Peacock Alum Saves Baby Ocelot

I carried her from the forest in my Peacock bag. 

Today's blog is written by Dano Grayson, 2010 Alum - 
Photos by Dano Grayson

In Atalaya, Peru a mother Ocelot was killed and her kitten was left orphaned in the forest. I was asked to join two towns people in finding her if it wasn't too late. This kitten is less than two months old. It took us an hour before hearing her calling for her mother and finding her clinging to a tree. 

today was a bitter sweet day as my arms are covered in tiny scratches, but she will live. She will likely grow up in a domestic setting never to roam the rainforest as she should. My last full day in the rainforest was spent searching and hoping, but after feeding the little one at the "animal shelter" and promising to visit when I return later this year, I have to continue my trek from the Low Lying amazon up to the top of the Andes mountains. 

I am being funded here as a wildlife photographer for the Amazon Aid Foundation (amazonaid.org)

I have been in Peru since May 27, 2012 working in such remote places as a 20 hour boat ride up the Rio Manu into an area of the wilderness know as the untouchable zone

I was awarded Artist of the month for this month (june) for the Artist for the Amazon (http://www.amazonaid.org/artists-for-the-amazon/)


- Dano Grayson

That's one FLY(ing) Professor

One of Upper Iowa University's beloved professor's, Dr. Kata McCarville is part of a team of female pilots competing in the 2012 Air Race Classic from Lake Havasu City, Az., to Batavia, Ohio.


Read her blog from the air:
http://flyinhawaiiowans.blogspot.com/
 

Hello from Sitka, Alaska! - Student does Internship

Guest Blogger - Shannon Kappes

"Upper Iowa University has helped me accomplish my dream.."

Getting the chance to live in Alaska has been a dream of mine for about five years. It’s all I ever thought about. When I first visited Upper Iowa University, I heard about the required internship in my Conservation Management major, and I asked if I would be able to do my internship in Alaska. The answer to that question was, "You can do your internship wherever you want!" I saw this as an open door to my dream. This was something that I knew I wanted, and I had the drive, the passion, the determination, and the strength to make this dream come true. I spent countless hours searching online and making phone calls for the perfect internship in Alaska. I started my search in August and didn't get this job until January, and now, here I am. 

Sitka is located on Baranof Island along the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska. I have been here for about 2 weeks now and will be staying until August 7th. I am doing my internship at Halibut Point State Park as a volunteer park host/park ranger assistant, and so far I am having an awesome time. Living in my cozy cabin on the beach is a dream come true. I have an amazing view of the ocean and the volcano, Mount Edgecumbe.

My Extra Tuff Rain Boots

Work keeps me pretty busy. I am based out of Halibut Point State Park, but we have several other parks in which we work for Alaska State Parks. You never know what you will be doing and it depends on the weather. I've done everything from digging drainage ditches along hiking trails to cleaning up litter and painting park benches. It rains a lot here since it is a rainforest, but when we have a nice sunny day, it is GORGEOUS! This is an unpaid volunteer position, but I have free housing in the cabin along with heat, hot water, laundry, electricity, and a lot of help from my boss to make sure I'm always comfortable and happy here. He even got me my own pair of Extra Tuff rain boots just like all the locals wear, so now I feel like I fit in! I greatly appreciate it. The work can sometimes leave you very sore and exhausted after a long day, but I love what I do. I feel good knowing that I'm taking care of the parks and trails in order for the public to enjoy nature. I go to bed feeling like I had a very productive day, and I wake up with a smile on my face knowing that I am living my dream. If you can go to bed and wake up loving your life and what you do, I view that as a success.

Cabin for me and the Squirrels

            Living in Alaska is definitely an eye opener. Although it is part of the United States, it sometimes feels like a foreign country! The price of groceries (especially dairy products) here is much higher than back home. The time difference has definitely thrown me off especially with the 17 hours of sunlight each day. Being about 3,000 miles from home has been very difficult. I miss my family and friends more than anything. It's been difficult to keep in touch with everyone since I only have internet on the state computer in the park office, so that means no Facebook. But I'll admit that living a quiet, secluded life in a small cabin has been kind of peaceful. I know that I will be home before I know it, and then I will miss being here! I have already been asked to return next summer, but we'll see! I have also seen a lot of wildlife that I would have never gotten to see back at home in Iowa. I've seen sea lions, starfish, jellyfish, sea urchins, hermit crabs, clams, minks, and Alaska's HUGE slugs...(Yikes!) I can't forget the red squirrels that are currently living in my attic and creating quite a bit of noise up there. I haven't run into any grizzly bears yet, thank goodness! I do have my bear spray to protect me, just in case.

View from my Cabin

            I believe a person can spend their whole life wishing and hoping on stars, but it takes hard work and faith in yourself to get things accomplished. A few years ago, I made a Bucket List. Number one on that list was "Complete an internship in Alaska." At the age of 19, with the help of UIU, I have officially crossed off #1 on my Bucket List. I do not see this as a stopping point. I see this as a point in my life where I ask myself, "What's next?" As my wise cousin once put it, "If you climb to the top of a mountain, don't stop. Find a bigger mountain to climb." Upper Iowa University has helped me accomplish my dream, but that is not the only thing that they will help me achieve. I will always find the next goal to work towards, and I will know that my college stands behind me 100%. I cannot express the amount of gratitude that I have for Upper Iowa University and my professors who have helped me with this internship. Thank you Dr. Haines and Dr. Klann! This has truly been the opportunity and experience of a lifetime. I will continue to enjoy my adventure, and I hope everyone is having a great summer in the "Lower 48!"

Shannon Kappes