Eric Thacker

Contact Information

Biography

Dr. Eric Thacker is the Chair of the Henry C. Jorgensen Foundation, a professor of Range Ecology and Management and serves as the Range Extension Specialist at Utah State University. A native of Altamont, Utah, Dr. Thacker has dedicated over 20 years to studying and working on rangelands, with a primary focus on sagebrush ecosystems. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Range Science and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from Utah State University, where his doctoral research emphasized sage-grouse habitat management. His areas of expertise include rangeland restoration, livestock and wildlife interactions, wild horse and burro management, grazing systems, and range monitoring. Through his extension and research programs, Dr. Thacker works to promote ecological integrity and long-term sustainability, while addressing the needs of local and regional communities. He is committed to providing objective, science-based information to guide complex rangeland management decisions.

Before returning to Utah State, Dr. Thacker worked as a rangeland scientist at the USDA Southern Plains Range Research Station in Woodward, Oklahoma, and as a postdoctoral researcher at Oklahoma State University. He is actively engaged in professional service, including membership in the Society for Range Management and advisory roles with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit Advisory Committee and the Utah Grazing Improvement Program Technical Board. Dr. Thacker has received multiple awards for his extension work and has authored a wide range of publications and fact sheets on topics such as sagebrush restoration, grazing management, and wildlife habitat assessment. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending time with his family and exploring Utah’s diverse rangelands.