Researchers at the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center and their partners place thermal remote cameras near deer and elk carcasses in Yellowstone National Park to capture images of wolves with mange feeding in the wild.
Paul Cross, Ph.D.
My research focuses on applied wildlife disease, conservation and management issues around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Research Interests
I try to integrate multiple different scientific fields, but my specific background is in field ecology, behavior and mathematical modeling. There are two central themes in my research: (1) the integration of empirical data and mathematical modeling, and (2) the effects of host behavior on disease dynamics. Currently, my research focuses on brucellosis, chronic wasting disease, canine distemper and sarcoptic mange.
Professional Experience
Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 2005-present.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. 2005. University of California, Berkeley
B.A. Environmental Science. 1998. University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Science and Products
COVID-19 Pathways and Wildlife Dynamics
Evaluating Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease in the Environment
USGS Chronic Wasting Disease Research at NOROCK
Quantitative Disease Ecology
Moose and Winter Ticks in Western Wyoming
Impacts of Disease on Wolves in Yellowstone National Park
Pneumonia in Bighorn Sheep
Brucellosis
NOROCK Large Carnivore Research Program
COMPLETED: Using thermal imagery to assess wolf hairloss from sarcoptic mange
Blacklegged tick nymph densities, tickborne pathogen prevalence, and white-tailed deer densities in eight national parks in the eastern United States from 2014-2022
Remotely sensed elk locations on the National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, 2017-2019
Time to removal of fetal materials by scavengers in SW Montana 2017 - 2018
Soil sample locations for chronic wasting disease prion surveillance in Grand Teton National Park and National Elk Refuge 2019
Annual winter elk movements in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem 2001-2015
Canine distemper virus antibody titer results for grizzly bears and wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem 1984-2014
Elk GPS collar data from National Elk Refuge (2006-2015)
Elk movement and predicted number of brucellosis-induced abortion events in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (1993-2015)
Researchers at the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center and their partners place thermal remote cameras near deer and elk carcasses in Yellowstone National Park to capture images of wolves with mange feeding in the wild.
Elk congregate on the Camp Creek Feed Ground in northwestern Wyoming.
Elk congregate on the Camp Creek Feed Ground in northwestern Wyoming.
In the Rocky Mountain West, people and wildlife inhabit many of the same areas and USGS scientists are studying wildlife diseases, such as brucellosis in elk and bison, and how these diseases are transmitted between domestic and non-domestic hosts.
In the Rocky Mountain West, people and wildlife inhabit many of the same areas and USGS scientists are studying wildlife diseases, such as brucellosis in elk and bison, and how these diseases are transmitted between domestic and non-domestic hosts.
Chronic wasting disease alters the movement behavior and habitat use of mule deer during clinical stages of infection
Warm places, warm years, and warm seasons increase parasitizing of moose by winter ticks
Deer management generally reduces densities of nymphal Ixodes scapularis, but not prevalence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto
Evaluating management alternatives for Wyoming elk feedgrounds in consideration of chronic wasting disease
Executive SummaryThe authors used decision and modeling analyses to evaluate management alternatives for a decision on whether to permit Cervus canadensis (elk) feeding on two sites on Bridger-Teton National Forest, Dell Creek and Forest Park. Supplemental feeding of elk could increase the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) locally and disease spread regionally, potentially impacting el
Evaluating noninvasive methods for estimating cestode prevalence in a wild carnivore population
Disease outbreaks select for mate choice and coat color in wolves
Defining an epidemiological landscape that connects movement ecology to pathogen transmission and pace-of-life
Eyes on the herd: Quantifying ungulate density from satellite, unmanned aerial systems, and GPScollar data
Epidemiological differences between sexes affect management efficacy in simulated chronic wasting disease systems
Population structure, intergroup interaction, and human contact govern infectious disease impacts in mountain gorilla populations
Examination of the interaction between age-specific predation and chronic disease in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Disease and secondary sexual traits: Effects of pneumonia on horn size of bighorn sheep
CWD Simulation App
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal disease of deer, elk, and moose transmitted through direct contact and via environmental contamination. This software provide tools to simulate CWD and harvest management scenarios. These models were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
Chronic Wasting Disease Modeling for Bridger Teton National Forest Structured Decision Making (cwd-btnf-sdm-v2)
Simulating chronic wasting disease on Wyoming elk feedgrounds RETRACTED see cwd-btnf-sdm-v2
CWDsims version v0.2.2
Bighorn Sheep Risk of Contact Tool
Science and Products
COVID-19 Pathways and Wildlife Dynamics
Evaluating Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease in the Environment
USGS Chronic Wasting Disease Research at NOROCK
Quantitative Disease Ecology
Moose and Winter Ticks in Western Wyoming
Impacts of Disease on Wolves in Yellowstone National Park
Pneumonia in Bighorn Sheep
Brucellosis
NOROCK Large Carnivore Research Program
COMPLETED: Using thermal imagery to assess wolf hairloss from sarcoptic mange
Blacklegged tick nymph densities, tickborne pathogen prevalence, and white-tailed deer densities in eight national parks in the eastern United States from 2014-2022
Remotely sensed elk locations on the National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, 2017-2019
Time to removal of fetal materials by scavengers in SW Montana 2017 - 2018
Soil sample locations for chronic wasting disease prion surveillance in Grand Teton National Park and National Elk Refuge 2019
Annual winter elk movements in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem 2001-2015
Canine distemper virus antibody titer results for grizzly bears and wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem 1984-2014
Elk GPS collar data from National Elk Refuge (2006-2015)
Elk movement and predicted number of brucellosis-induced abortion events in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (1993-2015)
Researchers at the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center and their partners place thermal remote cameras near deer and elk carcasses in Yellowstone National Park to capture images of wolves with mange feeding in the wild.
Researchers at the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center and their partners place thermal remote cameras near deer and elk carcasses in Yellowstone National Park to capture images of wolves with mange feeding in the wild.
Elk congregate on the Camp Creek Feed Ground in northwestern Wyoming.
Elk congregate on the Camp Creek Feed Ground in northwestern Wyoming.
In the Rocky Mountain West, people and wildlife inhabit many of the same areas and USGS scientists are studying wildlife diseases, such as brucellosis in elk and bison, and how these diseases are transmitted between domestic and non-domestic hosts.
In the Rocky Mountain West, people and wildlife inhabit many of the same areas and USGS scientists are studying wildlife diseases, such as brucellosis in elk and bison, and how these diseases are transmitted between domestic and non-domestic hosts.
Chronic wasting disease alters the movement behavior and habitat use of mule deer during clinical stages of infection
Warm places, warm years, and warm seasons increase parasitizing of moose by winter ticks
Deer management generally reduces densities of nymphal Ixodes scapularis, but not prevalence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto
Evaluating management alternatives for Wyoming elk feedgrounds in consideration of chronic wasting disease
Executive SummaryThe authors used decision and modeling analyses to evaluate management alternatives for a decision on whether to permit Cervus canadensis (elk) feeding on two sites on Bridger-Teton National Forest, Dell Creek and Forest Park. Supplemental feeding of elk could increase the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) locally and disease spread regionally, potentially impacting el
Evaluating noninvasive methods for estimating cestode prevalence in a wild carnivore population
Disease outbreaks select for mate choice and coat color in wolves
Defining an epidemiological landscape that connects movement ecology to pathogen transmission and pace-of-life
Eyes on the herd: Quantifying ungulate density from satellite, unmanned aerial systems, and GPScollar data
Epidemiological differences between sexes affect management efficacy in simulated chronic wasting disease systems
Population structure, intergroup interaction, and human contact govern infectious disease impacts in mountain gorilla populations
Examination of the interaction between age-specific predation and chronic disease in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Disease and secondary sexual traits: Effects of pneumonia on horn size of bighorn sheep
CWD Simulation App
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal disease of deer, elk, and moose transmitted through direct contact and via environmental contamination. This software provide tools to simulate CWD and harvest management scenarios. These models were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.