Steve Hein

Executive Director of Center for Wildlife Education Georgia Southern University

Statesboro GA

Steve Hein utilizes his artistic talent, business skills and a tremendous sense of fun to his work at the Center for Wildlife Education.

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Spotlight

Nov 3, 2023

1 min

Experts in the Media: Georgia Southern's famous Freedom was dominating the airwaves after a recent announcement

It's been called the most exciting 30 seconds in college football and recently Freedom, Georgia Southern University’s live bald eagle mascot that flies before each home game was flying high with some serious media attention on TV, radio and print. Unable to survive on his own because of an injury to his beak as a newborn, Freedom came to Georgia Southern in 2004 and now lives at the University’s Center for Wildlife Education in Statesboro alongside other eagles, raptors, reptiles and waterfowl. He will celebrate his 20th birthday this December. The school recently launched a new line of merchandise and the news soon went viral putting Freedom and his handler, Wildlife Center Executive Director Steve Hein in the spotlight. The coverage was tremendous and if you're looking to know more about Freedom let us help. Simply click on Wildlife Center Executive Director Steve Hein's icon now or Contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

Nov 15, 2023

2 min

Georgia Southern launches new merchandise line to benefit ‘Freedom’ and the Wildlife Center

“Freedom” merchandise is now available for purchase at Southern Exchange in Statesboro. Items will be available soon at the University Store on the University’s Armstrong and Statesboro campuses and in the gift shop at the Center for Wildlife Education located on the Statesboro Campus. Proceeds will benefit the Wildlife Center and Freedom’s care. Georgia Southern University is launching a new brand and merchandise line that will benefit and honor Freedom, the University’s live bald eagle mascot that flies before each home game in what many call the “most exciting 30 seconds in college football.” Unable to survive on his own because of an injury to his beak as a newborn, Freedom came to Georgia Southern in 2004 and now lives at the University’s Center for Wildlife Education in Statesboro alongside other eagles, raptors, reptiles and waterfowl. He will celebrate his 20th birthday this December. As an ambassador for Georgia Southern and symbol of our nation, Freedom has inspired thousands annually at the Center for Wildlife Education, Georgia Southern football games, the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah, commencements, community events and other appearances, such as at the Charles Swab Classic PGA tour event earlier this year in Texas. To support Freedom and the Wildlife Center, University Communications and Marketing, Georgia Southern’s office of Athlete Brand Management and Licensing, the Wildlife Center and the university’s retail partners are collaborating to launch a new line of merchandise featuring Freedom. One shirt includes “Freedom’s Ride,” and depicts Freedom perched in the back of a 1977 International Scout often seen around town as it’s owned and driven by handler and Wildlife Center Executive Director Steve Hein. “Freedom belongs to Georgia Southern students, faculty, the Statesboro community and all those he encounters” Hein said. “It’s natural to want to express a unique relationship spanning 20 years and what better way to do this than by making his image available for people to wear and promote. I’m excited about this program, honored to be his plus-one, and greatly appreciate everyone’s support for Freedom, his care and his future.” The Freedom merchandise is designed to be both inspirational and stylish. Items are in development, but initial offerings could include: Hats T-Shirts Hoodies Posters Postcards Proceeds will benefit the Wildlife Center and Freedom’s care. Items will be available starting this week at Southern Exchange near the Georgia Southern campus in Statesboro and will be available soon at the University Store on the University’s Armstrong and Statesboro campuses and in the gift shop at the Wildlife Center located on the Statesboro Campus. Interested in learning more or looking to talk with Wildlife Center Executive Director Steve Hein? Simply click on his icon now or Contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

May 18, 2020

2 min

Leaping lizards! Let our experts tell you about the latest invasive species to be found in Georgia

What’s four feet long, weighs ten pounds and is eating its way across two Georgia counties? If you guessed the Argentine black and white tegu – you’d be right. "It has become established as an exotic invasive species in several sites in South Florida and we now believe in the Toombs and Tattnall counties of Georgia," said Georgia Department of Natural Resources biologist John Jenson. "We're trying to remove them from the wild, because they can have a negative impact on our native species." The Argentine black and white tegu can grow to be up to 4 feet long and weigh 10 pounds or more. The species can be identified by its mottled black-and-white coloring, which is arranged in a banded pattern across its back and tail. Hatchlings also display a bright green color on their heads. This tends to disappear around the time they reach a month old. While the species is known to lash out if threatened, it is not considered aggressive toward people. The biggest problem it presents is towards existing wildlife. The species is notorious for stealing burrows. Tegus also possess an indiscriminate and edacious appetite that can include the eggs and young of other species. "They eat just about anything they want, plant and animal matter, and one of their favorite foods are eggs from ground-nesting animals such as gopher tortoises—our protected state reptile—birds, including turkeys and quails," said Jenson. May 14 Newsweek Invasive species are not new to Georgia or the southern states, but there are a lot of questions still to be asked: What endangered species are threatened by the presence of these lizards? What can be done to remove them? How quickly will they breed and spread? And are there any natural predators that can assist DNR authorities naturally? If you are a journalist covering this subject – then let our experts help. Steve Hein is the director of the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern University. He’s an expert in Georgia wildlife and is available to speak with media about invasive species in the state – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Media

Biography

Steve Hein brings his passion for falconry, artistic talent, business skills and a tremendous sense of fun to his work at the Center for Wildlife Education. Steve earned a degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. He holds Federal and State Licenses as a Master Falconer, and practices this ancient art with tremendous enthusiasm. As a wildlife artist, Steve received the Georgia Governor’s “Artist of Excellence” award: won the 1987 and 1988 Georgia Wildlife Management Area Stamps; was chosen in 1986, 1987, and 1990 Georgia Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year; and worked on a national level with Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Corporate patrons include Nations Bank and Coca-Cola. Serving as the Center’s director since its inception in 1991, Steve is past president of the Statesboro Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, has completed the Leadership Bulloch, Leadership Southeast Georgia, and Leadership Georgia Programs, and is a past chair of Leadership Southeast Georgia. He is currently serving his second term as a council member of the Bulloch County Board of Education. Steve and his wife Kathy have four children, Adam, Meredith, Colleen and Mallory.

Areas of Expertise

Wildlife Art

Falconry

Georgia Wildlife

Media Appearances

Falconry in Georgia: A Hunt Like No Other

Garden and Gun

2018-10-01

Majestic as the scene is, the story of how falconry, the ancient “sport of kings,” came to Sea Island begins with a slightly less regal group: dozens of aggressive boat-tailed grackles, scavenger birds that were swiping french fries from the resort’s youngest pool guests—and giving management heartburn in the process. Looking for a solution, Sea Island turned to Steve Hein, a master falconer and the executive director of Georgia Southern University’s Center for Wildlife Education and the Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center. Hein had a long-standing relationship with the resort and was also a mentor to fellow falconer Jon Kent, Sea Island’s director of outdoor pursuits. In 2011, Hein began the Raptor Patrol, which kept the birds at bay by stationing Harris’s hawks and peregrine falcons near the beach club’s pool under the control of a licensed falconer...

An eagle, the band and the refs: Oddities in college football guarantee-game contracts

USA Today

2018-08-29

The Eagles wanted to have their mascot Freedom – a southern bald eagle – accompany them to the game. Freedom takes flight from the press box before every Georgia Southern home game, and usually goes to one or two road games a year, along with handler Steve Hein. And since Clemson is less than a four-hour drive from Statesboro, he is scheduled to be on hand, Georgia Southern athletics spokesman Bryan Johnston said...

Ga. Southern Center for Wildlife Education turns 20

WJCL 22

2018-02-02

"I think being university affiliated is key," said Steve Hein, Executive Director, Center for Wildlife Education. "We're about education, so there was a very real need and remains a very real need to educate tomorrow's leader about the importance of the environment."...