Sign in

Lisanne Petracca

@lisannepetracca.bsky.social
623 followers 258 following 49 posts

Assistant Professor of Carnivore Ecology CKWRI | 🎯 ocelot & mtn lion ecology | ☀️ heliophile | I dig carnivores 🐆🐾 & my rescue bulldog | she/her

PostsRepliesMedia
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
A (professional!) year in review: thespeclab.weebly.com/news/2025-a-...
030
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
We’ve got another one, folks! @thespeclab.bsky.social has another outstanding student who successfully defended her Masters degree. Alexandria was co-advised by disease ecologist Dr. Alynn Martin. Congratulations, Alexandria!! 🦠 🐆
030
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Congrats to Tori Locke of @thespeclab.bsky.social, who successfully defended her M.S. today! 🐆
010
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
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 🐆
051
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Oh my, @thespeclab.bsky.social just had its first graduate student fly the coop. 🥺 Congrats Tyler!
011
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
Erin Buchholtz @erinbuchholtz.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Student-lead joint lab paper published today! Black bears are abundant in North America - this review investigates their trophic role as large omnivores with top-down effects onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🌎🧪 @johnnettles.bsky.social @pancakesnmegs.bsky.social @davidjachowski.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) as an Apex Predator: Investigating the Ecological Role of the World's Most Abundant Large Carnivore
Black bears as apex predators. American black bears can (1) produce top-down effects on ungulates equal to or exceeding those of typical apex predators and (2) modify the spatiotemporal behaviour of ...
0219
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Tyler Bostwick is the first graduate student from @thespeclab.bsky.social to defend her thesis!!! 🧬🐆 She did AWESOME!!! Yay!!! 🎉🍾🎊👯
021
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
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! 🤓
051
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
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. 🐆🤠
161
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
🐺🐺🐺 NEW PAPER! 🐺🐺🐺 Recovering wolves in WA tolerate threats except high harvest, high lethal removals, and lack of immigration With @labgardner.bsky.social, Sarah Converse, & Ben Maletzke zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Forecasting Dynamics of a Recolonizing Wolf Population Under Different Management Strategies
We use a novel spatially explicit projection model to evaluate how different management strategies and system uncertainties affect the recolonization dynamics of wolves. We found that scenarios relat....
084
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Life achievement unlocked: my name made it into Mason’s blog! 🤠 He always does such a great job with these posts!
masonfidino.com
Please reconsider including the number of sampling days as a covariate when estimating detection probabilities in occupancy models
When you flip a fair coin, the probability that you get heads at least once increases with the number of times you flip the coin. This makes intuitive sense. More chances means you are more likely to ...
070
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
🧪 Detailed data viz NYT article, out today, on the extent of funding cuts at the National Science Foundation. This "broken pie chart" is neat & new to me: Powerfully shows the slowdown in new NSF awards across areas. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
8401266
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
Mason Fidino, PhD @masonfidino.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
New blog post sharing updates on the latest version of the Diel.Niche R package, which we just released about an hour ago. Interested in quantifying if a species is nocturnal with data? Well it is easier than ever now! 🧪 #rstats #cameratrapping masonfidino.com/Diel.Niche_u...
A ternary plot showing the traditional hypothesis set in the Diel.Niche R package.
0218
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Not a bad way to start the day
140
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
🐆🐆 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
078
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
🐆🐆 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
0116
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
We are hiring an Assistant/Associate Prof of Quantitative Ecology! I'm on the Search Committee for this one. If you have any interest in the position & want to learn more about living in this v. cool part of the country, pls reach out! tinyurl.com/2h6bdece
tinyurl.com
Assistant/Associate Professor in Quantitative Ecology
Job TitleAssistant/Associate Professor in Quantitative Ecology Agency Texas A&M University - Kingsville Department Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Proposed Minimum SalaryCommensurate Job Locat...
11924
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Are you going to #ICCB2025 in Brisbane? Come take the Geospatial Analysis in R all-day workshop on Saturday, June 14. This workshop was developed by me and @amandacheeseman.bsky.social in the COVID era, and now has some brand-new updates from @thespeclab.bsky.social! Join us! 🗺️🤓🦘
174
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
We had SO MUCH FUN hosting the best of the best @labgardner.bsky.social
030
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
@thespeclab.bsky.social is out in full force at #TCTWS 🐆 🐾
021
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Had an awesome night last night at Catawba College’s Center for the Environment! 🐆 🗺️ 🐾 @catawbacollege.bsky.social
A classroom with students and other guests
010
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
See ya tonight Catawba! @catawbacollege.bsky.social
030
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
The SPEC Lab @thespeclab.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
🐾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
011
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
Sarah B. Bassing, PhD @sbassing.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
First paper from my postdoc is out in #EcologicalMonographs w/ @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social! We looked at patterns of summer co-occurrence among 5 predators at 3 time scales to assess how competition, prey, & habitat affected predator distributions in north Idaho, USA. dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecm....
dx.doi.org
Mammalian predator co‐occurrence affected by prey and habitat more than competitor presence at multiple time scales
The behavior and abundance of sympatric predators can be affected by a complex dominance hierarchy. The strength of antagonistic interactions in predator communities is difficult to study and remains...
14817
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
Science Magazine @science.org · 30/01/2025
Exclusive: NSF this week began to search through billions of dollars of grants the agency has already awarded for anything touching on topics that President Donald Trump has criticized. And NSF has blocked grantees and trainees from accessing funds while the review is underway. scim.ag/3El0NZh
scim.ag
EXCLUSIVE: NSF starts vetting all grants to comply with Trump’s orders
Grantee accounts remain frozen, while union accuses NSF of ignoring rules governing peer review
68751572
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
I could not be more stoked about our capture of P04 yesterday, an 80-lb, ~3yo female mountain lion captured and GPS-collared as part of the CKWRI South Texas Lion Project. We are investigating lion movement ecology, density, and genetics in the TX-Mexico borderlands.
mountain lion in brush mountain lion hissingmountain lion getting tooth measurementsmountain lion with capture team
2152
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
Kayla Fratt @eco-odorologist.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
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.
2121
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
What a year. From one student to seven, and with lots of great work happening for the ocelots and mountain lions of South Texas.
thespeclab.weebly.com
2024: A Year in Review
I realized I haven't posted here in a while, which may give the impression nothing is going on -- the reality is that things are occurring at such breakneck speed it's impossible to slow down and...
070
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
So proud of the SPEC Lab team, led by @biologisttori.bsky.social, working up its fourth bobcat of the season. Tori is studying bobcat kitten survival and den site selection for her MS, as well as rodenticide exposure in mesocarnivores.
Team of four working up a sedated bobcat
0121
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Heck yeah, let’s gooooo!
020
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
🦁🦁🦁 We are seeking a Research Technician to assist our South Texas Lion Project! Work duties include maintaining our camera traps, investigating kill sites, and participating in lion work-ups. A phenomenal opportunity in the South Texas brush country. See below for more: shorturl.at/aftKp 🦁🦁🦁
shorturl.at
Research Technician I, South Texas Lion Project | Natural Resources Job Board
01413
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Back in my office and there are five mysterious hand turkeys on my desk. One has a bowtie. 🦃 🤵🏻
060
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Whoa! Haven’t posted here in over a year (I got way more interaction on the “other one”) but it seems this is where the people are now?
040
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 11/11/2023
🐆 Deadline is TOMORROW (Nov. 12) for two positions in my lab: Postdoctoral Scholar and Program Manager, both under our ocelot research program. See my below posts for more info. ALSO: Two technician positions for a January start date will be announced this week. 🐆
011
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 11/10/2023
🚩🚩 Position 2/2: Program Manager for the SPEC Lab Ocelot Research Program. See shorturl.at/LMN57 to apply. Deadline is November 12. Five years of experience in related tasks is **required** for this pay scale as per A&M rules, so pls have this reflected in your CV 🚩🚩
056
Reposted by Lisanne Petracca
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 11/10/2023
🚩🚩 Position 1/2: Postdoctoral Scholar in Ocelot Population Dynamics. See shorturl.at/MORY2 to apply. Deadline is November 12. Please help me spread the word! 🚩🚩
145
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 24/10/2023
Unbeknownst to me, I was just a reviewer on an ms with SEVEN reviewers. Seven. That AE needs to make a decision and let the authors have some closure.
120
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 11/10/2023
🚩🚩 Position 2/2: Program Manager for the SPEC Lab Ocelot Research Program. See shorturl.at/LMN57 to apply. Deadline is November 12. Five years of experience in related tasks is **required** for this pay scale as per A&M rules, so pls have this reflected in your CV 🚩🚩
056
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 11/10/2023
🚩🚩 Position 1/2: Postdoctoral Scholar in Ocelot Population Dynamics. See shorturl.at/MORY2 to apply. Deadline is November 12. Please help me spread the word! 🚩🚩
145
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 11/10/2023
These positions are going live tomorrow! 👀
010
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 05/10/2023
Number of unread emails: 666
010
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 28/09/2023
Just did my first radio interview 📻and am super stoked to see Texan ocelots getting some press! Now we need a similar highlight on the very cool, very understudied mountain lions. 🐆
010
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 16/09/2023
Welp guess I had it all figured out
020
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 09/09/2023
86 degree temps didn’t stop members of the SPEC and Tewes Labs from representing CKWRI at the Run/Walk for Suicide Awareness
010
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 04/09/2023
I have a variety of friends I talk to all the time
020
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 03/09/2023
Top moment of packing up my childhood bedroom was finding my Lisa Frank folders from the early 90s
050
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 28/08/2023
Hi all! I will soon be recruiting for TWO positions to start January 2024: a postdoc with our ocelot research program AND an ocelot program manager. Stay tuned, as I'll announce here when the postings go live. 📷: Ben Masters
ocelot peering into the camera lens
051
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 26/08/2023
I added SIX new graduate students this fall and yup, I guess I’ve gone off the deep end. How lucky am I to work with these fab people? lisannepetracca.weebly.com/people.h…
020
Lisanne Petracca @lisannepetracca.bsky.social · 24/08/2023
I START TEACHING UNDERGRADS TOMORROW
000