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We’ve been quiet for the past few months. Part of that is due to the natural lull in our fieldwork in the winter. But things have also been pretty crazy for all of us. The country itself is incredibly uncertain. Conservation, science, and public lands are actively being dismantled at …
Niffler Has Heartworm
“Do you have time for the veterinarian to call you at noon today to discuss Niffler’s pre-dental bloodwork?” My heart sank. “Sure, is everything ok?” I tried to keep my tone casual. “The vet will go over that with you.” My heart dropped right through my soles and into floorboards. …
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 …
How Much Money Do Conservation Detection Dog Trainers Make?
Working as a conservation detection dog trainer/handler is an incredible lifestyle for the right person. It’s not for everyone – the hours are long, the fieldwork is physically demanding, and the grantwriting can be grueling. But one of the biggest challenges of “making it” as a conservation dog handler is …
Remember, Your Training Will Pay Off
Not All Days are Good Days I wake up nervous, having barely slept. Today is our first day at the wind farm since October 2021. I’m partially excited to handle Barley again, and partially nervous that Niffler won’t be as brilliant as I remember. He is still very young (21 …
Quick Questions About National Geographic’s Called to the Wild
Where Was Called to the Wild Filmed? Filming took place in the northwoods of Maine. How Were Contestants Selected? Contestants had to compile video applications to send to casting producers. They were then vetted on survival skills, psychological health, and had to pass a background check. Dogs and humans had …