Thesis Topic: Humboldt Marten Prey Populations in Second Growth Forests

Advisor: Micaela Szykman Gunther

Undergraduate Degree/Institution: Wildlife Management and Conservation, Humboldt State University

Bio: Growing up around Fresno CA, I never had much direct exposure to wildlife or the outdoors. Despite this, I was still thoroughly obsessed with Zoboomafoo, Animal Planet, Zoo Tycoon, or any way I could learn more about wildlife. Yet it would take me over a decade to realize I could turn this passion into a career, eventually joining the wildlife department during my undergrad at Humboldt State University. Thanks to Redwoods Rising I had the opportunity to work with California State Parks in 2020, where I have been surveying carnivores, passerines, and owls ever since! Through both my classes and work experiences, I quickly fell in love with mesocarnivores, especially the charismatic Humboldt marten. Starting in May 2023, I will begin surveying small mammals and other potential prey of Humboldt marten as part of a larger restoration project with State Parks. If I’m not in the field or hunkered down in the library, I can typically be found birding at the marsh or playing guitar around the community forest. I’m incredibly excited to get more experience handling wildlife, and thrilled to be a part of the graduate community at Cal Poly Humboldt.