David Parsons - Project Coyote

DAVID R. PARSONS, MS

David Parsons received his Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University and his Master of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology from Oregon State University. Dave is retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service where from 1990-1999 he led the USFWS’s effort to reintroduce the endangered Mexican gray wolf to portions of its former range in the Southwest.

Dave’s interests include the ecology and conservation of large carnivores, protection and conservation of biodiversity, and wildlands conservation at scales that fully support ecological and evolutionary processes. He is a science fellow of The Rewilding Institute and is the Institute’s Carnivore Conservation Biologist. Dave was a graduate advisor in the Environmental Studies Master of Arts Program at Prescott College, Arizona from 2002-2008. He is an advisor to Lobos of the Southwest, a coalition that advocates for recovery of the Mexican wolf in the Southwest.

In 2001, Dave was a co-recipient of the New Mexico Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s annual “Professional Award.” In April 2007 at the North American Wolf Conference, Dave received the 2006 “Alpha Award” for his “outstanding professional achievement and leadership toward the recovery of Mexican wolves.” In May 2008 Dave received the “Outstanding Conservation Leadership Award” from the Wilburforce Foundation and the “Mike Seidman Memorial Award” from the Sky Island Alliance for his conservation achievements.

Dave enjoys wildlife viewing, wilderness backpacking, and dancing. He lives in Albuquerque, NM, with his wife, Noralyn.