Marine Mammal Ecology Lab
seals lounging on a log

Current Undergraduate Students

Rachel in Lake Washington at sunset.

Rachel Strober

(2024-present) Foraging behavior of harbor seals.

Rachel is designing a molecular protocol to identify the sex of salmon consumed by Steller and California sea lions from their scat. This project is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Erin D'Agnese of WildEcohealth and Western alumnus. In addition, she is collaborating with Haley Recob to continue the long-term study on the foraging behavior of harbor seals along Whatcom Creek in downtwon Bellingham, WA. She has also been coordinating the social media posts from the lab.

Ellie at winter time in a mountain town.

Ellie Taylor

(2024-present) Sex-based diet of river otters in the northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula.

Ellie is determining the diet of male and female river otters in the northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula, WA, using DNA collected from their scat. This project is conducted in collaboration with graduate student Dawson Little. In additon, she is continuing the long-term study on the occurrence and haul-out behavior of harbor seals in downtwon Bellingham, WA.

Camryn collecting invertebrates at night.

Camryn Sumrok

(2025-present) Harbor seal behavior and salmon smolt.

In collaboration with Mallory Stonier, Camryn is continuing the long-term project studying the aggregative response and foraging behavior of habor seals to the release of hatchery salmon smolt in downtown Bellingham, WA. She is also coordinating the social media posts from the lab. She is also coordinating the social media posts from the lab.

Mallory in Bellingham Bay.

Mallory Stonier

(2025-present) Harbor seal behavior and salmon smolt.

In collaboration with Camryn Sumrok, Mallory is continuing the long-term project studying the aggregative response and foraging behavior of habor seals to the release of hatchery salmon smolt in downtown Bellingham, WA. She is also coordinating the social media posts from the lab.

Chloe Bentley.

Chloe Bentley

(2025-present) Cetacean strandings in San Juan County.

In collaboration with Siena Gorohoff and The Whale Museum, Chloe will examine the varation in time and space of cetacean strandings in San Juan County. In addition, she is collaborating with Siena Gorohoff to continue the long-term study on the foraging behavior of harbor seals along Whatcom Creek in downtwon Bellingham, WA. She has also been coordinating the social media posts from the lab.

Siena Gorohoff.

Siena Gorohoff

(2025-present) Cetacean strandings in San Juan County.

In collaboration with Chloe Bentley and The Whale Museum, Siena will examine the varation in time and space of cetacean strandings in San Juan County. In addition, she is collaborating with Chloe Bentley to continue the long-term study on the foraging behavior of harbor seals along Whatcom Creek in downtwon Bellingham, WA. She has also been coordinating the social media posts from the lab.