Mitchell Parsons

S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

Wildland Resources

Mitchell Parsons is a recently graduated PhD student in the Quinney College of Natural Resources working with Dr. Julie Young. His research interests include wildlife conservation and animal behavior, and his dissertation research has investigated the predator-prey interactions between introduced wild pigs and native mountain lions in California. These research efforts required intensive fieldwork tracking wild pigs and mountain lions and an array of statistical analyses to process the collected data. His research activities also extend well beyond his dissertation. Mitchell was a member of the Climate Adaptation Sciences program, is actively involved in three collaborative research efforts using previously collected data, and published manuscripts from two additional research projects while at USU. Prior to joining USU, Mitchell completed his MS at the University of Washington and worked as a wildlife biologist for the Institute for Wildlife Studies. Both of these positions included wildlife research efforts and being actively involved in wildlife conservation activities to recover and protect declining species. Mitchell completed his PhD program in December of 2024 and is currently working as a Biometrician with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.