The Wildlife Viewshed Project is a research group within Janet Rachlow's lab at the University of Idaho focused on wildlife viewshed ecology.
Overarching Goals of the Project Group Include:
1) Investigating how wildlife select habitat on the basis of viewshed
2) Understanding how the viewsheds accessible to wildlife influence perceptions of risk
3) Improving and refining research methods for viewshed ecology
4) Engaging students of all ages in the science of viewshed ecology
Overarching Goals of the Project Group Include:
1) Investigating how wildlife select habitat on the basis of viewshed
2) Understanding how the viewsheds accessible to wildlife influence perceptions of risk
3) Improving and refining research methods for viewshed ecology
4) Engaging students of all ages in the science of viewshed ecology
Researchers
Janet Rachlow, PhD - Principle Investigator
Email: [email protected]
Rachlow Lab Website
I am a professor in the Department of Fish & Wildlife Science at the University of Idaho. I am interested in how and why animals make choices about their environment – for example, where to live, what to eat, when and where to be active. Because all choices have consequences, I’m also interested in the outcomes of those choices for animal survival and reproduction. This kind of information can help us understand what makes a habitat “good” or “bad” for animals, which in turn, can inform management and conservation efforts for wildlife populations and their habitats. I’ve had the good fortune to explore these ideas across diverse mammal groups from rhinos to mountain sheep to rabbits.
Email: [email protected]
Rachlow Lab Website
I am a professor in the Department of Fish & Wildlife Science at the University of Idaho. I am interested in how and why animals make choices about their environment – for example, where to live, what to eat, when and where to be active. Because all choices have consequences, I’m also interested in the outcomes of those choices for animal survival and reproduction. This kind of information can help us understand what makes a habitat “good” or “bad” for animals, which in turn, can inform management and conservation efforts for wildlife populations and their habitats. I’ve had the good fortune to explore these ideas across diverse mammal groups from rhinos to mountain sheep to rabbits.
Rachel Stein - PhD Candidate
Email: [email protected]
I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where, in 2014, I earned my B.S. in Biology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. While there, I volunteered for research projects studying fox squirrels, marmosets, and bats. I especially enjoyed projects where I was able to study behavior and acoustics. In 2016, I began studying for my M.S. at the University of Idaho’s McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS). My project focused on the development and implementation of curriculum centered on environmental sound for K-12 students. My curriculum was designed to engage students in science and connect them to place. After graduating, I spent a season working as a biological technician for the United States Geological Survey in South Dakota on a project focused on plague management in prairie ecosystems. In the offseason, I worked as a Biology Instructor at a community college and a therapeutic riding instructor at an equine assisted activity and therapy center.
The Wildlife Viewshed Project research is the primary focus of my PhD research. In addition to viewshed ecology, I am also interested in other aspects of sensory ecology, particularly acoustic ecology. I hope to include questions about how the acoustic environment influences viewshed selection in my research.
Email: [email protected]
I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where, in 2014, I earned my B.S. in Biology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. While there, I volunteered for research projects studying fox squirrels, marmosets, and bats. I especially enjoyed projects where I was able to study behavior and acoustics. In 2016, I began studying for my M.S. at the University of Idaho’s McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS). My project focused on the development and implementation of curriculum centered on environmental sound for K-12 students. My curriculum was designed to engage students in science and connect them to place. After graduating, I spent a season working as a biological technician for the United States Geological Survey in South Dakota on a project focused on plague management in prairie ecosystems. In the offseason, I worked as a Biology Instructor at a community college and a therapeutic riding instructor at an equine assisted activity and therapy center.
The Wildlife Viewshed Project research is the primary focus of my PhD research. In addition to viewshed ecology, I am also interested in other aspects of sensory ecology, particularly acoustic ecology. I hope to include questions about how the acoustic environment influences viewshed selection in my research.
current Undergraduate Researchers
Former UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
Sarah Burgett
I grew up in Southern Idaho and spent a lot of time camping and exploring different national parks. I knew I wanted to work with wildlife since I can remember. In high school, I became fascinated with the ocean and decided to pursue a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After graduating from UH, I realized I want to expand my opportunities to also work with terrestrial wildlife, so I am pursuing a second B.S. at the University of Idaho in Wildlife Resources.
My research project is exploring how pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) modify the sagebrush ecosystem by changing the structure of the vegetation in ways that modify visibility (or ‘viewshed’).
I grew up in Southern Idaho and spent a lot of time camping and exploring different national parks. I knew I wanted to work with wildlife since I can remember. In high school, I became fascinated with the ocean and decided to pursue a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After graduating from UH, I realized I want to expand my opportunities to also work with terrestrial wildlife, so I am pursuing a second B.S. at the University of Idaho in Wildlife Resources.
My research project is exploring how pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) modify the sagebrush ecosystem by changing the structure of the vegetation in ways that modify visibility (or ‘viewshed’).
Cory Allred
My name is Cory Allred I am from Council, ID and I recently graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife resources. I am currently working with Dr. Rachlow and Ph.D. student Rachel Stein on advancing the field of viewshed ecology through comparing 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional methods for measuring habitat visibility.
My name is Cory Allred I am from Council, ID and I recently graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife resources. I am currently working with Dr. Rachlow and Ph.D. student Rachel Stein on advancing the field of viewshed ecology through comparing 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional methods for measuring habitat visibility.
Contributing Citizen Scientist Groups
McCall Outdoor Science School
Meadows Valley Schools
University of Idaho WLF 404 Red Squirrel Habitat Monitoring
Acknowledgements
We thank all of our funders and collaborators that make this work possible: