Jay received his Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from Cornell University, M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from South Dakota State University, and B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont. His dissertation and post-doctoral research focused on controlling suburban raccoon rabies via a novel bait station and overabundant deer populations via fertility control, respectively. Jay also served as a tenured wildlife professor at the University of North Dakota where he conducted applied research and taught courses on mammalogy, large mammal ecology and management, and human dimensions of wildlife. Jay is a long-standing member of The Wildlife Society, a Certified Wildlife Biologist®, and a two-term Board Member of the Wildlife Damage Management Working Group. Jay has produced 20+ peer-reviewed journal publications and has presented at numerous conferences.