Marcella Kelly joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about Virginia Tech, her journey into wildlife conservation, and insights on bear populations in Southwest Virginia. She explains the use of genetic sampling to study bear health, the impact of warm winters on their behavior, and how to navigate human-bear interactions.

Kelly is a professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. She researches the dynamics and behavior of elusive carnivores, including coyotes, bobcats, black bears in the U.S. and she studies jaguars, ocelots, pumas, tigers, and cheetahs abroad. She uses a combination of non-invasive techniques (remote cameras, genetic sampling) along with more traditional techniques like GPS collaring and newly developed camera collars on wildlife.