Tara Chestnut, PhD
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tcastanea.bsky.social
Tara Chestnut, PhD
@tcastanea.bsky.social
Wildlife Ecology | Natural History | Disease | Invasive Species | Contaminants | Aquatic Science | Reintroductions | Science Communication | March Mammal Madness narrator | she/her
We were so bummed!! We had a whole obstacle course planned with different sized balls, frisbees (maybe even a human tribute). I still chortle when I remember the look on people’s faces as the net poured to the ground. Good times! Thanks for letting me remember again!
February 11, 2026 at 2:39 AM
When I started my job at Mount Rainier I discovered a CO2 net gun in my office for animals fox to grouse sized. I’d never used such a tool so I brought it home one weekend to practice. I set up a course w/ camp chairs. The net spilled out like flaccid ramen noodles. The seals were blown 1/10⭐️
February 10, 2026 at 6:48 AM
I was rollerskating on a trail in Alaska and encountered a baby moose with no mama in sight. I’ve never backwards skated so fast! I needed to get around it so I gave it WIDE berth and clumsily bushwhacked through the willows tiptoeing on my toe stops. Never saw mama. Had to replace my muddy bearings
February 9, 2026 at 9:23 PM
This can’t be its seed in the actual tree of life, can it?
February 5, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Reposted by Tara Chestnut, PhD
In honor of 10 tournaments of the March Mammal Madness LibGuide at ASU Library, #2026MMM Celebrates LIBRARIES!

More than books, and definitely more than admonishments to shush, libraries are incredible collections of human knowledge, information, imagination, & creativity @mmmletsgo.bsky.social
The Worm Dance GIF
Alt: An awesome dancer does The Worm Dance on top of a bookshelf in the stacks of a library
media.tenor.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:42 PM
So good!
February 5, 2026 at 4:32 AM
I nominate Truth or Consequences (NM)
January 12, 2026 at 3:19 AM
I grew up catholic so I must confess. Please absolve me of my sin… As much as I adore flycatchers, at MAPS stations, my least favorite thing is to get an Empidonax in the net. I curse them on super busy days.
January 10, 2026 at 5:32 AM
Yeah, the Smithfield closed a while ago and def had an interesting toilet situation. In my memory they were facing each other but your pic made me wonder if my memory was slightly off. Either way, I suppose the arrangement could be quite useful for a parent with a little working on toilet training 😂
January 2, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Was this the Smithfield Cafe? I feel like I remember this from the Smithfield Cafe lol
January 2, 2026 at 2:11 AM
This is me 😂 I have one rod that’s rated to 30 pounds and used to just change the weight of my line. I got such funny looks at our local fishing hole! I finally got an ugly stick that’s been super versatile
December 31, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Me too!! ologies is always such a joy to listen to, and this one especially because I saw my first platypus in the wild this year when went to Australia for my 50th birthday!!
December 30, 2025 at 2:42 AM
I was shared this unlisted video: a message from our top boss evangelizing one particular view of the holiday season.

Sec. Rollins, please be respectful of faith traditions different from your own.

That said— glad you’re enjoying a festively decorated tree this Saturnalia🪐
Secretary Brooke Rollins Christmas Message
YouTube video by USDA
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I have several co-authors that are so wonderful that we end convos with ‘I love yous’ as if we were close siblings. It’s so heartfelt, especially after we challenge each other. So good!
December 24, 2025 at 6:54 AM