Sandra L. MacDougall M.E.Des
Discipline/Program
Science & Engineering
Biology
Department
Donald School of Business, Science, and Technology
Phone
403.314.2492
Email
sandra [dot] macdougall [at] rdpolytech [dot] ca
Biography
Sandra MacDougall has been teaching in the biology program at Red Deer Polytechnic since 1995. Her research areas include road ecology, wildlife-human interaction risk assessment, and wildlife biology. Sandra was a core member of the development team of the Alberta Wildlife Watch Program, a province-wide safety program that collects and analyzes real-time animal carcass data to identify hotspots and integrates wildlife vehicle collision reduction considerations into transportation planning. She and her students are currently working on a three-year urban wildlife study in the City of Red Deer.
Education
M.E.Des. (Environmental Science), University of Calgary
B.Sc. (Biology), University of Victoria
Main Areas of Teaching
Introductory Evolutionary Biology (majors and non-majors), Principles of Ecology, Invertebrate Zoology, Student Research Opportunities in Science, Science and Society
Scholarly Activity
Current Research:
- North Highway Connector Project: assessing the wildlife use in and around an underpass and associated wildlife fencing built in conjunction with the North Highway Connector ring road around Red Deer (highway opens in 2022)
- Highway 63 Wildlife Movement Monitoring Study. Project team member.
- Development and deployment of Alberta Wildlife Watch which includes (1) a cellphone application; (2) collision-prone location analysis; (3) mitigation policy, standards and guidelines; and (4) long-term performance analysis. Project team member.
Journal Articles:
- Sakals, M.E., D.J. Wilford, D.W. Wellwood and S.L. MacDougall. 2010. Active fans and grizzly bears: reducing risks for wilderness campers. Geomorphology 115: 305–314
Reports:
- MacDougall, S. 2010. Bear-Human Interactions in the Ä’äy Chù’ Valley and Sheep Bullion Plateau, Kluane National Park and Reserve, 2005-2009 Update. Prepared for Parks Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.
- Sakals, M.E., D.J. Wilford, D.W. Wellwood, and S.L. MacDougall. Innovations. Active fans and grizzly bear: reducing risks for wilderness campers. March/April 2010 Issue http://innovation.digitalityworks.com/issues/2010/MarApr/issue.aspx
- Clevenger, A.P., A.F. Ford and S. MacDougall. 2008. Strategies Workshop on the Reduction of Animal-Vehicle Collisions on Alberta’s Roadways. Synthesis and Recommendations. Prepared for Alberta Transportation.
- MacDougall, S. and M. Young. 2005. Bear-Human Interactions in the Ä’äy Chù’ Valley and Sheep Bullion Plateau, Kluane National Park and Reserve, 1998-2004. Prepared for Parks Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.
- MacDougall, S. 2008. Hiker-bear interactions within the Shàr Ndã Chù’/Duke, Dän Zhür Chù/Donjek river valleys and the frontcountry highway corridor areas within and adjacent to Kluane National Park and Reserve. Prepared for Parks Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.
- Wellwood, D. and S. MacDougall. 2008. Risk Assessments of bear-human interaction: Ä′äy Chù (Slims River) Valley, Cottonwood Trail and Alsek River Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon - 2005/2006 Update and Addendum. Prepared for Parks Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.
- MacDougall, S. 2009. Bear-Human Interactions along the Chilkoot Trail, 2002-2008. Prepared for Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site, Parks Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon.
- MacDougall, F. Wall, M. Wall and C. Wong. 1997. A grizzly bear risk assessment of campsites in the Slims Valley – Sheep Mountain Area of Kluane National Park and Reserve. Prepared for Parks Canada, Haines Junction, Yukon Territory.
- MacDougall, S., W. McCrory, and S. Herrero. 1997. A study of grizzly (Ursus arctos) and black bear (U. americanus) food habits and habitat use, and a bear hazard assessment of the Rabbitkettle Lake area of Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories. Technical report submitted to Parks Canada, Fort Simpson, NWT.
Conference Presentations:
- MacDougall, S., K. Langlois, S. Legaree, B. Wigmore, & D. Carter. May 2017. Use of a smartphone application to collect animal carcass data along Highway 63 in Alberta, Canada. International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, Salt Lake City, Utah. Oral Presentation.
- MacDougall, S., K. Langlois, S. Legaree, B. Wigmore, & D. Carter. March 2017. Use of a smartphone application to collect animal carcass data along Highway 63 in Alberta, Canada. Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Lac La Biche, Alberta. Oral Presentation.
- Corsiatto, T., N. Dyck, K. Lehman, and S. MacDougall. March 2017. Photomonitoring of a Wildlife Underpass and Fencing in the Red Deer River Valley Prior to final construction of the North Highway Connector around the City of Red Deer. Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Lac La Biche, Alberta. Poster Presentation.
Professional Memberships:
- Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society
Professional and/or RDP Leadership:
- Red Deer Polytechnic Annual Student Science Conference, 2012 – present
- Red Deer Polytechnic Science Workshops and Summer Camps, 2012 – present
- Alberta Curriculum Articulation Committee (Biology) 2012 - present
Awards and Honours:
- Red Deer College Award of Excellence 2005 for extraordinary contribution to the success of Red Deer College through support of learning, community involvement, innovation, service provision, academic scholarship or teaching above and beyond the expectation for the individual’s normal role at the College.
- National Association for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award (NISOD) Recipient 2005, Austin, Texas.
- 2009 Red Deer Community Foundation Women of Excellence Award Recipient in the category “Agriculture and Environment”.