Plymouth Conservation Scientist Killed in Alaska Helicopter Crash

Dr. Shiloh Schulte, a prominent shorebird scientist with Manomet Conservation Sciences, was killed in a helicopter crash in a remote part of Alaska's North Slope while conducting conservation work. Schulte, from Kennebunk, Maine, was known for his leadership in the American Oystercatcher Recovery Program, which achieved a 45% rebound in the species' population along the Eastern Seaboard. The crash, involving a Robinson R-66 helicopter piloted by Jonathan Guibas, resulted in the deaths of both individuals, with the cause still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Schulte had been working on outfitting shorebirds with recording devices and was also planning to lead a team tracking migratory whimbrels in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a region central to debates over oil drilling and climate change. Manomet Conservation Sciences and Schulte's family highlighted his dedication to preserving the natural world, and a GoFundMe has been established to support his wife and two daughters. The wreckage was transported for further examination as authorities continue their investigation.