Eric Thacker

Wildland Resources Dept

Range Management Specialist


Eric Thacker

Contact Information

Office Location: NR 144 / USU Campus
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

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Fact Sheets

  • Dahlgren, D., Messmer, T.A, Thacker, E., (2016). Considerations for Sage-Grouse Management Objectives. USU Extension
  • Dahlgren, D., Messmer, T.A, Thacker, E., (2016). Considerations for Sage-Grouse Management Objectives. Utah State University Extension
  • Dahlgren, D., Thacker, E., Messmer, T.A, (2015). What does a Sage-grouse Eat?. USU Extension Fact Sheet
  • Burritt, E., Monaco, T., Thacker, E., (2014). Should Ranchers Value Sagebrush? Why We Need Sagebrush. Utah State University Extension

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

  • 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

      Other

        An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

        Teaching

        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

        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

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