This video is a presentation by Dr. Chuck Anderson, the Mammals Research Team Supervisor at Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). He provides an overview of the mammals research team, which has led wildlife science initiatives in Colorado since 1961, and introduces his current support staff and research scientists, detailing their backgrounds and current projects.
Here is a summary of the key team members and their research areas:
- Support Staff: Anderson introduces Karen Hertel (Research Librarian), Benjamin Wasserstein (Database Manager/Analyst), and Kayla Kosel (Program Assistant), who support the team by managing extensive historical documents, databases, millions of data points (like GPS and camera trap data), and administrative tasks.
- Chuck Anderson: Before becoming supervisor, his own research focused on large-scale projects studying mule deer responses to energy development and wildfires.
- Mat Alldredge (Senior Wildlife Research Scientist): The longest-serving scientist on the team, Dr. Alldredge has a background in mechanical engineering and wildlife ecology. His research focuses on mountain lion population estimation, human-carnivore interactions (especially mountain lions in urban interfaces), predator-prey systems, and integrating new technologies like AI and high-resolution aerial cameras into wildlife monitoring.
- Jake Ivan (Senior Wildlife Research Scientist): Jake Ivan’s work centers on forest carnivores. He has led significant research on the impacts of winter recreation and bark beetle outbreaks on Canada lynx, modeled lynx highway crossing behaviors to inform CDOT mitigation efforts, and developed statewide monitoring protocols for lynx, wolverines, and other mesocarnivores.
- Nathaniel Rayl (Wildlife Research Scientist): Nathaniel Rayl focuses on elk ecology, specifically investigating why elk calf recruitment is declining in many Colorado herds. He uses trail cameras and cell phone data to study how human recreation and environmental pressures (like severe winters and drought) affect elk movements and population performance.
- Ellen Brandell (Wildlife Research Scientist): Specializing in carnivore and wildlife disease ecology, Ellen Brandell joined CPW to lead research on wolf-prey dynamics following the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado. Her work includes monitoring moose and elk recruitment and developing long-term studies on how wolves affect ungulates and vegetation.
- Shane Frank (Wildlife Research Scientist): With international experience studying brown bears in Scandinavia, Shane Frank’s current research focuses on the effects of harvest on bobcat populations, estimating their density, diet, and cause-specific mortality to improve statewide monitoring and management guidelines.
- Rachel Smiley (Wildlife Research Scientist): The newest researcher studies the population and nutritional ecology of ungulates. She is currently working on improving aerial survey methods with sightability models for elk and evaluating bighorn sheep responses to habitat treatments and pneumonia outbreaks.
The presentation concludes with Anderson highlighting the team’s commitment to applied science—using sound research and innovative technology to directly inform and improve wildlife management decisions across Colorado.
For more information and to hear commissioners’ questions and comments, please view the Commission meeting recordings.
