Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Staff Member

Dr. Mike Mitchell

Unit Leader
Phone: (406) 243 - 4390
Email: michael_mitchell@usgs.gov
Faculty Website

Links:

Education

  • Ph D North Carolina State University 1997
  • MS North Carolina State University 1992
  • BS James Madison University 1983

Biography

Mike was born on Okinawa and grew up an Air Force brat, living in the Midwest and Southeast. He did his undergraduate work at James Madison University, graduating with a BS in Biology. Afterwards he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he flew UH-1N Hueys and achieved the rank of Captain. After leaving the Corps, Mike enrolled in graduate school at North Carolina State University where he earned a MS in Wildlife Biology (studying small mammals in eastern North Carolina) and a PhD in Zoology (studying black bears in the Appalachian Mountains). Since then, Mike has served as the Assistant Unit Leader (Wildlife) in the Alabama Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and Unit Leader of the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit.

Research Publications Publication Date
Zimova, M., L. S. Mills, P. M. Lukacs, and M. S. Mitchell. 2014. Snowshoe hares display limited phenotypic plasticity to mismatch in seasonal camouflage. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 281:20140029. March 2014
Wigley, T. B., W. M. Baughman, M. E. Dorcas, J. A. Gerwin, J. W. Gibbons, D. C. Guynn, Jr., R. A. Lancia, Y. A. Leiden, M. S. Mitchell, K. R. Russell. 2000. Contributions of intensively managed forests tothe sustainability of wildlife communities in the south. SustainingSouthern Forests: the Science of Forest Assessment. November 2000
Wigley, T. B., M. S. Mitchell, P. C. Van Deusen, and R. A. Lancia. 2001. Tools for blending economic and ecological objectives on private forestlands. Invited Paper. Transactions of the 66th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference:61-76. December 2001
Stetz, J. B., M. S. Mitchell, and K. C. Kendall. 2018. Evidence of Competition in Shaping Seasonal Density Patterns of Sympatric Ursids. Ecography. DOI: 10.1111/ecog.03556 April 2018
Sparklin, W. D. M. S. Mitchell, D. B. Jolley, and L. B. Hanson. 2009. Territoriality of feral pigs in a highly persecuted population on Fort Benning, Georgia Journal of Wildlife Management 73:497-502. October 2008
Sharp, N. W., M. S. Mitchell, and J. B. Grand. 2009. Sources, sinks, and spatial ecology of cotton mice in longleaf pine stands undergoing restoration. Journal of Mammalogy. December 2009
Sells, S. N., and M. S. Mitchell. In press. The economics of territory selection. Ecological Modelling. October 2020
Sells, S. N., S. B. Bassing, K. J. Barker, S. C. Forshee, A. C. Keever, J. W. Goerz, and M. S. Mitchell. 2018. Increased scientific rigor will improve reliability of research and effectiveness of management. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:485-494. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21413. March 2018
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, and J. A. Gude. 2019. Addressing disease risk to develop a health program for bighorn sheep in Montana. Chapter 14 in: Rung, M. C., S. J. Converse, J. E. Lyons, and D. R. Smith, editors, Case Studies in Decision Analysis for Natural Resource Management, Johns Hopkins Press. July 2019
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, V. L. Edwards, J. A. Gude, and N. J. Anderson. Submitted. A Decision Analytical Approach to Proactive Management of Pneumonia Epizootics in Bighorn Sheep. Journal of Wildlife Management. July 2016
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, J. J. Nowak, P. M. Lukacs, N. J. Anderson, J. M. Ramsey, and J. A. Gude. Submitted. Modeling Risk of Pneumonia Epizootics in Bighorn Sheep. Journal of Wildlife Management. January 2015
Saalfeld, S. T., S. S. Ditchkoff, J. J. Ozaga, and M. S. Mitchell. 2007. Seasonal variation in sex ratios provides developmental advantages in white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus. Canadian Field Naturalist. January 2009
S. S. Ditchkoff, B.L. Williams, M.S. Mitchell, J.B. Grand, and J.J> Millspaugh. Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Wild Pig Populations Fluctuate Based on Reproductive Cycle. Wildlife Society Bulletin: 00(0): 000-000, 201X | Abstract February 2011
Ruprecht, J. S., D. E. Ausband, M. S. Mitchell, E. O. Garten, and P. Zager. 2012. Homesite attendance based on sex, breeding status, and number of helpers in gray wolf packs. Journal of Mammalogy 93:1001–1005. September 2012
Runge, M.C., J.B. Grand, and M.S. Mitchell. 2013. Structured decision making. pp. 51-72. In P.R. Krausman and J.W. Cain eds. Wildlife Management and conservation: Contemporary principles and practices. Johns Hopkins Baltimore, Maryland. January 2013
Runge, M.C., J.B. Grand, and M.S. Mitchell. 2013. Structured decision making. Pages 51-72 in P.R. Krausman and J.W. Cain III, editors. Wildlife Management and Conservation: Contemporary Principles and Practices. The Johns Hopkins University Press. November 2014
Robinson, H., T. Ruth, J. A. Gude, D. Choate, R. DeSimone, M. Hebblewhite, K. Kunkel, M. R. Matchett, M. S. Mitchell, K. Murphy, and J. Williams. 2015. Linking Resource Selection and Mortality Modeling for Population Estimation of Mountain Lions in Montana. Ecological Modelling g 312: 11–25. June 2015
Robinson, H, R. DeSimone, C. Hartway, J. Gude, M. Thompson, M. Mitchell and M. Hebblewhite. Submitted. A test of the compensatory mortality hypothesis in mountain lions: a management experiment in west-central Montana. Journal of Wildlife Management June 2014
Rich, L. N., M. S. Mitchell, J. A. Gude, and C. A. Sime. 2012. Anthropogenic mortality, intraspecific competition, and prey availability structure territory sizes of wolves in Montana. Journal of Mammalogy 93:722-731. June 2012
Rich, L. N., E. M. Glenn, M. S. Mitchell, J. A. Gude, R. E. Russell, C. A. Sime, D. E. Ausband, and J. D. Nichols. Submitted. Estimating occupancy and predicting numbers of gray wolf packs in Montana using hunter surveys. Journal of Wildlife Management 77:1280-1289. July 2013
Reynolds-Hogland, M. J., and M. S. Mitchell. 2007. Three axes of ecological studies: Matching process and time in landscape ecology. IN J. A. Bissonette and I. Storch (eds) Temporal Dimensions of Landscape Ecology: Wildlife Responses to Variable Resources. Springer, New York. 10:174-194 January 2007
Reynolds-Hogland, M. J., and M. S. Mitchell. 2007. Road effects on habitat quality for black bears in the Southern Appalachians:a long term study. Journal of Mammalogy, 88(4):1062-107. August 2007
Reynolds-Hogland, M. J., and M. S. Mitchell. 2006. Spatio-temporal availability of soft mast in clearcuts in the Southern Appalachians. Forest Ecology and Management 237:103-114. December 2006
Reynolds-Hogland, M. J., M. S. Mitchell, R. A. Powell, and D. C. Brown. 2007. Selection of den sites by black bears in the Southern Appalachians. Journal of Mammology, 88(4):1062-1073. August 2007
Reynolds-Hogland, M. J., L. B. Pacifici, and M. S. Mitchell. 2007. Linking resources with demography to understand resource limitation for bears. Journal of Applied Ecology, 44:1166-1175. December 2007
Reynolds-Hogland, M. J., J. S. Hogland, M. S. Mitchell. 2007. Evaluating intercepts from demograhic models to understand resource limitation and thresholds. Ecological Modeling, 211:424-432. November 2007
Reynolds, M. J., and M. S. Mitchell. 2007. Three Axes of Ecological Studies: Matching Process and Time in Landscape Ecology. In Bissonette, J. A., and I. Storch, editors, Temporal Explicitness in Landscape Ecology: Wildlife Responses to Changes in Time. Springer, New York, NY. April 2007
Powell, R.A. and M.S. Mitchell. 1998. Topographical constraints and home range quality. Ecography 21:337-341 January 1998
Powell, R. A., and M. S. Mitchell. 2012. What is a home range? Journal of Mammalogy 93:948-958. September 2012
Newby, J. R., L. S. Mills, T. K. Ruth, D. H. Pletscher, M. S. Mitchell, H. B. Quigley, K. M. Murphy, and R. DeSimone. 2013. Human-caused mortality influences spatial population dynamics: Pumas in landscapes with varying mortality risks. Biological Conservation 159:230-239. April 2013
Morgan Henderson, M., M. Hebblewhite, M. S. Mitchell, J. B. Stetz, K. C. Kendall, and R. G. Carlson. 2015. Modeling multi-scale resource selection for bear rub trees in Northwestern Montana and Idaho. Ursus 26:28–39 January 2015
Mitchell, M.S., R.A. Lancia, and E.J. Jones. 1996. Use of insecticide to control destructive activity of ants during trapping of small mammals. Journal of Mammalogy 77:1107-1113. January 1996
Mitchell, M.S., K.S. Karriker, E.J. Jones, and R.A. Lancia. 1995. Small mammal communities associated with pine plantation management of pocosins. The Journal of Wildlife Management 59:875-881. January 1995
Mitchell, M. S., and R. A. Powell. 2008. Estimated home ranges can misrepresent habitat relationships on patchy landscapes. Ecological Modelling 216:409-414. October 2008
Mitchell, M. S., and R. A. Powell. 2007. Optimal use of resources structures, home ranges and spatial distribution of black bears. Animal Behaviour 74:219-230. June 2007
Mitchell, M. S., and R. A. Powell. 2004. A mechanistic home range model for optimal use of spatially distributed resources. Ecological Modelling 177:209-232. February 2004
Mitchell, M. S., and R. A. Powell. 2003. Response of black bears to forest management in the southern Appalachian mountains. Journal of Wildlife Management 67:692-705. August 2003
Mitchell, M. S., and R. A. Powell. 2001. Linking fitness landscapes with the behavior and distribution of animals. In Bissonette, J. A., and I. Storch, editors, Landscape ecology and resource management: linking theory with practice. Island Press. September 2002
Mitchell, M. S., and R. A. Powell. 2012. Foraging optimally for a home range. Journal of Mammalogy 93:917-928. September 2012
Mitchell, M. S., and M. Sievering. 2004. Spotted skunk Spilogale putorius. Pp. 210-211 in R. E. Mirarchi, M. A. Bailey, T. M. Haggerty, and T. L. Best, eds. Alabama wildlife. Volume 3. Imperiled amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa. May 2004
Mitchell, M. S., and M. Sievering. 2004. Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata. Pp. 208-209 in R. E. Mirarchi, M. A. Bailey, T. M. Haggerty, and T. L. Best, eds. Alabama wildlife. Volume 3. Imperiled amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa. May 2004
Mitchell, M. S., and M. Hebblewhite. 2012. Carnivore habitat ecology: integrating theory and application. In Boitani and Powell, editors, Carnivore ecology and conservation: a handbook of techniques. Oxford University Press, London, UK. January 2012
Mitchell, M. S., S. N. Sells, S. B. Bassing, K. J. Barker, A. C. Keever, S. C. Forshee, and J. W. Goerz. 2018. Explicitly reporting tests of hypotheses improves communication of science. Journal of Wildlife Management. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21461. May 2018
Mitchell, M. S., S. N. Sells, K. J. Barker, S. B. Bassing, A. C. Keever, S. C. Forshee, and J. W. Goerz. 2018. Testing A Priori Hypotheses Improves the Reliability of Wildlife Research. Journal of Wildlife Management. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21568 August 2018
Mitchell, M. S., S. H. Rutzmoser, T. B. Wigley, C. Loehle, J. A. Gerwin, P. D. Keyser, R. A. Lancia, R. W. Perry, C. J. Reynolds, R. E. Thill, R. Weih, D. White, Jr., P. Bohall Wood. 2006. Relationships between avian richness and landscape structure at multiple scales using multiple landscapes. Forest Ecology and Management. May 2006
Mitchell, M. S., R. A. Lancia, and J. A. Gerwin. 2001. Using landscape-level data to predict the distribution of birds on a managed forest:effects of scale. Ecological Applications11:1692-1708. December 2000
Mitchell, M. S., M. J. Reynolds-Hogland, M. L. Smith, P. B. Wood, J. A. Beebe, P. D. Keyser, C. Loehle, C. J. Reynolds, and D. White, Jr. 2008. Projected long-term response of Southeastern birds to forest management. Forest Ecology and Management 256(2008):1884 1896. October 2008
Mitchell, M. S., L. N. Rich, and L. S. Mills. 2014. Using radiotelemetry to answer habitat and population questions. In T. Tshering and L. S. Mills, editors, Wildlife Research Techniques in Rugged Mountainous Landscapes. Ugyen Wangchuk Institute for Conservation and Environment, Bhumtang, Bhutan. January 2014
Mitchell, M. S., L. B. Pacifici, J. B. Grand, and R. A. Powell. 2009. Contributions of vital rates to growth of a protected population of American black bears. Ursus 20:77-84. December 2009
Mitchell, M. S., J. W. Zimmerman, and R. A. Powell. 2002. Test of ahabitat suitability index for black bears in the Southern Appalachians. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30:794-808. October 2002
Mitchell, M. S., J. A. Gude, N. Anderson, J. Ramsey, M. Thompson, M. Sullivan, V. Edwards, C. Gower, J. F. Cochrane, E. Irwin, and T. Walshe. 2013. Using structured decision making to manage disease risk for Montana wildlife. Wildlife Society Bulletin 37:107-114. April 2013
Mitchell, M. S., J. A. Gude, D. E. Ausband, C. A. Sime, E. E. Bangs, M. D. Jimenez, C. M. Mack, T. J. Meier, and M. S. Nadeau. 2010. Temporal validation of an estimator for successful breeding pairs of wolves Canis lupus in the U.S. northern Rocky Mountains. Wildlife Biology. Wildlife Biology 16:101-106. April 2010
Mitchell, M. S., H. Cooley, J. A. Gude, J. Kolbe, J. J. Nowak, K. M. Proffitt, S. N. Sells, and M. Thompson. 2018. Distinguishing values from science in decision making: setting harvest quotas for mountain lions in western Montana . Wildlife Society Bulletin DOI:10.1002/wsb.861. April 2018
Mitchell, M. S., D. E. Ausband, C. A. Sime, E. E. Bangs, M. Jimenez, C. M. Mack, T. J. Meier, M. S. Nadeau, and D. W. Smith. 2008. Estimation of successful breeding pairs for wolves in the U. S. northern Rocky Mountains. Journal of Wildlife Management 72:881-891. May 2008
Mitchell, M. S. 2004. Black bear Ursus americanus. Pp. 187-189 in R. E. Mirarchi, M. A. Bailey, T. M. Haggerty, and T. L. Best, eds. Alabama wildlife. Volume 3. Imperiled amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa. May 2004
Miller, D. A. W, J. D. Nichols1, J. A. Gude3, L. N. Rich, K. M. Podruzny, J. E. Hines, and M. S. Mitchell. 2013. Determining Occurrence Dynamics when False Positives Occur: Estimating the Range Dynamics of Wolves from Public Survey Data. PLoS ONE 8(6): e65808. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065808. June 2013
Merkle, J. A., N. J. Anderson, D. L. Baxley, M. Chopp, L. C. Gigliotti, J. A. Gude, T. M. Harms, H. E. Johnson, E. H. Merrill, M. S. Mitchell, T. W. Wong, G. P. Nelson, A. S. Norton, M. J. Sheriff, E. Tomasik, and K. R. VanBeek. 2019. A collaborative approach to bridging the gap between wildlife managers and researchers. Journal of Wildlife Management 83:1644–1651; DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21759 August 2019
McCall, B.S., M.S. Mitchell, M.K. Schwartz, J. Hayden, S. Cushman, and W. Kasworm. 2013. Combined use of mark-recapture and genetic analyses reveals response of a black bear population to changes in food productivity. Journal of Wildlife Management 77:1572-1582. October 2013
M. S. Mitchell, J. A. Gude, K. Podruzny, E. E. Bangs, J. Hayden, R. M. Inman, M. Jimenez, Q. Kujala, D. H. Pletscher, J. Rachael, R. Ream, and J. Vore. Submitted. Management of wolves in the US Northern Rocky Mountains is Based on Sound Policy and Science. Science. June 2016
Lukacs, P. M., M. S. Mitchell, M. Hebblewhite, B. K. Johnson, H. Johnson, M. Kauffman, K. Proffitt, P. Zager, J. Brodie, K. Hersey, A. A. Holland, M. Hurley, S. McCorquodale, A. Middleton, M. Nordhagen, J. J. Nowak, D. P. Walsh, and P. J. White. 2018. Factors influencing elk recruitment across ecotypes in the western United States. Journal of Wildlife Management DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21438 May 2018
Loonam, K. L., P. M. Lukacs, D. E. Ausband, M. S. Mitchell, and H. R. Robinson. 2021. Assessing the robustness of a new method for estimating wildlife abundance using remote cameras. Ecological Applications. e02388. 10.1002/eap.2388 August 2021
Loonam, K. E., D. E. Ausband, P. M. Lukacs, M. S. Mitchell, and H. R. Robinson. 2021. Estimating abundance of an unmarked, low-density species using camera traps. Journal of Wildlife Management. 85: 87-96. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21950 March 2021
Loehle, C., P. Van Deusen, T. B. Wigley, M. S. Mitchell, S. H. Rutzmoser, J. Aggett, J. A. Beebe, and M. L. Smith. 2006. A Method for Landscape Analysis of Forestry Guidelines Using Bird Habitat Models and the Habplan Harvest Scheduler. Forest Ecology and Management 232:56-67. May 2006
Lancia, R. A., J. A. Gerwin, M. S. Mitchell, W. M. Baughman, and T. B. Wigley. 2000. Avian diversity on an intensively-managed, industrialforest in South Carolina: the Westvaco example. Fragmentation 2000: aconference on sustaining private forests in the 21st century. September 2000
Kie, J. G., J. Matthiopoulis, J. Fieberg, R. A. Powell, F. Cagnacci, M. S. Mitchell, J. Gaillard, and P. R. Moorcroft. 2010. The home range concept: are traditional estimators still relevant with modern telemetry technology? Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 365:2221-2231. April 2010
Jolley, D. B., S. S. Ditchkoff, B. D. Sparklin, L. B. Hanson, M. S. Mitchell, and J. B. Grand. 2010. Estimate of herpetofauna depredation by a population of wild pigs. Journal of Mammalogy 91:519-524. April 2010
Henderson, C. R., M. S. Mitchell, W. L. Myers, and G. P. Nelson. 2018. Attributes of seasonal home range influence choice of migratory strategy in white-tailed deer. Journal of Mammalogy 99:89-96. DOI:10.1093/jmammal/gyx148 February 2018
Hanson, L. B., M. S. Mitchell, J. B. Grand, D. B. Jolley, W. D. Sparklin, and S. S. Ditchkoff. 2009. Effect of experimental manipulation on survival and recruitment of feral pigs. Wildlife Research. 36(3):185-191. April 2009
Hanson, L. B., J. B. Grand, M. S. Mitchell, D. B. Jolley, B. D. Sparklin and S. S. Ditchkoff. 2008. Change-in-ratio density estimator for feral pigs is less biased than closed mark-recapture estimates. Wildlife Research 35(7): 695-699. December 2008
Hammond, C. A. M., M. S. Mitchell, and G. N. Bissell. In press. Territory occupancy by common loons in response to disturbance, habitat, and intraspecific relationships. Journal of Wildlife Management. April 2012
Gude, J. A., M. S. Mitchell, R. E. Russell, C. A. Sime, E. E. Bangs, L. D. Mech, and R. R. Ream. 2012. Wolf population dynamics in U.S. northern Rocky Mountains are affected by recruitment and human-caused mortality. Journal of Wildlife Management 76:108-118. January 2012
Gude, J. A., M. S. Mitchell, D. E. Ausband, C. A. Sime, and E. E. Bands. 2009. Internal validation of predicitive logistic regression models for decision making in wildlife management. Wildlife Biology. October 2009
Eacker, D. R., M. Hebblewhite, K. M. Proffitt, B. S. Jimenez, M. S. Mitchell, and H. S. Robinson. 2016. Landscape-level effects of risk factors on annual elk calf survival in a multiple carnivore system. Journal of Wildlife Management 80:1345-1359. August 2016
Ditchkoff, S. S., D. B. Jolley, B. D. Sparklin, L. B. Hanson, M. S. Mitchell, and J. B. Grand. 2012. Reproduction in a Population of Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) Subjected to Lethal Control. Journal of Wildlife Management 76:1235-1240. August 2012
DeVoe, J., K. M. Proffitt, M. S. Mitchell, C. Jourdonnais, K. J. Barker. 2019. Elk Forage and Risk Tradeoffs during the Fall Archery Season. Journal of Wildlife Management. May 2019
Clark, M.K., M.S. Mitchell, and K.S. Karriker. 1993. Notes on the geographical and ecological distribution of relict population of Synaptomys cooperi (Rodentia: Arvicolidae) from Eastern North Carolina. Brimleyana 19:155-168. January 1993
Cain, J.W. III, and M.S. Mitchell. 2018. Evaluation of Key Scientific Issues in the Report, “State of the Mountain Lion: a Call to End Trophy Hunting of America’s Lion”. USGS Open File Report 2018-1128. | Download August 2018
Brodie, J., H. Johnson, M. S. Mitchell, P. Zager, K. Proffitt, M. Hebblewhite, M. Kauffman, B. Johnson, J. Bissonette, C. Bishop, J. Gude, J. Herbert, K. Hersey, M. Hurley, P. M. Lukacs, S. McCorquodale, E. McIntire, J. Nowak, H. Sawyer, D. Smith, and P.J. White. Submitted. Relative influence of human harvest, carnivores, and weather on adult female elk survival across western North America. Journal of Applied Ecology 50:295–305. April 2013
Borg., N. J., M. S. Mitchell, P. M. Lukacs, C. M. Mack, L. P. Waits, and P. R. Krausman. 2017. Behavioral connectivity among bighorn sheep suggests potential for disease spread. Journal of Wildlife Management 81:38-45 DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21169 January 2017
Beyer, H. L., D. T. Haydon, J. M. Morales, J. L. Frair, M. Hebblewhite, M. S. Mitchell, and J. Matthiopoulos. 2010. The interpretation of habitat preference metrics under use-availability designs. Philosphical Transactions of the Royal Society B 365:2245-2254. April 2010
Bassing, S. B., D. E. Ausband, M. S. Mitchell, P. M. Lukacs, A. Keever, G. Hale, and L. Waits. 2019. Stable Pack Abundance and Distribution in a Harvested Wolf Population. Journal of Wildlife Management. March 2019
Bassing, S. B., D. E. Ausband, M. S. Mitchell, M. Schwartz, Michael, J. J. Nowak, G. Hale, and L. Waits, 2020. Immigration Does Not Offset Harvest Mortality in a Cooperatively Breeding Carnivore. Animal Conservation. May 2020
Barker, K. J., M. S. Mitchell, and K. M. Proffitt. 2019. Native Forage Mediates Influence of Irrigated Agriculture on Migratory Behavior of Elk. Journal of Animal Ecology. July 2019
Barker, K. J., M. S. Mitchell, K. M. Proffitt, and J. D. DeVoe. 2018. Land management alters traditional nutritional benefits of migration for elk. Journal of Wildlife Management. DOI: 10.1002:jwmg.21564. September 2018
Ausband, D.E., S.B. Bassing, and M.S. Mitchell. 2020. Environmental and social influences on wolf howling behavior. Ethology. 126:890-899. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.13041 June 2020
Ausband, D.E., J.Young, B. Fannin, M.S. Mitchell, J.L. Stenglein, L.P. Waits, and J.A. Shivik. 2011. Hair of the dog: obtaining samples from coyotes and wolves noninvasively. Wildlife Society Bulletin 35:105-111. | Abstract | Publisher Website May 2011
Ausband, D. E., M. S. Mitchell, and L. P. Waits. 2017. Effects of breeder turnover and harvest on group composition and recruitment in a social carnivore. Journal of Animal Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12707 July 2017
Ausband, D. E., M. S. Mitchell, S. Bassing, and C. White. 2013. No trespassing: using a biofence to manipulate carnivore movements. Wildlife Research 40:207-216. September 2013
Ausband, D. E., M. S. Mitchell, S. B. Bassing, M. Nordhagen, D. W. Smith, and D. R. Stahler. 2016. Dog days of summer: influences on decision of wolves to move pups. Journal of Mammalogy 97:1282-1287. July 2016
Ausband, D. E., M. S. Mitchell, S. B. Bassing, A. Morehouse, D. W. Smith, and D. Stahler. 2016. Individual, group, and environmental influences on helping behavior in a social carnivore. Ethology 122:1-10. October 2016
Ausband, D. E., M. S. Mitchell, K. Doherty, P. Zager, C. M. Mack, and J. Holyan. 2010. Surveying predicted rendezvous sites to monitor gray wolf populations. Journal of Wildlife Management 74:1043-1049. April 2010
Ausband, D. E., M. S. Mitchell, C. R. Stansbury, J. L. Stenglein, and L. P. Waits. 2017. Effects of harvest on recruitment and groups of cooperative breeders. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 284: 20170580 July 2017
Ausband, D. E., L. N. Rich, E. M. Glenn, M. S. Mitchell, P. Zager, C. M. Mack, D. A. W. Miller, and B. B. Ackerman. 2014. Monitoring Gray Wolf Populations Using Multiple Survey Methods. Journal of Wildlife Management 78:335-346. February 2014
Ausband, D. E., J. Skrivseth, and M. S. Mitchell. 2011. An Automated Device for Provoking and Capturing Wildlife Calls. Wildlife Society Bulletin 35:498-503. December 2011
Ausband, D. E. and M. S. Mitchell. Submitted. The effect of group size on recruitment depends on population density in a cooperatively breeding carnivore. Journal of Animal Ecology. April 2021
Project Completion Date
Moose demography in NE Washington June 2017
NCDE Grizzly Bear Demographics June 2015
Greater Sage-Grouse Grazing Evaluation October 2014
Effects of climate and habitat change on structure and function of a high priority montane ecosystem March 2017
Research to inform Chronic Wasting Disease management in Montana May 2012
Proactive management of disease outbreak in bighorn sheep in Montana June 2013
Linking resource selection and mortality modeling for population estimation of mounain lions in Montana September 2011
An assessment of factors influencing territory size and the use of hunter surveys for monitoring wolves in Montana June 2011
Investiage survival and recruitment of white-tailed deer in Northeast Washington - Graduate student support June 2014
Western elk research collaboration April 2015
Factors influencing survival of Mountain Plover Chicks in Eastern Colorado June 2013
Sandhill Crane and Long-Billed Curlew Breeding season occupancy in response to habitat structure at multiple scales May 2013
Sage Grouse Genetics September 2016
Grizzly Bear Population Status in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem December 2015
Linking resources selection to population dynamics of Mule Deer in Idaho September 2016
Ungulate Ecology in Idaho: understanding predator/prey interactions June 2011
Surveying for wolves in the Selkirk Mountains September 2010
Canada support for Gray Wolf monitoring December 2010
Graduate student support on Salmon River Bighorn Sheep December 2013
Non-lethal wolf/livestock conflict resolution & non-invasive population monitoring of Gray Wolves in the Rocky Mountinas December 2011
Wolf Biofence Project December 2010
Monitoring the health of wolves by creating bio-fences and using DNA Analyses December 2012
Sage Grouse Stepping Stones: Identifying Habitat Pathway for Migratory Populations September 2014
Using demographic analyses to develop monitoring and management tools for wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains September 2011
Evaluating the influence of climate and predation on the survival of Rocky Mountain Elk: A regional synthesis across northwestern states. April 2016
Can camouflage keep up with climate change? Connecting down-scaled climate models to adaptation for a key forest species. September 2012
Bear Research and Management September 2010
Grizzly Bear Recovery: Modeling Movement, Home Ranges, Range Expansion, and Population Connectivity December 2021
State Parks Foundation November 2020
Predicting puma densities and distribution May 2022
Preventing Predation: Mechanistic Drivers of and Deterrents in Conflict with Jaguars May 2021
Mandatory Reporting and Harvest Surveys Evaluation June 2021
Predator use of white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, and elk and influence on population dynamics. June 2021
Westslope Cutthroat Trout Project June 2021
Human dimensions of grizzly bear management in MT - Grizzly Bear Social Survey June 2020
Blackfoot Clearwater Elk Study June 2022
Grizzly Bear Integrated Population Modeling and Interface Development December 2020
Evaluation of survey approches to assess status of Species of Greatest Inventory Need and effects of MFWP habitat management on non-game indicator species December 2020
Fisher Occupancy, Habitat Needs, and Responses to Management in the Northern Rocky Mountains June 2022
Sage Grouse Grazing Project PhD Student June 2022
Kootenai River Trout Survival Analysis August 2020
Modeling large mammal predator-prey dynamics to inform harvest management June 2021
Lower Blackfoot Bear Stress Study September 2024
Moose Ecology, State of Colorado June 2019
Large Mammal Predator-Prey modeling dynamics July 2019
Black Bears & Bobcats Integrated Population Models December 2018
Sage Grouse & Grazing Study October 2018
Population Dynamics and Modeling - Cougars December 2019
Montana Resident - Wolf Hunt Analysis June 2017
Songbird Grazing June 2020
Statewide Mule Deer Study February 2021
Sapphire Elk Herd Research Technician June 2017
Linking Exposure to Sub-lethal Stressors to Individual Vital Rates and Population Abundance September 2021
Boom, bust: linking patterns of rural land-use change and wetland condition to trends in greater sandhill crane demographics June 2017
Population dynamics, modeling, and data quality advancements June 2017
Wolverine monitoring analysis and reporting June 2020
Linking resources selection to population dynamics of Mule Deer in Idaho December 2015
Bitterroot elk calf survival and population modeling June 2016
Montana Wolf Monitoring Study December 2020
Evaluation of the effects of rest-rotation grazing on greater sage-grouse habitat and population dynamics in central Montana October 2016
Evaluating the effects of nutrition and hunter access on elk distribution in the Sapphire Mountains December 2017
Improving ungulate sampling efficiency and population estimation in Idaho December 2018
Linking resource selection to population dynamics of mule deer in Idaho December 2016
Evaluating occupancy estimation and abundance relationships as an alternative method for ungulate abundance surveys June 2017
Presentations Presentation Date
Zimova, M., L. S. Mills, and M. S. Mitchell. 2014. Camouflage mismatch in seasonal coat color due to decreased snow duration: will snowshoe hares keep up with climate change? North America Congress for Conservation Biology. July 2014
Western Elk Research Collaborative. 2013. Untangling Rocky Mountain elk ecology and population dynamics: a regional synthesis across the northwestern US. Annual meeting, Montana chapter of The Wildlife Society. Missoula, MT. May 2013
Western Elk Research Collaborative. 2013. Untangling Rocky Mountain elk ecology and population dynamics: a regional synthesis across the northwestern US. 10th biennial meeting of the western states and Provinces deer and elk workshop, Missoula, MT. February 2013
Stenglein,J., C. Mack, D. Ausband, M. Mitchell, P. Zager, S. Nadeau and L. Waits. 2009. Evaluating the potential of noninvasive genetic sampling for long-term monitoring of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Idaho. Annual Meeting, The Wildlife Society. January 2009
Stenglein, J., C. Mack, D. Ausband, M. Mitchell, P. Zager, S. Nadeau, and L. Waits. 2009. Monitoring an Idaho gray wolf population: A noninvasive genetic approach. Annual Meeting, Idaho Chapter, The Wildlife Society. January 2017
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, V. L. Edwards, J. A. Gude, & N. J. Anderson. Submitted. A Decision Analytical Approach to Proactive Management of Pneumonia Epizootics in Bighorn Sheep, National Conference of The Wildlife Society, September 2015
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, N. J. Anderson, J. M. Ramsey, and J. A. Gude. 2013. Proactive management of pneumonia epizootics in bighorn sheep in Montana-- project update. Annual meeting, Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society. February 2013
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, N. J. Anderson, J. M. Ramsey, J. A. Gude, P. M. Lukacs, and P. R. Krausman. 2015. 2015. MODELING PROACTIVE DECISIONS TO MANAGE PNEUMONIA EPIZOOTICS IN BIGHORN SHEEP. Annual meeting of the Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society. February 2015
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, J. J. Nowak, P. M. Lukacs, N. J. Anderson, J. M. Ramsey, J. A. Gude, P. R. Krausman. 2014. Modeling Risk of Pneumonia in Bighorn Sheep. Annual meeting, The Wildlife Society. September 2014
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, J. A. Gude, and N. J. Anderson. 2016. Application of structured decision making to wildlife management in Montana. Annual meeting, MT Chapter of The Wildlife Society. February 2016
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, A. D. Luis, and K. M. Podruzny. 2017. INDIVIDUAL-BASED MODELING OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN UNGULATES AND WOLVES. 12th Deer and Elk Workshop. May 2017
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, A. D. Luis, and K. M. Podruzny. 2017. INDIVIDUAL-BASED MODELING OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN UNGULATES AND WOLVES. !2th Deer and Elk Workshop. May 2017
Sells, S. N., M. S. Mitchell, A. D. Luis, and K. M. Podruzny. 2017. CARNIVORE TERRITORIALITY: SIMULATING ECONOMIC SELECTION OF TERRITORIES. Annual meeting, Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society. March 2017
SARAH N. SELLS, MITCHELL, M., PODRUZNY, K., and JUSTIN G. GUDE (2019) Improving Estimates of Wolf Abundance in Montana. TWS 26th Annual Conference Reno, Nevada, Sept. 29 – Oct. 3, 2019. October 2019
Rich, L., and M. S. Mitchell. 2009. Using hunter surveys to monitor wolf pack abundance and distribution in Montana. Annual Meeting, The Wildlife Society. January 2017
Powell, R. A., and M. S. Mitchell. 2009. Optimality models, cognitive maps, fitness and home ranges (and other jargon). Annual meeting, American Society of Mammalogists January 2009
Powell, R. A., and M. S. Mitchell. 2009. Optimality Models, Cognitive Maps, Fitness & Home Ranges (and other jargon). Annual meeting, American SOciety of Mammalogists. June 2009
Podruzny, K. M., J. A. Gude, G. R. Pauley, M. S. Mitchell, E. H. Bradley, N. Lance, K. J. Laudon, A. A. Nelson, M. S. Ross, and T. D. Smucker. Predicting abundance of gray wolves in Montana using hunter observations and field monitoring. International Wolf Symposium. October 2013
Mitchell, M. S. 2016. 25 years after Ten Years After "Reliable Knowledge": why are we still talking about this? Annual Meeting, The Wildlife Society. October 2016
Mitchell, M. S. 2009. Panelist: predator/prey open session. North American Moose Conference. January 2009
Mitchell, M. S. 2008. Panelist: wildlife panel discussion on wolves. Rural Law Symposium, University of Montana School of Law. January 2009
McCall, B. S., and M. S. Mitchell. 2009. Non-invasive genetic sampling reveals black bear population dynamics driven by changes in food productivity. Western Black Bear Workshop. January 2009
McCall, B. S., and M. S. Mitchell. 2009. Non-invasive genetic sampling reveals black bear population dynamics driven by changes in food productivity. Annual Meeting, The WIldlife Society. January 2009
Kenneth Loonam, Ausband, Lukacs, Mitchell, Hugh Robinson (2019) Counting Cougars: Density Estimates of Unmarked, Low Density Populations with Camera Traps. TWS 26th Annual Conference Reno, Nevada, Sept. 29 – Oct. 3, 2019. October 2019
Keever, A. C., M. S. Mitchell, K. M. Podruzny, A. D. Luis, and J. T. Peterson. 2017. Estimating recruitment of wolves with limited data. Annual meeting, The Wildlife Society. September 2017
Keever, A. C., M. S. Mitchell, K. M. Podruzny, A. D. Luis, and J. T. Peterson. 2017. ESTIMATING RECRUITMENT OF WOLVES WITH LIMITED DATA. Annual meeting, Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society. March 2017
Jimenez, B. S., and M. S. Mitchell. 2009. Multi-scale effects of roads on black bear habitat selection. Western Black Bear Workshop. January 2009
Henderson, C., M. S. Mitchell, W. Myers, and J. Nelson. 2013. Linking survival and resource selection by female white-tailed deer with different migration strategies. Tenth Biennial Deer and Elk Workshop. Missoula, MT. May 2013
Henderson, C., M. S. Mitchell, W. Myers, and J. Nelson. 2013. Linking survival and resource selection by female white-tailed deer with different migration strategies. 10th Biennial Western States and Provinces Deer and Elk Workshop. May 2013
Henderson, C. R., M. S. Mitchell, W. Myers, P. M. Lukacs, and G. Nelson. 2014. Estimating migration probability and survival in female white-tailed deer. Annual meeting, The Wildlife Society. September 2014
Henderson, C. R., M. S. Mitchell, W. L. Myers, P. M. Lukacs, and G. P. Nelson. 2015. HABITAT QUALITY INFLUENCES MIGRATORY STRATEGY OF FEMALE WHITE TAILED DEER. Annual meeting, Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society. February 2015
Hayes, T.; Peterson, C.; DeCesare, N., Bishop, C., and Mike Mitchell (2019) Mule Deer Habitat Selection of Disturbance in Conifer Forests of Northwest Montana: Effects of Forest Age and Configuration. TWS 26th Annual CONF, Reno, Nevada, 9/29/19-10/3/19. October 2019
Goerz, J. W., R. B. Harris, J. H. Oyster, and M. S. Mitchell. 2016. Spatial variation in moose calf survival in northeastern Washington. 0th North American Moose Conference/Workshop and 8th International Moose Symposium. September 2016
DeVoe, J. K. M. Proffitt, M. S. Mitchell, K. Barker, C. Jourdonnais, and P. Ramsey. 2017. TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN FORAGE AND RISK FOR ELK DURING THE FALL ARCHERY HUNTING SEASON. 12th Deer and Elk Workshop. May 2017
Correia, J., and M. Mitchell. 2015. Brucellosis in elk: influences in the cattle industry in Montana. International Congress: One World-One Health-One Vision. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina. October 2015
Collin J. Peterson, Teagan Hayes, Chad Bishop, Michael S. Mitchell, Nick DeCesare, Mule Deer Resource Selection for Forage and Security in Northwest Montana. TWS 26th Annual Conference Reno, Nevada, Sept. 29 – Oct. 3, 2019. October 2019
Bassing, S. B., M. S. Mitchell, D. E. Ausband, P. M. Lukacs, L. P. Waits, and G. Hale. Submitted. DEVELOPING A MONITORING FRAMEWORK TO ESTIMATE WOLF POPULATION DYNAMICS IN SOUTHWEST ALBERTA. Annual meeting, The Wildlife Society. September 2015
Bassing, S. B., M. S. Mitchell, D. E. Ausband, P. M. Lukacs, L. P. Waits, and G. Hale. 2016. Wolf pack distribution in relation to heavy harvest in southwest Alberta. Annual meeting, MT Chapter of The Wildlife Society. February 2016
Bassing, S. B., M. S. Mitchell, D. E. Ausband, L. P. Waits, and G. Hale. 2015. DEVELOPING A MONITORING FRAMEWORK TO ESTIMATE WOLF DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE IN SOUTHWEST ALBERTA. Annual meeting, Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society. February 2015
Bassing, S. B., D. E. Ausband, M. S. Mitchell, P. Lukacs, M. Schwartz, G. Hale, and L. P. Waits. 2017. VARIABLE EFFECTS OF HARVEST WITHIN AND ACROSS WOLF PACKS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. Annual meeting, The Wildlife Society. September 2017
Bassing, S. B., D. E. Ausband, M. S. Mitchell, M. K. Schwartz, L. P. Waits. 2017. Immigration as a Compensatory Mechanism to Offset Harvest Mortality in Harvested Wolf Populations. Annual meeting, Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society. March 2017
Barker, K., M. S. Mitchell, K. M. Proffitt, J. DeVoe, C. Jourdonnais, and P. Ramsey. 2017. SUMMER FORAGE QUALITY DIFFERS FOR MIGRANTS AND RESIDENTS IN A PARTIALLY MIGRATORY POPULATION OF ELK . 12th Deer and Elk Workshop. May 2017
Barker, K., K. M. Proffitt, J. DeVoe, M. S. Mitchell, C. Jourdonnais, and P. Ramsey. 2017. Nutritional and demographic consequences of varying elk migratory behaviors. Biennial meeting of the WAFWA Deer and Elk Workshop. May 2017
Barker, K., K. M. Proffitt, J. DeVoe, M. S. Mitchell, C. Jourdonnais, and P. Ramsey. 2017. Nutritional and demographic consequences of varying elk migratory behaviors. Annual meeting, Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society. March 2017
Ausband, D. E., M. S. Mitchell, C. R. Stansbury, J. L. Stenglein, and L. P. Waits. 2016. Effects of harvest on recruitment and wolf pack structure. Annual meeting, Idaho chapter of The Wildlife Society. February 2016
Ausband, D. E., J. Ruprecht, and M. S. Mitchell. Home alone: influence of individual, pack, and environmental variation on pup attendance in gray wolves. Annual meeting, Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society. February 2013
Ausband, D. E., J. Ruprecht, M. S. Mitchell, S. B. Bassing, O. Garten, and P. Zager. 2013. Home alone: influence of individual, pack, and environmental variation on pup attendance behavior in gray wolves. Annual meeting, Idaho chapter, The Wildlife Society. Couer D'Alene, Idaho. March 2013
Allison C. Keever, Michael S. Mitchell, Kevin M. Podruzny, Bob Inman (2019) Drivers of Variation in Recruitment and the Effects on Population Dynamics in Gray Wolves. TWS 26th Annual Conference Reno, Nevada, Sept. 29 – Oct. 3, 2019. October 2019
Technical Publications Publication Date
Mitchell, M. S. Integrated research on landscape scales. Auburn Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Alumni Association Newsletter. Fall 2001 August 2001
Ditchkoff, S.S., M.S. Mitchell, and J.B. Grand. 2004. Ecology and management of feral hogs on Fort Benning, Georgia. Annual Progress Report. December 2004
Role and Organization Individual         Start Date        End Date       
The Wildlife Society - Member, Publications Committee Mitchell September 2003 September 2004
The Wildlife Society - Member Mitchell August 1992 Present
The Wildlife Society - Chair, Publications Committee Mitchell September 2004 September 2005
Sigma Xi - Member Mitchell January 1993 Present
American Society of Mammalogists - Member Mitchell January 1993 Present