Nate is studying the spatial ecology and conservation of snowshoe hare in the Cascade mountains of north-central Washington. NThrough an experimental design, Nate will investigate how pre-commercial thinning of overstocked forest stands impacts snowshoe hare abundance, survival, and movement. This work is fundamentally important to understand what tools land managers have to increase fire resilience and potentially timber productivity, while minimizing impacts to hares and consequently the endangered Canada lynx that depend on hare. Nate will also use this experimental design to examine methods for determining hare density, and how hare respond to shifting risk landscapes. This work was designed and conducted as part of collaboration with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Sujay is studying bobcat-lynx spatial associations and densities along an elevation and snow gradient in northcentral Washington. His work will involve an intensive camera trapping effort in Loomis State Forest, building on a long-term effort in the region, and contributing to our understanding of lynx population status and threats in the state. This work is a collaborative effort with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Marwa is examining the spatial distribution of the Sierra Nevada red fox across their historical range in the Oregon Cascades. Marwa’s work involves deploying camera traps and performing scat surveys  across high elevation zones in the Oregon Cascades. Her work will inform Sierra Nevada red fox management in the state of Oregon through identifying core habitat, drivers of distribution, and best methods for detection. This work is funded by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.