A penguin being transported in a helicopter as part of a wildlife research project caused a crash in South Africa in January. The box containing the bird was being held in the lap of a passenger and it slid off and hit one of the helicopter controls, causing the aircraft to crash. No one was injured, including the penguin, but this is a good lesson to make sure all cargo, living or not, is secured when using aircraft.
Author: Blake Sasse
No Known Biologist Deaths Since 2020
Lest folks think that this site isn’t updated, I’m very happy to report that I am not aware of any biologists or wildlife workers that have died in the United States since 2020. I am continuing to try to verify information on some individuals that I may put on the list in the future and I would like do a summary in 2026 to incorporate the last 25 years of information that were not included in my 2003 article.
May 2024 Update
I found out that for some unknown period of time the actual Memorial List was malfunctioning and not visible. I have fixed that and while it isn’t pretty at the moment, it is there.
USDA Wildlife Services Helicopter Accident
According to news reports, a helicopter contracted by USDA Wildlife Services with two people on board crashed in Boise County, Idaho on February 5th. Both persons were injured. Information on the purpose of the flight has not yet been released.
Are we missing anyone?
I would like to update our list of wildlife biologists and others that have lost their lives while performing wildlife management and research activities. If you know of anyone not on our list please contact me with their information.
In Memoriam – Kevin G. Chapman
Kevin G. Chapman, a biologist working for Schoener Environmental, Inc., was killed in an airplane accident on March 4, 2020 while conducting bald eagle surveys for a wind-power project in Lincoln, IL. Also killed the accident were wildlife biologist Matthew R. Hanson and pilot Mitchell Janssen.
Chapman earned a BS in Zoology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a MS degree in Ecology from Utah State University in 2016. Previously he had worked as a wildlife technician for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and on a number of fish and wildlife projects in the western United States.
Sources: Chicago (Illinois) Sun-Times March, 4, 2020; https://www.owensfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Kevin-Chapman
In Memoriam – Matthew R. Hanson
Matthew R. Hanson, a wildlife biologist working for Schoener Environmental, was killed in an airplane crash on March 3, 2020 while conducting bald eagle surveys related to a wind-power project in Lincoln, Illinois. Also killed in the crash were wildlife biologist Kevin G. Chapman and pilot Mitchell Janssen.
Hanson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point, with a BS in Biology in 2004 and received a MS from Florida Atlantic University after completing a thesis project relating to bald eagles in the Everglades.
Sources: Legacy.com; Chicago (IL) Sun Times, March 4, 2020.
In Memoriam – Brandon White
Brandon White, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife technician, died in a helicopter crash on August 8, 2020 on Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County, Texas while conducting aerial surveys for desert bighorn sheep.
Sources: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department news release, August 9, 2020.
In Memoriam – Dewey Stockbridge
Dewey Stockbridge, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife biologist, died in a helicopter crash on August 8, 2020 on the Black Gap Widlife Management Area in Brewster County, Texas while conducting an aerial survey for desert bighorn sheep.
Sources: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department news release, August 9, 2020.
In Memoriam – Robert Dittmar
Dr. Robert “Bob” Dittmar, state wildlife veterinarian for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, died August 8, 2020 in a helicopter crash on the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County, Texas, while conducting an aerial survey for desert bighorn sheep.
Sources: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department news release August 9, 2020.