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
Black-footed ferret digging activity in summer
Deltamethrin flea-control preserves genetic variability of black-tailed prairie dogs during a plague outbreak
Recommended methods for range-wide monitoring of prairie dogs in the United States
Black-footed ferret areas of activity during late summer and fall at Meeteetse, Wyoming
Landscape features influence postrelease predation on endangered black-footed ferrets
Black-footed ferrets and Siberian polecats as ecological surrogates and ecological equivalents
Environmental enrichment affects adrenocortical stress responses in the endangered black-footed ferret
Interface between black-footed ferret research and operational conservation
Evaluation of a black-footed ferret resource utilization function model
Postbreeding resource selection by adult black-footed ferrets in the Conata Basin, South Dakota
Movements and survival of black-footed ferrets associated with an experimental translocation in South Dakota
Mortality of Siberian polecats and black-footed ferrets released onto prairie dog colonies
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 119
Black-footed ferret digging activity in summer
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) excavate soil from prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) burrows, thereby creating characteristic soil deposits at burrow openings. These soil deposits have been observed only rarely in summer. We monitored adult ferrets during June–October of the years 2007 and 2008 on a 452-ha colony of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in the Conata Basin, South DakotAuthorsDavid A. Eads, Dean E. Biggins, Dustin Marsh, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Travis M. LivieriDeltamethrin flea-control preserves genetic variability of black-tailed prairie dogs during a plague outbreak
Genetic variability and structure of nine black-tailed prairie dog (BTPD, Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies were estimated with 15 unlinked microsatellite markers. A plague epizootic occurred between the first and second years of sampling and our study colonies were nearly extirpated with the exception of three colonies in which prairie dog burrows were previously dusted with an insecticide, deltametAuthorsP.H. Jones, Dean E. Biggins, David Eads, S.L. Eads, H.B. BrittenRecommended methods for range-wide monitoring of prairie dogs in the United States
One of the greatest challenges for conserving grassland, prairie scrub, and shrub-steppe ecosystems is maintaining prairie dog populations across the landscape. Of the four species of prairie dogs found in the United States, the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) is listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened, the Gunnison's prairie dog (C. gunnisoni) is a candidate for listing iAuthorsLyman L. McDonald, Thomas R. Stanley, David L. Otis, Dean E. Biggins, Patricia D. Stevens, John L. Koprowski, Warren BallardBlack-footed ferret areas of activity during late summer and fall at Meeteetse, Wyoming
Radiotelemetry was used during 1983 and 1984 to collect information on short-term areas of activity for black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) near Meeteetse, Wyoming. This population ultimately provided ferrets for the captive-breeding program that bred and released offspring into the wild since 1991. We fitted 5 adult ferrets and 13 juveniles with radiotransmitters and followed their movementsAuthorsK.A. Fagerstone, D.E. BigginsLandscape features influence postrelease predation on endangered black-footed ferrets
Predation can be a critical factor influencing recovery of endangered species. In most recovery efforts lethal and nonlethal influences of predators are not sufficiently understood to allow prediction of predation risk, despite its importance. We investigated whether landscape features could be used to model predation risk from coyotes (Canis latrans) and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) on thAuthorsS.A. Poessel, S.W. Breck, D.E. Biggins, T.M. Livieri, K.R. Crooks, L. AngeloniBlack-footed ferrets and Siberian polecats as ecological surrogates and ecological equivalents
Ecologically equivalent species serve similar functions in different communities, and an ecological surrogate species can be used as a substitute for an equivalent species in a community. Siberian polecats (Mustela eversmanii) and black-footed ferrets (M. nigripes) have long been considered ecological equivalents. Polecats also have been used as investigational surrogates for black-footed ferrets,AuthorsD.E. Biggins, L.R. Hanebury, B.J. Miller, R. A. PowellEnvironmental enrichment affects adrenocortical stress responses in the endangered black-footed ferret
Potential stressors of wildlife living in captivity, such as artificial living conditions and frequent human contact, may lead to a higher occurrence of disease and reduced reproductive function. One successful method used by wildlife managers to improve general well-being is the provision of environmental enrichment, which is the practice of providing animals under managed care with environmentalAuthorsS.A. Poessel, Dean E. Biggins, R.M. Santymire, T.M. Livieri, K.R. Crooks, L. AngeloniInterface between black-footed ferret research and operational conservation
Questions and problems that emerged during operational conservation of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) have been addressed by a wide variety of studies. Early results from such studies often were communicated orally during meetings of recovery groups and in written form using memoranda, unpublished reports, and theses. Typically, implementation of results preceded their publication in wideAuthorsDean E. Biggins, Travis M. Livieri, Stewart W. BreckEvaluation of a black-footed ferret resource utilization function model
Resource utilization function (RUF) models permit evaluation of potential habitat for endangered species; ideally such models should be evaluated before use in management decision‐making. We evaluated the predictive capabilities of a previously developed black‐footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) RUF. Using the population‐level RUF, generated from ferret observations at an adjacent yet distinct colonyAuthorsD.A. Eads, J.J. Millspaugh, Dean E. Biggins, D.S. Jachowski, T.M. LivieriPostbreeding resource selection by adult black-footed ferrets in the Conata Basin, South Dakota
We investigated postbreeding resource selection by adult black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) on a 452-ha black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony in the Conata Basin of South Dakota during 2007–2008. We used resource selection functions (RSFs) to evaluate relationships between numbers of ferret locations and numbers of prairie dog burrow openings (total or active), distances to cAuthorsD.A. Eads, J.J. Millspaugh, D.E. Biggins, T.M. Livieri, D.S. JachowskiMovements and survival of black-footed ferrets associated with an experimental translocation in South Dakota
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) apparently were extirpated from all native habitats by 1987, and their repatriation requires a combination of captive breeding, reintroductions, and translocations among sites. Improvements in survival rates of released ferrets have resulted from experience in quasi-natural environments during their rearing. Reestablishment of a self-sustaining wild populatiAuthorsD.E. Biggins, J.L. Godbey, B.M. Horton, T.M. LivieriMortality of Siberian polecats and black-footed ferrets released onto prairie dog colonies
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) likely were extirpated from the wild in 1985–1986, and their repatriation depends on captive breeding and reintroduction. Postrelease survival of animals can be affected by behavioral changes induced by captivity. We released neutered Siberian polecats (M. eversmanii), close relatives of ferrets, in 1989–1990 on black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianusAuthorsD.E. Biggins, B.J. Miller, L.R. Hanebury, R. A. Powell
*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