Zoology and Physiology

College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources

Dan Thompson

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Dan currently heads up the large carnivore section of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department; responsible for science based management and monitoring of large carnivores (mountain lions, wolves, black and grizzly bears) throughout Wyoming and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  He received his PhD from South Dakota State University in 2009, evaluating population demographics of mountain lions in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming and has been studying large carnivore ecology for over 10 years.  His career interests include large carnivore expansion and recolonization, interactions among sympatric carnivores, predator prey dynamics in ever-evolving systems, and the applicability of research toward management.  His current research focuses on feasible methods to monitor cryptic and low density carnivore populations as well as quantifying and evaluating potential predation impacts to ungulates in multiple carnivore/multiple prey systems.  In addition, he currently serves as adjunct faculty at South Dakota State University and Utah State University, and strives to maintain the strong ties to the field to help in the cultivation of future wildlife professionals that excel in real world situations.