Thesis Master of Science in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management

Coyote Population Genetics and Dietary Habits in the Mojave Desert

Growing up in a city, my passion for wildlife began with books and wildlife TV shows. My imagination ran wild reading Jack London, while I was inspired by wildlife icons like Steve Irwin and Richard Perkins. I spent my summers in the backwoods of Florida, chasing snakes and catching bass on the St. John’s River, running around outside from sun-up to sun down. After I received my Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation at the University of Florida, I immediately moved out to the Rocky Mountain West. I have been fortunate enough to work on a range of wildlife research projects, from gray wolves to elk to wolverines, as well as endangered species like desert tortoise and woodpeckers. Out west was where my interest in hunting truly began and I learned how to hunt big game animals from friends and colleagues. There is something truly special about hiking in the backcountry lands of the Rockies. 

Now, as a Master’s student under Dr. Warren Conway at TTU, my research is focused on canid genetics and dietary habits in the Mojave Desert. This study is a collaboration with the Marine Corps Air to Ground Combat Center and aims to generate a population estimation model for the local coyote population, as well as get a comprehensive analysis of the seasonal diet. This work is using newer molecular technologies and non-invasive sampling techniques. I am also a passionate dog trainer and my detection dog Radar is part of my sampling methods, exemplifying the efficient use of dogs in wildlife research. With this study, I hope to enhance DNA analysis with canid scat as well as provide management recommendations for MCAGCC.