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.

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.