Species & Ecosystem Science

Project Leads

Matthew Vander Haegen, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist and Eastside Research Team Leader

Dr. Vander Haegen joined WDFW in 1994 and has since focused his research activities on issues related to wildlife populations and habitats in sagebrush-steppe and oak woodland communities. He has 27 years of experience studying wildlife populations and habitat associations in forested and rangeland ecosystems, working previously as a Research Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Maine. Matt's current work includes studies of western gray squirrel population ecology and the potential of Conservation Reserve Program lands to aid in the conservation of shrubsteppe and grassland wildlife. As a member of the graduate faculty at the University of Washington, Matt works with graduate students to help address questions of management concern. He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist.

Current Research

• Home Range and Nest Use by Western Gray Squirrels in the North Cascades
• Ecology of Western Gray Squirrels in South-central Washington
• Ecology of Western Gray Squirrels in the South Puget Trough
• Augmentation and reintroduction of Western Gray Squirrels in the South Puget Trough
• Effects of land use change on shrubsteppe bird communities
• Use of Conservation reserve Program lands by Wildlife
• Modeling western pond turtle populations

Selected Publications

• Nest site selection by western gray squirrels at their northern range terminus
• Vander Haegen, W. M., S. L. Clark, K. M. Perillo, D. A. Anderson, and H. L. Allen. 2009. Survival and causes of mortality of head-started western pond turtles on Pierce National Wildlife Refuge, Washington. Journal of Wildlife Management 73: 1402-1406.
• Vander Haegen, W. M. 2007. Fragmentation by agriculture influences reproductive success of birds in a shrubsteppe landscape. Ecological Applications 17:934-947
• Vander Haegen, W. M., S. M. McCorquodale, C. R. Peterson, G. A. Green, and E. Yensen. 2001. Wildlife communities of eastside shrubland and grassland habitats. Pages 292-316 in D. H. Johnson and T.A. O'Neil, Managing Directors, Wildlife-habitat relationships in Oregon and Washington. University of Oregon Press, Corvallis, Oregon. 736pp.
• Shrubsteppe bird response to habitat and landscape variables in eastern Washington, USA