Lynx Staff
Dr. John R. Squires is a research wildlife biologist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station, Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecosystem Program, located in Missoula, Montana. I lead a research team that is responsible for discovering and synthesizing information that is needed to conserve threatened, endangered, and sensitive forest carnivores throughout the Rocky Mountains. My research program focuses primarily on the management and conservation of Canada lynx and wolverines. I enjoy the challenge of studying species like lynx and wolverines that are rare, secretive and that have important conservation needs. Lynx and wolverine are highly mobile and depend on broad landscapes to meet their resource needs. Thus, I study a diversity of ecological issues that requires collaborations with individuals from many different agencies and organizations. The topics that we research include: multi-scale evaluations of resource selection; forest carnivore movements and connectivity across broad landscapes; factors affecting population viability; the effects of forest management, recreation and other human-induced impacts on species persistence; developing detection and monitoring methods for forest carnivores; and determining the effects of climate change on lynx and wolverine. We have researched lynx ecology in western Montana since 1998 and the Northern Rockies Lynx Study has been on-going for over a decade. The new understandings that we develop are based primarily on research conducted in the field. We use state-of-the-art methods when researching forest carnivores that include: GPS telemetry, conservation genetics, and rigorous field sampling and monitoring. I also maintain a life-long interest in raptor management and conservation, especially in regards to northern goshawks. The research topics that I currently study include: 1) Seasonal changes in resource use of Canada lynx; 2) Canada lynx movements and connectivity in the north-central Rockies; 3) Canada lynx population viability in the northern Rockies; 4) Determining Canada lynx response to winter recreation in Colorado; 5) Determining the response of wolverines to winter recreation in Idaho; and 6) Determining how oil and gas development affects ferruginous hawks in Wyoming based on GPS telemetry and conservation genetics.
Contact: jsquires@fs.fed.us
Education- 1991, Ph. D., University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY; Department of Zoology
- 1986, M. S., University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY; Department of Zoology
- 1979, B.S., Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; School of Forestry - Wildlife Biology
Nicholas J. DeCesare is currently a PhD candidate in the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana. After completing an MS study of bighorn sheep resource selection at UM in 2002, Nick worked with John Squires and the USFS-RMRS in conducting field work, GIS data processing, and statistical analysis to aid the lynx ecology program during 2002-2007. Since 2007, he has been working towards a PhD studying threatened woodland caribou, wolves and other ungulate prey in the Canadian Rockies. Specifically Nick is combining the spatial modeling of resource selection, predation efficiency, survival probability, and ultimately population viability to address the predator-mediated links between habitat fragmentation and caribou declines. Generally, Nick is most interested in applied wildlife research, using community-minded approaches to address species-specific questions in real-world management and conservation. When not in the field or in the office, Nick enjoys time spent with good music, food, friends and family.
Education- 2000 BA Environmental Science Northwestern University
- 2000 BM Classical Guitar Performance Northwestern University
- 2002 MS Wildlife Biology University of Montana
Jay Kolbe earned both his BSc. and MSc. in wildlife biology from the University of Montana, Missoula. He worked for the US Forest Service and other agencies conducting field research on raptors, small mammals, passerines, coyotes, forest carnivores, and other species from 1992 to 2005. Jay worked for the Rocky Mountain Research Station as a crew leader for the Northern Rockies Lynx Study from 1997-2006. Since then he has served as Montana Dept. of Fish Wildlife & Parkss Blackfoot Valley area wildlife biologist.
Publications- Squires, J. R., N. J. DeCesare, J. A. Kolbe, and L. F. Ruggiero. 2008. Hierarchical Den Selection of Canada Lynx in Western Montana. Journal of Wildlife Management. 72 (7):14971506.
- Kolbe, J. A., J. R. Squires. 2007. Circadian activity patterns of Canada lynx in western Montana. Journal of Wildlife Management. 71(5):16071611
- Kolbe, J. A., J. R. Squires, D. H. Pletscher, and L. F. Ruggiero. 2007. The effect of snowmobile trails on coyote movements within lynx home ranges. Journal of Wildlife Management. 71(5):14091418.
- Kolbe, J. A., and J. R. Squires. 2006. A longevity record for Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis, in western Montana. Western North American Naturalist. 66(4): 535536.
- Squires, J. R., L. F. Ruggiero, J. A. Kolbe, N. J. DeCesare. 2006. Lynx ecology in the intermountain West. USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT, 51pp.
- DeCesare, N. J., J. R. Squires, and J. A. Kolbe. 2005. Effect of forest canopy on GPS-based movement data. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33(3):935-941
- Kolbe, J. A., and J.R. Squires. 2004. Long distance movement by a coyote within the Rocky Mountains. Northwest Science 78(4):344-345.
- Kolbe, J. A., J. R. Squires, and T. W. Parker. 2003. An effective box trap for capturing lynx. Wildlife Society Bulletin 31:980-985.