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
Ecology of Wildlife Disease
Species Conservation
Ecology of Plague
Effects of Soil and Colony Age on Flea Densities
Grassland Ecology and Conservation
Transmission of plague by small mammals at Badlands National Park
Data on black-tailed prairie dog body mass, distance to nearest male and female black-footed ferret, distance to nearest American badger, and reencounter from early to late summer 2005 (Montana) and 2009 (South Dakota)
Effects of deltamethrin applications on non-target small mammal populations in South Dakota, Colorado, and Idaho, 2010-2017
Data on deer mouse and vole plague vaccination and captures in central New Mexico, 2019-2021
Mean flea counts from prairie dogs and their burrows in Utah (2000), New Mexico (2010-2012), and Montana (2016, 2019)
Data on prairie dog densities, flea abundance, and plague epizootics in Montana and Utah, USA
Data on the Degree and Duration of Deltamethrin Flea Control on Prairie Dog Colonies in Montana, South Dakota, and Utah, USA
Data on finite population change for 3 species of prairie dogs in Montana and Utah, USA, 2000-2005
Data on deltamethrin resistance in Oropsylla hirsuta fleas from black-tailed prairie dogs in South Dakota, USA, 2014-2015
Data on Flea Parasitism and Annual Re-encounters of Utah Prairie Dogs at 5 colonies on the Awapa Plateau, Utah, USA, 2013-2016
Grooming behaviors of black-tailed prairie dogs in Phillips County, Montana, 2006
Occurrence of plague epizootics in colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs, Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado, 1982-2005
Coyote use of prairie dog colonies is most frequent in areas used by American badgers
Prey selection by black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes): Implications for intersexual resource partitioning and conservation
Deltamethrin reduces survival of non-target small mammals
Prairie dog responses to vector control and vaccination during an initial Yersinia pestis invasion
Alternative lifestyles: A plague persistence hypothesis
Plague mitigation for prairie dog and black-footed ferret conservation: Degree and duration of flea control with 0.005% fipronil grain bait
Estimating parasite infrapopulation size given imperfect detection: Proof-of-concept with ectoparasitic fleas on prairie dogs
Lethal effects on flea larvae of fipronil in host feces: Potential benefits for plague mitigation
Flea control on prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) with fipronil bait pellets: Potential plague mitigation tool for rapid field application and wildlife conservation
Exploring and mitigating plague for One Health purposes
Plague and trace metals in natural systems
Plague circulation in small mammals elevates extinction risk for the endangered Peñasco least chipmunk
Science and Products
Ecology of Wildlife Disease
Species Conservation
Ecology of Plague
Effects of Soil and Colony Age on Flea Densities
Grassland Ecology and Conservation
Transmission of plague by small mammals at Badlands National Park
Data on black-tailed prairie dog body mass, distance to nearest male and female black-footed ferret, distance to nearest American badger, and reencounter from early to late summer 2005 (Montana) and 2009 (South Dakota)
Effects of deltamethrin applications on non-target small mammal populations in South Dakota, Colorado, and Idaho, 2010-2017
Data on deer mouse and vole plague vaccination and captures in central New Mexico, 2019-2021
Mean flea counts from prairie dogs and their burrows in Utah (2000), New Mexico (2010-2012), and Montana (2016, 2019)
Data on prairie dog densities, flea abundance, and plague epizootics in Montana and Utah, USA
Data on the Degree and Duration of Deltamethrin Flea Control on Prairie Dog Colonies in Montana, South Dakota, and Utah, USA
Data on finite population change for 3 species of prairie dogs in Montana and Utah, USA, 2000-2005
Data on deltamethrin resistance in Oropsylla hirsuta fleas from black-tailed prairie dogs in South Dakota, USA, 2014-2015
Data on Flea Parasitism and Annual Re-encounters of Utah Prairie Dogs at 5 colonies on the Awapa Plateau, Utah, USA, 2013-2016
Grooming behaviors of black-tailed prairie dogs in Phillips County, Montana, 2006
Occurrence of plague epizootics in colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs, Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado, 1982-2005
Coyote use of prairie dog colonies is most frequent in areas used by American badgers
Prey selection by black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes): Implications for intersexual resource partitioning and conservation
Deltamethrin reduces survival of non-target small mammals
Prairie dog responses to vector control and vaccination during an initial Yersinia pestis invasion
Alternative lifestyles: A plague persistence hypothesis
Plague mitigation for prairie dog and black-footed ferret conservation: Degree and duration of flea control with 0.005% fipronil grain bait
Estimating parasite infrapopulation size given imperfect detection: Proof-of-concept with ectoparasitic fleas on prairie dogs
Lethal effects on flea larvae of fipronil in host feces: Potential benefits for plague mitigation
Flea control on prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) with fipronil bait pellets: Potential plague mitigation tool for rapid field application and wildlife conservation
Exploring and mitigating plague for One Health purposes
Plague and trace metals in natural systems
Plague circulation in small mammals elevates extinction risk for the endangered Peñasco least chipmunk
*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