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In memory ofDavid Maehr1955 - 2008Dr. David S. Maehr, renowned wildlife ecologist and conservation biologist, was killed when the single-engine airplane he was riding in crashed on June 20, 2008 near Placid Lakes Airport in central Florida. The pilot, local citrus grove owner and conservationist Mason Smoak, also died. The two men were monitoring radio-collared black bears as part of a multi-year study of the Highlands-Glades County bear population.
Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, Dave received his Bachelor's degree from Ohio State University in 1977 and his Master's degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida in 1980. Dave's work has been of particular importance to the Florida Everglades. Employed by the Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission from 1980 to 1994, he became the preeminent authority on the elusive Florida panther. At a time when no more than 30 panthers were believed to exist in the wild, his radio tracking studies produced ground-breaking information about the species' habits, range, and conservation needs. He also designed and conducted statewide research on the Florida black bear and white-tailed deer. Dave worked closely with Florida ranchers and farmers to preserve habitat for panthers and bears.
![]() Download PDF version of Dave's poster (470 KB) (Please note: PDF files require the Free Adobe Acrobat Reader ® to be read.)
We would like to thank Rebecca Harvey for designing this poster and Archbold Biological Station and the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry for contributing some of the words.
Photographs: David Maehr (background photo), John Cox (Dave holding bear cubs), © www.duiops.net (panther)
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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
This page is: http://sofia.usgs.gov/memorials/maehr/index.html
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Last updated: 29 August, 2008 @ 03:21 PM(KP)