Abby Thiemkey | Ohio Coyote

Abby Thiemkey

Alumni, The Ohio State University

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Abby graduated from Michigan State University in 2019 with a BS in Zoology and a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife. Throughout her time as an undergraduate and postbaccalaureate she participated in research throughout Michigan as well as in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. She has worked with spotted hyenas, black bears, wolves, white-tailed deer, feral pigs, bobcats, and urban wildlife. She also spent time working as a wildlife specialist in California focusing on wildlife damage mitigation and techniques with USDA Wildlife Services. Abby is broadly interested in the ecology, behavior, and management of carnivores, with special interests in human-wildlife interactions, population ecology, foraging ecology, and predator-prey relationships.

Abby’s research focused on coyote ecology and livestock management throughout the state of Ohio. Her work used stable isotope analysis to examine diet composition of coyotes across different regions of Ohio. She is also investigated population demography of coyotes throughout the state. Her career goal is to conduct sound science that contributes to impactful management and conservation decisions for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Abby graduated with a Master of Science from OSU in Summer 2024 and is now pursuing a PhD at University of Maryland.

Field Notes

Woman at a podium giving a presentation before a crowd. Slide shows title "Population Demographic patterns of coyotes (Canis latrans) in Ohio"

Community connection

Here, There, and Everywhere

Project staff present at wildlife conferences at the local, national, and international levels

We can't stop talking about coyotes! Abby Thiemkey and Courtney Anderson have been presenting preliminary results from our project at conferences at all levels. Topics include population demographics of Ohio's coyotes, how their diets differ on an individual level, and how diet differs in different parts of the state.

Courtney and Abby stand at their information table at the OSTA convention.

Community connection

Trapper Connections

Our team is working with Ohio trappers

We had a table at this month's Ohio State Trappers Association Convention to spread the word about our project.

Image of Courtney giving a talk in front of projector screen showing image of a coyote and a map of the eastward range expansion of coyotes.

Community connection

Project Outreach

Sharing our knowledge and research goals with Ohio public

Project team members participate in Five Rivers MetroParks EcoTalks series, giving talks on our research on coyote-livestock conflict and the changing carnivore community in Ohio.