We are a small but dedicated team that's positively obsessed with all things conservation, ecology, and detection dogs.
We are a small but dedicated team that's positively obsessed with all things conservation, ecology, and detection dogs.

Kayla Fratt (she/her)

Founder, PhD Student in Wildlife Biology, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant

Kayla is currently a PhD student and NSF-GRFP Fellow at Oregon State University in Taal Levi's lab. Her research there focuses on the combination of scat detection dogs and genetic methods to answer questions regarding diet and movement of sea wolves in southeast Alaska and the recolonization of pumas in El Salvador.

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After earning her degree in ecology from Colorado College, Kayla spent 3 years working as a dog behavior consultant in animal shelters and private practice. She has been an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant since 2017 and is dedicated to humane, creative, and progressive dog training for high-drive dogs. She has lived in Montana, Colorado, and Central America for most of her adult life. She is fluent in Spanish and is especially passionate about connectivity projects in Central America, mesocarnivore research in sub-Saharan Africa, and anything to do with the high alpine or tundra.

When she's not working on K9 Conservationists projects, you can find Kayla dancing salsa and bachata, doing jigsaw puzzles, or cross-country skiing. Kayla's main canine partners are Barley and Niffler. [/read]

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Rachel Hamre (she/her)

Founder, Trainer, Data Scientist

Rachel is currently pursuing a Master's in Data Science at the University of Montana. Alongside her academic endeavors, she holds the title of Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and has a rich history of involvement in dog training and rescues. Her expertise shines in fostering high-drive dogs, where she dedicates herself to enhancing their manners to increase their adoptability.

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Her academic journey began with a degree in biology from the College of Idaho, where she also served as a lab assistant specializing in plant identification. Following her graduation, Rachel took on roles involving ecological monitoring, vegetation sampling, wetland mapping, and collaborated with land managers as part of the University of Montana/Montana Natural Heritage Program.

Rachel's journey into the realm of conservation detection began during her time working with Barley on mortality surveys for a season. This experience ignited her passion for conservation detection and ultimately led her to find her own conservation detection dog, Suki. [/read]

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Heather Nootbaar (she/her)

Founder, Trainer, Ecologist

Growing up in the Midwest with a father who bred show dogs, Heather's early years were a menagerie within her own home. From dogs and rodents to birds, her childhood laid the foundation for her deep love and appreciation for animals. This passion guided her academic pursuits, leading her to study zoology at the Ohio State University. Her hands-on experience during this time, conducting mammal surveys and interning at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, solidified her commitment to wildlife conservation.

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After graduating, Heather explored an array of animal-related career paths that took her across the globe. Her adventures led her to the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre in South Africa, where she contributed to wildlife monitoring and care efforts for African wild dogs and cheetahs, supporting international conservation initiatives. Heather's journey also led her to a wolf-dog sanctuary, where she focused on training, socialization, and educational outreach. Her time at the Chicago Canine Rescue, wildlife rehab centers, and a veterinary clinic further enriched her experience in animal care and rehabilitation.

Prioritizing ethical training and the welfare of working dogs, she earned the title of Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and accumulated over four years of invaluable field survey experience alongside her partner Ellie. As she looks ahead, Heather eagerly anticipates the future with the newest addition to the team, Scottie! [/read]

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Jenna Acker (she/they)

Podcast Editor and Producer

Jenna is passionate about ethical dog training and handling and is currently mentoring under two Certified Dog Behavior Consultants & Karen Pryor Academy Training Partners in Nova Scotia, Canada. Growing up with a love for all animals, riding horses for 11 years and caring for numerous types of animals, dogs and dog training have now filled the void of what was lost to Jenna’s disability.

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Currently, along with her mentorship,  Jenna is working towards finishing KPA’s Dog Trainer Comprehensive course and will apply for IAABC’s Accredited Dog Trainer accreditation later this year. Jenna volunteers with K9 Partners Assistance Dogs - a Service Dog charity that provides Service Dogs at a low cost to individuals in Nova Scotia - which is where she got her Service Dog partner, Ollie. Jenna has been editing the K9 Conservationist podcast since the beginning and loves learning about conservation dog handling. [/read]

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THE K9 CONSERVATIONISTS

Name: Barley
Breed: Border collie
Nickname: The King

Barley was relinquished to Denver Dumb Friends animal shelter in 2017 due to his high-energy and obsession with balls. He and Kayla met within hours of his arrival, and by the end of Kayla's shift he was in her car on the way home. He's an incredibly enthusiastic worker who loves doing demonstrations for school groups. Barley loves nothing more than going on adventures with Kayla and bringing her items to throw. He is normally a very quiet dog, but he absolutely barks with joy when he sees the training bag come out!

Name: Niffler
Breed: Border collie
Nicknames: Snifficus Magnificous

Niffler was purchased from a breeder in 2020 with the goal of following in Barley's pawprints. His first field season at a wind farm was a smashing success and he has since aided Barley in carnivore scat surveys in Guatemala. He's friendly, relatively independent, and determined. His amazing temperament and health are a testament to what purpose-bred dogs are for!

Name: Ellie
Breed: Australian shepherd/Border collie
Nicknames: Smellie

Ellie was adopted from a humane society in Wisconsin in 2019. While her past may be shrouded in mystery, her intellect and enthusiasm for learning quickly became evident. Ellie's natural search drive hinted at her potential for a career in conservation detection. Her spunky attitude and expressive face makes her not just a diligent teammate, but also a joy to work alongside. Her fieldwork experience has primarily been centered around wind farms in the Midwest.

Name: Suki
Breed: Border collie
Nickname: Sukinator

Suki was adopted from the Bitterroot Humane Society in November of 2021 and worked her first wind farm job just months later. With an insatiable appetite for herding, Suki would happily work round the clock if given the chance! She absolutely loves squeaky balls and any adventures alongside her favorite humans.

Name: Scottie
Breed: Border collie
Nickname: Mr. Scott

Scottie was adopted in North Carolina in 2023 after turning down job offers as an agility competitor and herding dog. Rather than herding sheep or jumping over PVC, Scottie just wanted to SNIFF and FETCH. Within just a few months of being adopted by Heather, Scottie started earning his keep on wind farms and working with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant for coastal carnivore surveys in California. Scottie is incredibly sweet and cuddly and often makes appearances on our Zoom mentorship meetings.

Name: Iitooma
Breed: English cocker spaniel
Nickname: Tooma

Iitooma came to us with a rock-solid foundation in conservation detection work. This sweet, speedy, and wiggly boy brings a wealth of experience from several top-tier programs, including the Canine Olfaction Lab at Texas Tech and Chironk9 with Paul Bunker.

Iitooma’s name means “trailblazer” or “leads the way” in Blackfoot. The name was given to him early in his career while working with Indigenous partners, and we chose to keep it to honor that legacy and his roots.

Name: Ollie
Breed: Labrador retreiver

A Service Dog by day, a trusty podcast assistant by night. Ollie has been working as Jenna’s Service Dog for 3 years now and has recently received his Rally Novice and Novice Sprinter titles through CKC. Jenna received Ollie through K9 Partners Assistance Dogs who trained him to be her psychiatric and mobility Service Dog. Inspired by all his podcast editing, Ollie received his SDDA Designated Odor Test certificates for Wintergreen and Pine. As a typical lab, he loves scentwork, rally, sprinter, and just about anything that gets him moving.

THE K9 CONSERVATIONISTS

Barley

The King

Barley was relinquished to a shelter in 2017 due to being incredibly high-energy and obsessed with balls. He and Kayla met within hours of his arrival, and by the end of Kayla's shift, he was in her car on the way home. Within weeks, Barley proved himself a standout in nosework classes. He's an incredibly enthusiastic worker who loves doing demonstrations for school groups. Barley is also a professional traveler and has been to nine countries! He's spent about four years working with Kayla as a conservation dog team, sniffing out targets like zebra mussels, black-footed ferret scat, and ivory. Barley loves nothing more than going on adventures with Kayla and bringing her items to throw. He is normally a very quiet dog, but he absolutely barks with joy when he sees the training bag come out!

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Niffler

Snifficus Magnificous

Niffler was purchased from a breeder in 2020 with the goal of following in Barley's pawprints. He surpassed expectations when he started working on wind farms at just nine months old! His first field season was a smashing success, and he has since aided Barley in carnivore scat surveys in Guatemala. Niffler was chosen from the litter due to his incredible drive to sniff and search for hidden food. He's friendly, relatively independent, and determined. His amazing temperament and health are a testament to what purpose-bred dogs are for!

Ellie

Smellie

Ellie was adopted from a humane society in Wisconsin in 2019. While her past may be shrouded in mystery, her intellect and enthusiasm for learning quickly became evident. Ellie's natural search drive hinted at her potential for a career in conservation detection. Her spunky attitude and expressive face make her not just a diligent teammate but also a joy to work alongside. Her fieldwork experience has primarily been centered around wind farms in the Midwest. Working alongside Heather, she's played a crucial role in surveying plots for bat and bird fatalities.

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Suki

Sukinator

Suki was adopted from the Bitterroot Humane Society in November of 2021. She proved she was up for the job and worked her first wind farm job just months later. With an insatiable appetite for herding, Suki would happily work round the clock if given the chance! She absolutely loves squeaky balls and any adventures alongside her favorite humans.

Scottie

Mr. Scott

Scottie was adopted in North Carolina after turning down job offers as an agility competitor and herding dog. Rather than herding sheep or jumping over PVC, Scottie just wanted to SNIFF and FETCH. Within just a few months of being adopted by Heather, Scottie started earning his keep on wind farms and working with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant for coastal carnivore surveys in California. Scottie is incredibly sweet and cuddly and often makes appearances on our Zoom mentorship meetings.

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Iitooma

Tooma

Iitooma is a three-year-old English Cocker Spaniel with a rock-solid foundation in conservation detection work. This sweet, speedy, and wiggly boy brings a wealth of experience from several top-tier programs, including the Canine Olfaction Lab at Texas Tech and Chironk9 with Paul Bunker.

Iitooma’s name means “trailblazer” or “leads the way” in Blackfoot. The name was given to him early in his career while working with Indigenous partners, and we chose to keep it to honor that legacy and his roots.

With an impressive background in scentwork and safety skills, Iitooma is already proving to be an incredible asset to our team—and a total joy to work with. We’re so grateful to be trusted with the next chapter of this promising young dog’s career.

Ollie

Ollie is a service dog by day and a trusty podcast assistant by night. He has been working as Jenna’s service dog for three years now and has recently received his Rally Novice and Novice Sprinter titles through CKC. Jenna received Ollie through K9 Partners Assistance Dogs who trained him to be her psychiatric and mobility service dog. Inspired by all his podcast editing, Ollie received his SDDA Designated Odor Test certificates for wintergreen and pine. As a typical lab, he loves scent work, rally, sprinter, and just about anything that gets him moving.

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Meet Our
Board of Directors

Meet the committed team of volunteer board members
behind the team at K9 Conservationists.