Our Team

We have an experienced team of biologists, veterinarians, and field technicians.
With over 20 years of experience in the field, we bring a unique perspective to wildlife projects.

From capturing vultures in Botswana and Argali sheep in Mongolia to training government biologists to solve wild pig problems in Bhutan or deer management problems in Japan, Dr. DeNicola and his team have tackled difficult field conditions, community relations concerns, and political challenges to drive change in our relationship with, and understanding of, wildlife.  

Dr. Anthony DeNicola

Founder / CEO

Tony received a M.S. from Yale school of Forestry and his Ph.D. from Purdue University in wildlife ecology. His dissertation was entitled "Control of reproduction in overabundant white-tailed deer populations." In addition to being recognized as a Certified Wildlife Biologist by the Wildlife Society, he holds research affiliate positions with the University of Georgia and the Denver Zoological Society. Dr. DeNicola has worked on hundreds of field projects, produced 30+ publications in reputable scientific journals, and has presented at numerous professional conferences.

Ryan Rodts

Sr. Wildlife Biologist

Ryan joined White Buffalo Inc. in 1998 and is instrumental in the success of our programs. As a Certified Wildlife Biologist, he has worked across nearly every WBI project, ranging from population estimates and surgical sterilizations to large-scale eradications.  He received his Bachelor's degree in wildlife management from Purdue University in 1997. 

Dane Stevens

Wildlife Biologist

Dane joined the WBI team full time in 2016.  He received a BS degree in Environmental Science from The Colorado College where he studied the changing economic opportunities available to rural communities adjacent to large-scale hydroelectric development projects in the Patagonia region of Chile.  Dane then went on to gain a M.S. degree in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho in 2012 where he was focused on the ecological restoration of watersheds.  In this capacity, he carried out ecological monitoring of riparian and rangelands ecosystems adjacent to an extensive spring creek restoration in central Idaho, both establishing baseline data sets, as well as quantifying the effects of cattle exclusion and the subsequent return of elk on the recruitment of riparian cottonwood tree stands. Having spent many years living and working as part of small teams in remote locations, Dane enjoys the challenge of carrying out projects in tough field conditions and brings this passion to all his work with White Buffalo.

Dr. Steve Timm D.V.M.

Veterinarian

Steve graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. In addition to his training and expertise in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, he has diverse experience in wildlife capture and disease investigation, to include experience with capture, restraint, tissue sampling, pathology, diagnostics and treatment of carnivores, ungulates and feral species. Dr. Timm and White Buffalo Inc. recently established a protocol for rapid ovariectomy and tubal ligectomy using direct surgical approaches. This work involves the combined experience of the White Buffalo Inc. team of researchers and the surgical and field experience of Dr. Timm, and has established a technique to provide surgical sterilization in a field environment. Currently, Dr. Timm lives in southwestern Wisconsin and provides mobile surgical services to animal clinics in southern Wisconsin. He has interests in veterinary surgery and intensive care, and free-ranging wildlife disease research. 

Vickie DeNicola

Vice President

Vickie DeNicola joined White Buffalo in 2012 and has participated in numerous wildlife-related field research and management projects. She brings many years of senior leadership experience from a range of companies, including Disney, Hasbro, and ESPN, where she was focused on innovation with new technology. Her work was featured in the Wall Street Journal and received 2 Primetime Emmy nominations and won one. Vickie received an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy with a concentration in Ecological Management from Johns Hopkins University. Her research interests include the use of biologging data to answer questions about animal movement, behavior, and resource usage, as well as the application of technology and techniques to humanely address human-wildlife conflict.  

Dr. Nathan Kotschwar D.V.M.

Veterinarian

Nate graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009.  Upon graduation, he provided large and small animal veterinary services in clinical and field settings throughout rural western Nebraska before transitioning to federal service with the United States Department of Agriculture in 2015.  Dr. Kotschwar then joined the White Buffalo team in 2017 bringing with him experience in anesthesia, capture and immobilization techniques, herd health, diagnostic and preventative medicine, pathology, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, wound management and emergency/critical care.  Professionally, he has interests in wildlife disease, wildlife medicine, epidemiology, zoonosis, and disaster response and is a member of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association, Wildlife Disease Association and American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians.  He further serves on the Education and Scholarship committees for the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association and has been a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Kansas Veterinary Medical Association.  Dr. Kotschwar still resides in southwestern Nebraska and provides veterinary services in the area when available to do so.  

Dr. Dave Kenny V.M.D.

Veterinarian

Dr. Kenny received his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984.   Following 2 years in a mixed animal practice Dave spent 27 years working with zoological specimens and free-ranging wildlife.   He has worked on conservation projects with multiple wildlife species both internationally and in the US.  He has published more than 25 peer-reviewed papers and presented at several scientific meetings.  White Buffalo Inc. has utilized him on a part time basis on white-tailed deer projects assisting with remote chemical capture and performing vasectomies.  Dave currently resides in Denver, Colorado. 

Jared Hudson
Firearms Instructor

Jared is a veteran and is retired from the US Navy. He spent the duration of his military career as a SEAL operator with Naval Special Warfare where he excelled as a sniper and sniper instructor. Jared deployed multiple times to multiple combat zones in support of OIF, OEF, and GWOT operations. He is currently in the process of completing his B.S. in Management and runs a firearms training school. Jared joined White Buffalo Inc. in 2014 and brings extensive firearms handling and instruction skills to the team.​