The ringtail is a small, secretive, omnivorous, nocturnal relative of the raccoon that occurs in southwestern Oregon, the most northern portion of the species range.
Katie Dugger, PhD
Assistant Unit Leader - Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Katie joined the Oregon Unit in 2011. She conducts research focused on population ecology and dynamics, particularly the estimation and modeling of vital rates in relation to environmental variation (habitat characteristics, climate) and anthropogenic influences as key elements in the conservation and management of species and their ecosystems. Katie models survival, reproductive success, occupancy, and population change for a wide variety of bird species, including those with threatened or endangered status, as well as important game species. She also studies the demographics of ungulates and furbearers in relation to habitat use and selection, as well as intraspecific competition between large carnivores, and predator-prey relationships in marine systems. She relies on data collected from individual animals marked with bands, tags and telemetry devices to accomplish these goals. Most of her current research is focused on species and ecosystems in Oregon, although she also has a long-term National Science Foundation funded project studying Adélie penguins in Antarctica. Katie teaches graduate level courses in the Analysis of Animal Populations and Scientific Evidence in Ecology.
Dr. Dugger received her graduate degrees from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She was a post-doc and Assistant Professor, Senior Research in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University.
Science and Products
Effects of Experimental Removal of Barred Owls on Population Demography of Northern Spotted Owls in the Pacific Northwest
Barred owls ( Strix varia ) have expanded their geographic range from eastern to western North America, and their newly expanded range now completely overlaps that of the federally threatened northern spotted owl ( S. occidentalis caurina ; Gutiérrez et al. 2007, Livezey 2009, USFWS 2013). Evidence from long-term demographic studies indicates that the presence of barred owls has contributed...
Threat of Invasive Barred Owls to Northern Spotted Owls and their Habitats
As an apex predator and fiercely territorial invader, barred owls at high densities have the potential to affect a variety of native wildlife through competition, niche displacement, and predation. Such impacts may be especially problematic for conservation of the federally threatened northern spotted owl, whose populations have continued to decline despite widespread protection of old forest...
Ringtail hanging upside down
The ringtail is a small, secretive, omnivorous, nocturnal relative of the raccoon that occurs in southwestern Oregon, the most northern portion of the species range.
Ringtail in southwestern Oregon
This original photograph was taken during field work for her project looking at ringtail demographics and habitat use in southwestern Oregon.
This original photograph was taken during field work for her project looking at ringtail demographics and habitat use in southwestern Oregon.
Science and Products
Effects of Experimental Removal of Barred Owls on Population Demography of Northern Spotted Owls in the Pacific Northwest
Barred owls ( Strix varia ) have expanded their geographic range from eastern to western North America, and their newly expanded range now completely overlaps that of the federally threatened northern spotted owl ( S. occidentalis caurina ; Gutiérrez et al. 2007, Livezey 2009, USFWS 2013). Evidence from long-term demographic studies indicates that the presence of barred owls has contributed...
Threat of Invasive Barred Owls to Northern Spotted Owls and their Habitats
As an apex predator and fiercely territorial invader, barred owls at high densities have the potential to affect a variety of native wildlife through competition, niche displacement, and predation. Such impacts may be especially problematic for conservation of the federally threatened northern spotted owl, whose populations have continued to decline despite widespread protection of old forest...
Ringtail hanging upside down
The ringtail is a small, secretive, omnivorous, nocturnal relative of the raccoon that occurs in southwestern Oregon, the most northern portion of the species range.
The ringtail is a small, secretive, omnivorous, nocturnal relative of the raccoon that occurs in southwestern Oregon, the most northern portion of the species range.
Ringtail in southwestern Oregon
This original photograph was taken during field work for her project looking at ringtail demographics and habitat use in southwestern Oregon.
This original photograph was taken during field work for her project looking at ringtail demographics and habitat use in southwestern Oregon.