Breck, Stewart, 2025

Stewart W. Breck was born July 30, 1967, in El Paso, Texas. He began his career as a wildlife ecologist and research wildlife biologist at the USDA Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2001. He also served as an affiliate faculty member at Colorado State University, where his work focused on carnivore ecology, behavior, and human–wildlife conflict mitigation.

Breck earned a B.S. in Fishery and Wildlife Biology and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University, as well as an M.S. in Biology from the University of Nevada. Throughout his career, he led research on nonlethal predator management, evaluating approaches such as range riding, night penning, carcass management, Flashtags, and robotic deterrents to reduce livestock depredation. His work also explored how urbanization influences carnivore populations and behavior.

In this oral history interview, Breck reflects on his 25 year career with the NWRC. He recounts fieldwork tracking predators at night, close collaborations with ranchers to implement innovative deterrents, and ongoing efforts to communicate science in ways that inform policy. His contributions are marked by a steady commitment to balancing ecological rigor with real world challenges. Breck retired from the NWRC in December 2025.