Meet the team - We are Jaguar Bridges!
Jaguar Bridges operates out of the U.S. and Costa Rica. Our team is comprised of founder and Executive Director, Dr. Leslie A. Hay, Wildlife Ecologist and Team Coordinator Kayla Hiatt, Data Analyst Brytanie Morman, field technician Agustin Mendoza, and other data analysts, field technicians, and volunteers at our field sites. Our team includes conservation scientists, environmental educators, school teachers, community service volunteers, and an amazing, dedicated group of Costa Rican field managers and technicians.
We are a team that is enthusiastic about wildlife conservation, tropical forest stewardship, and the well-being of local villages and rural schools in Costa Rica. We focus our attention on the status of jaguars, because we believe that they are the "canary in the mine-shaft" or the environmental indicator of how healthy the Costa Rican tropical forests are.
We have a special calling to work with local communities in buffer zones of National Parks or Biological Preserves who also care about the wildlife, rivers, and forest health - it is their livelihood. These villages often do not have significant natural resources, economic, and/or educational support. This is the segue where we can help address some of those needs. While we are collecting data on jaguar and other wildlife in the tropical forests, we are putting our work into action. This involves developing partnerships with national and international conservation organizations, working with rural schools on conservation education, and developing media to generate awareness and support of the tropical forest, jaguar, and local village conservation needs.
We are a team that is enthusiastic about wildlife conservation, tropical forest stewardship, and the well-being of local villages and rural schools in Costa Rica. We focus our attention on the status of jaguars, because we believe that they are the "canary in the mine-shaft" or the environmental indicator of how healthy the Costa Rican tropical forests are.
We have a special calling to work with local communities in buffer zones of National Parks or Biological Preserves who also care about the wildlife, rivers, and forest health - it is their livelihood. These villages often do not have significant natural resources, economic, and/or educational support. This is the segue where we can help address some of those needs. While we are collecting data on jaguar and other wildlife in the tropical forests, we are putting our work into action. This involves developing partnerships with national and international conservation organizations, working with rural schools on conservation education, and developing media to generate awareness and support of the tropical forest, jaguar, and local village conservation needs.
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LESLIE A. HAY, Ph.D
Executive Director When not trailing through the rainforest in Costa Rica, Leslie is the Wildlife Program Leader for the Southwestern Region of the US Forest Service. In her off time, she enjoys the beautiful Costa Rican beaches with her family, training horses, and working on the farm. Specialties and interests: Conservation Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Tropical mammals, Community Outreach & Partnerships, Horses, and is a wonderful mother. |
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KAYLA J. HIATT
Field Ecologist & Team Coordinator B.S. Ecology and Conservation When not mothering two little babes, Kayla is out studying the natural world around her, obsessing over the relationships between plants and animals and where to find them. She has been involved with this project as a data analyst since the beginning, and can answer any of your questions about Jaguar Bridges (or motherhood)! Specialties and interests: Ecology, sustainable living, birding, and photography. And you will never not see her whistling or blaring a song stuck in her head like the birds she loves to study. |
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BRYTANIE R. MORMAN
Lead Data Analyst, Field Ecologist, & IT Technician B.S. Environmental Science Brytanie currently works as a nanny, but when she isn't working she is out exploring and finding the wildlife around her. She loves wildlife photography, learning about new creatures and ways to protect them. She has been with the project as a data analyst since 2014. Specialties and interests: Wildlife conservation, wildlife photography, wildlife care, sustainable farming. |
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JESSE HAY
Field Technician & Data Analyst Fish, Wildlife and Range Student - NMSU Jesse Hay is a Fish & Wildlife & Range student at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He is on the NMSU Rodeo team as a Bareback Bronc Rider. In his off-time, he analyzes data for Jaguar Bridges, and collects camera trap data in Costa Rica. Jesse grew up with the project, and probably could have ran it by the time he was 12 years old! Thanks Jesse. |
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AUGUSTINE & ANA MENDOZA
Costa Rican Field Technician, Tropical Field Naturalist, & Local Communities Outreach leaders Augustine has been doing field technician work with Jaguar Bridges since 2013, and deployed and collected trail camera for the team. His identification of species tracks, and knowledge of forest plants & animals goes far and above any of our team members abilities. Aña provide ground support for our team. Gracias Aña! |
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, anJOHANNA HAY-SMITH
Field Technician, Wildlife Rescue & Rehab Research Johanna grew up out in the field, doing exactly what this project is all about. Her heart is for the animals in captive rescue and rehab environments. Johanna helps our team by running experiments with our trail cameras on those animals, i.e. she tests which scents will draw out the animals at those rescue reserves to the scent pad so that we can deploy those scents with our cameras in the wild. Johanna is a Biology student at New Mexico State University, hard worker, and enjoys cross training, dance choreography, and riding and training her horse. Specialties and Interests: Wildlife care, studying animal behavior, and a bit of dancing! |
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Other Field Techs:
Numerous field technicians and partners have worked on the project, to whom we are so grateful for their dedication and expertise. Pictured in this photo are data analysts and biologists Christian Rohnert and Elliott Haragos (along with Kayla Hiatt, Leslie A. Hay). Logistics and field expertise is Diego Chavarria. Much gratitude is expressed to Jesse Hay, who has "grown up with the project." |
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"El Camaron" The project work horse - a Toyota 4Runner - most affectionately known in Costa Rica, as "el camaron". We are grateful to other partners, including Carlos and Alvaro and family, for taking such good care of the real work horse, known for it's strong river crossing & mountain climbing capabilities! |
Student and Local Volunteering - the Footwork
Since 2012, Dr. Leslie Hay has gathered teams of various students from all over the globe to help with Jaguar Bridges. Most of these students are involved in data analysis during school semesters for research credits at their university. Others are involved through internship, or volunteer their time to help do the footwork for Jaguar Bridges.
It has been a long road for Leslie and those who have been on the team since the beginning, with species identification training and learning how to create scientific research posters and presentations.
It may be a lot of work, but the fun never ends.
Want to learn how you can be involved too?
It has been a long road for Leslie and those who have been on the team since the beginning, with species identification training and learning how to create scientific research posters and presentations.
It may be a lot of work, but the fun never ends.
Want to learn how you can be involved too?