The SPEC Lab
@thespeclab.bsky.social
20 followers 8 following 7 posts
SPEC (Spatial and Population Ecology of Carnivores) Lab at Texas A&M - Kingsville Account managed by Program Manager Ali Dart
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lisannepetracca.bsky.social
We at @thespeclab.bsky.social successfully made it to #ICCB2025 in Brisbane, Australia 🇦🇺 & taught our Geospatial Analysis in R Workshop. Next up: four oral presentations and three posters! 🤓
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lisannepetracca.bsky.social
Tyler Bostwick is the first graduate student from @thespeclab.bsky.social to defend her thesis!!! 🧬🐆 She did AWESOME!!! Yay!!! 🎉🍾🎊👯
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lisannepetracca.bsky.social
Oh my, @thespeclab.bsky.social just had its first graduate student fly the coop. 🥺 Congrats Tyler!
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lisannepetracca.bsky.social
Oh what a night! Our team @thespeclab.bsky.social successfully collared another bobcat kitten as part of Tori Locke’s ongoing research into bobcat and ocelot reproduction 🐆
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lisannepetracca.bsky.social
Congratulations to @thespeclab.bsky.social's Tori Locke, MS student, who successfully collared her first bobcat kitten as part of her research into reproduction of bobcats and ocelots. This work will help inform population modeling for both felid species in South Texas. 🐆🤠
thespeclab.bsky.social
🐅The SPEC Lab is looking for a Research Technician to join our South Texas Ocelot Research team! Apply here tinyurl.com/3d5rt7we 🐅
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lisannepetracca.bsky.social
🐆🐆 Aaaaand we have another M.S. position available!! This position represents an opportunity to study ocelot genomics in the context of an active reintroduction effort. Deadline is June 1 for an August start 🐆🐆

Position posting is here: shorturl.at/o4dTA
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lisannepetracca.bsky.social
🐆🐆 TWO M.S. POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN MY LAB!! Focus will be bobcat and coyote dynamics in an ocelot pre-reintroduction landscape. Come join the fun. Deadline is June 1 for an August start 🐆🐆

Position posting is here: tinyurl.com/5y3uhbf3
thespeclab.bsky.social
The SPEC lab was so lucky to have Dr. Beth Gardner visit and give a presentation on her amazing work! We were also lucky to have caught a female ocelot during her visit so she was able to attend a capture with us!🐈
thespeclab.bsky.social
Trapping efforts are going strong! This ocelot is 1 of several we've been able to safely capture, collect data from, & release as part of our research. Moments like this highlight the success of everyone on the project's hard work. Watch as this ocelot heads back into the wild!
#ocelot #conservation
thespeclab.bsky.social
🐆🌿 Ocelot Conservation Day Recap! 🌿🐆
This weekend at the Gladys Porter Zoo, we:
🏃‍♂️Ran a 5K to support ocelot conservation
💀Hosted a booth to teach about TX wild cats
🎤Grad students presented their research
Huge thanks to everyone involved!!!🐾💛
#OcelotConservation #CKWRI
thespeclab.bsky.social
We had a great time teaching 5th graders about ocelots at the East Foundation's Behind the Gates Field Days!🐆🌿We talked about their role in the ecosystem, the challenges they face, and how conservation efforts are helping. They were full of great questions and excitement for wildlife!
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thespeclab.bsky.social
Trapping season has been going great! 🐾 This week, we successfully captured and released an ocelot and a bobcat as part of our research. Check out these incredible photos from the field! 📸 #WildlifeResearch #OcelotConservation #BobcatEncounters
thespeclab.bsky.social
🐾Meet Barley & Scottie, our incredible scat detection dogs from K9 Conservationists, & their skilled handler, Heather Nootbaar!🐶🔍Together, they’re helping us track carnivore populations—all through the power of scent. We’re lucky to have them on the team!🐕🌿#WildlifeResearch