Christopher Yahnke

Christopher Yahnke is a Professor in the Division of Wildlife at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's College of Natural Resources. He has also served as Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor of Biology at the same institution since 2001, following a prior Assistant Professor role at Clarke University.

• Ph.D. and M.S. in Biology from Northern Illinois University
• B.S. in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Dr. Yahnke’s research spans three pillars: community ecology of bats and small mammals in agricultural and tropical ecosystems, museum science utilizing ancient DNA for species systematics, and science education innovations through the Animal Diversity Web project. His work on hantavirus transmission in rodent populations has significant public health implications.

Recent publications highlight ecological fieldwork, genetic analysis, and pedagogical methods. Key themes include invasive species dynamics in the Great Lakes, postmortem morphological studies, and biodiversity conservation in Paraguay. His 1996 study on Darwin’s fox remains foundational for canid taxonomy.

As Curator of Birds and Mammals at the UW-Stevens Point Museum of Natural History, Yahnke bridges research and public engagement. He actively participates in campus governance and environmental organizations like the Citizen Science Association.