Ms. Benson has a B.S. in Wildlife Management and Conservation and has over 18 years of experience in the biological resources field. She has over 7 years of research experience working with the Endangered willow flycatcher CA at the South Sierra Research Station in Weldon, CSU Sacramento (Truckee) and with the US Forest Service in the Eldorado, Tahoe, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Forests. This research included conducting protocol-level surveys, nest searching, mist netting and banding of adult and nestlings, vegetation surveys, brown-headed cowbird surveys and control, and insect trapping and identifying in the effort to gain information on the declining species. During her research on willow flycatchers, she also had the opportunity to assist in research with the yellow-billed cuckoo, yellow warbler, and red-shouldered hawk. She has experience researching the federally endangered riparian brush rabbit as an Assistant Biologist with the Endangered Species Recovery Program in Modesto, Merced and Turlock, CA. Other specific sensitive species surveys Ms. Benson has been involved with US Forest Service spotted owl and northern goshawk surveys, and American martin and Pacific fisher camera bait stations and track plate stations. She also has experience in stream restoration with the California Conservation Corps (Los Padres Unit) and the Land Conservancy (San Luis Obispo).
Ms. Benson also has biological consulting surveying experience with California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, arroyo toad, burrowing owl, Pacific fisher, American martin, red-legged frog, arroyo toad, yellow-billed cuckoo, spotted owl, yellow warbler, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, and other migratory birds. She has also conducted breeding bird surveys, snake, corvid, and brown-headed cowbird surveys. She has also assisted in trapping, ear tagging, tooth extraction, and taking body measurements of black bear and gray fox in Hoopa, CA. Ms. Benson also has experience surveying and monitoring for existing populations of special-status plant species throughout the central coast. Surveys also include tree surveys, plant community mapping, and plant inventories.
Ms. Benson has also had the opportunity to work with Padre Associates, Inc. in the Ventura and San Luis Obispo Offices for over eight years. Her experience included preparation of Biological Assessments, Biological Resource Plans, Biological Contingency Plans, Restoration Plans, Mitigation Monitoring Reports, as well as other Federal and State required reporting for US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and CalTrans. She also assisted clients through permit application processes and conducted permit compliance monitoring, pre-activity biological surveys, wetland delineations, breeding bird surveys and other sensitive species surveys as mentioned above.