He published over 140 scientific articles, mostly focusing on insects, but also researching birds, mammals, reptiles and fishes.

[4] In 1909, at age 17, he moved to Provo, living with extended family while he attended Brigham Young High School for two years.

[3]: 14 In 1912, he attended college at Brigham Young University for three years, where he majored in biology.

While he was writing his thesis on the deltas of Lake Bonneville, he taught at Dixie Junior College in St. George, Utah.

Later, in 1925, he accepted an appointment to be a professor of zoology and entomology at Brigham Young University and chairman of the same department.

[8] He helped construct a lakeside biological laboratory where the Provo River empties into Utah Lake, where he and his students studied fish and birds.

[13] While Tanner stopped teaching at age 78 in 1970, he continued work as a curator of entomology until 1981.

[3]: 123  Tanner served for 35 years as chairman of the forestry and flood control committee in Provo's Chamber of Commerce.

As part of his work to reduce flood risk, he oversaw terracing, development of recreational facilities, and cessation of mountain grazing and planting of grasses in the Provo Canyon and surrounding areas.

[17] Tanner met his wife, Annie Atkin, at Dixie College the first year he taught there.

[3]: 78  On family camping trips, Vasco still prioritized specimen collection, enlisting his children to aid his search for new desert species.