Kurt J Jenkins
I am a Scientist Emeritus at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center. My research focuses on wildlife ecology, monitoring, and management.
I study mammalian ecology and wildlife-habitat relationships. My personal interests include outdoor activities, my family, reading biographies and history, and traveling.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Wildlife Ecology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID (1985)
M.S., Wildlife Ecology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (1980)
B.S., Zoology, University of California, Davis, CA (1977)
Science and Products
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Landbird population trends in mountain and historical parks of the North Coast and Cascades Network: 2005–2016 synthesis
Terrestrial fauna are agents and endpoints in ecosystem restoration following dam removal
Reply to ‘Wolf-triggered trophic cascades and stream channel dynamics in Olympic National Park: a comment on East et al. (2017)’ by Robert Beschta and William Ripple
Development of a robust analytical framework for assessing landbird trends, dynamics and relationships with environmental covariates in the North Coast and Cascades Network
Recent stability of resident and migratory landbird populations in National Parks of the Pacific Northwest
Interagency Pacific marten (Martes caurina) distribution study on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Mountain goat abundance and population trends in the Olympic Mountains, northwestern Washington, 2016
Evaluation of fisher (Pekania pennanti) restoration in Olympic National Park and the Olympic Recovery Area: 2015 final annual progress report
With the translocation and release of 90 fishers (Pekania pennanti) from British Columbia to Olympic National Park during 2008–2010, the National Park Service (NPS) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) accomplished the first phase of fisher restoration in Washington State. Beginning in 2013, we initiated a new research project to determine the current status of fishers on Washingt
Channel-planform evolution in four rivers of Olympic National Park, Washington, U.S.A.: The roles of physical drivers and trophic cascades
Landscape-scale habitat selection by fishers translocated to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington
Timing of translocation influences birth rate and population dynamics in a forest carnivore
Evaluation of fisher (Pekania pennanti) restoration in Olympic National Park and the Olympic Recovery Area: 2014 annual progress report
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
- Publications
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 62Landbird population trends in mountain and historical parks of the North Coast and Cascades Network: 2005–2016 synthesis
Long-term monitoring of landbird populations within the National Park Service (NPS) North Coast and Cascades Inventory and Monitoring Network (NCCN) began in 2005, with the goal of detecting trends to inform the conservation and management of landbirds and their habitats. Here we use 2005–2016 data from over 3500 point-count stations to report landbird occurrence and trends in each of five NCCN paAuthorsChris Ray, James F. Saracco, Mandy Holmgren, Robert L. Wilkerson, Rodney B. Siegel, Kurt J. Jenkins, Jason I. Ransom, Patricia J. Happe, John R. Boetsch, Mark H. HuffTerrestrial fauna are agents and endpoints in ecosystem restoration following dam removal
Dam removal is an effective and increasingly applied river restoration strategy. This has led to heightened calls for research and monitoring aimed at understanding physical and ecological outcomes following dam removal. While such research programs have increased, roles of terrestrial fauna in the restoration process remain poorly understood, although wildlife and invertebrate fauna are key compoAuthorsRebecca McCaffery, John P. McLaughlin, Kim Sager-Fradkin, Kurt J. JenkinsReply to ‘Wolf-triggered trophic cascades and stream channel dynamics in Olympic National Park: a comment on East et al. (2017)’ by Robert Beschta and William Ripple
No abstract available.AuthorsAmy E. East, Kurt J. Jenkins, Patricia J. Happe, Jennifer A. Bountry, Timothy J. Beechie, Mark C. Mastin, Joel B. Sankey, Timothy J. RandleDevelopment of a robust analytical framework for assessing landbird trends, dynamics and relationships with environmental covariates in the North Coast and Cascades Network
During 2015-2016, we completed development of a new analytical framework for landbird population monitoring data from the National Park Service (NPS) North Coast and Cascades Inventory and Monitoring Network (NCCN). This new tool for analysis combines several recent advances in modeling population status and trends using point-count data and is designed to supersede the approach previously slatedAuthorsChris Ray, James Saracco, Kurt J. Jenkins, Mark Huff, Patricia J. Happe, Jason I. RansomRecent stability of resident and migratory landbird populations in National Parks of the Pacific Northwest
Monitoring species in National Parks facilitates inference regarding effects of climate change on population dynamics because parks are relatively unaffected by other forms of anthropogenic disturbance. Even at early points in a monitoring program, identifying climate covariates of population density can suggest vulnerabilities to future change. Monitoring landbird populations in parks during theAuthorsChris Ray, James Saracco, Mandy Holmgren, Robert Wilkerson, Rodney Siegel, Kurt J. Jenkins, Jason I. Ransom, Patricia J. Happe, John Boetsch, Mark HuffInteragency Pacific marten (Martes caurina) distribution study on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington
The objective of this study was to determine if the Pacific marten (Martes caurina) still occurs on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. We reviewed recent records of marten observations on the Olympic Peninsula since 1998, and conducted new surveys in undersampled regions of the Olympic Peninsula during summer, 2016. We reviewed evidence of fisher presence from 6 previously reported studAuthorsKatie Moriarty, Betsy Howell, Connor Morozumi, Patti Happe, Kurt J. Jenkins, Keith B. AubryMountain goat abundance and population trends in the Olympic Mountains, northwestern Washington, 2016
Executive SummaryWe estimated abundance and trends of non-native mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in the Olympic Mountains of northwestern Washington, based on aerial surveys conducted during July 13–24, 2016. The surveys produced the seventh population estimate since the first formal aerial surveys were conducted in 1983. This was the second population estimate since we adjusted survey area bAuthorsKurt J. Jenkins, Patricia J. Happe, Katherine F. Beirne, William T. BaccusEvaluation of fisher (Pekania pennanti) restoration in Olympic National Park and the Olympic Recovery Area: 2015 final annual progress report
With the translocation and release of 90 fishers (Pekania pennanti) from British Columbia to Olympic National Park during 2008–2010, the National Park Service (NPS) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) accomplished the first phase of fisher restoration in Washington State. Beginning in 2013, we initiated a new research project to determine the current status of fishers on Washingt
AuthorsPatricia J. Happe, Kurt J. Jenkins, Thomas J. Kay, Kristie Pilgrim, Michael K. Schwartz, Jeffrey C. Lewis, Keith B. AubryChannel-planform evolution in four rivers of Olympic National Park, Washington, U.S.A.: The roles of physical drivers and trophic cascades
Identifying the relative contributions of physical and ecological processes to channel evolution remains a substantial challenge in fluvial geomorphology. We use a 74-year aerial photographic record of the Hoh, Queets, Quinault, and Elwha Rivers, Olympic National Park, Washington, U.S.A., to investigate whether physical or trophic-cascade-driven ecological factors—excessive elk impacts after wolveAuthorsAmy E. East, Kurt J. Jenkins, Patricia J. Happe, Jennifer A. Bountry, Timothy J. Beechie, Mark C. Mastin, Joel B. Sankey, Timothy J. RandleLandscape-scale habitat selection by fishers translocated to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington
The fisher was extirpated from much of the Pacific Northwestern United States during the mid- to late-1900s and is now proposed for federal listing as a threatened species in all or part of its west coast range. Following the translocation of 90 fishers from central British Columbia, Canada, to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State from 2008 to 2010, we investigated the landscape-scale habitatAuthorsJeffrey C. Lewis, Kurt J. Jenkins, Patricia J. Happe, David J. Manson, Marc McCalmonTiming of translocation influences birth rate and population dynamics in a forest carnivore
Timing can be critical for many life history events of organisms. Consequently, the timing of management activities may affect individuals and populations in numerous and unforeseen ways. Translocations of organisms are used to restore or expand populations but the timing of translocations is largely unexplored as a factor influencing population success. We hypothesized that the process of transloAuthorsAaron N Facka, Jeffrey C. Lewis, Patricia Happe, Kurt J. Jenkins, Richard Callas, Roger A. PowellEvaluation of fisher (Pekania pennanti) restoration in Olympic National Park and the Olympic Recovery Area: 2014 annual progress report
With the translocation and release of 90 fishers (Pekania pennanti) from British Columbia to Olympic National Park during 2008–2010, the National Park Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife accomplished the first phase of fisher restoration in Washington State. Beginning in 2013, we initiated a new research project to determine the current status of fishers on Washington’s OlympicAuthorsPatricia J. Happe, Kurt J. Jenkins, Thomas J. Kay, Kristy L. Pilgrim, Michael K. Schwartz, Jeffrey C. Lewis, Keith B. AubryNon-USGS Publications**
Jenkins, K.J., Starkey, E.E., 1996, Simulating secondary succession of elk forage values in a managed forest landscape, western Washington: Environmental Management, v. 20, no. 5, p. 715-724.Jenkins, K.J., 1995, The Mentasta caribou herd InLaRoe, E.T., Farris, G.S., Puckett, C.E., Doran, P.D., Mac, M.J., eds., Our Living Resources: A Report to the Nation on the Distribution, Abundance, and Health of U.S. Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems: Washington DC, US National Park Service, National Biological Service, p. 357-358.Jenkins, K.J., Starkey, E.E., 1993, Winter forages and diets of elk in old-growth and regenerating coniferous forests in western Washington: American Midland Naturalist, v. 130, no. 2, p. 299-313.Easterly, T.G., Jenkins, K.J., McCabe, T.R., 1992, Efficacy of orally administered ivermectin on lungworm infection in free ranging bighorn sheep: Wildlife Society Bulletin, v. 20, p. 34-39.Jenkins, K.J., Starkey, E.E., 1991, Food habits of Roosevelt elk: Rangelands, v. 13, no. 6, p. 261-265.Easterly, T.G., Jenkins, K.J., 1991, Forage production and use on bighorn sheep winter range following spring burning in grassland and ponderosa pine habitats: Prairie Naturalist, v. 23, no. 4, p. 193-200.Jenkins, K.J., Happe, P.J., Wright, R.G., 1990, Evaluating above-snow browse availability using nonlinear regressions: Wildlife Society Bulletin, v. 18, p. 49-55.Jenkins, K.J., Wright, R.G., 1988, Resource partitioning and competition among cervids in the northern rocky mountains: Journal of Applied Ecology, v. 25, p. 11-24.Jenkins, K.J., Wright, R.G., 1987, Dietary niche relationships among cervids relative to winter snowpack in northwestern Montana: Canadian Journal of Zoology, v. 65, p. 1397-1401, https://doi.org/10.1139/z87-220.Jenkins, K.J., Wright, R.G., 1987, Simulating succession of riparian spruce forests and white-tailed deer carrying capacity in northwestern Montana: Western Journal of Applied Forestry, v. 2, no. 3, p. 80-83.Leslie, D.M., Jenkins, K.J., 1985, Rutting mortality among male roosevelt elk: Journal of Mammalogy, v. 66, no. 1, p. 163-164.Jenkins, K.J., Starkey, E.E., 1984, Habitat use by Roosevelt elk in unmanaged forests of the Hoh Valley, Washington: Journal of Wildlife Management, v. 48, no. 2, p. 642-646, https://doi.org/10.2307/3801209.Jenkins, K.J., Starkey, E.E., 1982, Social organization of Roosevelt elk in an old-growth forest: Journal of Mammalogy, v. 63, p. 331-334.**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.
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