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Amy K Wray, PhD

Amy is a Biologist at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center.

Dr. Amy Wray is a Biologist with the USGS Invasive Species and Biothreats Branch at the Fort Collins Science Center. Her research centers on quantitative ecology, with an emphasis on applying advanced statistical approaches to support science-based decision making. She currently works across several taxa, including ungulates such as wild horses and bison, highly invasive snakes, and amphibians.

Professional Experience

  • Lab Manager, University of Wyoming, Zoology & Physiology

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Wyoming, Veterinary Sciences

  • Research Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Forest & Wildlife Ecology

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020

  • M.A. Conservation Biology, Columbia University, 2015

  • B.A. Integrative Biology/English, University of California, Berkeley, 2012

Science and Products

Evaluating evidence of changing regional occupancy of four bat species in response to forest management practices Evaluating evidence of changing regional occupancy of four bat species in response to forest management practices

Coordinated, regional strategies to guide effective management and conservation of forests can be used to balance conservation with management for other objectives such as timber, scenic viewsheds, and fire. A key part of these regional strategies is incorporating knowledge of how management actions may affect certain species, especially those that are sensitive or are of concern...
Authors
Richard D. Inman, Bradley James Udell, Amy Kristine Wray, Bethany R. Straw, Andrea Nichole Schuhmann, Helen Trice Davis, Sarah C. Sawyer, Brian E. Reichert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Multi-scale predictors of Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) occupancy in the United States Multi-scale predictors of Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) occupancy in the United States

Historically, Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long eared Bat) was among the most common forest-interior species in North America. Largely due to high mortality from white-nose syndrome, this species has experienced severe population declines across its range. To create an updated species distribution map representing summer occupancy probabilities from 2017 to 2022, we integrated...
Authors
Amy Kristine Wray, Bradley James Udell, Helen Trice Davis, Richard D. Inman, Bennet Thomas Lohre, Haley Breiann Price, Jonathan D. Reichard, Andrea Nichole Schuhmann, Bethany R. Straw, Frank Charles Tousley, Jill Utrup, Ashton M. Wiens, Brian E. Reichert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Predicting bat roosts in bridges using Bayesian Additive Regression Trees Predicting bat roosts in bridges using Bayesian Additive Regression Trees

Human-built structures can provide important habitat for wildlife, but predicting which structures are most likely to be used remains challenging. To evaluate the predictive capabilities of data-driven ensemble modeling approaches, we conducted surveys for bats and signs of bat use, such as urine and guano staining, at bridges across the southwestern United States. We developed a bat...
Authors
Jacob Oram, Amy Kristine Wray, Helen Trice Davis, Luz A. de Wit, Winifred F. Frick, Andrew B. Hoegh, Kathryn M. Irvine, Patrick Pollock, Andrea Nichole Schuhmann, Frank Charles Tousley, Brian E. Reichert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Understanding gaps in early detection of and rapid response to invasive species in the United States: A literature review and bibliometric analysis Understanding gaps in early detection of and rapid response to invasive species in the United States: A literature review and bibliometric analysis

While concepts regarding invasive species establishment patterns and eradication possibilities have long been a topic of invasion biology, the specific terminology referring to early detection of and rapid response to (EDRR) invasive species emerged in scientific literature during the early 2000s. Since then, the EDRR approach has expanded to include a suite of detection, planning, and...
Authors
Amy Kristine Wray, Aimee Christine Agnew, Mary Brown, Emily Marie Dean, Nicole D Hernandez, Audrey Jordon, Cayla Morningstar, Sara Elizabeth Piccolomini, Harrison Alexander Pickett, Wesley M. Daniel, Brian E. Reichert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

America's most wanted fishes: Cataloging risk assessments to prioritize invasive species for management action America's most wanted fishes: Cataloging risk assessments to prioritize invasive species for management action

Hundreds of fish species enter the United States through human intervention (e.g., importation) and some of these fishes pose a substantial risk to the nation’s assets and ecosystems. Prevention, early detection, and rapid response (EDRR) are vital to stop species invasions, but time and resources to manage the large suite of fish species that enter the nation are limited. Evaluating the...
Authors
Emily M. Dean, Audrey Jordon, Aimee Christine Agnew, Nicole D Hernandez, Cayla R. Morningstar, Matthew Neilson, Sara Elizabeth Piccolomini, Brian E. Reichert, Amy Kristine Wray, Wesley M. Daniel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Wray AK, Peery MZ, Kochanski JM, Pelton E, Lindner DL, Gratton C. Heterogenous effects of bat declines from white‐nose syndrome on arthropods. Ecology Letters. 2024 Jun;27(6):e14437.
Wray AK, Gratton C, Jusino MA, Wang JJ, Kochanski JM, Palmer JM, Banik MT, Lindner DL, Peery MZ. Disease‐related population declines in bats demonstrate non‐exchangeability in generalist predators. Ecology and Evolution. 2022 Jun;12(6):e8978.
Wray AK, Peery MZ, Jusino MA, Kochanski JM, Banik MT, Palmer JM, Lindner DL, Gratton C. Predator preferences shape the diets of arthropodivorous bats more than quantitative local prey abundance. Molecular Ecology. 2021 Feb;30(3):855-73.
Wray AK, Jusino MA, Banik MT, Palmer JM, Kaarakka H, White JP, Lindner DL, Gratton C, Peery MZ. Incidence and taxonomic richness of mosquitoes in the diets of little brown and big brown bats. Journal of Mammalogy. 2018 Jun 1;99(3):668-74.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

hundreds of bats flying together against a black background

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)

Bats are essential contributing members of healthy, functioning ecosystems. They perform numerous ecosystem services like insect pest control and plant pollination, and provide enormous economic benefits through ecotourism, medical research, and novel biotechnologies. North American bats face unprecedented threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, white-nose syndrome, and wind energy...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)

Bats are essential contributing members of healthy, functioning ecosystems. They perform numerous ecosystem services like insect pest control and plant pollination, and provide enormous economic benefits through ecotourism, medical research, and novel biotechnologies. North American bats face unprecedented threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, white-nose syndrome, and wind energy...
Learn More

Years since implementation of U.S. Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) vegetation management activities for bat habitat Years since implementation of U.S. Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) vegetation management activities for bat habitat

This data release contains the spatial raster outputs, R code, and lookup table from a synthesis of U.S. Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) vegetation management activities hypothesized to influence bat habitat. The included raster data cover the continental United States and represent the number of years that have passed since a given management action was implemented...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) OneHealth (ver. 2.0, June 2025) North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) OneHealth (ver. 2.0, June 2025)

This dataset documents the results of large-scale surveillance efforts to assess coronavirus prevalence in North American bats. Wildlife monitoring is critical for establishing disease baselines and identifying key factors that inform conservation strategies aimed at reducing pathogen exposure among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Reports of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging wildlife in...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program Knitted Grid and Multi-scale Grid Covariates North American Bat Monitoring Program Knitted Grid and Multi-scale Grid Covariates

This data release contains spatial and tabular products that provide a multi-scale, continuous North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) master sample grid surface and a suite of ecologically-relevant covariates. This continuous surface, called the "knitted grid," is a combination of 5 kilometer (km), 10km, and 50km master sample grids for the Contiguous United States (CONUS), Alaska...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) Predicted Northern Long-Eared Bat Occupancy Probabilities North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) Predicted Northern Long-Eared Bat Occupancy Probabilities

These data contain the results from the North American Bat Monitoring Program's (NABat) species distribution model (SDM) for the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). The provided tabular data includes predictions (with upper and lower confidence intervals) for northern long-eared bat occupancy probabilities (which represent the probability of presence) based on data from the...
By
Fort Collins Science Center
screenshot of the first slide of a video screenshot of the first slide of a video
Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login
screenshot of the first slide of a video

Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login

Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login

The North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package can be used to extract and summarize data from NABat projects and data requests. This video tutorial provides a brief overview of how to get started with the NABat R package, including how to download the package as well as how to log in using partner portal credentials. 

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center
screenshot of the first slide of a video

Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login

Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login

The North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package can be used to extract and summarize data from NABat projects and data requests. This video tutorial provides a brief overview of how to get started with the NABat R package, including how to download the package as well as how to log in using partner portal credentials. 

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package (version 1.2.2) North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package (version 1.2.2)

The North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package can be used to extract and upload data to the NABat Monitoring Program through the GQL API. This software is written as a wrapper around the NABat GQL API. Documentation for the database and API can be found at https://sciencebase.usgs.gov/. This code includes the ability to reformat NABat data, upload NABat data...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package (Version 1.1.0) North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package (Version 1.1.0)

The North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package can be used to extract and upload data to the NABat Monitoring Program through the GQL API. This software is written as a wrapper around the NABat GQL API. Documentation for the database and API can be found at https://sciencebase.usgs.gov/. This code includes the ability to reformat NABat data, upload NABat data...
By
Fort Collins Science Center
FORT scientists host interactive training on bat monitoring data management and analysis

FORT scientists host interactive training on bat monitoring data management and analysis

USGS FORT staff with the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) held an in-person workshop to train potential users of the NABat Partner Portal...

Read Article
FORT scientists present research at the 31st Conference of the North American Invasive Species Management Association in Lincoln, Nebraska

FORT scientists present research at the 31st Conference of the North American Invasive Species Management Association in Lincoln, Nebraska

From October 16-19, 2023, FORT scientists will present their research on invasive species management in North America through conference talks...

Read Article

Science and Products

Evaluating evidence of changing regional occupancy of four bat species in response to forest management practices Evaluating evidence of changing regional occupancy of four bat species in response to forest management practices

Coordinated, regional strategies to guide effective management and conservation of forests can be used to balance conservation with management for other objectives such as timber, scenic viewsheds, and fire. A key part of these regional strategies is incorporating knowledge of how management actions may affect certain species, especially those that are sensitive or are of concern...
Authors
Richard D. Inman, Bradley James Udell, Amy Kristine Wray, Bethany R. Straw, Andrea Nichole Schuhmann, Helen Trice Davis, Sarah C. Sawyer, Brian E. Reichert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Multi-scale predictors of Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) occupancy in the United States Multi-scale predictors of Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) occupancy in the United States

Historically, Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long eared Bat) was among the most common forest-interior species in North America. Largely due to high mortality from white-nose syndrome, this species has experienced severe population declines across its range. To create an updated species distribution map representing summer occupancy probabilities from 2017 to 2022, we integrated...
Authors
Amy Kristine Wray, Bradley James Udell, Helen Trice Davis, Richard D. Inman, Bennet Thomas Lohre, Haley Breiann Price, Jonathan D. Reichard, Andrea Nichole Schuhmann, Bethany R. Straw, Frank Charles Tousley, Jill Utrup, Ashton M. Wiens, Brian E. Reichert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Predicting bat roosts in bridges using Bayesian Additive Regression Trees Predicting bat roosts in bridges using Bayesian Additive Regression Trees

Human-built structures can provide important habitat for wildlife, but predicting which structures are most likely to be used remains challenging. To evaluate the predictive capabilities of data-driven ensemble modeling approaches, we conducted surveys for bats and signs of bat use, such as urine and guano staining, at bridges across the southwestern United States. We developed a bat...
Authors
Jacob Oram, Amy Kristine Wray, Helen Trice Davis, Luz A. de Wit, Winifred F. Frick, Andrew B. Hoegh, Kathryn M. Irvine, Patrick Pollock, Andrea Nichole Schuhmann, Frank Charles Tousley, Brian E. Reichert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Understanding gaps in early detection of and rapid response to invasive species in the United States: A literature review and bibliometric analysis Understanding gaps in early detection of and rapid response to invasive species in the United States: A literature review and bibliometric analysis

While concepts regarding invasive species establishment patterns and eradication possibilities have long been a topic of invasion biology, the specific terminology referring to early detection of and rapid response to (EDRR) invasive species emerged in scientific literature during the early 2000s. Since then, the EDRR approach has expanded to include a suite of detection, planning, and...
Authors
Amy Kristine Wray, Aimee Christine Agnew, Mary Brown, Emily Marie Dean, Nicole D Hernandez, Audrey Jordon, Cayla Morningstar, Sara Elizabeth Piccolomini, Harrison Alexander Pickett, Wesley M. Daniel, Brian E. Reichert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

America's most wanted fishes: Cataloging risk assessments to prioritize invasive species for management action America's most wanted fishes: Cataloging risk assessments to prioritize invasive species for management action

Hundreds of fish species enter the United States through human intervention (e.g., importation) and some of these fishes pose a substantial risk to the nation’s assets and ecosystems. Prevention, early detection, and rapid response (EDRR) are vital to stop species invasions, but time and resources to manage the large suite of fish species that enter the nation are limited. Evaluating the...
Authors
Emily M. Dean, Audrey Jordon, Aimee Christine Agnew, Nicole D Hernandez, Cayla R. Morningstar, Matthew Neilson, Sara Elizabeth Piccolomini, Brian E. Reichert, Amy Kristine Wray, Wesley M. Daniel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Wray AK, Peery MZ, Kochanski JM, Pelton E, Lindner DL, Gratton C. Heterogenous effects of bat declines from white‐nose syndrome on arthropods. Ecology Letters. 2024 Jun;27(6):e14437.
Wray AK, Gratton C, Jusino MA, Wang JJ, Kochanski JM, Palmer JM, Banik MT, Lindner DL, Peery MZ. Disease‐related population declines in bats demonstrate non‐exchangeability in generalist predators. Ecology and Evolution. 2022 Jun;12(6):e8978.
Wray AK, Peery MZ, Jusino MA, Kochanski JM, Banik MT, Palmer JM, Lindner DL, Gratton C. Predator preferences shape the diets of arthropodivorous bats more than quantitative local prey abundance. Molecular Ecology. 2021 Feb;30(3):855-73.
Wray AK, Jusino MA, Banik MT, Palmer JM, Kaarakka H, White JP, Lindner DL, Gratton C, Peery MZ. Incidence and taxonomic richness of mosquitoes in the diets of little brown and big brown bats. Journal of Mammalogy. 2018 Jun 1;99(3):668-74.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

hundreds of bats flying together against a black background

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)

Bats are essential contributing members of healthy, functioning ecosystems. They perform numerous ecosystem services like insect pest control and plant pollination, and provide enormous economic benefits through ecotourism, medical research, and novel biotechnologies. North American bats face unprecedented threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, white-nose syndrome, and wind energy...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)

Bats are essential contributing members of healthy, functioning ecosystems. They perform numerous ecosystem services like insect pest control and plant pollination, and provide enormous economic benefits through ecotourism, medical research, and novel biotechnologies. North American bats face unprecedented threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, white-nose syndrome, and wind energy...
Learn More

Years since implementation of U.S. Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) vegetation management activities for bat habitat Years since implementation of U.S. Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) vegetation management activities for bat habitat

This data release contains the spatial raster outputs, R code, and lookup table from a synthesis of U.S. Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) vegetation management activities hypothesized to influence bat habitat. The included raster data cover the continental United States and represent the number of years that have passed since a given management action was implemented...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) OneHealth (ver. 2.0, June 2025) North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) OneHealth (ver. 2.0, June 2025)

This dataset documents the results of large-scale surveillance efforts to assess coronavirus prevalence in North American bats. Wildlife monitoring is critical for establishing disease baselines and identifying key factors that inform conservation strategies aimed at reducing pathogen exposure among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Reports of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging wildlife in...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program Knitted Grid and Multi-scale Grid Covariates North American Bat Monitoring Program Knitted Grid and Multi-scale Grid Covariates

This data release contains spatial and tabular products that provide a multi-scale, continuous North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) master sample grid surface and a suite of ecologically-relevant covariates. This continuous surface, called the "knitted grid," is a combination of 5 kilometer (km), 10km, and 50km master sample grids for the Contiguous United States (CONUS), Alaska...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) Predicted Northern Long-Eared Bat Occupancy Probabilities North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) Predicted Northern Long-Eared Bat Occupancy Probabilities

These data contain the results from the North American Bat Monitoring Program's (NABat) species distribution model (SDM) for the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). The provided tabular data includes predictions (with upper and lower confidence intervals) for northern long-eared bat occupancy probabilities (which represent the probability of presence) based on data from the...
By
Fort Collins Science Center
screenshot of the first slide of a video screenshot of the first slide of a video
Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login
screenshot of the first slide of a video

Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login

Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login

The North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package can be used to extract and summarize data from NABat projects and data requests. This video tutorial provides a brief overview of how to get started with the NABat R package, including how to download the package as well as how to log in using partner portal credentials. 

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center
screenshot of the first slide of a video

Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login

Getting started with nabatr: package download & a new way to login

The North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package can be used to extract and summarize data from NABat projects and data requests. This video tutorial provides a brief overview of how to get started with the NABat R package, including how to download the package as well as how to log in using partner portal credentials. 

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package (version 1.2.2) North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package (version 1.2.2)

The North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package can be used to extract and upload data to the NABat Monitoring Program through the GQL API. This software is written as a wrapper around the NABat GQL API. Documentation for the database and API can be found at https://sciencebase.usgs.gov/. This code includes the ability to reformat NABat data, upload NABat data...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package (Version 1.1.0) North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package (Version 1.1.0)

The North American Bat Monitoring Program: R Data Connection Package can be used to extract and upload data to the NABat Monitoring Program through the GQL API. This software is written as a wrapper around the NABat GQL API. Documentation for the database and API can be found at https://sciencebase.usgs.gov/. This code includes the ability to reformat NABat data, upload NABat data...
By
Fort Collins Science Center
FORT scientists host interactive training on bat monitoring data management and analysis

FORT scientists host interactive training on bat monitoring data management and analysis

USGS FORT staff with the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) held an in-person workshop to train potential users of the NABat Partner Portal...

Read Article
FORT scientists present research at the 31st Conference of the North American Invasive Species Management Association in Lincoln, Nebraska

FORT scientists present research at the 31st Conference of the North American Invasive Species Management Association in Lincoln, Nebraska

From October 16-19, 2023, FORT scientists will present their research on invasive species management in North America through conference talks...

Read Article
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