A wildlife biologist studies terrestrial wildlife species (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians) and the habitats they occupy to better understand their biology and habitat relationships.
A passion for natural history, a deep curiosity about the past and how wildlife populations have changed since European settlement, and a strong capacity for meticulous data collection and attention to detail have all enabled me to discover many new things about the history, distribution, and habitat relationships of rare and elusive forest carnivores.
Which habitat conditions are most important to fishers in the Pacific Northwest? Fishers are a medium-sized forest carnivore in the weasel family. We answered this question by live trapping fishers, putting radio-telemetry collars on them, and tracking their movements.
To study wolverines, we often use “run-pole” remote camera stations. They are designed so that the wolverine stands up to have its picture taken by a remotely triggered digital camera. Because each wolverine’s throat and chest markings are unique, this enables us to identify individuals without having to capture them.
We are the first scientists to study wolverines in the Cascade Range in Washington. Last spring, in the 7th year of our study, we located the natal dens (where wolverine kits are born) of 2 of our female study animals. This is the first documented evidence of reproduction by wolverines in the Pacific Northwest.
As a child growing up in California, I roamed the oak woodlands near my house looking for pollywogs, frogs, lizards, and snakes. I knew I wanted to work with animals, but I didn’t know I was going to be a scientist until graduate school.
