Charles C. Kontos

Charles Kontos is a conservation biologist focusing on the wildlife of New Jersey. For the past decade he has conducted research on fishers, bobcats, cougars, timber rattlesnakes, and red knots. He is credited with the first verification of fishers in New Jersey and has been the main individual to champion fisher conservation throughout the state. Kontos has also participated in field expeditions to study ocelots, tamanduas, jaguars, and tayras in Panama and tropical marine fish in the Caribbean. He holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and a master's degree in Biology from Montclair State University. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution at Rutgers University.

Charles is also available to conduct field courses and presentations on wildlife research, tracking, and local ecology for summer camps, environmental organizations, schools, and government agencies. He has worked with many groups such as the YMCA, Tenafly Nature Center, Crystal Springs Nature Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Nutley Middle School, NJ Academy of Science, Association of NJ Environmental Educators, and the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. If you are interested in booking Charles for an appointment ranging from one-hour powerpoint presentations to full or multi-day field courses, please feel free to contact us.

Charles also provides video-conferences with schools around the world through the Rainforest Connection organized by PRISM at Montclair State University.

UPCOMING APPEARANCE SCHEDULE:
September 9, 2009 - Northeast Fur Biologists Conference - Waretown, NJ
September 20, 2009 - The Wildlife Society meeting - Monterey, CA
September 24, 2009 - Essex County Environmental Center - Roseland, NJ
Novemeber 15, 2009 - Defenders of Wildlife, Carnivores Conference - Denver, CO
January 9, 2010 - Trailside Nature Center - Mountainside, NJ
February 7, 2010 - Closter Nature Center - Closter, NJ

SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:
Extirpation and Reappearance of the Fisher (Martes pennanti) in New Jersey. The Bulletin of New Jersey Academy of Science. Volume 53, Number 3, Fall 2008, pp 1-4.

Assessment of Fish and Decapod Distributions between Mangrove and Seagrass Habitats in St. John, United States Virgin Islands. The Bulletin of New Jersey Academy of Science. Volume 53, Number 2, Summer 2008, pp 7-11.