Cole Wzientek, M.S. Candidate

Cole grew up in a small town in northern Illinois where he then moved to West Lafayette, Indiana to receive his undergraduate degree in Wildlife from Purdue University. There, he developed a love of the outdoors and a passion for understanding the population dynamics of threatened species. Since graduating, he has worked on various research projects studying the impacts of disturbance on small mammal communities (i.e., mice, rats, squirrels, and hares). In January 2025, Cole joined Drs. Martin, Henke, and Rideout-Hanzak at TAMU-Kingsville to research the threat of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 in the vulnerable Davis Mountain Cottontail.