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KRIS J. HUNDERTMARK

DISTINGUISHED MOOSE BIOLOGIST - 2007 RECIPIENT

The Distinguished Moose Biologist Award 
was presented to Dr. Kris J. Hundertmark at the 
43rd North American Moose Conference and  
Workshop, held at the University of Northern 
British Columbia in Prince George, British 
Columbia, Canada, 2-7 June 2007, in recognition 
of his numerous contributions to improving 
our understanding of moose biology and 
management.  

Kris is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State 
University (BS 1976), Oregon State University 
(MS 1981), and the University of Alaska Fairbanks 
(PhD 2001).  He spent 21 years (1982-2002) 
with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
working principally on the ecology, nutrition, 
and management of moose; much of this work 
was conducted at the Moose Research Center on 
the Kenai Peninsula. He also was employed as 
a Conservation Geneticist with The Zoological 
Society of London, stationed at the King Khalid 
Wildlife Research Centre in Thumamah, Saudi 
Arabia from 2003-2005.  Since 2005, he has held the 
position of Assistant Professor in the Department 
of Biology and Wildlife, and the Institute of Arctic 
Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  

Kris is a critical and innovative thinker who 
continues to be a productive scientist and whose 
research will aid in resolving issues related to the 
management of moose.  Indeed, Kris has published 
>30 articles on moose (21 papers in Alces), 

including an influential chapter in the “Moose 
Book” on home range, migration, and dispersal.  
His scientific interests in moose are extremely 
broad, and cover topics ranging from reproduction 
to disease.  His research on genetics and evolution 
has revolutionized modern concepts dealing with 
the origins of moose and their colonization of 
the New World.  His work on genetics extends to 
understanding effects of harvest on moose antlers, 
and the role of genetics in the management and 
conservation of this unique large mammal.  His 
current collaborations in Alaska will integrate 
genetics with the landscape ecology of moose.  
Indeed, no other person has published as many 
papers on the genetics of moose as Kris. 

Kris has been an active participant in the 
North American Moose Conference and Workshop 
as well as the International Moose Conference.  
He never failed to participate in auctions, some 
of which he was able to recall.  He has attended 
seven moose conferences and helped organize one 
North American conference (in Anchorage) and one 
International Conference (in Fairbanks).  He was 
an invited speaker at the International Conference 
in Norway.  He has published numerous papers in 
Alces since 1990, and served as a reviewer and 
Associate Editor for the journal, as well as playing 
a major role for Supplement 2 (the Russian papers).  
He also has contributed articles to the Moose 
Call.  In short, he has made regular and important 
contributions to understanding the biology of 
moose and clearly is a dedicated “mooser.”

The North American Moose Conference and 
Workshop is proud to recognize over a quarter 
century of professional experience, devoted 
mostly to moose, by Dr. Kris J. Hundertmark, 
the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Moose 
Biologist Award.