Team Bio

The team members from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah State University have extensive experience in wildlife health and biology, AIS, habitat management, and fisheries.

Annette Roug

I am the wildlife veterinarian for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources where I oversee the State's Wildlife Health Program. I hold a veterinary degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, as well as a Masters of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and PhD in wildlife epidemiology from the University of California Davis, USA. My PhD research mainly focused on the health and ecology of African buffaloes in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania and the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis at the wildlife, livestock, and human interface in communities adjacent to the park. Since moving to Utah, I have predominantly conducted research within the fields of wildlife health and wildlife capture, and started working with beavers in 2017 when assisting biologists with placing radio tracking devices. Since then, I have learned more about the incredible benefits that beavers can have for riverine habitats, and am excited about the option of moving nuisance beavers in place of other alternatives. However, animal translocation needs to be conducted responsibly without the risk of moving harmful pests and pathogens, and beaver translocation is no different. As more and more wildlife and habitat managers are becoming aware of the benefits beavers can provide, the need for a scientifically sound beaver translocation protocol is increasing. We are trying to fill this need with the proposed project.

Phaedra Budy

I am a Professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences and Unit Leader of the Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (U.S. Geological Survey), at Utah State University (USU), Logan UT. I completed a B.S. in Limnology at the University of California, Davis and a PhD at Utah State University in aquatic ecology, investigating the potential to increase growth and survival of endangered sockeye salmon in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho, using whole lake manipulations. I then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the the Luquillo Long Term Ecological Research site in Puerto Rico, exploring amphidromous shrimp population structure and genetics.

In my fish ecology lab, along with my graduate students and staff, I do research that fits into an overall framework of evaluating the factors that structure and limit fish populations in both lentic and lotic systems. We work broadly in conservation biology, invasion ecology, and food web dynamics of aquatic systems with an emphasis on fishes. Current research covers a wide geographical range including almost all of Utah, Oregon, Washington and arctic Alaska and includes many species of salmonids, imperiled native desert fishes, and numerous warm-water lentic fishes. We also dabble in stream restoration and large river management. I am particularly interested in desert fish conservation and ecology, as these fishes are highly imperiled and their ecosystems are degraded in multiple complex and interacting ways. More information describing the Fish Ecology Lab at USU is available at: www.usu.edu/fel.

Wade Cavender

I am currently working for the Utah Division of Wildlife as the Assistant Aquatic Section Chief in charge of fish health and fisheries research. Specific responsibilities include serving as Utah’s primary Fish Pathologist and program manager for Utah’s Fisheries Experiment Station (FES). Station activities include providing a comprehensive program for fish pathology, aquatic research and fish culture services in relation to the Aquatic Section Statewide objectives and fisheries program needs. I also work as a member of the Aquatic Section administrative staff, Fish Health Policy Board and Western Regional Aquaculture Center to advise in the development of policies and procedures relative to fish health, fish culture and fisheries management throughout the State. Prior to this assignment I served as the Fish Health Specialist and laboratory manager for the State’s fish health laboratory from 2005-2016. I received my A.S. in Fish and Wildlife Management (1994) from Hocking College, B.S. in Fisheries Management/Aquaculture (1999) from the University of Idaho and M.S. in Fish Health/Aquaculture (2003) from the University of Idaho.

Nathan Owens

I have served as the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for the past three years, helping to develop the largest invasive mussel containment program in the country. I graduated from the University of Washington's Zoology Program and received my graduate degree from the University of Montana, where I studied human/wildlife interactions in eastern Europe.

Darren DeBloois

I am an experienced wildlife biologist and currently serve as the Mammals Program coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. This program oversees issues relating to a variety of mammal species including beavers.

Julie Young

I am a research scientist for the USDA and Associate Professor at Utah State University. I received my B.S. degrees at Texas A&M University, a M.S. at Iowa State University, and a Ph.D. at Utah State University. I held postdoc positions with Arizona State University and Wildlife Conservation Society. I am now the project and field station leader for the Predator Research Facility. My research focuses on behavior, ecology, and management of carnivores and their prey. I utilize wild and captive carnivore populations to understand and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Nate Norman

I have over 25 years of practical experience in wetland creation and stream restoration as an environmental consultant and have recently turned my direction to beaver translocation and restoration. I have been working with the team USU’s Fluvial Habitats Center, and I am currently the lead trapper and husbandry researcher for USU’s beaver translocation efforts. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in aquatic biology.

Heather Talley

I have worked for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for ten years. I began beaver translocations via Habitat Council funding in 2012, and has moved a total of 147 beavers. This project has fomented riparian ecosystems at release sites, and has improved relationships with private landowners by alleviating nuisance issues. I have worked with other sections within the agency, federal agencies, political entities, and other constituents to make this project possible. We have started utilizing VHF transmitters on trapped beavers, and hope to gain information pertinent to creating the most optimal conditions for translocation success.