Bob Wick – Owner
Bob has lived in the Wisconsin River valley near Wisconsin Dells his entire life. This experience is central to Bob’s lifelong appreciation for the beauty and importance of nature, as well as his intimate understanding of its varied habitats. This appreciation started in his youth as Bob frequently accompanied his father on hunting and fishing trips. These outings were the foundation of his education in the outdoors, and gave him his initial opportunity to realize the relationship of native habitat with all things animal, insect and plant.
Another key to his outdoors experience is a parcel of woodland that his parents purchased in 1976. Surrounded by pasture and cropland, these 54 acres of wooded terrain and wetlands had been overgrazed and neglected. But it became the classroom where Bob spent years observing, planning and restoring the different habitats it contained. Today, the land is a showcase of thriving, balanced and sustainable uplands, wetlands, and prairie.
Bob has been active in land management projects for most of his adult life. While working toward his degree in Biological Sciences from UW-Milwaukee, he had the opportunity to help with restoration projects what became a State Natural Area along the Dells of the Wisconsin River. Later he worked at Horicon Marsh for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources where he gained firsthand experience in waterfowl banding, wildlife surveys, vegetation management and food plots.
After earning his degree, Bob gained further practical experience with Pheasants Forever where he was introduced to native prairie seeding, CRP establishment, prescribed burning and forestry mowing. This was followed by seven years at one of the Midwest’s premier environmental consulting firms where he helped design, implement and expand many of their services. While here, Bob planned and completed projects for hundreds of landowners, as well as the Wisconsin DNR, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy.
In 2015 Bob launched Wick Habitat Services, the natural outgrowth of his lifelong passion for, and experience in, the outdoors. The company is designed to be streamlined and efficient while offering landowners and land stewards exceptional service and value. Bob combines his land management experience with a comprehensive mastery of the skills and tools required to plan and successfully complete projects on time and on budget
In addition to his other credentials, Bob holds certifications in National Wildfire Coordinating Group Fire Courses S-130/190, S-131 and S-290, and holds a Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator’s License. Bob is also a member of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association, Pheasants Forever, The Aldo Leopold Foundation, The Wildlife Society, and The Nature Conservancy. In his spare time, Bob hunts and explores wilderness areas across North America, and actively manages over 230 acres of his and his family’s woodlands and prairies.
Mission Statement
Wick Habitat Services mission is based on the understanding that landowners can make the most impact on the planet through their land management efforts. We believe these efforts should be based on the best information available. We believe landowners should use the people and equipment best suited to help them achieve their goals. And we believe these efforts should be done in an ecologically sound and sustainable way.
To achieve these objectives, Wick Habitat Services will:
- Provide service that meets or exceeds the client’s expectations while still providing the greatest value.
- Hold not only the client’s land, but also their budget in the highest regards.
- Provide the newest and latest technology to allow work to be completed as expeditiously and efficiently as possible.
- Respect the land and manage it in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
- Conduct business professionally and treat every client with respect, honesty, and integrity.
- Provide education for landowners so they may plan and pursue the most appropriate and ecologically sound management strategy for their project.