Katie Hardash ’27: Wildlife Science

Conserving Rare Species

Katie Hardash was inspired to become a rare species conservationist while fishing for golden trout in California. Climate change was pushing the fish out of their historic range. “Their plight got me interested in learning how I can help,” she said. A professor at her local community college steered her to ESF, and she immediately applied.

She wrote him a long thank-you note when she got accepted, but she knew she’d have to expand her knowledge beyond the desert flora and fauna she grew up with in Southern California. In fact, the winter ecology course became a highlight of Hardash’s ESF experience; it taught her endurance strategies for plants and animals, how to take snow measurements, where to place a trail cam—all skills she’d need in her chosen field.

Hardash gained experience across complementary areas of wildlife research. In Museum Techniques, she learned to prepare and preserve bird and small mammal specimens to extract maximum data. In a separate lab experience, she analyzed camera trap datasets, learning how they impacted scientists’ understanding of animals’ activity. “It also gave me a real appreciation for research projects where the scientists have to go through tens of thousands of trap photos. It’s a big time sink,” she laughed.

Hardash believes that the best way to help preserve rare species is supplementing those in the wild with species at a zoo or conservation facility while their natural habitat is being restored. “I think we can help species by doing in situ and ex situ work together,” said Hardash.

Receiving a scholarship to ESF meant she could focus solely on her studies. “Having access to scholarships says to me, ‘We are providing you with money to go and be a scientist. Please focus on that so you can help these species,’” she said. Hardash wants to continue studying genetics and statistics in a master’s program, “I greatly appreciate the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s at ESF in the first place,” she said.