Eric was born and raised most of his earlier years in Maine. In 1962, Eric’s family moved to Londonderry, NH, a quiet farming community at that time.
He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management. Eric is a certified wildlife biologist. He was a wildlife biologist with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department from1976 to his retirement in June of 2007. From 1983 to 2007 he owned and operated a nuisance wildlife control business, part-time, out of his home with his family, called Bat and Wildlife Control Specialists. His specialty was non lethal control of bats. He was frequently called “NH’s batman”.
He was the New Hampshire Fish and Game Departments’ furbearer biologist for most of his career and was the Region 3 Regional Wildlife Biologist, covering the southeast area of the State from his office in Durham from 1988 to his retirement. Beginning in 1978 he was the departments’ first black bear biologist for over two decades and earned the title of “NH’s bear-man” as well.
In September of 2007, shortly after his retirement from the Fish and Game Department he was recruited by the National Wildlife Federation as a consultant to educate this state’s citizens about the impact of climate change on our fish and wildlife. He also works toward helping our federally elected officials to understand the impacts of air and water pollution on this state’s fish and wildlife.
Eric believes that education is the key to understanding wildlife and has been an active writer and lecturer for nearly four decades. He has published hundreds of articles related to fish, wildlife and habitat conservation. His free-lance monthly articles are distributed to several publications. Eric has provided hundreds of informative lectures to fish and game clubs, conservation organizations and other engaged citizens for nearly four decades. A Google search of the name “Eric Orff” provides references to over one thousand articles or interviews he has done for the press on wildlife related subjects. Eric developed and distributed several hundred monthly 60-second radio public service announcements (PSA) to over fifty stations across the state from 1997 to 2007 for the Fish and Game Department. The focus of the PSA’s was to develop interests by the public in the fish and wildlife of the state. Eric contributed significantly to the Fish and Game Departments’ monthly on-line “Wildlife Reports” as well as the fall “Hunting Reports”. He also maintains his own web site with weekly “NH Nature Notes” atwww.nhfishandwildlife.com.
Eric serves on the Board of Directors of the New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA), the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation and the Friends of the Suncook River and served on the board of the Bear-Paw Regional Greenway Conservation Group for years. In 2007 Eric was recognized by the New England Chapter of the Wildlife Society with the Societies “Professional Achievement Award”. In 2006 the Nashua Fish and Game Club presented Eric with “An Outstanding Biologist” award. In 2004 Eric received the Dick Cronin Sportsman of the Year award from NEOWA for his contribution to the sportsmen of New England. He has been a member of the Londonderry Fish and Game Club since 1965 and served on the Epsom Conservation Commission for over 15 years. He has also served on the University of New Hampshire Thompson School Forest Technology Advisory Committee for over a decade.
Eric tries to learn something new about fish and wildlife every day, by observing nature.
