The North Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society presented the North Dakota Award to Dr. Gary L. Krapu at its annual awards banquet in Fargo on Feb. 12.
The chapter is a statewide organization of more than 300 wildlife professionals. Its mission is to provide a forum for discussion of ecological issues among natural resource professionals and to provide scientifically sound information concerning the wise use of natural resources in support of a conservation land ethic.
The prestigious North Dakota Award is presented annually to a wildlife professional who has made outstanding contributions to North Dakota's natural resources over the course of a career.
Krapu has been a research biologist at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey near Jamestown for the past 34 years.
Krapu was honored for having conducted highly complex studies addressing a wide range of resource management needs. Among his accomplishments were having authored more than 100 scientific papers and having positively influenced waterfowl management throughout North America. Officials said his research contributed significantly to the understanding of factors that regulate waterfowl reproduction, and wetland habitat requirements of waterfowl and other waterbirds. He is one of the continent's leading experts on sandhill cranes and recently completed a major study that delineated breeding grounds, migration routes, and wintering areas of the midcontinental population.
Krapu also was honored for having distinguished himself among his colleagues not only as an outstanding research scientist but also for sharing his expertise with managers, other scientists, and the public and for mentoring many graduate students.
