Scott is the eldest son of Eileen Rose Busby,[REF] an author and antiques expert, and Jim Scott, a Senior Olympics winner who helped pioneer and develop the game of racquetball.
A graduate of San Diego County's Helix High School, Scott attended the University of Redlands for one year before earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in marine biology from San Diego State University and a doctorate in ornithology from Oregon State University.