Dean Biggins, PhD
Dr. Biggins is a scientist emeritus at the Fort Collins Science Center.
Dr. Biggins has been interested in grassland ecology since 1981. Within that broad topic his research has involved varied themes, including aspects of behavioral ecology, predator-prey relationships, and ecology of wildlife diseases. Most of his investigations have been motivated by their application to conservation and recovery of federally listed species. In that context, Dr. Biggins has worked at field study sites from Montana to Chihuahua, Mexico, as well as in Inner Mongolia and the Tibetan Plateau. Research has involved students at various universities (in CA, CO, ID, NM, MI, MO, TX, WY, France, and China). Taxa of interest have been carnivores (e.g., black-footed ferrets, Siberian polecats, badgers, weasels, coyotes, foxes), rodents, arthropods (fleas, ticks), and bacteria (Yersinia pestis). His present research emphasis is on ecology of plague, including its hosts and vectors, concentrating on maintenance of plague and its chronic effects on wildlife populations and ecosystems during inter-epizootic periods.
Professional Experience
Scientist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey, 2019 - Present
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 2002-present
Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, 1996-2019
Research Wildlife Biologist, National Biological Service, 1993-1996
Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1976-1993
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Zoology, Colorado State University, 2000
M.S., Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, 1975
B.S., Wildlife Management, Humboldt State University, 1968
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Society of Mammalogists, 1989 to present
Honors and Awards
2012—Aldo Leopold Award, American Society of Mammalogists
2005—Science Excellence Award of the Year, USGS, Biolo
2004—Conservationist of the Year, Denver Zoological Foundation
1998—Special Recognition Award, Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team
Science and Products
Variation in torpor patterns of free-ranging black-tailed and Utah prairie dogs across gradients of elevation
Restoration of an endangered species: The black-footed ferret
Evaluation of oral and subcutaneous delivery of an experimental canarypox recombinant canine distemper vaccine in the Siberian polecate (Mustela eversmanni)
Treatment of black-tailed prairie dog burrows with deltamethrin to control fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) and plague
Challenges to reestablishment of free-ranging populations of black-footed ferrets
Basal metabolism of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) and the Siberian polecat (M. eversmannii)
Susceptibility of the Siberian polecat to subcutaneous and oral Yersinia pestis exposure
Influences of introduced plague on North American mammals: Implications from ecology of plague in Asia
Disruptions of ecosystems in western North America due to invasion by plague
Etologia aplicada al manejo de especies amenazadas: el caso del turon de patas negras (Mustela nigripes)
Influence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes)
Multi-criteria decision support system for Bureau of Reclamation reservoir operations / Theme E: multidisciplinary applications and assessment frameworks
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 120
Variation in torpor patterns of free-ranging black-tailed and Utah prairie dogs across gradients of elevation
We compared over-winter body temperature (Tb) patterns for more than 6 months in adult (> 1 year) black-tailed (Cynomys ludovicianus) and Utah (C. parvidens) prairie dogs from colonies located along gradients of elevation in northern Colorado and southern Utah. In general, black-tailed prairie dogs entered torpor facultatively during winter, whereas Utah prairie dogs hibernated continuously for exAuthorsE.M. Lehmer, D.E. BigginsRestoration of an endangered species: The black-footed ferret
No abstract available.AuthorsD.E. Biggins, B.J. Miller, T. W. Clark, R.P. ReadingEvaluation of oral and subcutaneous delivery of an experimental canarypox recombinant canine distemper vaccine in the Siberian polecate (Mustela eversmanni)
We assessed the safety and efficacy of an experimental canarypox-vectored recombinant canine distemper virus (CDV) subunit vaccine in the Siberian polecat (Mustela eversmanni), a close relative of the black-footed ferret, (M. nigripes), an endangered species that is highly susceptible to the virus. Siberian polecats were randomized into six treatment groups. Recombinant canine distemper vaccine waAuthorsJeffrey Wimsatt, Dean E. Biggins, Kim Innes, Bobbi Taylor, Della GarellTreatment of black-tailed prairie dog burrows with deltamethrin to control fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) and plague
Burrows within black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado, were dusted with deltamethrin insecticide to reduce flea (Insecta: Siphonaptera) abundance. Flea populations were monitored pre- and posttreatment by combing prairie dogs and collecting fleas from burrows. A single application of deltamethrin significantly reducAuthorsD.B. Seery, D.E. Biggins, J.A. Montenieri, R.E. Enscore, D.T. Tanda, K.L. GageChallenges to reestablishment of free-ranging populations of black-footed ferrets
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) of North America is critically endangered due in part to its extreme specialization on formerly stable and abundant prairie dogs (Cynomys). Its close relative, the Siberian polecat (M. eversmannii) seems to have been subjected to a varying environment that was not conducive to specialization. One source of environmental variation in Asian steppes was plagAuthorsD.E. Biggins, J.L. GodbeyBasal metabolism of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) and the Siberian polecat (M. eversmannii)
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) and Siberian polecats (M. eversmannii) are medium-sized (about 1 kg) mustelids with similar ecological and morphological characteristics. We measured basal metabolic rates (BMR) for both species. In contrast with the commonly stated belief that mustelids have relatively high mass-specific BMR, neither the BMR of ferrets nor that of polecats in winter was greAuthorsL.A. Harrington, D.E. Biggins, A.W. AlldredgeSusceptibility of the Siberian polecat to subcutaneous and oral Yersinia pestis exposure
To determine if the Siberian polecat (Mustela eversmannii) represents a suitable model for the study of plague pathogenesis and prevention in the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), polecats were exposed to 103, 107, or 1010 Yersinia pestis organisms by subcutaneous injection; an additional group was exposed to Y. pestis via ingestion of a plague-killed mouse. Plague killed 88% of polecats expAuthorsK.T. Castle, D. Biggins, L.G. Carter, M. Chu, Kim Innes, J. WimsattInfluences of introduced plague on North American mammals: Implications from ecology of plague in Asia
Intercontinental movements of invasive species continue to modify the world's ecosystems. The plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) has colonized and altered animal communities worldwide but has received much more attention as a human pathogen. We reviewed studies on the ecology of Y. pestis in ancient foci of central Asia and in western North America, where the bacterium apparently has become establAuthorsD.E. Biggins, M.Y. KosoyDisruptions of ecosystems in western North America due to invasion by plague
No abstract available.AuthorsD.E. Biggins, M.Y. KosoyEtologia aplicada al manejo de especies amenazadas: el caso del turon de patas negras (Mustela nigripes)
Los turones de patas negras (Mustela nigripes) son considerados como uno de los mamÃferos más amenazados del mundo. La última población silvestre fue descubierta en 1981 en Meeteetse, Wyoming, y en 1985 se extinguió debido a una epidemia de moquillo canino en combinacion con una epidemia de peste bubónica. Antes de su extinción total en la naturaleza, se lograron capturar 18 individuos para comenzAuthorsA. Vargas, D. Biggins, B. MillerInfluence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes)
Captive breeding is increasingly being used to create supplies of endangered animals for release into natural habitats, but rearing strategies vary and debates arise over which methods are most efficient. We assessed postrelease behaviors and survival of three groups of black-footed ferrets, each with different prerelease experience. Eighteen ferret kits ???60 days of age were moved with their damAuthorsD.E. Biggins, A. Vargas, J.L. Godbey, S.H. AndersonMulti-criteria decision support system for Bureau of Reclamation reservoir operations / Theme E: multidisciplinary applications and assessment frameworks
No abstract available.AuthorsZ.H. Bowen, K.D. Bovee, T. J. Waddle
*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