In 1998, two aspiring wildlife biologists found themselves pursuing bear hair in the backcountry of Glacier National Park, often near Sinopah Mountain in the Two Medicine area.  Little did they know that this humble beginning, as interns on a study to estimate abundance of grizzly bears using relatively new techniques, would set them on nearly parallel paths for the next decade.  Sinopah Wildlife Research Associates is the product of a 22-year collaboration and friendship between these two biologists.  

Our mission at Sinopah is to produce scientifically rigorous answers to important questions in wildlife research, management and conservation.  We emphasize and specialize in techniques that minimize the impacts on our study populations, both for the benefit of the animals and because these methods often represent the best methods for the question at hand.

Click here to view a list and PDF files of Our Publications.

Our Wildlife Researchers

Michael A. Sawaya (Principal)
PhD, Fish & Wildlife Biology, Montana State University
Carnivore Ecologist

Mike earned his BSc in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana in 1997 and received his PhD in Fish and Wildlife Management from Montana State University in 2012.  Mike has worked on grizzly and black bears in Glacier and Banff National Parks, cougars in Yellowstone National Park, black bears in eastern North America, and wolverines in western North America.  Mike is active in professional wildlife organizations and enjoys mentoring graduate students.  Through his research, Mike seeks to understand how wildlife populations respond to environmental changes and to apply that information for more effective conservation and management.  When Mike is not investigating bear bathtubs, tracking cougars or wrangling carnivore hair, he enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, and adventuring with his wife and two sons.  Click here to see Mike's CV (pdf).

Jeffrey B. Stetz (Emeritus)
PhD, Wildlife Biology, University of Montana
Certified Wildlife Biologist ©

Jeff earned his MSc (2008) and PhD (2017) in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana.  He was co-PI on three large studies of grizzly and black bear demography in Montana from 2000 through 2010.  Jeff has helped develop several sampling and analytical tools, including SNPs for river otters and noninvasive monitoring methods for bears on three continents.  He is actively involved with mentoring wildlife graduate students, volunteering for several non-profit organizations, and is an Associate Editor at the Journal of Wildlife Management.  Click here to see Jeff's CV (pdf).