Associate Professor of Wildlife Management & Wildlife Extension Specialist I was born and raised on the Ft. Peck Sioux and Assiniboine Reservation of rural northeastern Montana. I received my A.S. from Dawson Community College in Glendive Montana, and then my B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana in 2009 and 2012, respectively. My M.S. focused on the conservation implications of bison reintroduction in central Montana and southern Saskatchewan. I obtained my Ph.D. in Ecology (2019) from Utah State University where I examined the behavioral response of elk to wolf and cougar predation risk in Yellowstone National Park. Over my career I have published over 30 journal articles and book chapters focusing on topics ranging from game bird management and predator-prey relationships to large mammal conservation and diversity and inclusion efforts. Awards, Honors and Recognitions: 2024-2026: President - Georgia Chapter of The Wildlife Society2024 The Wildlife Society Fellow2023 Alumni Association Faculty Award for Outreach2023 First-Year Odyssey Teaching Award2022 Faculty Award for Early Career Teaching Education Education: Ph.D., Ecology [Wildlife Emphasis], Utah State University 2019 M.S. Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, 2012 B.S. Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, 2008 A.S. Honors, Dawson Community College, 2006 Research Selected Publications: Below are a select list of recent papers from our lab group in 2024. You can find a full list of my papers, all of which, can be download for free on my personal webpage (link below). 2024 Kohl, M. T., C. P. Sandford, D. K. Dahlgren, P. C. Rogers, M. R. Guttery, R. Chi, and T. A. Messmer. 2024. Undeterred: the benefits of aspen as surrogate brooding habitat for Greater sage-grouse. Ecosphere 15(12). Rimple, R. J.^, M. T. Kohl, K. A Buhlmann, B. M. Shamblin, and O. E. Rhodes and T. D. Tuberville. 2024. Successful post-translocation reproduction and genetic integration of eastern box turtles. Biological Conservation 31(sp12). Richter, C. J.^, M. T. Kohl, B. D. Todd, K. A. Buhlman, and T. D. Tuberville. 2024. Factors influencing risk of predation by subsidized predators on juvenile Mojave desert tortoises. Global Ecology and Conservation 55:e03220. Gilbert, J. H., & M. T. Kohl. 2024. Indigenous research and co-stewardship of wildlife. Journal of Wildlife Management 88:e22625. Rimple, R. J.^, M. T. Kohl, K. A Buhlmann, and T. D. Tuberville. 2024. Translocation of long-term captive eastern box turtles and the efficacy of soft-release: implications for turtle confiscations. In Special Issue on Biology & Conservation of Emydine Turtles, Northeastern Naturalist 31:T37-T54. Kring, E., D. E. Stallknect, G. D’Angelo, M. T. Kohl, C. Bahnson, C. A. Cleveland, L. M. Salvador, and M. G. Ruder. 2024. Understanding patterns of hemorrhagic disease in deer in the Great Plains of the United States, 1982-2020. Journal of Wildlife Disease60:670-682. Burton, A. C., C. Beirner, K. Gaynor, K., C. Sun, … M. T. Kohl., et al. 2024. Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape. Nature Ecology and Evolution 8:924-935. Fidino, M., H. A. Sander, J. S. Lewis, E. W. Lehrer, K. Rivera, M. H. Murray, H. C. Adams, A. Kase, A. Flores, S. Magle, … et al. including M. T. Kohl. 2024. Gentrification drives patterns of alpha and beta diversity in cities. PNAS121:e2318596121 Kojima, V. L, M. T. Kohl, T. R. Rainwater, B. B. Parrot, and T. D. Tuberville. 2024. Association of size, climatic factors, and mercury body burdens with movement behavior in American alligators. Science of the Total Environment 921:170859 Richter, C. J., B. D. Todd, K. A. Buhlman, C. M. Candal, P. A. McGovern, M. T. Kohl., T. D. Tuberville. 2024. Effects of head-starting on multi-year space use and survival of an at-risk tortoise. Global Ecology and Conservation e02774 Labs/Centers/Committee: Outreach Faculty Area of Specialty: Ecology Service and Outreach/Extension Geographic Information Systems Ragelands Wildlife Ecology and Management Game Management Wildlife and Forest Management Research Areas: Wildlife Sciences Research Interests: My research generally focuses on wildlife spatial ecology, the fitness consequences of spatial behaviors, and the implications of those behaviors for the conservation and management of wildlife. Under this umbrella, most of my previous research has focused on developing a better understanding of wildlife-habitat relationships, as well as predator-prey relationships, for game species. For these species, I am particularly interested in research that address wildlife conservation and management questions within multi-use landscapes. Some of our current projects include studying the spatial distribution and abundance of black bears across the three Georgia populations, urban wildlife behavior and conflict in Atlanta, and the response of Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes to habitat restoration on Jekyll Island, GA. Teaching: My teaching largely focuses around upper division classes and graduate level wildlife courses. These include a graduate level course on "Wildlife Habitat and Movement Modelling" (WILD 8321). I also regularly serve as an instructor for Senior Project (FANR 4500S) in spring semesters. Outreach My outreach activities are largely driven by the needs of our stakeholder groups. This may include directed research programs or perhaps partnering with ongoing research efforts to help in the dissemination of wildlife related science. Current efforts focus around youth education, urban wildlife, black bear management in Georgia, and various human-wildlife conflict issues (e.g., black vultures). However, I also have a strong interest in education and outreach activities that bring wildlife and natural resource science to underrepresented groups. ServiceI serve as co-advisor for the UGA Chapter of The Wildlife Society Professional Memberships: The Wildlife SocietyEcological Society of America
