Keynote
Speaker - Gary Alt
Gary Alt worked as a wildlife research biologist for the Pennsylvania
Game Commission for over 27 years: 22 running their black bear
and 5 running their deer research and management programs. During
his tenure Gary was responsible for launching some of the largest
field studies in the country on black bears and deer and made
some of the most sweeping changes to bear and deer management
in the history of Pennsylvania.
Gary has been very active in public education on wildlife issues
presenting over 1,500 lectures to more than 300,000 people during
his career. He wrote, narrated and co-produced an award-winning
video documentary on black bears for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Dr. Alt has received numerous honors and awards recognizing his
professional achievements. Among the awards are an Honorary Doctor
of Science degree from Wilkes University, an honorary Doctor
of Public Service degree form Clarion University, Pennsylvania
State University Alumni Fellow Award, International Conservationist
of the Year from the Safari Club International, Pope and Young
Club Lee Gladfelter Memorial Conservation Award, and a variety
of conservation awards from Outdoor Life Magazine, the Quality
Deer Management Association, the Izaak Walton League of America,
Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals, the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Forestry
Association, and the Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation. In addition,
Gary was featured as a Conservation Innovator in Time Magazine,
October 2005.
Gary’s work has been published in a variety of professional
journals and featured in People Magazine, National Geographic
World, Sports Illustrated, Readers Digest, National Wildlife,
the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, Philadelphia
Inquirer, Washington Post and hundreds of other magazines and
newspapers. In addition, Dr. Alt’s work has been given
national television coverage by Good Morning America, CBS Sunday
Morning News, National Geographic Explorer, PM Magazine, Evening
Magazine, and repeatedly on the national news.
Gary has extensive training in wildlife management and conservation
issues. He earned his doctorate in Forest Resources Science
from West Virginia University. Additionally, Alt earned a Master
of Science degree in Wildlife Management from Penn State University,
a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science from Utah State
University and an associate’s degree in Wildlife Technology
from Penn State University’s DuBois Campus.
Throughout his life Gary has been an avid hunter,
fisherman, photographer and naturalist.
Since retiring from the Game Commission, December 2004, Gary
has established a wildlife management consulting business and
also leads photographic and natural history trips worldwide.
