A young white-tailed deer standing in the woods at 1300 feet elevation. Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”), hooved animals.
Dawn Childs
I am an information specialist for USGS research ecologists located at 44 university campuses in 41 states. I enjoy creating visual interactive outreach to share the stories of Cooperative Research Units.
Professional Experience
Improve and enhance coordination with the USGS Office of Communications and Publishing to meet public affairs needs and work with cooperators and partners.
Education and Certifications
Master of Arts in Natural Resources from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Florida Atlantic University
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Affairs and Planning from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Affiliations and Memberships*
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Boone and Crockett Club
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
The Wildlife Society
Science and Products
At-a-Glance—Summary of the 2023 U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units Program Year-in-Review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2022 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program — 2021 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2020 Year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2020 research abstracts
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2019 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2019 year in review postcard
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2018 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2018 year in review postcard
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2017 year in review postcard
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2017 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units - A model partnership program
Hurricane Portfolio
Fishing and Hunting
A young white-tailed deer standing in the woods at 1300 feet elevation. Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”), hooved animals.
Illustration by Elizabeth "Lizzy" Lang, Graduate Research Assistant, Iowa State University.
Illustration by Elizabeth "Lizzy" Lang, Graduate Research Assistant, Iowa State University.
Tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
Tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
This original photograph was taken during field work for her project looking at ringtail demographics and habitat use in southwestern Oregon.
This original photograph was taken during field work for her project looking at ringtail demographics and habitat use in southwestern Oregon.
The ringtail is a small, secretive, omnivorous, nocturnal relative of the raccoon that occurs in southwestern Oregon, the most northern portion of the species range.
The ringtail is a small, secretive, omnivorous, nocturnal relative of the raccoon that occurs in southwestern Oregon, the most northern portion of the species range.

Adult tufted puffin feeds fish to a juvenile puffin. Illustration by Carina Kusaka. Permission agreement on file.
Adult tufted puffin feeds fish to a juvenile puffin. Illustration by Carina Kusaka. Permission agreement on file.
Seals swim along the Oregon Coast. Modeling animal movement through landscapes is a key component to understanding population
ecology, how populations can be managed, how human actions impact the population.
Seals swim along the Oregon Coast. Modeling animal movement through landscapes is a key component to understanding population
ecology, how populations can be managed, how human actions impact the population.

Tufted puffins are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
Tufted puffins are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
Tufted puffin flying over the Oregon Coast. The Tufted Puffin – a seabird of the North Pacific Rim – has evinced steep declines off the west coast of the continental United States in recent years, but it is less clear that the species is declining in the northern portion of its range.
Tufted puffin flying over the Oregon Coast. The Tufted Puffin – a seabird of the North Pacific Rim – has evinced steep declines off the west coast of the continental United States in recent years, but it is less clear that the species is declining in the northern portion of its range.
Lizzy Lang, graduate research assistant, Iowa State University, leads research on Blanding’s Turtle. Lizzy’s project helps decision-makers in Iowa and Illinois to make informed decisions about the endangered Blanding’s turtle.
Lizzy Lang, graduate research assistant, Iowa State University, leads research on Blanding’s Turtle. Lizzy’s project helps decision-makers in Iowa and Illinois to make informed decisions about the endangered Blanding’s turtle.
Tufted puffins are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
Tufted puffins are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.

Little is understood about the behavior, location, and habitat preferences of juvenile Gulf sturgeon. To learn more about this prehistoric fish, the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Florida, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S.
Little is understood about the behavior, location, and habitat preferences of juvenile Gulf sturgeon. To learn more about this prehistoric fish, the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Florida, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S.
Bison on Antelope Island, Utah. Utah Division of State Parks manages approximately 500-700 bison. Source: Utah Division of State Parks.
Bison on Antelope Island, Utah. Utah Division of State Parks manages approximately 500-700 bison. Source: Utah Division of State Parks.
Distribution map: distribution of chronic wasting disease in North America
Distribution map: distribution of chronic wasting disease in North America
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Abstracts at a Glance
A Model Partnership-The Cooperative Research Units Program
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units 2020 Year in Review
Science and Products
At-a-Glance—Summary of the 2023 U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units Program Year-in-Review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2022 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program — 2021 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2020 Year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2020 research abstracts
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2019 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2019 year in review postcard
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2018 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2018 year in review postcard
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2017 year in review postcard
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2017 year in review
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units - A model partnership program
Hurricane Portfolio
Fishing and Hunting
A young white-tailed deer standing in the woods at 1300 feet elevation. Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”), hooved animals.
A young white-tailed deer standing in the woods at 1300 feet elevation. Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”), hooved animals.
Illustration by Elizabeth "Lizzy" Lang, Graduate Research Assistant, Iowa State University.
Illustration by Elizabeth "Lizzy" Lang, Graduate Research Assistant, Iowa State University.
Tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
Tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
This original photograph was taken during field work for her project looking at ringtail demographics and habitat use in southwestern Oregon.
This original photograph was taken during field work for her project looking at ringtail demographics and habitat use in southwestern Oregon.
The ringtail is a small, secretive, omnivorous, nocturnal relative of the raccoon that occurs in southwestern Oregon, the most northern portion of the species range.
The ringtail is a small, secretive, omnivorous, nocturnal relative of the raccoon that occurs in southwestern Oregon, the most northern portion of the species range.

Adult tufted puffin feeds fish to a juvenile puffin. Illustration by Carina Kusaka. Permission agreement on file.
Adult tufted puffin feeds fish to a juvenile puffin. Illustration by Carina Kusaka. Permission agreement on file.
Seals swim along the Oregon Coast. Modeling animal movement through landscapes is a key component to understanding population
ecology, how populations can be managed, how human actions impact the population.
Seals swim along the Oregon Coast. Modeling animal movement through landscapes is a key component to understanding population
ecology, how populations can be managed, how human actions impact the population.

Tufted puffins are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
Tufted puffins are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
Tufted puffin flying over the Oregon Coast. The Tufted Puffin – a seabird of the North Pacific Rim – has evinced steep declines off the west coast of the continental United States in recent years, but it is less clear that the species is declining in the northern portion of its range.
Tufted puffin flying over the Oregon Coast. The Tufted Puffin – a seabird of the North Pacific Rim – has evinced steep declines off the west coast of the continental United States in recent years, but it is less clear that the species is declining in the northern portion of its range.
Lizzy Lang, graduate research assistant, Iowa State University, leads research on Blanding’s Turtle. Lizzy’s project helps decision-makers in Iowa and Illinois to make informed decisions about the endangered Blanding’s turtle.
Lizzy Lang, graduate research assistant, Iowa State University, leads research on Blanding’s Turtle. Lizzy’s project helps decision-makers in Iowa and Illinois to make informed decisions about the endangered Blanding’s turtle.
Tufted puffins are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.
Tufted puffins are an iconic species in the Pacific Northwest that provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and historically important services such as ecotourism for local communities- and bringing marine derived nutrients to terrestrial habitats.

Little is understood about the behavior, location, and habitat preferences of juvenile Gulf sturgeon. To learn more about this prehistoric fish, the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Florida, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S.
Little is understood about the behavior, location, and habitat preferences of juvenile Gulf sturgeon. To learn more about this prehistoric fish, the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Florida, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S.
Bison on Antelope Island, Utah. Utah Division of State Parks manages approximately 500-700 bison. Source: Utah Division of State Parks.
Bison on Antelope Island, Utah. Utah Division of State Parks manages approximately 500-700 bison. Source: Utah Division of State Parks.
Distribution map: distribution of chronic wasting disease in North America
Distribution map: distribution of chronic wasting disease in North America
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
Abstracts at a Glance
A Model Partnership-The Cooperative Research Units Program
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units 2020 Year in Review
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government