MDWFP has a new head of the Alligator Program. Who is he?
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has appointed a new head of its Alligator Program.
Andrew Arnett, an MDWFP law enforcement officer, was moved into the position last week.
"I'm enjoying the heck out of this position," Arnett said. "I love it. I like the fact I can be well-rounded in my career and do the biological side of it and the law enforcement side of it. That's just a blessing."
The position was vacant after the departure of Ricky Flynt. A 30-year veteran of the agency, Flynt had been in the role of Alligator Program Coordinator for 20 years.
Flynt left the agency in January and transitioned to the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration as the Project Manager Supervisor of the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. The fund, which was formed last year, provides grants for qualifying outdoor recreation and conservation projects.
In his departure announcement on social media, Flynt described the move as "bittersweet," but explained it allowed him to "have a tremendous impact on outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation on a much broader scale and to a much broader portion of Mississippians."
Arnett said his interest in the outdoors and wildlife came at a young age while growing up in Louisville, Mississippi.
And that interest came in an interesting way.
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"I had the pleasure of knowing my great grandparents," Arnett said. "My great granddaddy trapped for a living.
"I spent winters running trap lines and deer hunting with him. When I was off for two weeks at Christmas and trapping with him, my parents had to beg me to come home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That's where my love of the outdoors came from — my great granddaddy."
Arnett began his career with the agency after graduating from Mississippi State University in 2012 with a degree in Wildlife Science. He started under contract as a wildlife management area biologist. In 2014 he was hired as a Conservation Associate Biologist. In 2016 he became a conservation officer.
During that career path, Arnett became exposed to alligators and developed an interest in them. He said during his time as a biologist he helped alligator survey routes on waterways where alligators are counted annually to determine population trends. As a conservation officer he patrolled during alligator seasons.
"I really like alligators," Arnett said. "They're a very unique creature."
Contact Brian Broom at bbroom@gannett.com or 601-961-7225.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: There's a new Alligator Program leader at MDWFP
