Dr. Rebecca Calisi-Rodríguez
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rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Dr. Rebecca Calisi-Rodríguez
@rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
2.3K followers 1.5K following 280 posts
Wildlife biologist & UC Davis professor studying animal behavior, stress, reproduction & the mental health benefits of human-animal interactions.
She/Her/Ella🇲🇽🇵🇷
Book-WILD PRIDE https://linktr.ee/RebeccaCalisiRodriguez
Lab https://greencarelab.ucdavis.edu/
Posts Replies Media Videos
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Perks of summer fieldwork in California: wildlife cameras for the data, grapes for the dinner table.

#CaliforniaBiologist
A white bowl brimming with freshly harvested clusters of purple and green grapes sits on dry grass among grapevine leaves, next to two camouflage-patterned wildlife trail cameras with straps.
August 7, 2025 at 10:23 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
#NoKings Sacramento
@ucdavis.bsky.social Professors represent!
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Thanks CapRadio for the interview on my Science Café talk TONIGHT: Celebrating Gender Rebels & Queer Pairings in the Animal Kingdom, from my book Wild Pride!🌈
Listen: scroll to “Davis Science Café” tinyurl.com/3bmmeupz
5:30PM G St Wunderbar, Davis –FREE!
100% book proceeds@trevorproject.bsky.social
June 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Minutes away from speaking about my upcoming Science Cafe talk, “Wild Pride! Celebrating Gender Rebels and Queer Pairings in the Animal Kingdom”
at Capital Public Radio
A very goofy photo of me with Cap Radio sign in their waiting room in the background
June 10, 2025 at 7:41 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
A digitally altered image of the Statue of Liberty, shown humorously holding and eating large handfuls of popcorn. Piles of popcorn rest on her lap and in one of her hands, with the New York City skyline and sunset in the background.
June 6, 2025 at 5:14 AM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
1,300 Israeli academics call to end Gaza war.

“This is a horrifying list of war crimes and crimes against humanity – our own doing,' the academics' letter states, urging Israeli academic leaders to 'mobilize the full weight of Israeli academia to stop the war'

archive.ph/2025.05.30-1...
1,300 academics from universities and colleges across Israel sent a letter on Tuesday to the heads of the academic system in Israel, urging them "to mobilize the full weight of Israeli academia to stop the Israeli war in Gaza."
June 5, 2025 at 11:20 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
My awesome lab manager just sent me this sketch she did, which is an idea for an (ecologically friendly) water balloon fight to teach middle schoolers about the HPA (stress) axis 😂
June 4, 2025 at 9:23 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Well, this is a 1st.
Just got hit with a trademark infringement threat for using the phrase “where science meets compassion” on my research lab’s website.
Apparently, a therapy company owns that combo of words now? 🙃
Screenshot of their message, alongside how I used the phrase on my research website
Text reads: Name CBT California Email admin@cbtcalifornia.com Message We have identified unauthorized use of our registered trademark Where Science Meets Compassion on your website, which constitutes a clear violation of our intellectual property rights. This infringement is not permitted and must be addressed without delay. We hereby demand that you remove all instances of our trademark from your site immediately. Failure to comply may result in legal action to protect our brand and enforce our rights under applicable trademark laws. https://greencarelab.ucdavis.edu/ Legal Services CBT California Where Science Meets Compassion www.cbtcalifornia.com 800-624-1475 admin@cbtcalifornia.com Text from Greencarelab.ucdavis.edu website: Welcome to the Green Care Lab, where science meets compassion and innovation blends with nature. Founded with a mission to explore the profound connection between our well-being and the natural world, we embark on a journey of discovery, healing, and education. Guided by Dr. Rebecca Calisi Rodríguez's pioneering research in animal behavior, stress physiology, and behavioral neuroendocrinology, we are committed to understanding not only how stress affects us but also how nature can help us heal. Our sanctuary, nestled at Pine Trails Ranch in west Davis, California, stands as a testament to our dedication to creating spaces where humans, animals, and gardens flourish in harmony. Whether you're interested in the well-being of our animal companions, the nurturing embrace of our gardens, or the dynamic impact of scientific outreach, the Green Care Lab welcomes you to be a part of our community-driven vision. Join us in exploring the transformative power of Green Care, and together, let's cultivate a healthier, happier world.
June 2, 2025 at 6:53 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Happy Pride, y’all! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
For all of Pride month, I’m donating 100% of my proceeds from WILD PRIDE to The Trevor Project, a leading organization working to prevent suicide in LGBTQ+ youth. Get your copy here! linktr.ee/RebeccaCalis...

Or donate directly to Trevor Project here!
www.thetrevorproject.org
June 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Saturday was a beautiful 1st for me - my 1st time showcasing WILD PRIDE at a public event, the Sacramento Book Festival. I got to meet incredible people, sign books, and raise funds through every sale to support The Trevor Project, a leading organization working to prevent suicide in #LGBTQ+ youth 🏳️‍🌈
A photo with my first in-person sale at the Sacramento book festival. Description: author Rebecca Calisi-Rodriguez stands at her book table next to her first customer, holding up WILD PRIDE (the original cover) Another sale of WILD PRIDE shown, with the new cover being displayed in the photo featuring 2 cuddling hedgehogs. The front and back covers of the new edition of WILD PRIDE
June 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
How did I create the art for WILD PRIDE? As a professional artist, I care deeply about transparency re AI. I wish I could have hand-painted every image, but doing so would’ve taken decades & I wanted WILD PRIDE to exist now, especially to support the young people who need it most 🏳️‍🌈

A 🧵
1/9
Image 1 (Sketch): “Charcoal concept sketch I drew after researching species and behaviors.” Image 2 (AI-Assisted Draft): “After training DALL·E 3 on my art style and sketch, I generated countless versions to match my vision.” Image 3 (Final Art): “The finished piece—hand-edited and refined by me using Procreate to bring it to life.” “Creating these illustrations wasn’t a push-button process. It was an intense, hands-on journey using mixed media and personal creativity every step of the way. The result? A joyful, inclusive book that now supports LGBTQ+ youth.”
June 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Exciting news! 🌈 WILD PRIDE - a playful, science-packed, joyfully illustrated celebration of queer animal behavior - will be featured at the Sacramento Book Festival this Sat, May 31 (10–4, Shepard Garden & Arts Center, McKinley Park). Join us! 100% proceeds go to @TrevorProject! 📚🦩 #PrideMonth
Author Bio of Rebecca Calisi-Rodríguez reads: LGBTQ+, Young Adult Dr. REBECCA CALISI-RODRÍGUEZ, author of the book WILD PRIDE, grew up in Texas, surrounded by her vibrant Mexican-American family. After earning her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, she became an accomplished wildlife biologist. She now resides in Davis, where she serves as an Associate Professor of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and teaches Animal Behavior at the University of California, Davis. Calisi-Rodríguez has published over 70 scientific and popular science articles and was inducted as a National Geographic Explorer for her contributions to science communication and for hosting Nat Geo’s web series I CAN SCIENCE. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, CBS, KQED, Capital Public Radio, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Nature, Science, and more. ALL DAY: Table NP10 Map of tables at the Sacramento Book Festival. Rebecca Calisi-Rodríguez will be in the North Patio, table NP10 Sacramento Book Festival announcement. Saturday, May 31st, 2025, 10am-4pm at the Shepard Garden & Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd, East Sacramento, Near McKinley Park. FREE EVENT! The front and back cover of the book WILD PRIDE: A Colorful Celebration of Same-Sex Relationships in the Animal Kingdom by Rebecca M. Calisi-Rodríguez, Ph.D. The front cover features two hedgehogs snuggled together against a vibrant rainbow-colored background with a painterly, textured style. The title is large and bold in white text with a slightly distressed font. The subtitle is in smaller yellow font underneath. The spine features the title, author’s name, and the Palmetto Publishing logo. The back cover includes playful text about the book’s premise—highlighting surprising, science-backed examples of same-sex behavior in animals. Two endorsements praise the book’s educational and inclusive nature. A small author photo and bio appear at the bottom left, noting Calisi-Rodríguez’s role as a wildlife biologist and professor at UC Davis.
May 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Found this in the women’s bathroom of our science building today.
Honestly, the most accurate peer review I’ve gotten all week.

#LabNotesFromTheStall
April 24, 2025 at 9:50 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
The Empty Library memorial, to remember the book burnings done by Nazis.
A photograph of Bebelplatz in Berlin, Germany, showing the “Empty Library” memorial. Embedded in the cobblestone plaza is a square glass window that looks down into a white room of empty bookshelves—symbolizing the thousands of books burned by the Nazis on this site in 1933. In the background stands the domed St. Hedwig’s Cathedral and surrounding neoclassical buildings under a clear blue sky.
April 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
He’s in 3rd grade. Same age as my son.
ICE knocked on the wrong door.
No crime. No reason.
He was handcuffed. Detained.
He’s 8 years old.

This should shatter you.
It should enrage you.
No matter your politics, NO ONE should be okay with this.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
April 7, 2025 at 3:18 AM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Just finished giving a lecture when I stepped outside into tension on campus: Turning Point set up, students angry, police in riot gear.
Now I’m stuck here.
As a professor, a mom, & a decent human being, the urge to protect ALL students is real. The heavy emotional toll, constant.
April 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
This is how it’s done.
An add from Dick’s Sporting Goods that shows diverse people and says, “We do not accept racism or discrimination of any kind.”
March 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Unrelated to current government dumpster fire -
A moment of levity for parents with feral kids like mine:
www.instagram.com/reel/DGip3Er...
March 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
@ucdavis.bsky.social represent at Stand Up for Science - Sacramento!✊🏽
L to R: @mydennis.bsky.social , me, @titus.idyll.org , @rogerslabucd.bsky.social. Congrats to Crystal for giving a killer invited speech!🎤
And huge thanks to
@doctheagrif.bsky.social for organizing! 🙏🏻
March 7, 2025 at 11:36 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Bapu! Mayor of Davis, CA, speaks at Stand up for Science!
Ending sentiment:
“F*uck you, from the West Coast!”
March 7, 2025 at 10:40 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Elon Musk IS NOT a good boy!

Stand up for Science - Sacramento
March 7, 2025 at 10:20 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
Stand up for Science
Sacramento!
March 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
…
Here is an alt text description for your image: A black-and-white cartoon titled “Peak Operational Efficiency” depicts a confused office worker sitting at her computer, receiving contradictory and frantic messages. Speech bubbles around her contain chaotic orders: • “YOU’RE FIRED!” • “NO—WAIT! NEVER MIND!” • “BACK TO WORK!” • “SEND YOUR MANAGER FIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR YOU’RE FIRED!” • “NO, DON’T!” • “SEND FIVE OR YOU’RE FIRED!” Meanwhile, a message on her screen from a colleague asks, “Do you still have a job??” to which she hesitantly responds with “Hey 👋…” Below, a jagged speech bubble resembling a news report states: “THOUSANDS OF FIRED FEDERAL WORKERS CALLED BACK TO WORK.” The cartoon humorously illustrates the chaos and absurdity of mass firings and sudden re-hirings within the federal workforce. It is signed “Sarah” in the bottom left corner.
March 7, 2025 at 12:02 AM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
First Amendment*

*Void where inconvenient. Terms and conditions apply.
Post by Trump: “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
March 4, 2025 at 3:49 PM
rebeccacalisi.bsky.social
How embarrassing- they misspelled Russia
Issued from White House account: Picture of American flag with text below, “America First”
March 1, 2025 at 4:47 PM