Eric Thacker

Wildland Resources Dept

Range Management Specialist


Eric Thacker

Contact Information

Office Location: Logan Campus | NR 144
Phone: 435-770-6156
Email: eric.thacker@usu.edu

Educational Background

PhD, Wildlife Sciences, Utah State University, 2010
Greater Sage-Grouse Seasonal Ecology and response to Habitat Manipulation in Northern, Utah.

Awards

US Extension Specialist Award, 2023

Utah Association of County Agricultural Agents

Extension Cooperator, 2020

USU Extension Specialist Association

Range Manager of the Year, 2016

Utah Section of Society for Range Managament


    Publications | Book Chapters

  • Thacker, E., Dahlgren, D., Stoner, D., Clayton, M., (2023). A Perspective on Rangeland and Wildlife Disciplines: Similarities Over Differences: Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Springer International Publishing
  • Busby, F.E, Thacker, E., (2023). Rangeland Ecoregions of Western North America. In Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
  • Scasata, , Thacker, E., (2023). Role and management of fire in rangelands. In Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Fact Sheets

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

  • Barkat, Z., Ulrich-Schad, J.D, Thacker, E., (2025). Ranchers’ Views of Smart Foodscapes: Applied and Methodological Insights. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 98, 293-296. doi: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.08.027
  • Jablokski, , Thacker, E., (2024). Principles for successful livestock grazing management on western US rangelands.
  • Barkat, Z., Schad, J., Thacker, E., (2024). Ranchers’ Views of Smart Foodscapes: Applied and Methodological Insights. Rangeland Ecology & Management
  • Wilmer, , Thacker, E., (2024). Resilience is not enough: toward a more meaningful rangeland adaptation science.
  • Bailey, E., Thacker, E., Monaco, T., Veblen, K.E, (2024). Transplanted “wildlings” exhibit higher survival than greenhouse-grown tubelings yet both recruit new plants. BMC Ecology and Evolution
  • Bailey, E.C, Thacker, E., Monaco, T.A, Veblen, K.E, (2024). Transplanted sagebrush “wildlings” exhibit higher survival than greenhouse-grown tubelings yet both recruit new plants. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 24:1, doi: 10.1186/s12862-024-02236-z
  • Cohen, E., Decker, T., Thacker, E., (2023). Evaluating targeted grazing as a fuels treatment. . Journal of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Volume 16:2
  • Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Gunnell, K., Thacker, E., Monaco, T.A, (2023). Resistance and resilience framework predicts vegetation responses to shrub reduction treatments in the sagebrush ecosystem. Rangeland Ecology & Management
  • Veblen, K.E, Nehring, K., Duniway, M., Knight, A., Fick, S., Monaco, T., Schupp, E.W, Boettinger, J.L, Villalba, J., Brungard, C., Thacker, E., (2022). Soil depth and precipitation moderate soil textural effects on survival of sagebrush plantings on the Colorado Plateau . Restoration Ecology, 30, e13700.
  • Riginos, C., Monaco, T.A, Veblen, K.E, Gunnell, K., Thacker, E., Dahlgren, D., Messmer, T.A, (2019). Potential for post-fire recovery of Greater Sage-grouse habitat. Ecosphere, 10:11, e02870.
  • Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Gunnell, K., Thacker, E., Monaco, T., (2019). Disturbance type and sagebrush community affect plant community structure following sagebrush reduction. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 72, 619-631.
  • Rigby, C., Jensen, K., Creech, J.E, Thacker, E., Waldron, B., Derner, J., (2018). Establishment and Trends in Persistence of Selected Perennial Cool-Season Grasses in the Western United States. Range Ecology and Management, 71, 681-690.
  • Tanner, E.P, Elmore, R.D, Davis, C.A, Fuhlendorf, S.D, Dahlgren, D., Thacker, E., Orange, J.P, (2016). Does the presence of oil and gas infrastructure potentially increase risk of harvest in northern bobwhite?. Wildlife Biology, 22:6, 294–304.
  • Orange, J.P, Davis, C.A, Elmore, R.D, Tanner, E.P, Fuhlendorf, S.D, Thacker, E., (2016). Evaluating the efficacy of brood flush counts: a case study in two quail species. Western North American Naturalist, 76:4, 8.
  • Thacker, E., Hamm, R.L, Hagen, J., Davis, C.A, Guthery, F., (2016). Evaluation of the Surrogator® system to increase pheasant and quail abundance. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 40:2, 310–315.
  • Thacker, E., Springer, T.L, (2016). Preference of pen-reared northern bobwhite among native plant seeds of the sand sagebrush-mixed prairie. The Southwestern Naturalist, 61, 307-311.
  • Braithwaite, H., Bateman, T.M, Veblen, K.E, Thacker, E., Villalba, J., (2016). Identification of elk preferences for different diet supplements. The Wildlife Society Bulletin, 40, 368-374.
  • Tanner, E.P, Elmore, R.D, Fuhlendorf, S.D, Davis, C.A, Thacker, E., Dahlgren, D., (2015). Behavioral responses at distribution extremes: how artificial surface water can affect quail movement patterns. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 68:6, 476–484.
  • Dahlgren, D., Larsen, R.T, Danvir, R., Wilson, G., Thacker, E., Black, T., Naugle, D.E, Connelly, J.W, Messmer, T.A, (2015). Greater sage-grouse and range management: insights from a 25-year case study in Utah and Wyoming. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 68:5, 375–382.
  • Carroll, J.M, Davis, C.A, Elmore, R.D, Fuhlendorf, S.D, Thacker, E., (2015). Thermal patterns constrain diurnal behavior of a ground-dwelling bird. Ecosphere, 6:11, 1–15.
  • Tanner, E., Elmore, D., Fuhlendorf, S., Davis, C., Thacker, E., Dahlgren, D., (2015). Behavioral responses at distribution extremes: How artificial surface water can affect quail movement patterns. . Range Ecology and Management, 68:6, 476-484.
  • Carrol, M., Davis, C., Elmore, D., Fuhlendorf, S., Thacker, E., (2015). Thermal patterns constrain diurnal behavior of a ground-dwelling bird. Ecosphere
  • Thacker, E., Scasta, J., Hovick, T., Engle, D., (2015). Patch-burn grazing (PBG) as a livestock management alternative for fire-prone ecosystems of North America. RENEWABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS1, 1-18.
  • Dahlgren, D., Larsen, R., Danvir, R., Wilson, G., Thacker, E., Naugle, D., Black, T., Messmer, T.A, (2015). Sage-grouse response to sagebrush treatments: Insights from a 23-year case study in Utah. Rangeland Management and Ecology - Society for Range Management, 68:5, 375-382.
  • Thacker, E., Messmer, T.A, Burritt, E., (2015). Daubenmire vs Line Point Intercept as Cover Measurements for Sage-Grouse Habitat. Rangelands, 37, 7-13.
  • Thacker, E., Gardner, D.R, Messmer, T.A, Guttery, M.R, Dahlgren, D.K, (2012). Using gas chromatography to determine winter diets of greater sage-grouse in Utah. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 76:3, 588–592.
  • Dahlgren, D., Messmer, T.A, Thacker, E., Guttery, M.R, (2010). Evaluation of brood detection techniques: recommendations for estimating greater sage-grouse productivity. Western North American Naturalist, 70:2, 233–237.

In-House Journal

    Professional Journal

    • Dahlgren, D., Messmer, T.A, Crabb, B.A, Larsen, R.T, Black, T., Frey, S., Thacker, E., Baxter, R.J, Robinson, J.D, (2016). Seasonal movements of greater sage-grouse populations in Utah: Implications for species conservation. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 40, 288–299.
    • Dahlgren, D., Messmer, T.A, Crabb, B., Larsen, R., Black, T., Frey, S., Thacker, E., Baxter, R., Robinson, J., (2016). Seasonal movements of greater sage-grouse populations in Utah: Implications for species conservation.. Wildlife Society Bulletin , 40, 288 - 300.
    • Messmer, T.A, Thacker, E., (2013). Greater Sage-Grouse Sex Ratios: Does the Evidence Support the Assumption? Journal of Wildlife Management. Journal of Wildlife Management, 77, 1593-1597.
    • Guttery, M., Messmer, T.A, Thacker, E., (2013). GREATER SAGE-GROUSE (CENTROCERCUS UROPHASIANUS) SEX RATIOS: . Journal of wildlife management, 8:77, 1593-1597.

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Publications | MultiMedia

    Audio

    Video

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Publications | Technical Reports

    Research Reports

      Other Reports

      • Thacker, E., Twidwell, D., (2014). Synthesis of the effect of fire on lesser prairie‐chickens. Great Plains Fire Science Exchange

      An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

      Publications | Other

      Bulletins

      • Wilde, T., Thacker, E., (2024). mpact of the 2023 Central Utah Grazing Expo.
      • Dahlgren, D.K, Thacker, E., Messmer, T.A, (2015). What does a sage-grouse eat?. Utah State University Extension

      Other

        An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

        Teaching

        WILD 4000, 6900 - Graduate Special Topics, Spring 2024
        WILD 4000 - Principles of Rangeland Management, Spring 2023
        WILD 4000, 6900 - Graduate Special Topics, Spring 2022
        WILD 4000, 6900 - Graduate Special Topics, Spring 2021
        WILD 4000 - Principles of Rangeland Management, Spring 2020
        WILD 4000, 6900 - Principles of Rangeland Management, Spring 2019
        WILD 4000, 6900 - Graduate Special Topics, Spring 2018
        WILD 4000, 6900 - Principles of Range Management, Spring 2018
        WILD 4000, 6900 - Graduate Special Topics, Spring 2017
        WILD 4000 - Principles of Range Management, Spring 2017
        WILD 4000 - Principles of Range Management, Spring 2016
        WILD 4000, 6900 - Principles of Rangeland Management, Spring 2016
        WILD 4000 - Principles of Rangeland Management, Spring 2015

        Extension

        State-Wide Extension Efforts, 2024 - Ongoing
        Natural Resources, 2020 - Ongoing
        Managing Grazing Before, During and After Drought, 2020 - Ongoing
        Wild Horses and Burros, 2019 - Ongoing
        Utah Rangeland Extension, 2013 - 2013

        Graduate Students Mentored

        Mike Anderson, Wildland Resources, August 2018
        Ruger Carter, Wildland Resources, August 2018
        Rayce Bryan, Wildland Resources, August 2019 - June 2021