The Team

Faculty

Photo of Scott Mills

Dr. L. Scott Mills

Ph.D., Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
M.S., Wildlife Ecology, Utah State University
B.S., Zoology, North Carolina State University

Graduate Students

Lindsey Barnard

 

Lindsey Barnard, Ph.D. Student
B.S., Wildlife Biology, University of Montana
B.S., Geography, University of Montana
Research Interests: I am most intrigued by the way wild animals are behaviorally adapting to human-caused stressors. My dissertation examines behavioral plasticity, behavioral consistency, and stress in snowshoe hares and how they are correlated with survival and reproduction.

headshot

 

Amanda Emmel, M.S. Student
B.S. Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis
Research Interests:  Impacts of human-caused global change, particularly climate-induced ecological mismatch, and potential conservation solutions. Avian ecology, alpine ecology, and public engagement with wild lands and conservation.

grace-erba-photo.jpg

 

Grace Erba, Ph.D. Student
B.S., Wildlife Biology, University of Montana
Research interests: Ultimately, I am interested in studying (1) predator-prey relationships–with a focus on wolf-ungulate dynamics–and (2) how biotic and abiotic factors interact to shape ecosystem structure.

Field Manager

Sam Stevens
B.S., Animal Ecology, Iowa State University

Lab Alumni

Graduate students

  • Jen Feltner, PhD 2021                                                                                          Dissertation:                                                                                                                          Post-graduate position:                                                                 
  • Alex Kumar, PhD 2020
    Dissertation:  Biotic and abiotic drivers of acyclic snowshoe hare population dynamics in a spatiotemporally complex system
    Post-graduate position: Inventory & Monitoring Biologist, National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO
  • Tashi Dhendup, MS 2019
    Thesis:   Tiger monitoring in Bhutan using non-invasive genetic tools
    Post-graduate position: Wildlife Biologist, UWICE, Bumthang, Bhutan
  • Brandon Davis, MS 2019
    Thesis:   Weasely recognized or stoatally camouflaged: Quantifying coat color of a cryptic predator
    Post-graduate position: Weddell Seal Population Dynamics in Erebus Bay, Antarctica, Montana State University, Bozeman MT
  • Marketa Zimova, PhD 2019
    Dissertation:   Evolutionary ecology of color molt phenology and camouflage mismatch
    Post-graduate position: Post-doc, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
  • Julie (Betsch) Weckworth, PhD 2018
    Dissertation:   Ecology, epidemiology, and evolutionary genetics of Canine distemper virus spillover in African lions
    Post-graduate position: Research Wildlife and Disease Ecologist, National Genomics Center, Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, Missoula MT
  • Tshering Tempa, PhD 2017
    Dissertation: The ecology of montane Bengal tigers in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan
    Post-graduate position: Chair of Department of Conservation Biology, UWICE, Bumthang, Bhutan
  • Alex Kumar, MS 2015
    Thesis: Effects of dynamic forest structure on vital rates, behavior and the seasonal molt of the snowshoe hare
    Post-graduate position: PhD Student, University of Montana, Missoula MT
  • Marketa Zimova, MS 2013
    Thesis:  Camouflage mismatch in seasonal coat color due to decreased snow duration
    Post-graduate position: PhD Candidate, University of Montana, Missoula MT
  • Tammy Mildenstein, PhD 2012
    Dissertation: Conservation of endangered flying foxes I the Philippines: effects of anthropogenic disturbance and methods for monitoring
    Post-graduate position: Assistant Professor of Biology, Cornell College, Mount Vernon IA
  • Jesse Newby, MS 2011
    Thesis: Puma dispersal ecology in the central Rocky Mountains
    Post-graduate position: Wildlife Technician, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Missoula MT
  • Ellen Cheng, PhD 2010
    Dissertation: Climate Change, gene flow, and the legendary synchrony of snowshoe hares
    Post-graduate position: Post-Doc, Mills Lab, NCSU and Wildlife Biologist, Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation of the Environment (UWICE), Bumthang, Bhutan
  • Heather Johnson, PhD 2010
    Dissertation: Escaping the extinction vortex: Identifying factors affecting population performance and recovery in endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
    Post-graduate position: Research Wildlife Biologist, Alaska Science Center, USGS, Anchorage, AK 
  • Tshering Tempa, MS 2008 (non-thesis)
    Degree Focus: Teaching Wildlife Biology in Bhutan
    Post-graduate position: PhD student, University of Montana, Missoula MT and Chair of Department of Conservation Biology, UWICE, Bumthang, Bhutan
  • Sue Cox Griffin, PhD 2007 (co-advised with Mark Taper)
    Dissertation: Demography and ecology of a declining endemic: the Olympic marmot
    Post-graduate position: Fort Collins, CO
  • Julia Witzcuk, MS 2007
    Thesis: Predation by invasive coyotes on declining endemic Olympic marmots
    Post-graduate position: Adjunct, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
  • John Citta, PhD 2005 (co-advised with Mark Lindberg)
    Dissertation: Metapopulation ecology using mountain bluebirds as a model system
    Post-graduate position: Biometrician, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Fairbanks AK
  • Carly Lewis, MS 2005
    Thesis: Landscape structure effects on snowshoe hares in fragmented forests
    Post-graduate position: Wildlife Biologist, Lolo National Forest, USFS, Missoula MT
  • Paul Griffin, PhD 2003
    Dissertation: Source-sink dynamics of snowshoe hares in a fragmented landscape
    Post-graduate position: Wildlife Biologist, USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO
  • Jenny Pierson, MS 2003
    Thesis: Effects of thinning and prescribed burning on birds and small mammals
    Post-graduate position: Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University
  • Michael Schwartz, PhD 2002
    Dissertation: The influence of gene flow and landscape location on genetic variation in two threatened carnivores: the Canada lynx and San Joaquin kit fox
    Post-graduate position: Research Ecologist, US Forest Service, Missoula, MT
  • Tammy Mildenstein, MS 2002
    Thesis: Habitat selection of large flying foxes using radiotelemetry: targeting conservation efforts in Subic Bay Philippines
    Post-graduate position: Assistant Professor of Biology, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
  • Reesa Yale Conrey, MS 2002
    Thesis: Do highways influence connectivity in small mammals
    Post-graduate position: Wildlife Researcher, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wellington, CO
  • David Tallmon, PhD 2001 (co-advised with Fred Allendorf)
    Dissertation: Genetic, demographic, and ecological effects of habitat fragmentation
    Post-graduate position: Associate Professor of Biology & Department Chair, Natural Sciences, University of Alaska, Southeast, Juneau, AK
  • Kevin Lair, MS 2001
    Thesis: The effects of forest fragmentation and forest edge on Columbian Mouse and Southern Red-Backed vole demography
    Post-graduate position: Owner, Wild Birds Unlimited, Bend, OR
  • John Citta, MS 1998
    Thesis: An evaluation of demographic sensitivity analysis models
    Post-graduate position: Biometrician, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Fairbanks, AK

Post-Docs

  • Diana Lafferty, 2015-2017
    Research: Assessing linkages among snowshoe hare coat color molt
    phenology, anti-predator behavior, stress physiology and climate change.
    Current position: Assistant Professor, Northern Michigan University
  • Eugenia Bragina, 2015-2017
    Research: Population and habitat modeling of wildlife species at Fort Bragg, NC.
    Current position: Course director, WCS Russia
  • Rebecca Taylor, 2009-2011
    Research: Modeling sage grouse population dynamics to inform management decisions.
    Current position: Research Statistician, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
  • Richard Fredrickson, 2007-2010
    Research: Evaluating tradeoffs between disease risk and demographic benefits for translocating an endangered bighorn sheep.
    Current position: Missoula, MT
  • Cindy Hartway, 2006-2010
    Research: Sensitivity analysis to inform efficient recovery actions for endangered species on military lands.
    Current position: Research Associate, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
  • Matt Kaufmann, 2004-2006
    Research: A critical evaluation of the trophic cascade hypothesis for wolves and elk
    Current position: Unit Leader, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Assistant Professor of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
  • Karen Hodges, 2000-2003
    Research: Snowshoe hare population dynamics and response to silvicultural treatments
    Current position: Associate Professor, Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada

Visiting/Collaborating Graduate students

  • Dick Moberg, MS Student, 2014-2018
    Home university:  Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden   
    Research: Color molt phenology of arctic foxes 
  • Faraz Akrim, PhD Student, 2016-2017
    Home university:  Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
    Research: Application of non-invasive genetic sampling to understand diet composition of sympatric carnivore species
  • Robin Sandfort, PhD Student, 2015
    Home university:  University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
    Research: Ecology and management of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in an Austrian mountain forest ecosystem

Undergrads

(If you are a former Mills lab undergrad who completed a senior thesis with Dr. Mills but do not see your name/project listed here, please E-mail us.)

  • Grace Erba: Honors thesis:
  • Katrina Theisen: Honors project: Factors influencing longevity in snowshoe hares
  • Lindsey Barnard: Honors thesis: Behavioral plasticity to reduce camouflage mismatch in snowshoe hares
  • Rebecca Venezia: Honors project: Physiological stress response in snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) to environmental enrichment
  • De'Aja Sanders: Honors project: Camera trap limitations: quantifying molt phenology in Lepus americanus
  • Lindsay Clontz: Project assistant: Noninvasive measures of physiological stress are confounded by time and environmental conditions
  • Sarah Corbit: Project assistant: Repeatable differences in snowshoe hare behavior: animal personality may facilitate plastic responses to climate change
  • Kairsten Fay:  Project assistant: Global coat color phenology
  • James Goerz: Honors thesis: Description of snowshoe hare mortality and survival sites
  • Skyler Suhler: Honors thesis: Photos and phenotypes: Using camera traps to quantify snowshoe hare coat color phenology
  • Brandon Davis: Honors thesis: Plasticity of snowshoe hare flight response to a potential predation event
  • Jennifer Hernandez: Honors thesis: Analysis of potential cyclic dynamics for southern snowshoe hares
  • Julie Cunningham:  Honors thesis: Connecting movement paths of snowshoe hares in snow to survival in fragmented habitats

Hall of Fame: Undergrads, Technicians and Volunteers

Our research could not have been accomplished without the countless hours numerous undergraduates, technicians and volunteers put into working on our projects. We greatly appreciate the contributions of all those listed below, as well as many others.

Snowshoe Hare Field & Lab Crew
2009-present

  • Payton Adams
  • Jennifer Alberts
  • Lindsey Barnard
  • Nathan Barton
  • Ashton Bates
  • Jason Beltskauffman
  • Seth Bergman
  • Chelsea Boyle
  • Ellen Brandell
  • Carl Brown
  • Benett Bursick
  • Morgan Campbell
  • Kyle Christopher
  • Lindsay Clontz
  • Laura Collins
  • Stephen Cooke
  • Cynnimin Coomey
  • Chloe Cosgrove
  • Aurelia DeNasha
  • Tashi Dhendup
  • Jennifer Dupree
  • Kenneth Edmo
  • Eric Elkins
  • Amanda Emmel
  • Grace Erba
  • Savanna Fitzgerald
  • Gus Geldersma
  • Cheryl Gourley
  • Matt Henderson
  • Jennifer Hernandez
  • Ashlee Hevly
  • Summer Higdon
  • Blake Hoffman
  • Desiree James
  • Laura Jenkins
  • Kylie Jones
  • Emma Lancaster
  • Christina Leinmueller
  • Randi Lesagonicz
  • Landon Magee
  • Nicole McIntire
  • Jeremy Mcmurrin
  • Cheyenne Middleton
  • Dick Moberg
  • Elena Murzyn
  • David Nikonow
  • Kaitlin Novak
  • Nicholas Oberle
  • Lindsay Petrillo
  • Graeme Pletscher
  • Ahva Potticary
  • Dianne Quiroz
  • Alison Reck
  • Laura Redmond
  • Gregory Reed
  • David Remmend
  • Mackenzie Richards
  • Lauren Richardson
  • Hannah Riedl
  • Liam Rossier
  • Molly Runyon
  • Nicole Samsel
  • De’Aja Sanders
  • Karen Saul
  • Tucker Seitz
  • Evan Sims
  • Tyzer Smith
  • Patrick Staunton
  • Jessica Stirling
  • Matt Strauser
  • Skyler Suhrer
  • Sean Sultaire
  • Sarah Twoteeth
  • Ashley Wachtel
  • Christina Wells
  • Tommy Williams
  • Sarah Whitcher
  • Rebecca Venezia

Marmot Crew
2004-2008

  • Stephen Amish
  • Alicia Boswell
  • Paul Griffin
  • Jason Hicks
  • David Hoover
  • Sarah Malick
  • Cody Massing
  • Shawn Meagher
  • Suzanne Nagi
  • Mike O’Brien
  • Stanislaw Pagacz
  • Alexander Powell
  • Beth Raboin
  • Sarah Seidel
  • Tucker Seitz
  • Sarah Sells
  • Kevin Sterling
  • Tanguy Valois
  • Lindsey Wander
  • Christina Wells

Snowshoe hare and Lynx Crew
1999-2004

  • Michael Black Wolf
  • Shauna Brosnan
  • Michelle Brown
  • Cole Burton
  • James Dwyer
  • Erin Fairbank
  • Julie Fuller
  • Suzanne Griffin
  • Sarah Guertz
  • Erin Inkley
  • Molly Jacky
  • Kevin Fairhurst
  • Kenda Kitchen
  • Amy Krause
  • Allison Landro
  • Luc Pouderoux
  • Don Merritt
  • Jesse Newby
  • Nathan Olson
  • Rachelle Owen
  • Ed Pappenburg
  • Kristina Pilgrim
  • Michael Sawaya
  • Christena Schiller
  • Kristena Smucker
  • Kate Soetaert
  • Kevin Sterling
  • Luke Stevens
  • Nathan Stone
  • Carl Waroquiers
  • Brian Wilson
  • Kendra Womack