Troy L. Best

Troy L. Best is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at Auburn University and Adjunct Professor of Biology at the University of New Mexico. A leading mammalogist and prolific author, he has published more than 250 peer-reviewed scientific papers and numerous books, including Mammals of Alabama and Bats of the United States and Canada. Over his five-decade career, Best has conducted extensive fieldwork throughout North America and has played a central role in mammal conservation efforts, particularly in the American Southwest.

His research has focused on the ecology, behavior, and taxonomy of mammals, with a special emphasis on rodents and bats. He has served in editorial and leadership roles for key scientific organizations, including the American Society of Mammalogists and the Southwestern Association of Naturalists, which awarded him the George Miksch Sutton Award in Conservation Research. Best is also the recipient of the Joseph Grinnell Award for excellence in education in mammalogy.