Play, Pivoting, and Positivity with Crystal Wing

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Crystal Wing from Training Director for Evolution Working Dog Club and the K9 Detection Collaborative about play, pivoting, and positivity. Science Highlight: ⁠The feasibility of using scent detection dogs to locate bat hibernacula⁠ Links Mentioned in the Episode:   ⁠Thousand Hour Eyes⁠ …

Sitka Spruce Syrup, Endless Rain, and a Dash of Blood

Friday, May 10 When I lived in Panama as a high schooler, I reveled in the hammering of rain along tin roofs, rumbling like an approaching train until the deafening downpour enveloped my host family’s house too. The rain there stopped traffic with its ferocity. The rain here is nothing …

Barley’s Canyon

Barley is snoring softly with his tongue poking out the front of his mouth. His warmth fills the nook behind my knees the way a river pours into a canyon. My calves and hamstrings give him shape, keep him from slipping right off the tiny cot. Perhaps he is liquid, …

Olfactory Bliss

From last time: We chatter as we clean up, ferrying gear back and forth and heating water to clean dishes. We are basking in the early morning sunlight, repeatedly remarking on the divine weather, when Michael hushes us. He points toward the head of the bay and hisses, “Wolf!” Conversation …

Alaskan Limbo at the Muskeg

Barley’s paws are splayed out, his claws gripping the planks of the dock. He does not trust these sturdy planks, but he follows me reluctantly past gillnetters and boats piled high with crab pots. It is our first full day in Craig, Alaska, and we are going to take the …

There Are Two Types of People on the Ferry to Ketchikan

We have been traveling for 56 hours. I am tired and stinky and buzzing with a nervous energy. Below the ferry deck in our laughably overloaded Ford Maverick, Barley is tucked between a cooler full of gear repair supplies and a pair of camp cots. His nest consists of two …

Continuing Education Extravaganza with Natasha Underwood

In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla speaks with Natasha Underwood from NHU Ecology and Detection Dogs about continuing education. Science Highlight: None Links Mentioned in the Episode:   ⁠Dog Handling Training | Kryus | England⁠ ⁠College of Scent Dogs-The College of Scent Dogs⁠ ⁠Mantrailing Global⁠ Where to find Natasha: ⁠Website⁠ …