Dr. Alexander at RCGS (2024)

Shelley M. Alexander

PhD, FRCGS

Positions

Professor

Faculty of Arts, Department of Geography

Contact information

Email

smalexan@ucalgary.ca

Web presence

UCalgary Living with Wildlife

Research Lab

Background

Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy Geography, University of Calgary, 2001

M.S. Geography, University of Calgary, 1997

B. Commerce General Business Administration, University of Alberta, 1989

Alexander CV_2025_Jan

Biography

Shelley is one of Canada's few international experts in wild canid ecology, specializing in coyotes and wolves. She also was a pioneer in the use of geospatial analysis in wildlife conservation and road ecology. Shelley is a Full Professor in the Department of Geography (UofC) and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (FRCGS).

Shelley leads the Canid Conservation Science Lab (@canid_lab), which practices non-invasive field methods and promotes the principles of Compassionate Conservation. Shelley led the Calgary Coyote Project (2005-2012), studying the relationship between coyote feeding ecology, human behaviour, media portrayal and conflict with coyotes: She also launched an on-line citizen-science mapping tool to monitor human-coyote interactions in Calgary. Subsequently, Shelley spearheaded the Foothills Coyote Initiative, FCI, (2015-present). Funded by SSHRC, the FCI employs mixed methods (interviews, field ecology, geospatial analysis) to explore landowners situational knowledge about coyotes, wildlife and ecosystem conservation. Since 2018 this project expanded to investigate the behaviour, ecology, social intelligence of, and human-disturbance effects on, coyote families living in the urban, peri-urban and rural environments of the FCI. This intensive research involves remote cameras, ground tracking, and direct observations. Her other research collaborations include: swift fox habitat analysis (Calgary Zoo), large carnivores and road effects in the Yucatan, MX (University de Campeche), hurricane effects on howler monkeys in Belize (UofC), and painted wolf conservation in Zimbabwe (Painted Dog Trust). Shelley teaches Animal Geography, Biogeography, Conservation GIS, Philosophy of Science in Geography, and Worldviews in Geography.

In 2020, Shelley held the Inaugural Fellow of Applied Ethics at the Calgary Institute for Humanities (CIH) where she explored wildlife oppression at the nexus of animal ethics, canadian laws, and colonialism. Shelley currently serves as the Scientific Director of Campus Wildlife at UofC, overseeing coexistence programming for UCalgary Living with Wildlife, related co-existence monitoring, program implementation and outreach (see website). This program was a finalist in the 31st Alberta Emerald Awards competition.

Shelley currently is both an elected community member on Senate and a member of the Board of Governors at UofC. She also is a member of the Executive Council for the CIH. Shelley previously was a member of the Board of Directors for the Society of Conservation Biology (N. America) and the Miistakis Institute of the Rockies (MRU), participated in the IUCN-Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, and enjoyed 7 years on the Calgary Foundation Environment and Recreation Grants committee. Shelley mobilizes science by engagement with media, outreach public presentations, and volunteer guided hikes.

Shelley thrives on time in nature observing wildlife, monitoring coyotes, walking with her dogs, and riding her horse in the Alberta Foothills. 

Research

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Human dynamics in a changing world

New earth-space technologies

One health

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
GEOG 699/697 Philosophy and Nature of Physical & Human Geography Fall 2023
GEOG 699 Philosophy and Nature of Physical Geography Fall 2022
GEOG 699 Philosophy and Nature of Physical Geography Fall 2021
GEOG 430 Animal Geography Winter 2023
GEOG 430 Animal Geography Winter 2021
Ways of Knowing GEOG 483 Fall 2020

Publications

  • “Canid livestock predation research has become more robust, but gaps remain”. Plotsky, K., S.M. Alexander, and M. Musiani.. Global Ecology and Conservation. (2024)
  • “Coyote killing: where species and identities collide.”. Alexander, S.M., D.L. Draper, and A. Boesel.. Society and Animals. SOAN-2429.. (2023)
  • “A comparison of canid depredation research published in journal and gray literature.”. Plotsky, K., S.M. Alexander, D. Draper, and M. Musiani.. Human Dimensions of Wildlife.. (2022)
  • “Incorporating geographic context into coyote and wolf livestock depredation research.”. Plotsky, K., S.M. Alexander, M. Musiani, and D. Draper.. he Canadian Geographer . 66: 450–461. . (2022)
  • “Aligning human and coyote welfare.” . Boesel, A. and S.M. Alexander.. Canadian Wildlife, Biology & Management.. 9(2):152-158. (2020)
  • “Recognizing animal personhood in compassionate conservation.” . Wallach, A.D., Batavia, C. Bekoff, M. Alexander, S., Baker, et al.. Conservation Biology. . 34(5):1097-1106. (2020)
  • “Vias de comuicacion Terrestre vs. fauna: la experienca global.”. Benitez, J.A., S.M. Alexander, G. Pozo-Montuy, and M. Sanches-Acuna.. In J.A. Benitez, Vehicular Impact on Wildlife in the Yucatan, MX.El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.. pp 23-60. (2021)
  • “Factores que modifican el nivel de impacto de la vias de comunicacion Terrestre sobre la fauna.”. Benitez, J.A., S.M. Alexander, G. Pozo-Montuy, and G. Tellez Torez.. In J.A. Benitez, Vehicular Impact on Wildlife in the Yucatan, MX.El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.. pp 61-93. (2021)
  • “Distribucion de especies en la zona de efecto de la Carretera 186, en la region de Calakmul.”. Brichieri-Colombi, T. A., and S.M. Alexander.. In J.A. Benitez, Vehicular Impact on Wildlife in the Yucatan, MX.El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.. pp 253-272. (2021)
  • “Elementos de evaluacion Ambiental estrategica para el proyecto Tren Maya.”. Benitez, J.A., and S.M. Alexander. In J.A. Benitez, Vehicular Impact on Wildlife in the Yucatan, MX.El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.. pp 532-575. (2021)
  • “Impacto de la via ferrea y del crecemiento turistico asociado al Tren Maya: medidas de mitigacion y cambios al diseno para las reservas de Calakmul y Balam-ku.”. Benitez, J.A., G. Pozo-Montuy, S.M. Alexander, J.A. Vargas-Contreras, et al.. In J.A. Benitez, Vehicular Impact on Wildlife in the Yucatan, MX.El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.. pp 576-634. (2021)
  • “Tendencias del impacto de las vias de comunicacion sobre la fauna silvestre: conclusions para las ANP del sureste de Mexico y previsions ante el Tren Maya.”. Benitez, J.A., C.J. Pacheco, G. Enscalona-Segura, G. Pozo-Montuy, S.M. Alexander, et al. G. Escalona-Segura, et al.. In J.A. Benitez, Vehicular Impact on Wildlife in the Yucatan, MX. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.. pp 653-. (2021)
  • “Worldviews and Coexistence with Coyotes.”. Alexander, S.M. and D.L. Draper.. In B. Frank et. al, Ed. Rethinking Co-existence. Oxford Press.. pp. 313-341. (2019)

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