About

Travis is a certified Research Wildlife Biologist for the Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity (TED) Program of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He is based in Fairbanks, AK, but works throughout the state to answer important conservation questions on rare, declining, or stewardship species.

Travis represented the State of Alaska on the Pacific Flyway Council Nongame Technical Committee from 2014-2023 where he participated in drafting migratory bird regulations and coordinating conservation programs across western North America. He also serves as chair, board member, or committee chair of a variety of professional societies and non-profit organizations to advance the field of wildlife biology.

Travis first discovered his love for the Arctic in 1998 while assisting his undergraduate advisor studying Peregrine Falcons in Greenland. He returned there to conduct his masters research on Gyrfalcons followed by an adventurous expedition overwintering at the summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet working for the National Science Foundation. A unique population of Gyrfalcons in Alaska drew him back to the USA for his PhD, where has has remained since 2004.

Travis enjoys the challenge of complex event planning – be it multi-month remote field camps, scientific conferences and workshops, or non-profit events. This includes being the Fairbanks Checkpoint Manager for the Yukon Quest – the world’s toughest 1,000-mile sled dog race based in Fairbanks, AK. Each year, Travis organizes dozens of mushers, 100 volunteers, 500+ sled dogs, and thousands of spectators to ensure the start and finish of the Yukon Quest go off without a hitch. This a perfect example of the fast-pace, complex, rapidly evolving type of event that Travis excels at.

When not working, Travis enjoys a slower-paced life while floating, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and skiing across Alaska’s remote, wild landscapes. He believes that less is more and lives in a one room cabin north of town without running water.