Field Tested: Gabe S.
Gabe attended the Wildlife Field Techniques course in June, 2024.
I graduated from law school in the spring of 2023 and passed the bar exam in the winter of 2024. During law school, I studied environmental law, focusing on larger environmental policies. I volunteered and interned at various wildlife protection agencies. In one of my courses, I wrote my capstone seminar paper on issues facing the protection of the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act. One thing that became clear throughout my research was that there was a big discrepancy between science and policy: laws were made sometimes not in accord with biological principles – for example, understanding what is a separate “species” versus “subspecies” versus “population” – and the law often made no room for those distinctions. It was during this research that I became much more interested in the science behind wildlife ecology, and realized I wanted the opportunity to firsthand experience how wildlife science is conducted.
I spoke with a couple wildlife biologists who recommended getting as much fieldwork experience as possible. As a person without a direct background in wildlife ecology, it was hard to find such experiences. I was so excited to find Home Range – it provided a crash course introduction into wildlife field techniques, and in the beautiful Pacific Northwest no less.
The course itself was the absolute highlight of my summer. Clara, Anna, and Carmen provided valuable information and, most importantly, really allowed us to experience each technique ourselves. I think one of the highlights was watching Carmen conduct a necropsy of a carcass that had been predated by an actual mountain lion.
In addition, outside of the course we had the opportunity to meet and chat with various wildlife biologists – people who had dedicated their lives to conserving and understanding wildlife in the natural world. Each person was unique and inspirational in their own way – and it gave me a tremendous amount of hope that I too could steer my career into the direction I wanted. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the sense of community we developed over the short four-day course. Each person there cared deeply about wildlife, and that in and of itself was exciting to be around.
Gabe holds a rattlesnake during an evening session with Methow Valley local biologist, John Rohrer.
After attending this course, I have decided that going forward I am going to return to school in order to study wildlife ecology or some other wildlife conservation science. I know that whatever science background I obtain will only help me be a better advocate for wildlife, whether I stay within the science sphere or extend into policy work. I am especially grateful to Anna and Clara for their hard work during the course, and truly giving us the tools and motivation to pursue this career in a meaningful way.
-Gabe S.