Jamie Cooper
Sul Ross State University
Graduate Research Assistant for Borderlands Research Institute; Major: Range & Wildlife Management
Novel Spatial Capture-Recapture Methods Used for Black Bear and Mountain Lion Density Estimates in Davis Mountains, Texas
I was born in Littleton, Colorado but was raised in Jourdanton, Texas. Early on through the exploration of South Texas hunting leases, I budded with enthusiasm when immersed in nature and had an affinity for animals. As a third generation Aggie, I attained my B.S. from Texas A&M University with a major in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation and a minor in Psychology in May 2017. Following college, I moved further south to work as the Conservation Educator Intern and Interim Program Coordinator at Welder Wildlife Foundation. My time there was filled with educational exploration as I lead programs for all ages and continued my passion as a naturalist. This fifteen-month internship turned into a Welder Fellowship to pursue my Master’s Degree. I now study Range & Wildlife Management while researching the estimation of black bear and mountain lion density in the Davis Mountains with the use of camera traps and scent stations. New spatial capture-recapture methods will be used with unmarked or partially marked animals where individuals will be identified by natural body characteristics and permanent injuries. Outside my research, I enjoy hiking, helping my friends with fieldwork, and cuddling my kitties and snake in my spare time.
