Jeff Opdycke

Associate Director/Operations

Jeff Opdycke started his conservation career with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1976 after earning a degree in zoology from Humboldt State University. His 18 years with the Service provided him a wealth of conservation experience across the United States. He joined the Zoological Society of San Diego in 1994 to launch its habitat management and local conservation outreach programs, to develop funds to study and manage some of the region’s endangered habitats, and to promote the beauty and diversity of habitats here at home. While he remains involved in most aspects of the Society’s local conservation efforts, his responsibilities now include operational management of CRES facilities.

Jeff currently serves on the boards of WiLDCOAST-COSTASALVAjE, a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving coastal ecosystems and wildlife in the Californias and Latin America, and the Helix Community Conservancy, an organization formed to manage wildlife preserves and educate local youth about the importance of native ecosystems. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to the board of the Volcan Mountain Preserve Foundation, based in Julian, California.