Bio
Dr. Elisha Hull is a senior wildlife ecologist and consulting ecologist with more than 25 years of experience in environmental compliance, applied conservation, and ecological research in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California. She specializes in developing multidisciplinary and collaborative solutions to complex natural resources and regulatory challenges. With a background in conservation ecology and regulatory permitting, including working for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 17 years, Dr. Hull has facilitated conservation solutions in diverse California ecosystems with an emphasis on forest resilience projects, raptor conservation, vernal pool ecology, and aquatic ecosystem conservation and restoration. She has led hundreds of projects involving threatened and endangered species impact analysis and status assessments including Federal and California Endangered Species Act consultations; habitat conservation plan, natural community conservation plan, and general conservation plan applications; NEPA/CEQA analysis; and permitting.
Dr. Hull contributes to all aspects of client projects including NEPA/CEQA documentation, special-status species surveys, nesting bird and raptor surveys, construction implementation/permit compliance, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan applications and compliance support, and natural resource management plans.
Relevant Experience
CEQA/NEPA
As project manager, led site assessment and preparation of constraints analysis for development of large-scale solar facility is Merced County, California.
FESA/CESA
As project manager, led site assessment and preparation of constraints analysis for development of large-scale solar facility is Merced County, California.
Wetland Delineation
Freshwater Species
Estuarine Species
Invertebrate Surveys
Wildlife Surveys
Permitting
Safe Harbor Agreement/Conservation Benefit Agreement
Ecological Research
Legal Sufficiency Review
Bird Safe Design
Botanical Surveys
Habitat Conservation Planning
Marine Species
Education & Credentials
Highlights
More than 25 years of experience
Wildlife ecology
Avian ecology
Entomology
Endangered butterfly conservation
Raptor handling and banding
Endangered Species Act consultation and implementation
Regulatory permitting
NEPA/CEQA analysis
Forest resilience and fuels reduction
Complex project management
Education & Credentials
Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, 2007
M.A., Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California, 2002
B.S., Biology, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California, 1998
Federal master bird banding permit for raptors
CDFW scientific collecting permit for raptors
Raptor banding trainer certification, North American Banding Council
Professional Experience
Senior associate ecologist, H. T. Harvey & Associates, 2025– July 2026
Various roles, University of California, Davis, 2003– July 2026: adjunct professor, 2011– July 2026; postdoctoral scholar, 2007–2009; Graduate researcher, 2003–2007
Various roles, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2008–2025: deputy assistant regional director, ecological services, 2021–2025; listing and recovery division manager, 2017–2021; recovery branch chief, 2008–2017
Graduate researcher, Sonoma State University, Davis, 1999–2002
Conference center director, Dominican University of California, 1998–2001
Professional Affiliations
Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, 2000–July 2026
Board member, Spring Rivers Foundation, 2012–2016 and 2025–July 2026
Subject editor, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2009–2014
Relevant Experience
- CEQA/NEPA
- FESA/CESA
- Wetland Delineation
- Freshwater Species
- Estuarine Species
- Invertebrate Surveys
- Wildlife Surveys
- Permitting
- Safe Harbor Agreement/Conservation Benefit Agreement
- Ecological Research
- Legal Sufficiency Review
- Bird Safe Design
- Botanical Surveys
- Habitat Conservation Planning
- Marine Species