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Jason Riddle, Ph.D. is the Douglas R. Stephens Chair in Wildlife, Wisconsin Center for Wildlife (WCW) Director, Professor of Wildlife, and Extension Specialist in the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point. 

Riddle's primary research and conservation interests are focused on songbirds and upland gamebirds.

​Douglas R. Stephens Chair in Wildlife Endowment

The Douglas R. Stephens Endowment provides direct support for the Chair's activities including research, professional travel, graduate student initiatives, faculty-mentored projects, outreach efforts, and it is the primary funding source for the WCW. This endowment, established by Gerald and Helen Stephens, embodies thier commitment to honoring their son's memory and continues to play a vital role in shaping the university community's wildlife program. ​

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​​Upper Mississippi River NWR
Secretive Marsh Bird Occupacy Project​




Ava Cross-Weisbeck

Ava Cross-Weisbeck is a wildlife graduate student co-advised by Riddle and Assitant Professor Marie Perkins, Ph.D. Ava is studying occupancy and habitat use of secretive marsh birds (SBM) on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. She is using a combination of autonomous recording units and call-back surveys to detect SBM. Some of the goals of the project are to determine historical and current occupancy of SBM on the refuge, identify habitat utilized by SBM, and develop a monitoring methodology that can be implemented on federal, state, and private lands. ​

Master Bird Banding Permit Work

Undergraduate Research

​Riddle is working toward receiving a Master Bander Permit from the United States Geologic Survey's (USGS) Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL). Last spring, Riddle hired three students, Josiah Gritter, Sophie Hauser, and Dana Lotz, who are federally sub-permitted to band songbirds and similar species. Together, they are increasing their bird banding expertise and developing protocols geared toward teaching students about avian research, while also providing opportunities for student leaders of bird-focused research projects to gain necessary handling experience and permits. For example, the UW-Stevens Point Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society (TWS) has several student-led research projects which require banding sub-permits, including the Woodpecker Project and Saw-Whet Owl Project, both of which are advised by Riddle.

Riddle's student team spends a couple of days each week using mist-nets to capture local and migrant birds. After capture, each bird is sexed and aged using the Identification Guide to North American Birds and then a uniquely numbered aluminum band is placed on its leg. The team captures and bands birds at locations in central Wisconsin.




Riddle has been extensively involved in facilitating student research and activities related to student professional development outside of the classroom. Riddle served as a faculty advisor for the UW-Stevens Point Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society (TWS) since 2010, and continues in this role as he serves as the WCW Director. The UW-Stevens Point Student Chapter of TWS has won the TWS Student Chapter of the Year award, at least nine times, most recenlty in 2024.

Riddle also advises three of the Chapter's multiple student-led research projects. The projects' objectives may change based on the research interests​​​ of the students leading the project:

​The Woodpecker Project
Capturing and banding woodpeckers at Sandhill Wildlife Area in Babcock, WI

Saw-Whet Owl Project
Capturing and banding Wisconsin's smallest owl, the saw-whet owl at Sandhill Wildlife Area in Babcock, WI.

Ruffed Grouse Project​
Capturing, banding, and radio-tracking ruffed grouse at Treehaven in Tomahawk, WI

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​Professional Service

​Riddle has long served TWS in various capacities in state and regional chapters, and now national level. Riddle serves as the TWS Council Representative for the North Central Section of TWS (NCSTWS). In this role, he primarily serves as a representative and liason between members of the NCSTWS and TWS Council. Additionally, his role on Council inclues serving on several of TWS's committees: Diversity, Fellows, Awards, Position Statement, and he Chairs the Policy Priorities Committee.  The Policy Priorities Committee works closely with TWS staff to identify important policy issues that affect wildlife across North America.