For two decades, DNR biologist Jeff Greene has worked out of a small, one-man office at the old Fish Hatchery in Paris.

But no more after March arrived.

Greene, the DNR’s senior wildlife field biologist, has hung a “Gone Fishing” sign on that office, ending 35 years of service to the wildlife resources of Michigan.

Retirement means that he and his wife, Mary, will “finally have more time to spoil our grandkids.”

Such long public service is not unusual for his family. His father, Howard “Bing” Greene, was also a DNR wildlife biologist who served 35 years. Between father and son, the pair has devoted 70 years to working for all who enjoy the rich wildlife heritage we share.

“This will be the first time since WW II that there hasn’t been a Greene in the DNR,” says Larry Smith, a biologist working in the DNR’s Baldwin office. “That’s a record of conservation service for any family to be proud of.”

During his career, Jeff Greene has handled some of the more interesting tasks in wildlife management. For example, there was the great ‘grouse for turkey’ caper.

When the spring turkey season opens, some gobblers that hunters hope to harvest will carry genes from wild turkeys that were brought in to Michigan 25 years ago to upgrade the wild turkey gene pool. To get them, Greene and his cohorts had to undertake one of the most interesting game bird swaps ever made.

“We made a trade with Iowa for some of their turkeys—at an exchange ratio of three of our grouse for one of their turkeys. We used cloverleaf traps to catch our birds…and each trap had to be checked daily [because] if not, the grouse in the traps could die overnight. It was also important that we shipped the [collected] grouse to Iowa every three days after capture because, if not, the birds would die,” Greene recalls. It was a labor intensive operation, but in the end quite successful.

The Iowa turkeys were released in southern Michigan, northern Lower Michigan, and in Menominee County. Successful hunters are likely to harvest birds that carry genes from that earlier trade.

Greene started his career at Indian River, under district biologist Bob Strong, working in habitat management for small game, deer and elk. He was later transferred to Waterloo Recreation Area, near Jackson, where he worked for several decades on waterfowl, habitat restoration and small game projects. While serving there, Greene was sent to Manitoba, Canada, for specialized waterfowl training in that duck and goose-rich flyway area, bringing back advanced skills that helped in managing Michigan waterfowl, especially advanced capture, banding and tracking methods in use today.

“We also did a lot of goose round ups, too. Southern Michigan’s goose population soared, and a lot of public issues of too many geese amidst people meant a lot of effort in handling problem geese—sometimes trapping and shipping them out to other states where they would be more welcome.”

It was western Michigan’s good fortune to have this seasoned biologist moved to Paris, in the southern portion of the Baldwin Management Unit. It was here that Greene began to work on a project he says was close to his heart—restoring native prairie and savanna grasslands.

Michigan’s original prairies had nearly disappeared, with the loss of prairie chickens and other grassland wildlife, birds and endangered resources such as prairie wildflowers and certain butterflies.

“We have treated up to 200 acres a year in some years, using prescribed burning and other treatments,” he explains. Lately, his work aided efforts to preserve a fragile population of Karner blue butterflies, state and federally listed as endangered.

Greene also worked hard at establishing public contacts—especially with youth. His work with sportsmen’s clubs, conservation and youth groups, and the general public has helped many to understand the need for scientific wildlife management of all resources. And, his involvement with young people went beyond his DNR duties. He is a referee for several sports at his local high school and he works with Scout groups.

One of Greene’s special joys was involving youngsters in an annual live-trapping and banding of wood ducks and other waterfowl. “Letting the [enthusiastic] youngsters have this hands-on experience has been one of the best memories I will carry away with me,” he says. “Our youth are our biggest resource. Getting youngsters out in the fields and woods is important—now and for the future.”

Greene’s personal plans for the future? “Going fishing with my grandkids. I’ve gotten way behind in my bluegill fishing,” he says, with an obvious grandad’s grin.

If anyone has earned the right to hang up a “Gone Fishing” sign, it’s Jeff Greene.