Scott Alls was recently named Oklahoma state director of Wildlife Services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Alls has served as Oklahoma’s assistant state director of USDA APHIS Wildlife Services since 2016.
Alls’ involvement with USDA APHIS started in 1997, first in Alabama as a wildlife specialist and then in Mississippi as a district supervisor.
“Scott has done a great job these last several months as interim director,” said Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese. “We are glad he will continue to lead USDA/Wildlife Services as we continue to innovate and improve services.”
Oklahoma’s Wildlife Services program is a partnership between USDA and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Alls’ new position will begin Sept. 2, 2018. In his new role, Alls will lead 20 federal wildlife specialists, 10 state wildlife specialists, four wildlife biologists and three district supervisors.
“I look forward to continuing the working relationship between USDA, ODAFF and the farmers and ranchers of Oklahoma,” Alls said.
Wildlife specialists cover Oklahoma’s 77 counties to manage wildlife for the purpose of reducing damage to agriculture and property, minimizing threats to public health and safety, and protecting natural resources. Alls’ division works to assist farmers, ranchers, tribes, conservation districts, cities, and more to decrease and minimize damage from undesirable wildlife activity. Additionally, wildlife specialists and biologists work at Will Rogers World Airport and Tinker, Vance and Altus Air Force bases to protect aircraft from bird and animal strikes.
In addition to his regular duties, Alls also serves on the Wildlife Services Explosives Safety Committee and the Management Information System OARS (Operating and Reporting System) Committee. He graduated in 1991 from Arkansas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife management.
“Although the focus is ever changing, the mission remains the same to protect the interests of Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers from wildlife impacts,” Alls said.