Siobhan Darlington, M.Sc. RPBio, Ph.D. candidate: Siobhan (she/her) earned her M.Sc. from UVic modelling white-tailed deer habitat use in Alberta’s oil and gas hub. She specializes in the movement ecology of birds, ungulates, and carnivores in disturbed landscapes. She is now applying her knowledge to understanding cougar ecology in southern BC's fire-prone landscape with the WiRE and Hodges Labs at UBC Okanagan.
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TJ Gooliaff, M.Sc. RPBio Wildlife Biologist: TJ is a Regional Wildlife Biologist in the Okanagan with BC’s Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship. He earned his M.Sc. from UBCO on bobcat and lynx ecology and now as a government biologist works on wildlife inventory, monitoring, and management of local game species. TJ specializes on carnivores and his current focus is on cougars and the SBC Cougar Project.
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Dr. Adam T. Ford: Adam is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in wildlife restoration ecology at UBCO. Adam is the PI for the WiRE Lab and has published numerous scientific papers on carnivore ecology in sub-Saharan Africa and western Canada.
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Dr. Karen Hodges: Karen is a Professor in Conservation Ecology at UBCO. Karen has conducted and published numerous scientific papers on carnivore ecology. Her research interest include the effects of wildfire on small mammal and raptor communities.
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Patrick Stent, RPBio Senior Wildlife Biologist: Patrick is the Senior Regional Wildlife Biologist in the Kootenay Region with FLNRORD. Patrick has considerable wildlife capture and immobilization experience, including with cougars. Patrick is leading capture work in the Kootenay study area.
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Chloe Howarth, WiRE Lab Manager, UBCO : Chloe (she/her) is wrapping up her M.Sc. at TRU where she studied Western Rattlesnake ecology in the South Okanagan. Chloe coordinates volunteers for the SBC Cougar project in addition to working on the Southern Interior Mule Deer project.
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Project Team 2022-23
Kieran Braid, Wildlife Technician - Ministry of Forests: Kieran graduated from BCIT with a Fish and Wildlife diploma and B.Sc. in Ecological Restoration. He has previous field experience studying grizzly bears in Alberta and is passionate about large carnivores and human-wildlife conflict management. He currently works as a technician for the Fish and Wildlife Branch of the BC Ministry of Forests in Penticton. |
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Past Field Crew 2020-2023
Reese Embree, Wildlife Projects Assistant UBCO: Reese is currently working towards her B.Sc. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UBCO. She loves spending her time outdoors and is excited for her first opportunity to be assisting with wildlife research. She hopes to pursue her own research in the future.
Cynthia Kielpinski, Wildlife Projects Assistant UBCO: Cynthia is currently pursuing her B.Sc in Statistics with a focus of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology at UBCO. She has previous field experience working with Harlequin Ducks, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, and aspires to pursue graduate studies in Ecology. |
Emily Matthew, Wildlife Projects Assistant UBCO:
Emily is currently completing her B.Sc in Psychology with a minor in Biology at UBCO. She has previously worked as an environmental summer student assisting on bird sweeps and collecting data on active nest zones. She is keen to gain more experience in wildlife behavioural ecology. Jakob Andrian, WiRE Lab Technician: Jakob is currently pursuing his B. Sc in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UBCO. He has previous volunteer experience with Conservation Organizations like the Wild Sheep Society of BC and BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
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Kirstyn Falck, Cougar Crew Lead UBCO: Kirstyn graduated from UBCO with a B.Sc. in Biology minoring in Earth and Environmental Science. She has previously worked for Wildlife Veterinarians in NWT and BC, helping to collect health data on wolves, moose, bears, cougars, deer and more. She hopes to continue to gain experience in wildlife conservation and management.
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Mariah Mueller, Winter cougar technician UBCO: Mariah earned her B.Sc.H. in Wildlife and Fisheries at UNBC, where she completed an undergraduate thesis on the success and timing of parturition rates in woodland caribou. She has previously worked in the field with caribou, moose and bighorn sheep. She hopes to one day conduct her own research.
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Logan Robertson, Technician, Nature Trust BC:
Logan earned his RMOT diploma at Vancouver Island University, and is currently completing his B.Sc. in Wildlife and Fisheries at UNBC. This is his 3rd field season working with Nature Trust BC, conducting restoration work on conservation lands throughout the Kootenay region. He is currently trapping white-tailed deer and investigating cougar kill sites. |
Ethan Ingham, Technician, Nature Trust BC: Ethan is working towards his B.Sc. in Wildlife and Fisheries at UNBC. He has spent the last 5 field seasons working with the Nature Trust BC in Cranbrook, carrying out restoration activities on conservation land. He is currently trapping white-tailed deer and investigating cougar kill sites in the Kootenays.
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Brooklyn Maher, Summer Cougar technician UBCO: Brooklyn earned her B.Sc. in Zoology from UBC Okanagan and is currently pursuing her M.Sc. studying the effects of logging practices on predator guilds. She has previous field experience working for Ducks Unlimited Canada and volunteered with the BCSPCA Wild ARC in wildlife rehabilitation.
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Shannon Werden, Summer Cougar technician UBCO: Shannon has a diploma in Recreation, Fish, and Wildlife from Selkirk College, and is currently pursuing her B.Sc in Wildlife and Fisheries at the University of Northern British Columbia. She has previous field experience working with northern goshawks and invasive plant management.
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Matt Jones, Winter Cougar technician UBCO: Matt earned his B.NSRc. from in 2018 and has since practised as a biologist in training on the South Coast. He has previously worked in consulting and in wildlife positions with the provincial government and currently works in the Ecosystems Branch in the Skeena region.
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Project participants, support and volunteers:
University of British Columbia - Okanagan
British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
British Columbia Conservation Foundation
Okanagan Nation Alliance
British Columbia Wildlife Federation - Okanagan Chapter
Summerland Sportsman's Association
Oceola Game Club
Houndswomen and houndsmen:
Dean Ficociello
Shayla Pukas
Stewart Quaedvlieg
James Sloan
Cara Adrain
Matt Strebchuk
Ryan Berard
Caeley Thacker, Provincial Wildlife Veterinarian
Dr. Garth Mowat - Provincial Carnivore Specialist
Alex Ritz - Website design
Louisa Oukil - Volunteer coordinator
Stewart Clow - General Technician FLNRORD
Kaitlin Hancock - Wildlife Technician FLNRORD
Thomas Koehle - Wildlife Technician FLNRORD
Troy Malish - Wildlife Technician
Amberlee Ficociello & BC Interior SCI - Volunteer & Donor
David & Allison Carleton - Volunteers
Grant Hiebert - Volunteer and donor
+ countless more volunteers!