cryptozoology

Jesse Grooms, PhD Student

Cryptic animal survey at Nachusa Grasslands

My research interests include the ecological processes involving small mammals and reptiles. I completed my bachelor’s degree in biology (Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation) at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO in 2023. At Missouri Southern I worked with Dr. David Penning to complete a herpetofaunal survey, test Artificial Cover Object (ACO) size and material effectiveness for snake detection, test snake musk as a mesocarnivore deterrent, and test bait and floatation device color effectiveness for capturing aquatic turtles. I completed my master’s degree in Biological Sciences at DePaul University in Chicago, IL in 2025. At DePaul I worked with Dr. Jalene LaMontagne to quantify tree reproduction at a continental scale and its effect on small mammal communities.

For my PhD, I am continuing a decade-long small mammal data collection project at Nachusa Grasslands while branching out my collection efforts in hopes of discovering more cryptic species of concern at this prairie site. In particular, I am searching for Franklin’s ground squirrels, smooth green snakes, pickerel frogs, and hognose snakes.