lab members

I am a wildlife ecologist and conservation scientist. My research often bridges theoretical and applied ecology, focusing on terrestrial vertebrate species, but with a frequent centering on mammalian carnivores. I often investigate ways to integrate field data (demography, occurrence, and movement) and/or remote sensing to assist conservation and management efforts. In addition, I often research human-wildlife interactions, species distributions, landscape connectivity, population dynamics, carnivore ecology and behavior, applied conservation science, and citizen/community science. 

Connor is a MS research assistant currently focused on the interactions between solar energy installations and mammalian wildlife (using camera traps and bat recorders) in the Great Miami Valley area, Ohio. Connor got a BS in Biology from the University of Montana. He has experience doing a large variety of field ecological research related to wildlife, including bears, otters, and other predator species. His interests include conservation science, wildlife management, and applied ecological research.

Tory is a PhD student  focusing on American black bear's natural recolonization of Ohio, where it was previously extirpated. Tory is an ecologist who has conducted research on endangered species since 2009.  She attended California State University, Bakersfield where she earned her B.S. in 2008 and her M.S. in 2015.  For 15 years, Tory conducted research in the San Joaquin Desert in California, primarily working with San Joaquin kit fox.  Her primary interests are carnivore ecology, spatial ecology, and conservation.  

Trevor is an Environmental Biology major, with research currently focusing on the interactions between mammals and recreational activities at Five Rivers Metroparks. Trevor spent the summer of 2023 as an intern for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is actively involved in the TriBeta Biological Honor Society and River Steward program at UD. Years of hands-on trapping experience have cultivated an interest in studying conservation, population dynamics, and spatial ecology. 

Rose is an Environmental Biology major, with a minor in film studies. Her current research examines carnivores and their role as modern dispersers of ginkgo seeds, working closely in collaboration with the McEwan Forest Ecology Lab. During the winter of 2023, Rose worked as a farmhand volunteer and READS mentor at Aullwood Audubon Center. She is passionate about conservation, climate science, and carnivore ecology.

Kara was a MS research assistant focused on the ecology of recolonizing large carnivores in Missouri, specifically American black bears and cougars. Kara got a BS in Biology from Southwestern College in Kansas. Her interests include conservation science, terrestrial vertebrate ecology, and human-wildlife interactions. She is currently a black bear research biologist in Florida.