Episode 131 -- Terry Peacock -- Protecting Wild Places And Animals

Animals don’t punch a time clock and that is one of the aspects that make working in this field a calling and not just a job. Meet Terry Peacock who is a refuge manager with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and she’s been in management most of her career years. As an 8 year old she wanted to run a place for animals and that is exactly what she grew up to focus her career. Over time, women have asserted themselves and stood their ground in this particular field because they were capable and educated and can do their jobs protecting wild places and wildlife for the future.Terry is involved in everything that happens on the refuge. She has a passion for what she does. She shares her leadership style methods which are to never ask her employees to do something that she is not willing to do herself.When we talk about a typical day — there is no such thing as typical. Her fire officers are in the field, her biology crews are working with salamanders, the turtle projects need attention and the wolf relocation project has workers on it as well. Many plates spin in this office. Terry sees her job is to get the resources so that her people can meet the demands of their jobs and complete tasks. It is a decision making job ranging from taking care of buildings and may spin straight into working with the plans to save an endangered species. The amount of knowledge she has to hold is incredible.Be sure you tune in to hear her favorite projects. She says the salamander and the wolf programs are close to her heart. A lot of endangered species are important because they have human consequences. Everything in our world ties back to nature.We talk about fire and habitats. She explains some of the mindset of southeast prescribed fires over the thoughts out west where there are not controlled burns. The habitat gets too thick and impacts the animals negatively.There is plenty of education that goes into a day in the life — educating other professionals , educating students, educating the public and industries and providing information to impact policy.When we discuss work ethic, her upbringing influenced who she is today. She believes in working and getting the job done and done well. Terry was raised on a farm as an only child which meant the chores fell to her everyday. In her career, her problem isn’t motivating her staff, but telling them to slow down. She’s figured out that it is a passion— a lot of free time is spent doing exactly what you are getting paid for. She finds work life balance because her family enjoys the outdoors. Her church family and leadership opportunities take precedence over anything in Terry’s life and that keeps her grounded.Tune in!!“STOMP” used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff