CSRI researchers part of IPR story on turtle-seeking dogs

Cornell College Professor of Biology Andy McCollum and his summer research students were mentioned in an Iowa Public Radio story on dogs who helped Iowa conservationists find ornate box turtles.

As part of McCollum’s ongoing research with students on the threatened turtle species, they joined John Rucker and his four Boykin spaniels, looking for turtles on a nature preserve owned by Bur Oak Land Trust in Johnson County.

Cornell Summer Research Institute (CSRI) students Lizzy Ott ’21, Lily Ullenius ’20, and John Regis ’20 were there to track the turtles and hold on to some for further research. They were joined by Bob Martinson ’15, one of McCollum’s former research students.

About the photo:  Turtle researchers take a lunch break and give the dogs a rest. From left: Lizzy Ott ’21, Lily Ullenius ’20, Judy Felder, Professor Andy McCollum, Paul Morf, Jason Taylor from Bur Oak Land Trust, John Regis ’20, and dog trainer John Rucker. Photo by Bob Martinson ’15.