Shawn Crimmins, PhD
Shawn's research focus in on the management and conservation of game species including furbearers and ungulates, and on population dynamics and habitat use of carnivores, ungulates, and furbearers.
Dr. Crimmins received graduate degrees from West Virginia University and the University of Montana, was a post-doctoral fellow at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center and at the University of Wisconsin Madison, and was an assistant professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point before joining the Alaska Unit in 2020. Shawn joined the newly formed Indiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Purdue University in 2025. Shawn develops wildlife monitoring programs with Federal and State partners. He works in coastal rain forests, high altitude alpine systems, boreal forests, and tundra in Alaska and Canada. Shawn teaches graduate courses in large mammal ecology and management, vertebrate population dynamics, and occupancy modeling.
Professional Experience
Unit Leader, Indiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2025-
Assistant Unit Leader, Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2020-2025
Education and Certifications
PhD, University of Montana, 2009
MS, West Virginia University, 2005
BS, University of Missouri, 1998
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Scale-dependence in elk habitat selection for a reintroduced population in Wisconsin, USA Scale-dependence in elk habitat selection for a reintroduced population in Wisconsin, USA
Habitat selection is a critical aspect of a species' ecology, requiring complex decision-making that is both hierarchical and scale-dependent, since factors that influence selection may be nested or unequal across scales. Elk (Cervus canadensis) ranged widely across diverse ecoregions in North America prior to European settlement and subsequent eastern extirpation. Most habitat selection...
Authors
Jennifer L. Merems, Anna L. Brose, Jennifer Price Tack, Shawn M. Crimmins, Timothy R. Van Deelen
Survival of Common Loon chicks appears unaffected by Bald Eagle recovery in northern Minnesota Survival of Common Loon chicks appears unaffected by Bald Eagle recovery in northern Minnesota
Recovering species are not returning to the same environments or communities from which they disappeared. Conservation researchers and practitioners are thus faced with additional challenges in ensuring species resilience in these rapidly changing ecosystems. Assessing the resilience of species in these novel systems can still be guided by species’ ecology, including knowledge of their...
Authors
Jennyffer Cruz, Steve K. Windels, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Benjamin Zuckerberg
Top-down effect of repatriating bald eagles hinder jointly recovering competitors Top-down effect of repatriating bald eagles hinder jointly recovering competitors
1. The recovery of piscivorous birds around the world is touted as one of the great conservation successes of the 21st century, but for some species, this success was short-lived. Bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons began repatriating Voyageurs National Park, USA, in the mid-20th century. However, after 1990, only eagles continued their recovery, while osprey and heron recovery...
Authors
Jennyffer Cruz, Steve K. Windels, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Leland H. Grim, James H. Larson, Benjamin Zuckerberg
Managing individual nests promotes population recovery of a top predator Managing individual nests promotes population recovery of a top predator
Threatened species are managed using diverse conservation tactics implemented at multiple scales ranging from protecting individuals, to populations, to entire species. Individual protection strives to promote recovery at the population‐ or species‐level, although this is seldom evaluated.After decades of widespread declines, bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, are recovering...
Authors
Jennyffer Cruz, Steve K. Windels, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Leland Grim, Benjamin Zuckerberg
Factors affecting nest survival of Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) in southern Indiana Factors affecting nest survival of Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) in southern Indiana
Populations of Henslow’s Sparrows have declined dramatically in recent decades, coinciding with widespread loss of native grassland habitat. Prescribed burning is a primary tool for maintaining grassland patches, but its effects on nest survival of Henslow’s Sparrows remains largely unknown, especially in conjunction with other factors. We monitored 135 nests of Henslow’s Sparrows at Big...
Authors
Shawn M. Crimmins, Patrick C. McKann, Joseph R. Robb, Jason P. Lewis, Teresa Vanosdol, Benjamin A. Walker, Perry J. Williams, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Effects of population reduction on white-tailed deer home-range dynamics Effects of population reduction on white-tailed deer home-range dynamics
Management strategies designed to reduce the negative impacts of overabundant Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) populations on forest regeneration may be influenced by changes in both population density and timber harvest. However, there is conflicting evidence as to how such changes in per capita resource availability influence home-range patterns. We compared home-range...
Authors
Shawn M. Crimmins, John W. Edwards, Tyler A Campbell, W. Mark Ford, Patrick D. Keyser, Brad F. Miller, Karl V. Miller
Evaluating predictors of local dabbling duck abundance during migration: Managing the spectrum of conditions faced by migrants Evaluating predictors of local dabbling duck abundance during migration: Managing the spectrum of conditions faced by migrants
The development of robust modelling techniques to derive inferences from large-scale migratory bird monitoring data at appropriate scales has direct relevance to their management. The Integrated Waterbird Management and Monitoring programme (IWMM) represents one of the few attempts to monitor migrating waterbirds across entire flyways using targeted local surveys. This dataset included...
Authors
Kevin Aagaard, Shawn M. Crimmins, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Brian G. Tavernia, James E. Lyons
Winter habitat associations of blackbirds and starlings wintering in the south-central United States Winter habitat associations of blackbirds and starlings wintering in the south-central United States
Birds can cause extensive crop damage in the United States. In some regions, depredating species comprise a substantial portion of the total avian population, emphasizing their importance both economically and ecologically. We used the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count data from the south-central United States and mixed-effects models to identify habitat factors associated...
Authors
Matthew Strassburg, Shawn M. Crimmins, Patrick C. McKann, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Relating mesocarnivore relative abundance to anthropogenic land-use with a hierarchical spatial count model Relating mesocarnivore relative abundance to anthropogenic land-use with a hierarchical spatial count model
There is growing need to develop models of spatial patterns in animal abundance, yet comparatively few examples of such models exist. This is especially true in situations where the abundance of one species may inhibit that of another, such as the intensively-farmed landscape of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the central United States, where waterfowl production is largely...
Authors
Shawn M. Crimmins, Liza R. Walleser, Dan R. Hertel, Patrick C. McKann, Jason J. Rohweder, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Spatially explicit modeling of blackbird abundance in the Prairie Pothole Region Spatially explicit modeling of blackbird abundance in the Prairie Pothole Region
Knowledge of factors influencing animal abundance is important to wildlife biologists developing management plans. This is especially true for economically important species such as blackbirds (Icteridae), which cause more than $100 million in crop damages annually in the United States. Using data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the National Land Cover Dataset, and the...
Authors
Greg M. Forcey, Wayne E. Thogmartin, George M. Linz, Patrick C. McKann, Shawn M. Crimmins
A case study of assigning conservation value to dispersed habitat units for conservation planning A case study of assigning conservation value to dispersed habitat units for conservation planning
Resource managers are increasingly tasked with developing habitat conservation plans in the face of numerous, sometimes competing, objectives. These plans must often be implemented across dispersed habitat conservation units that may contribute unequally to overall conservation objectives. Using U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl production areas (WPA) in western Minnesota as our
Authors
Jason J. Rohweder, Sara C. Vacek, Shawn M. Crimmins, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Prioritizing bird conservation actions in the Prairie Hardwood transition of the Midwestern United States Prioritizing bird conservation actions in the Prairie Hardwood transition of the Midwestern United States
Large-scale planning for the conservation of species is often hindered by a poor understanding of factors limiting populations. In regions with declining wildlife populations, it is critical that objective metrics of conservation success are developed to ensure that conservation actions achieve desired results. Using spatially explicit estimates of bird abundance, we evaluated several...
Authors
Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Jennie Pearce
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Scale-dependence in elk habitat selection for a reintroduced population in Wisconsin, USA Scale-dependence in elk habitat selection for a reintroduced population in Wisconsin, USA
Habitat selection is a critical aspect of a species' ecology, requiring complex decision-making that is both hierarchical and scale-dependent, since factors that influence selection may be nested or unequal across scales. Elk (Cervus canadensis) ranged widely across diverse ecoregions in North America prior to European settlement and subsequent eastern extirpation. Most habitat selection...
Authors
Jennifer L. Merems, Anna L. Brose, Jennifer Price Tack, Shawn M. Crimmins, Timothy R. Van Deelen
Survival of Common Loon chicks appears unaffected by Bald Eagle recovery in northern Minnesota Survival of Common Loon chicks appears unaffected by Bald Eagle recovery in northern Minnesota
Recovering species are not returning to the same environments or communities from which they disappeared. Conservation researchers and practitioners are thus faced with additional challenges in ensuring species resilience in these rapidly changing ecosystems. Assessing the resilience of species in these novel systems can still be guided by species’ ecology, including knowledge of their...
Authors
Jennyffer Cruz, Steve K. Windels, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Benjamin Zuckerberg
Top-down effect of repatriating bald eagles hinder jointly recovering competitors Top-down effect of repatriating bald eagles hinder jointly recovering competitors
1. The recovery of piscivorous birds around the world is touted as one of the great conservation successes of the 21st century, but for some species, this success was short-lived. Bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons began repatriating Voyageurs National Park, USA, in the mid-20th century. However, after 1990, only eagles continued their recovery, while osprey and heron recovery...
Authors
Jennyffer Cruz, Steve K. Windels, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Leland H. Grim, James H. Larson, Benjamin Zuckerberg
Managing individual nests promotes population recovery of a top predator Managing individual nests promotes population recovery of a top predator
Threatened species are managed using diverse conservation tactics implemented at multiple scales ranging from protecting individuals, to populations, to entire species. Individual protection strives to promote recovery at the population‐ or species‐level, although this is seldom evaluated.After decades of widespread declines, bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, are recovering...
Authors
Jennyffer Cruz, Steve K. Windels, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Leland Grim, Benjamin Zuckerberg
Factors affecting nest survival of Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) in southern Indiana Factors affecting nest survival of Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) in southern Indiana
Populations of Henslow’s Sparrows have declined dramatically in recent decades, coinciding with widespread loss of native grassland habitat. Prescribed burning is a primary tool for maintaining grassland patches, but its effects on nest survival of Henslow’s Sparrows remains largely unknown, especially in conjunction with other factors. We monitored 135 nests of Henslow’s Sparrows at Big...
Authors
Shawn M. Crimmins, Patrick C. McKann, Joseph R. Robb, Jason P. Lewis, Teresa Vanosdol, Benjamin A. Walker, Perry J. Williams, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Effects of population reduction on white-tailed deer home-range dynamics Effects of population reduction on white-tailed deer home-range dynamics
Management strategies designed to reduce the negative impacts of overabundant Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) populations on forest regeneration may be influenced by changes in both population density and timber harvest. However, there is conflicting evidence as to how such changes in per capita resource availability influence home-range patterns. We compared home-range...
Authors
Shawn M. Crimmins, John W. Edwards, Tyler A Campbell, W. Mark Ford, Patrick D. Keyser, Brad F. Miller, Karl V. Miller
Evaluating predictors of local dabbling duck abundance during migration: Managing the spectrum of conditions faced by migrants Evaluating predictors of local dabbling duck abundance during migration: Managing the spectrum of conditions faced by migrants
The development of robust modelling techniques to derive inferences from large-scale migratory bird monitoring data at appropriate scales has direct relevance to their management. The Integrated Waterbird Management and Monitoring programme (IWMM) represents one of the few attempts to monitor migrating waterbirds across entire flyways using targeted local surveys. This dataset included...
Authors
Kevin Aagaard, Shawn M. Crimmins, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Brian G. Tavernia, James E. Lyons
Winter habitat associations of blackbirds and starlings wintering in the south-central United States Winter habitat associations of blackbirds and starlings wintering in the south-central United States
Birds can cause extensive crop damage in the United States. In some regions, depredating species comprise a substantial portion of the total avian population, emphasizing their importance both economically and ecologically. We used the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count data from the south-central United States and mixed-effects models to identify habitat factors associated...
Authors
Matthew Strassburg, Shawn M. Crimmins, Patrick C. McKann, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Relating mesocarnivore relative abundance to anthropogenic land-use with a hierarchical spatial count model Relating mesocarnivore relative abundance to anthropogenic land-use with a hierarchical spatial count model
There is growing need to develop models of spatial patterns in animal abundance, yet comparatively few examples of such models exist. This is especially true in situations where the abundance of one species may inhibit that of another, such as the intensively-farmed landscape of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the central United States, where waterfowl production is largely...
Authors
Shawn M. Crimmins, Liza R. Walleser, Dan R. Hertel, Patrick C. McKann, Jason J. Rohweder, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Spatially explicit modeling of blackbird abundance in the Prairie Pothole Region Spatially explicit modeling of blackbird abundance in the Prairie Pothole Region
Knowledge of factors influencing animal abundance is important to wildlife biologists developing management plans. This is especially true for economically important species such as blackbirds (Icteridae), which cause more than $100 million in crop damages annually in the United States. Using data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the National Land Cover Dataset, and the...
Authors
Greg M. Forcey, Wayne E. Thogmartin, George M. Linz, Patrick C. McKann, Shawn M. Crimmins
A case study of assigning conservation value to dispersed habitat units for conservation planning A case study of assigning conservation value to dispersed habitat units for conservation planning
Resource managers are increasingly tasked with developing habitat conservation plans in the face of numerous, sometimes competing, objectives. These plans must often be implemented across dispersed habitat conservation units that may contribute unequally to overall conservation objectives. Using U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl production areas (WPA) in western Minnesota as our
Authors
Jason J. Rohweder, Sara C. Vacek, Shawn M. Crimmins, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Prioritizing bird conservation actions in the Prairie Hardwood transition of the Midwestern United States Prioritizing bird conservation actions in the Prairie Hardwood transition of the Midwestern United States
Large-scale planning for the conservation of species is often hindered by a poor understanding of factors limiting populations. In regions with declining wildlife populations, it is critical that objective metrics of conservation success are developed to ensure that conservation actions achieve desired results. Using spatially explicit estimates of bird abundance, we evaluated several...
Authors
Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Jennie Pearce