Getting the ‘Scoop on the Scat’: Research Fellow Studies Mammals at ETEC

In January, Walters visited SSFL to gather further insight on mammal species inhabiting wildlife corridors within the ETEC Site by collecting scat from targeted species for laboratory analysis to assess potential uptake of contaminants.

Walters said the January visit was a "reconnaissance trip to get the scoop on the scat," with the goal of answering two questions: What scat is found at SSFL, and is there enough at each site to collect for sampling?

Joined by Tara Schoenwetter, a senior ecologist with Leidos, Walters spent the week surveying areas of interest both onsite and offsite, collecting and documenting anything related to scat.

"I was pleasantly surprised with finds during our surveying efforts," Walters said. "Also, Dr. Schoenwetter and I got the distinct privilege of being visited by a pocket gopher and seeing a bobcat."

Schoenwetter, who has worked at Santa Susana since 2011 and developed a list of projects over the years aimed at better understanding the ecological community, said Walters' project will help provide insight on the movement of specific chemicals through wildlife species.

"Alex's research will help us understand the health of the wildlife population, and better understand wildlife movement across Area IV and the Northern Buffer Zone, since the entire SSFL is known to be an important wildlife corridor," Schoenwetter said.