Tribute To Fallen Wildlife Conservationists

While conducting aerial surveys for desert bighorn sheep in West Texas on Saturday, Aug. 8, three Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) employees died in a helicopter crash on TPWD’s Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County.

TPWD reported the victims to include Wildlife Biologist Dewey Stockbridge, Fish, and Wildlife Technician Brandon White, and State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Bob Dittmar.

The pilot, a private contractor, survived the crash and was transported to El Paso for further treatment.

“No words can begin to express the depth of sadness we feel for the loss of our colleagues in this tragic accident,” said Carter Smith, TPWD Executive Director.

“These men were consummate professionals, deeply liked and highly regarded by their peers and partners alike for the immense passion, dedication, and expertise they brought to their important work in wildlife management and veterinary medicine.  Wildlife conservation in Texas lost three of its finest as they so honorably and dutifully carried out their calling to help survey, monitor and protect the bighorns of their beloved west Texas mountains.  We will miss Dewey, Brandon, and Dr. Bob deeply and dearly.  All of us at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department send our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Stockbridge, White, and Dittmar families in the wake of this devastating tragedy and continue to pray for the health and recovery of the pilot.”

In a heartfelt statement on the tragedy, the Texas Bighorn Society released the following statement.

We are deeply saddened after hearing about the tragic and unexpected loss of Wildlife Biologist Dewey Stockbridge, State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Bob Dittmar, and Fish and Wildlife Technician Brandon White on Saturday in the Brewster County helicopter accident.  These three respected Texas Parks and Wildlife employees have dedicated their life to desert bighorn and wildlife conservation.  Their commitment and expertise have given us the knowledge we need to succeed in restoring desert bighorn sheep in Texas.  We will always be grateful to these men for their hard work and sacrifice, and we give our sincerest condolences to their families.

Make no mistake these three men were conservationists in the truest sense of the word. Wild sheep require a higher level of management than any other game species in North America and what they did for these great animals will help ensure viable populations in the future.

Of the three, I only briefly knew Stockbridge who was knowledgable, generous, and passionate about the topic of sheep conservation and all wildlife management, especially at Elephant Mountain WMA which he oversaw.

Wild sheep are special animals and the people who work toward their conservation are special people. These men and women work in some of the most inhospitable environments in America and put in countless hours in extreme heat, extreme cold and extreme elevations.

They are worthy of our respect and in this tragic case, worthy of memorial as an example of deeply committed conservationists.

Our prayers here at Texas Fish & Game and Higher Calling Wildlife are with their families, co-workers, and the extended family of wildlife conservationists in the Trans-Pecos of Texas and beyond who were impacted by their dedication.

These men helped Texas’ rarest and most regal game animal, the desert bighorn sheep reclaim and sustain habitat lost during much of the 20th century.

Their death saddens us but the actions of their very dedicated lives should serve as inspiration.

Chester Moore