Dear Migratory Bird family:
It is with a very heavy heart that I share with you the sad news of the unexpected passing of Kevin Kritz, a Wildlife Biologist in the Migratory Bird Program in our Lakewood Regional Office. Unfortunately, we have very limited information at this time to share, including any type of memorial, service, etc. We are in touch with his family and will share that information with those that are interested once it is available.
Kevin was a valued member of our team, both nationally and regionally, as he was a fixture in the program that worked tirelessly on eagle, raptor, and migratory bird conservation in the face of some of our most pressing challenges. He joined the Service in 2001 with the Nevada Fish & Wildlife Office in Reno, serving as the lead on sage grouse/sagebrush, bald eagles, migratory birds, and other issues. He joined our regional Migratory Bird team in 2007 as the regional program lead for the delisting of bald eagles, raptor conservation, and as our representative to the Partners In Flight Western Working Group. In 2010, he expanded his role to become our go-to expert for “all things energy, eagles, raptors, regulations/policies, and incidental take of migratory birds,” where he worked collaboratively across Service programs, with State and Tribal partners, and various industries to the benefit of birds and the American public. His impact and reach here cannot be understated.
Given his 30-year federal career and 20-year career with the Service, his list of accomplishments is extensive. I will share a few items that I know he was proud of, and that some of his friends/colleagues have shared as news has spread of his loss:
- Kevin was involved with peregrine falcon delisting & monitoring, and bald eagle delisting & permitting of eagle take, from the ground floor. He was long-term Chair or Co-chair of various teams working on the technical and policy aspects of eagle permitting.
- Kevin was a long-term and very engaged member of the Raptor Research Foundation and The Wildlife Society (Kevin was very honored to be part of The Wildlife Society's $1,000 campaign). He participated in many conferences, quiz bowls, and seminars over his career, including an RRF meeting in Argentina (which he thoroughly enjoyed!).
- Kevin was the MB point person on very high profile projects (e.g., Keystone XL, Chokecherry/Sierra Madre Wind, Ruby Pipeline, etc.) and very “interesting” projects (e.g., Christo’s “Over the River” project that was proposed for the Arkansas River) throughout his career.
- Kevin was a walking encyclopedia regarding regulations, policies, and the history behind them, and most importantly, he was always willing to share that information. He was a regular trainer for NCTC’s course on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and held countless training sessions on our Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act regulations.
- Kevin was raised in Wisconsin, and his love of the state, the University of Wisconsin Badger, and the Green Bay Packers never subsided. In fact, Kevin recently became one of the newest members of the Green Bay Packers ownership team when he purchased a share of the team in December 2021. Talking about Wisconsin-based sports teams was one of the things that many of us often talked with Kevin about!
- Kevin not only had a passion for the outdoors, migratory birds, and the mission of the Service, but he was also a very compassionate person. He regularly donated leave to other members of the Service family that were in need, he helped support students through mentorship and graduate projects, and was always willing to support a colleague in need of technical assistance.
- Kevin loved his family dearly, rarely (or never, that I know of!) missing a family reunion or major family gathering, always traveling to Wisconsin for the holiday season, and hosting various family members in Colorado for skiing and hiking adventures.
