Jared Baecker

Program Coordinator

Jared was born and raised in Connecticut. His childhood was spent exploring the hills and streams of the Berkshire Mountains. Following high school, Jared embarked on five-month journey along the Appalachian Trail. Jared received his Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana, Missoula. His field research experiences have led him from the Siskiyou Mountains in southern Oregon to western Montana, Hawaii, Denali National Park, Grand Teton National Park and southern Idaho. His interest and research experiences are varied from small mammal ecology, passerine birds and predator-prey relationships. Jared spends his free time fly fishing and exploring the wild lands of the Greater Yellowstone Geo-ecosystem.

Kevin Taylor

Faculty

Kevin has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Botany. His biological research experience includes being involved with several wildlife research projects as well as mapping distribution of rare plant species and the effects of global warming on mountain plants. He believes that it is critical to include modern humans when discussing natural history and ecology and he studies and teaches ethnobotany and ethnozoology. Kevin brings to Wildlife Expeditions experience in plant taxonomy, natural history knowledge due to spending a lot of time in the woods, and a teaching background educating all ages of the wonders and value of conservation of the natural world.

Sarah Hoffman

Sarah was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Georgia in 1998. Sarah moved to the valley 11 years ago and is currently raising her two children, Julian and Eliza. Sarah enjoys whitewater rafting, fly fishing, hiking, biking and backpacking.

Paul Brown

Biologist

After graduating from Ramapo College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. in environmental studies, Paul worked for the U.S. Forest Service and New Jersey Audubon. He relocated to Jackson Hole in the spring of 2001 and has led a variety of environmental education programs, primarily guiding in the Greater Yellowstone Geo-ecosystem for Wildlife Expeditions. He has worked on several research projects in the area, including studying the wolf population of Yellowstone National Park with the Yellowstone Wolf Project. He has also guided polar bear expeditions in Churchill, Manitoba.

Brad Cole

Biologist

Brad received his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 1972. He continued his education with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Science Education at the University of Wyoming in 1986. Brad has worked for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service and for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Of particular interest is his work with Wyoming Department of Game and Fish on an elk study involving daily radio-tracking to determine elk response to oil and gas development in Southwestern Wyoming. He joined Wildlife Expeditions in 2000 because he wants to share his love of Jackson Hole with our visitors.

Erik Nelson

Biologist

Erik grew up in the mountains of Colorado and the forests of Sweden. He has degrees in Anthropology/archaeology and Marine biology. Erik has worked as a Park ranger, studied sea turtles in Central America, led snowshoe tours, done field research on birds in Wyoming and the Dakotas and worked as a naturalist at environmental education centers. In his free time Erik enjoys looking for edible mushrooms and rock climbing. He is also an Eagle Scout.

Sarah Ernst

Biologist

Sarah was born in Chicago and raised in suburban Connecticut, where she got her first naturalist training in high school as a volunteer with the Maritime Aquarium. After receiving a BA in Philosophy at Mount Holyoke College, she spent a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Sheridan, Wyoming before driving to South Carolina to spend five years as a naturalist and educator at Spring Island and Kiawah Island. But the wildlife and landscapes of Wyoming held a special place in her heart, so she returned to Wyoming in 2011 to join the Wildlife Expeditions team. Sarah has a special passion for birds and bugs and likes to wax enthusiastic about the smaller members of the ecosystem. In her spare time she enjoys birding, insect photography, reading, and taking her dog Linus for hikes in the National Forest.

Marian Herbick

Biologist

Marian was born in New York and raised in Maryland, where she spent five summers working with kids at an outdoor adventure camp.  She attended the University of Vermont and received a BS in Natural Resource Planning and Wildlife Biology.  While in school, she spent a semester studying kiwi birds and invasive mammals in New Zealand.  After college, Marian spent seven months intensively pursuing her lifelong passion for competitive horseback riding.  She strongly believes in the importance of environmental education and loves sharing the outdoors with anyone she can.  Marian spends her free time hiking, mountain biking, and skiing.

Natalie Converse

Biologist

Natalie graduated from California State University Fresno in May of 2010 with a degree in ecology and evolutionary biology.  While studying a Fresno State she worked as part of the Wildlife Management team for California Department of Fish and Game and was busy counting deer, talking to hunters, working on habitat improvement projects and tromping around the Sierras capturing rare forest mesocarnivores on remote cameras.  Natalie is especially interested in bear biology and bear-human interactions.  She has worked as a member of the Grand Teton Wildlife Brigade and the Pika research crew.  Natalie enjoys hiking, backpacking, fishing, biking and sharing “the most beautiful place on earth” with anyone and everyone!

Sean Beckett

Biologist

Sean Beckett, originally from Burlington, Vermont, developed a passion for nature at a young age through Boy Scouts of America. His time in the mountains and forests of New England fostered a great appreciation for ecosystem science and avian ecology. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies from Vassar College in upstate New York, and has been pursuing wildlife and ecology research ever since. Sean has published studies on owl migration in North America, and has participated in raptor, seabird, and song fieldwork in beautiful locations across the United States. He fell in love with the Tetons after working as a wildlife cartographer and field researcher for Teton Science Schools, and is excited to be sharing his stories and experiences with visitors of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.