Associate Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist
Dana.Sanchez [at] Oregonstate.edu

Office: 541-737-6003

2820 SW Campus Way

Corvallis, OR 97331

I'm a mammalian ecologist who conducts basic and applied research, especially when integrated with my public education and outreach duties as the Extension wildlife specialist.

Prospective graduate students should read through Future Ecologists on my Extension Wildlife site before contacting me.

At OSU

Affiliated with:

Fisheries and Wildlife

Career Links:

Extension Wildlife

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

I accept graduate students for the Fisheries and Wildlife Department

Student(s):

Laura Baumann

Courses Taught:

I am course supervisor for online sections of FW 255-Field Sampling of Fish and Wildlife.

Beyond OSU

Personal Interests:

I enjoy gardening, music, nature-watching on walks with my dog, and outdoorsy things like hiking, rafting, and fly-fishing - when I get time to do so. I am honored to have Strega, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, as my dear friend and dogsports teammate in the Rally, Obedience, and field training.

Do you advise nonthesis students?:

Yes

Professional Accomplishments

Education:

Ph.D. - 2007 - Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
M.S. - 2002 - Wildlife and Fisheries Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
B.S. - 1998 - Wildlife Biology (Terrestrial Emph.), minor in Communication Studies, University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Service:

I frequently offer short workshops on wildlife management for Master Gardener groups, at Extension Tree Schools, and for other groups as requested.

I am the Faculty Co-Advisor (with Wanda Crannell) of the OSU Chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicano/as and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Connect with the OSU SACNAS chapter via our Facebook.

I am a member of the Campus Coalition Builders, which is the OSU Affiliate Chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI). The OSU team offers 1-day experiential workshops, "Welcoming Diversity", and skill-building sessions ("Interrupting Prejudicial Behaviors") once or more each year, and by request for groups.

My Awards

Honors and Awards:

2012. OSU Outreach & Engagement Vice Provost Award for Excellence Diversity Award from Oregon State University Outreach and Engagement

My Publications

Outreach and Extension

Extension Service Site Publications

(2025) Can I use coffee grounds for mulch without attracting bears or cougars?
(2024) Should I keep filling my hummingbird feeder in frigid temperatures? I’m wondering if it’s OK here in central Oregon to leave our hummingbird feeder up a little while longer. I just noticed a hummingbird hanging out on the feeder this morning when it was 16 degrees.
(2023) How to dispose of roadkill?
(2023) Getting to Know Oregon’s Bats There are 15 species of bats in Oregon. These small but mighty mammals play a vital role in our ecosystems. Learn simple things you can do to support our furry flying friends, as their habitats and species are threatened now more than ever.
(2022) Bats in my attic—what should I do?
(2022) How do we help our backyard hummingbird?
(2022) Salmonella in birds?
(2021) Will wildlife damage my old growth juniper?
(2021) When I can move a robin's nest?
(2020) Nonlethal bird deterrent strategies: How to reduce fruit crop losses in Oregon Bird predation is a significant threat to marketable yields in fruit crops. There are many avian deterrents on the market. In most cases, the best results come from a multi-pronged approach.
(2019) Manage Wildlife Conflicts in Your Home and Garden Our homes and gardens often overlap with spaces and resources used by wild animals, both native and non-native. A "shared habitat" situation can pose some challenges when the animals' day-to-day activities come into conflict with ours. This publication gives an overview of how and why human-wildlife conflicts happen, then offers some general tips and strategies to help you handle wildlife problems safely and legally.
(2018) Extension Wildlife General wildlife info, preventative measures and managing human-wildlife conflict, encouraging wildlife use of your area, pathways into the wildlife profession, etc.
(2016) Rodents tunneling under my house?
(2022) Big Game from Hunt to Home Describes techniques to handle game in the field, to butcher, and to store meat.
(2013) Is this a gopher snake?