketball is my favorite. I play three to four times weekly. My son is a junior in high school and plays soccer, and I enjoy traveling to watch him play and supporting him in his athletic pursuits.

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