Paul Tritaik grew up as an “Army brat” in Fort Campbell, KY; Fort Eustis, VA; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; North Haven, CT; Columbus, OH; Cincinnati, OH, and Arnold, MD. His father was an army captain, and his parents hailed from Connecticut. Paul attended the University of Maryland in College Park and graduated with a degree in Fish and Wildlife Management, then began his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland. He continued his career at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Bond Swamp NWR in Georgia, and then Pelican Island and Archie Carr NWRs in Vero Beach, Florida. Paul married Rachel in 1999, and they welcomed their son, Liam in 2005.
In 2008, Paul and his family moved to Sanibel, where he served as Wildlife Refuge Manager and Project Leader for the J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR complex. Paul retired from the Federal Government in 2020 and began an environmental consulting business. His clients currently include the City of Sanibel and the Captiva Erosion Prevention District.
Paul has been active in the community, coaching Liam in basketball, baseball, soccer, and flag football, as well as serving as assistant scoutmaster of Liam’s Boy Scout Troop 1740. Paul serves on the Board of Directors for the National Wildlife Refuge Association, the Pelican Island Conservation Society, the Sanibel Captiva Audubon Society, the Fish and Wildlife Service Retirees Association, and the Fish and Wildlife Service History Committee. Paul also enjoys travel, birding, fishing, hiking, and sports, but especially spending time with Rachel and Liam and their golden retriever.
