David M Kocka

What exactly does a wildlife biologist for a state agency do? Contrary to many of his relative’s perceptions, David Kocka isn’t a Park Ranger, or a Forest Ranger or even a Game Warden. “Bear With Me, My Deer – Tails of a Virginia Wildlife Biologist” is a glimpse into one man’s adventures while working for an agency which is responsible for managing the wildlife resources within its boundaries. These adventures have taken David to the top of a parking garage while chasing a black bear and to the middle of a college campus to extract a hormone driven deer from a building. Although he has avoided news agencies as much as possible, his actions did land him in People magazine once. Most biologists have similar stories that they can share, but David has stepped out from behind the trees to give an account of his adventures, documenting how they can occur any time of day or night in this chosen profession. Humor is an important tool which he wields almost as often as he uses his dart pistol. Many interesting persons have crossed David’s path in his career that has spanned nearly 30 years and some of these have become close friends. Set in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia these true stories will help the reader enjoy David’s passion for wildlife and hopefully allow them to connect with an aspect of the out-of-doors that many people never get an opportunity to experience.

David received his A.A. degree in Wildlife Technology from Garrett Community College (Maryland), his B.S. degree in Wildlife Resources from West Virginia University and his M.S. in Wildlife Management from the University of Tennessee.

David worked as the Furbearer Biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for 2 years. Since 1989 David has been a District Wildlife Biologist with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

David has worked cooperatively with various federal agencies and local governments on management of deer herds. He has been on technical committees in the development of Virginia’s first Black Bear and Deer Management Plans, and all subsequent revisions. He has spent considerable time trying to minimize wildlife/human interactions in both private and public settings in six counties. David has also been a frequent guest lecturer on various aspects of wildlife management at Bridgewater College, George Mason University, and James Madison University and since 2014 he has served as an Adjunct Professor at JMU where he has taught a course on Wildlife Management. He became a certified wildlife biologist with The Wildlife Society in 1992. He has published over 35 popular and professional articles pertaining to wildlife management and has mentored 14 students from various universities.

David and his wife Donna reside in Staunton, Virginia with three children (Jacob, Anna and Esther) who are in various stages of establishing their own lives away from the nest. They are enjoying spending time with their first grandchild and are hoping for many more!