Report an Invasive Species
wnyprism@buffalostate.edu
(716) 878.4708
Brittnee, Manmeet and Winter will mainly work in the field to survey for invasive species, manage infestations and help with habitat restoration projects throughout western New York. Niko will join them on occasion, but most of his work will focus on WNY PRISM’s education and outreach efforts, like assisting with outreach events, workshops and trainings, managing WNY PRISM social media accounts, and more! Learn more about each of them below!
Nikolai White Bear, Education and Outreach Assistant
Niko is a 2022 graduate of SUNY University at Buffalo, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geoscience. His studies focused on entomology, ornithology, botany, and Indigenous knowledge. Following graduation, Niko worked as a wildlife technician on a windmill farm, surveying bat and bird fatalities. Between his seasons with WNY PRISM, he worked at Erie County Forestry to establish their native tree nursery. This year, Niko is excited to return to WNY PRISM as the Education and Outreach Assistant and looks forward to contributing to the team’s impactful work. An avid wildlife photographer, Niko spends much of his free time immersed in nature, capturing its beauty through his lens.
Manmeet Singh, Invasive Species Management Assistant
Manmeet is a 2025 graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. His experience includes working on a forest inventory project at the Edwin S. George Reserve with the university and enrolling in coursework related to woody plant identification. Manmeet is excited to be part of WNY PRISM to manage invasive species and explore western New York this summer. In his free time, Manmeet can be found at the gym, in the kitchen, out birding and hiking, catching up on the newest paleontological news, or snug in bed watching TV.
Brittnee Bukowski, Invasive Species Management Assistant
Brittnee is a recent graduate of SUNY Niagara and earned her Associate’s degree in Horticulture. Brittnee interned with Niagara Falls State Park where she mastered her plant identification skills and tended to the park’s many garden beds. She is very excited to work with WNY PRISM and wants to learn more about conservation and environmental science this season. When not working, Brittnee can be found spending time with her husband and cats, tending to her garden, painting landscapes, and traveling whenever she can. Brittnee hopes to eventually become a homesteader and create a place of self sustainability for her and her family.
Winter Mumbach, Invasive Species Management Assistant
Winter graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies in 2024. For the 2024 summer semester he spent time interning at the NYS DEC, which included bird banding and releases, aquatic plant and animal surveys, pesticide application to fight the emerald ash borer, and time spent at the Messinger Woods Wildlife Care and Education Center caring for wildlife in the process of rehabilitation. In the Invasive Species Management Assistant position with WNY PRISM, Winter hopes to gain more field experience utilizing data collection and analysis tools such as ArcGIS as well as aspects of species and habitat management practices as well as improving his plant identification skills. Some things he enjoys in his free time are his new hobby of birding, board/tabletop games, video games, and spending time with his two cats and dog outdoors. In the future he doesn’t know exactly what he would like to do, but right now anything that involves working with plants and wildlife in New York State would be fulfilling work.
