Kayla Fratt
@eco-odorologist.bsky.social
PhD student using conservation detection dogs to study carnivore diet and connectivity in Taal Levi's Lab at OSU | Host K9 Conservationists Pod | NSF-GRFP | Founder K9 Conservationists | Views are mine
And that’s a wrap! Season two of detection-dog-led scat collection for diet and genetic research on the Alexander Archipelago Wolf. We ended up with over 600 samples! Barley (black and white) found the majority of our samples in his final year as lead dog on the Island Wolf Project.
August 5, 2025 at 4:56 PM
And that’s a wrap! Season two of detection-dog-led scat collection for diet and genetic research on the Alexander Archipelago Wolf. We ended up with over 600 samples! Barley (black and white) found the majority of our samples in his final year as lead dog on the Island Wolf Project.
Barley the detection dog has been having a fabulous final season on the Island Wolf Project. This week while on a remote coast in Alaska, he found several wolf scats just below high tide line. Next up: metabarcoding and genotyping the scats to learn more about Alexander Archipelago wolves.
July 24, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Barley the detection dog has been having a fabulous final season on the Island Wolf Project. This week while on a remote coast in Alaska, he found several wolf scats just below high tide line. Next up: metabarcoding and genotyping the scats to learn more about Alexander Archipelago wolves.
Saying goodbye to the SS Soggy Spaniel for 2025! Our Island Wolf Project is moving to our road-based surveys for a few weeks before heading north to Kuiu and surrounding islands on a different research vessel. We’re at 400 wolf scats and counting!
June 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Saying goodbye to the SS Soggy Spaniel for 2025! Our Island Wolf Project is moving to our road-based surveys for a few weeks before heading north to Kuiu and surrounding islands on a different research vessel. We’re at 400 wolf scats and counting!
This is the whole point. Yes, the next-generation sequencing is cool. Yes, detection training is my passion. Yes, I love reading and am learning to love data analysis.
But this. This is what it’s about. My best guy and me searching the wilderness for scats.
But this. This is what it’s about. My best guy and me searching the wilderness for scats.
June 12, 2025 at 4:44 PM
This is the whole point. Yes, the next-generation sequencing is cool. Yes, detection training is my passion. Yes, I love reading and am learning to love data analysis.
But this. This is what it’s about. My best guy and me searching the wilderness for scats.
But this. This is what it’s about. My best guy and me searching the wilderness for scats.
We found a wolf canine last week in Alaska. Look at the size difference in compared to my 50 pound border collie’s canine!
June 12, 2025 at 4:42 PM
We found a wolf canine last week in Alaska. Look at the size difference in compared to my 50 pound border collie’s canine!
Yesterday we did a 12km search on an island in the Tongass Nat’l Forest looking for wolf scat. Niffler the detection dog stepped near a wolf track, and look at the size difference! Niffler is about 50lb, border collie.
June 4, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Yesterday we did a 12km search on an island in the Tongass Nat’l Forest looking for wolf scat. Niffler the detection dog stepped near a wolf track, and look at the size difference! Niffler is about 50lb, border collie.
The weather has finally given us a window, and the wolf scat detection dog crew is pushing ahead with 6 days of back to back surveys across 5 islands in southeast Alaska. Pictured: Barley on Warren Island.
June 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The weather has finally given us a window, and the wolf scat detection dog crew is pushing ahead with 6 days of back to back surveys across 5 islands in southeast Alaska. Pictured: Barley on Warren Island.
Iitooma is our newest K9 recruit. He’s with me in Alaska learning to sniff out wolf scat. His internship is going well!
June 1, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Iitooma is our newest K9 recruit. He’s with me in Alaska learning to sniff out wolf scat. His internship is going well!
We're thrilled to be offering our online LIVE handler course for aspiring K9 Conservationists. If you've ever wanted to learn to work in wildlife biology/conservation alongside detection dogs, now's your chance. Please share widely <3
May 28, 2025 at 9:36 PM
We're thrilled to be offering our online LIVE handler course for aspiring K9 Conservationists. If you've ever wanted to learn to work in wildlife biology/conservation alongside detection dogs, now's your chance. Please share widely <3
Field gear for 3 people, 3 conservation detection dogs, and 3.5 months. Year 2 of Alaskan island wolf research kicks off this week. We’re stoked!
April 23, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Field gear for 3 people, 3 conservation detection dogs, and 3.5 months. Year 2 of Alaskan island wolf research kicks off this week. We’re stoked!
DOGE cuts are potentially hitting our biosecurity dog programs. These dogs are faster and more effective than any other available method, and are vital for protecting our native species and agriculture from pests and disease. Thanks @nbcnews.com for chatting with me about this!
March 22, 2025 at 5:21 AM
DOGE cuts are potentially hitting our biosecurity dog programs. These dogs are faster and more effective than any other available method, and are vital for protecting our native species and agriculture from pests and disease. Thanks @nbcnews.com for chatting with me about this!
One of my favorite talks at the African Canines in Conservation Conference explored training village dogs as trackers and detection dogs to aid antipoaching units. Importing a dog from Europe is the norm now, which can cost $5,000+. The pups performed well but they’re still refining the process!
March 21, 2025 at 5:11 AM
One of my favorite talks at the African Canines in Conservation Conference explored training village dogs as trackers and detection dogs to aid antipoaching units. Importing a dog from Europe is the norm now, which can cost $5,000+. The pups performed well but they’re still refining the process!
It’s been amazing meeting everyone at the African Canines in Conservation Conference. I gave a keynote talk about troubleshooting training. Today’s conference closer is about the Conservation Dog Alliance, a knowledge-sharing group I co-founded. I have no voice and I’m exhausted but I’m so happy!
March 19, 2025 at 5:24 AM
It’s been amazing meeting everyone at the African Canines in Conservation Conference. I gave a keynote talk about troubleshooting training. Today’s conference closer is about the Conservation Dog Alliance, a knowledge-sharing group I co-founded. I have no voice and I’m exhausted but I’m so happy!
Last weekend we had a celebration of life for my dear friend and student Sade. The conservation dog community lost two gems when she and Simba left us. They’re sorely missed but it was so healing to get together to laugh, cry, and eat.
Be kinder to queer people. Make good trouble. Love your dogs.
Be kinder to queer people. Make good trouble. Love your dogs.
March 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Last weekend we had a celebration of life for my dear friend and student Sade. The conservation dog community lost two gems when she and Simba left us. They’re sorely missed but it was so healing to get together to laugh, cry, and eat.
Be kinder to queer people. Make good trouble. Love your dogs.
Be kinder to queer people. Make good trouble. Love your dogs.
Fieldwork is TOUGH. While we love detecting data alongside our dogs… it can get ugly. Today Barley got a horrible eyeful of seed ticks. He is treated with Bravecto, a Seresto collar, AND his work vest is covered in Permethrin.
January 27, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Fieldwork is TOUGH. While we love detecting data alongside our dogs… it can get ugly. Today Barley got a horrible eyeful of seed ticks. He is treated with Bravecto, a Seresto collar, AND his work vest is covered in Permethrin.
Hello to all my new friends thanks to @ologies.bsky.social - please let me know if you have lingering Qs after the episode. I’m so excited to meet yall!
Yes, we’re hiring - opportunities tab on k9conservationists.org
Yes, we’re hiring - opportunities tab on k9conservationists.org
January 23, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Hello to all my new friends thanks to @ologies.bsky.social - please let me know if you have lingering Qs after the episode. I’m so excited to meet yall!
Yes, we’re hiring - opportunities tab on k9conservationists.org
Yes, we’re hiring - opportunities tab on k9conservationists.org
King Barley is killing it in tough conditions searching for ocelot scat in Texas. He’s being handled by my coworker Heather as they help @lisannepetracca.bsky.social ‘s lab out.
January 13, 2025 at 6:47 PM
King Barley is killing it in tough conditions searching for ocelot scat in Texas. He’s being handled by my coworker Heather as they help @lisannepetracca.bsky.social ‘s lab out.
Over the holidays my mom and I climbed the tallest mountain in North Africa/the Arabic world. I got serious frostbite and am wheelchair bound while my feet recover. But I’m keeping all my toes!
7/10 experience, will improve gear list next time.
In all seriousness, I’ve spent a lot of my life…
7/10 experience, will improve gear list next time.
In all seriousness, I’ve spent a lot of my life…
January 5, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Over the holidays my mom and I climbed the tallest mountain in North Africa/the Arabic world. I got serious frostbite and am wheelchair bound while my feet recover. But I’m keeping all my toes!
7/10 experience, will improve gear list next time.
In all seriousness, I’ve spent a lot of my life…
7/10 experience, will improve gear list next time.
In all seriousness, I’ve spent a lot of my life…
I’m looking for my summer field crew - detection dog based wolf research in Alaska. Details below. Please share!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
December 29, 2024 at 6:23 AM
I’m looking for my summer field crew - detection dog based wolf research in Alaska. Details below. Please share!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
The world lost an amazing conservationist and dog trainer this week. We - their loved ones and mentors and chosen family - are all crushed. Gone way too young. They’ll be missed.
December 23, 2024 at 7:01 PM
The world lost an amazing conservationist and dog trainer this week. We - their loved ones and mentors and chosen family - are all crushed. Gone way too young. They’ll be missed.
Barley is all packed! He is heading to Texas without me for a VERY important job sniffing out ocelot scats in partnership with @lisannepetracca.bsky.social and @tamu.bsky.social. I’ll miss him over the next few months, but I love knowing that he’s having fun and doing good work.
December 20, 2024 at 6:17 PM
Barley is all packed! He is heading to Texas without me for a VERY important job sniffing out ocelot scats in partnership with @lisannepetracca.bsky.social and @tamu.bsky.social. I’ll miss him over the next few months, but I love knowing that he’s having fun and doing good work.
Niffler cannot get his heart rate up during his 5-month heartworm treatment, but he can still do yoga! This exercise builds balance, hip strength/flexibility, shoulder strength, and core strength.
I’m using reward placement and body pressure to encourage good posture. He’s such a good boy.
I’m using reward placement and body pressure to encourage good posture. He’s such a good boy.
December 19, 2024 at 6:33 PM
Niffler cannot get his heart rate up during his 5-month heartworm treatment, but he can still do yoga! This exercise builds balance, hip strength/flexibility, shoulder strength, and core strength.
I’m using reward placement and body pressure to encourage good posture. He’s such a good boy.
I’m using reward placement and body pressure to encourage good posture. He’s such a good boy.
Asking the real questions
December 16, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Asking the real questions
Please enjoy Barley’s daily stick. 4/10 today, too thin and actually a thorny blackberry stick. Try again tomorrow, Bud.
December 16, 2024 at 4:16 PM
Please enjoy Barley’s daily stick. 4/10 today, too thin and actually a thorny blackberry stick. Try again tomorrow, Bud.
Every time I open QGIS I sing "Mapmaker, mapmaker, make me a map, find me a figure, catch me a..." and then I get stuck.
The pink line shows how much more ground Barley covers than me (yellow) and how he works inside the forest while I walk on the beach. Check out all those wolf scats (blue dots)!
The pink line shows how much more ground Barley covers than me (yellow) and how he works inside the forest while I walk on the beach. Check out all those wolf scats (blue dots)!
December 15, 2024 at 1:36 AM
Every time I open QGIS I sing "Mapmaker, mapmaker, make me a map, find me a figure, catch me a..." and then I get stuck.
The pink line shows how much more ground Barley covers than me (yellow) and how he works inside the forest while I walk on the beach. Check out all those wolf scats (blue dots)!
The pink line shows how much more ground Barley covers than me (yellow) and how he works inside the forest while I walk on the beach. Check out all those wolf scats (blue dots)!