Utah names new wildlife director
by Carter Williams, KSL.com · KSL.comEstimated read time: 1-2 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah now has a new top wildlife official.
Utah Department of Natural Resources Director Joel Ferry on Thursday named Riley Peck as the new director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, effective on Monday. He will replace Justin Shirley, whose retirement — announced late last year — went into effect at the start of the year.
Peck joined the division in 2006 as a native aquatics technician before rising the ranks from wildlife biologist to wildlife manager and coordinator of the division's Once-In-A-Lifetime species hunts. He has been serving as its legislative liaison since 2019.
Peck said in a statement he enjoys spending time in the outdoors, which is why he said he feels "truly lucky" to work in wildlife management. He also believes the division has developed "some of the best" wildlife data in the nation, which is something he said he hopes to continue as he takes over.
"As director, I'd like us to continue to build on that and use that information to manage our wildlife species in Utah even more effectively," he said.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, a section of the state's natural resources department, oversees hunting and fishing across the state.
Ferry said he admired the "experience and knowledge" that Peck gained over the past nearly two decades, adding that he also had "proven himself as an exceptional employee," which made him stand out among the candidates. He was even awarded the department's employee of the year for 2024, just before his appointment to head the state's wildlife division.
"I feel confident in his ability to oversee the management of Utah's fish and wildlife," he said.
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Carter Williams
Carter Williams is a reporter for KSL.com. He covers Salt Lake City, statewide transportation issues, outdoors, the environment and weather. He is a graduate of Southern Utah University.