Clint Robins

Clint Robins is a wildlife biologist with years of research experience studying large terrestrial mammals in both the United States and sub-Saharan Africa for domestic and foreign wildlife agencies. He has assisted the U.S. Geological Survey with migratory ungulate responses to renewable energy siting, aided Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife with cougar and black bear responses to urban development, and led monitoring efforts on roan antelope and black rhino in Liwonde National Park for Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

Ph.D. Wildlife Science
University of Washington
2023

M.S. Wildlife Science
University of Washington
2017

B.A. Biology & Environmental Studies
Williams College
2011

Robins’ research aims to improve our understanding of how large animal (particularly carnivore) behavior, ecology and persistence may change as a function of human disturbance and landscape modification. His current research, in collaboration with Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, focuses on changes to black bear behavior as a function of the built environment in western Washington.

Robins has experience in large animal capture, outfitting animals with GPS collars, using remote sensing cameras to monitor wildlife behavior and forensic investigations of predation events. All of his work involves complex statistical modeling (e.g., generalized linear mixed models, multinomial models, resource utilization functions, occupancy models, and hidden Markov models), and emphasizes wildlife conservation and effective wildlife management.

McFeely, A.K., C.W. Robins, J.R. Adams, L.P. Waits, T.P. Quinn, and A.J. Wirsing. 2026. Sex and stream depth affect detection rates of brown bears during annual salmon pulses in southwestern Alaska. Canadian Journal of Zoology 104: 1 – 11.

Robins, C.W., B.N. Kertson, S.M. Kachel, and A.J. Wirsing. 2025. Residential development reduces black bear (Ursus americanus) opportunity to scavenge cougar (Puma concolor) killed prey. Ecology 106(2): e70038. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.70038

Bozzi, N., A. Wirsing, C. Robins, C. Sowers, T. Quinn. 2025. Foraging tactics and success rates of brown bears preying on sockeye salmon in small streams. Journal of Mammalogy 106: 819-831.

Williams, H., S. Dobney, C. Robins, D. Norris, A. Newman, S. Doucet, and D. Mennill. 2024. Familiarity and homogeneity affect the discrimination of a song dialect. Animal Behaviour 209: 9 – 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.12.011

Robins, C., B. Kertson, J. Faulkner, and A. Wirsing. 2019. Effects of urbanization on cougar foraging ecology along the wildland-urban gradient of western Washington. Ecosphere 10(3): e02605. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2605

Williams, H., C. Robins, D. Norris, A. Newman, C. Freeman-Gallant, and N. Wheelwright. 2019. The Buzz Segment of Savannah Sparrow Song is a Population Marker. Journal of Ornithology 160(1): 217 – 227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-018-1611-7

As a visiting assistant professor at Whitman College, Robins teaches multiple courses in the Environmental Studies program as well as a wildlife-centered interdisciplinary course in Spring 2027. As an instructor, he strives to create an inclusive environment in the classroom that emphasizes applied science and experiential learning.

ENVS 207: Methods of Environmental Analysis
An introduction to the analytic methods and tools used to address modern environmental issues and conservation challenges.

ENVS 479: Environmental Citizenship and Leadership
A senior seminar in environmental problem-solving and decision-making, with an emphasis on developing the skills necessary for effective environmental citizenship and leadership.